Joanina Library & Coimbra University | Expert Guide since 2012
Description
Step into the heart of Portugal’s most prestigious university with VIP access, guided by an official and passionate local expert guide who's also a former student of this centenary institution. GO! Walks Portugal has been working as certified guides and travel consultants since 2012... and we are proud graduates of the University of Coimbra! We offer an insider’s perspective of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, fully adapting the visit to your pace and interests. No rushed group tours here. This exclusive experience gives you direct access to the Royal Palace, the stunning St. Michael’s Chapel, and the breathtaking Joanina Library - one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. More than just facts and dates, we share the legends, student traditions, and hidden stories that bring centuries of Portuguese history to life. Whether you're a curious traveler, a history lover, or simply looking to be amazed, this is your moment to discover Coimbra as few ever do.
Tour Options
Itinerary
we will visit the campus and all its monuments, classified as UNESCO World Heritage in 2012
we will visit this famous library and you'll learn everything about it!
We will enter the beautiful St Michael Chapel at the University of Coimbra
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(160)
I visited this university and found the fascinating. It was very interesting and unique and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I wish I had moretime to spend at this place because I did not have the opportunity to enjoy everything I could. I will certainly come back!
Hi Kevin! Great to receive your feedback 🍀 it is indeed an amazing place full of history and deserves a slow pace and attention. Come back anytime and ask for a private tailored tour, I am sure you will absolutely love the extra information adapted to your pace. All the best Sara
No valuable historic information was shared. We could've done this by ourselves. The tickets for monuments were shared for us to do this ourselves.
Hello Yvonne, I am surprised with such terrible comment and also your not very honest attitude, complementing me after the guided tour and now coming to write this on my back. All the valuable information was shared and I did the tour as I always do, with all the historic information and local context from someone who studied at this University and guides here for 14 years now with pretty much nothing but great feedback. What happened, to clarify those reading, after the tour I shared the tickets with you so that you could actually visit more than the regular circuit of the University composed by the Royal Palace, Academic Prison, Middle and Royal Levels of the Library. As usual, when the Chapel is being used for ceremonies - which happens regularly for the Academic community as I explained - the entrance isn't possible. However, the ticket I have given you also allowed you to enter the Chapel after the ceremonies. To clarify I had no obligation to share that ticket with you, but I did because you could enjoy more of the University after the tour. I have given you the information about the Chapel outside during the tour, and told you to go there afterwards because it's worth seeing. I took my time and spent more than usual explaining what else you could visit in the city so that you could make the best use of your time here. And I remember you turned your back and went to the toilet and shop while I was left explaining it to your son, who was actually very nice to me. So, with this said, next time you are being given a service, talk to your guide and ask your questions to avoid situations like this to happen again. Of course you could have gone on your own: but the insight and navigation wouldn't allow you to understand the History and importance of this place. Unfortunately, I guess you didn't hear me because you didn't understand it. I am sorry for that. All the best Sara Cruz
Sara is a highly experienced tour guide who is passionate about Coimbra. We felt so lucky to have booked a tour to the Joanina Library with her. Magical place.
Carolyn, I am so glad to receive your feedback and it was great guiding you! You are welcome back anytime to discover more magical places! All the best Sara
Entries are timed. Library was impressive. I had hoped to see a lecture hall, but we did not. The history was interesting.
Hi Randal! Not sure that you have taken the guided tour with our guide, your comment seems to be at the wrong location. All the best.
Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. She answered our questions expertly about the university and library. We highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the library, palace, and university.
So glad to receive your 5* feedback about your experience at the University of Coimbra! You're welcome back anytime. All the best Sara
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Sara was very personable and clued up on the history, plus she has inside knowledge as she studied at the university. The library is awesome … a must see!
Glad to receive such great feedback Nikki 🍀 all the best and come back anytime!
The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and interesting. She shared fascinating details about both the University of Coimbra and the Joanina Library that we couldn't have learned otherwise. We later met up with other travelers who had toured Coimbra but NOT taken a tour such as this, and found ourselves sharing insights from the tour with them. Because we were with a guide, we experienced perks such as being the last of our group to exit the library while hearing a fascinating story about the library ecosystem. I would absolutely take a tour with this guide again--she was fabulous and shared details about Portuguese history and culture that one might only hear from a native and Coimbra graduate.
Lovely to receive such a great feedback 🍀 yes, spread the word about our lovely University and how many things go unnoticed and unknown if people don't take the proper time and investment to realize it! All the best, Sara
Eva did an outstanding job sharing her love of her Alma mater. The library actually brought tears to my eyes. Such a unique campus. Eva has extensive knowledge of both the university and Portugal in general. She knows all the people who work on the campus and they clearly have respect for her. We moved through the sites efficiently but never felt rushed. Eva had answers to all our questions. I highly recommend her tour
So glad to receive your kind words about Eva's guiding and our tour of the University. Yes, GO! Walks Portugal have been guides since 2012 and people know our commitment to sharing our knowledge about Portuguese culture! Come back anytime. All the best, Sara
A delightful and informative guide , Joanina was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the Library and the University, It was very a enjoyable experience.
Glad for the wonderful feedback! All the best!
The guide has been very kind and knowledgeable about the city of Coimbra. She has answered all our questions. The visit has been in English and Spanish, lasting 1 hour. The program stated 1.5 hours
Muchas gracias por su amable comentario. Nos alegra enormemente saber que la guía fue muy amable, conocedora de la ciudad y que resolvió todas sus dudas durante el recorrido por la Universidad de Coimbra. Queremos aclarar detalladamente el tema de la duración para que se entienda perfectamente nuestra organización. El programa indica que la visita dura hasta 1h30, lo que significa que ese es el tiempo máximo disponible, no la duración obligatoria. El ritmo y la duración exacta dependen de varios factores: El ritmo de los viajeros: Cada grupo se desplaza a una velocidad diferente. El horario del monumento: La Universidad de Coimbra (UC) cierra rigurosamente a las 18:00h. Al comenzar el tour a las 17:00h, el tiempo dentro del recinto está limitado a 1 hora. Preguntas de los clientes: Esa media hora extra final se reserva siempre para responder dudas y charlar. En su caso, como no tenían más preguntas, el recorrido por los puntos principales se completó con éxito en 1 hora. De hecho, la guía se quedó unos 20 minutos más conversando con otros miembros del grupo que sí tenían más consultas. Agradecemos mucho su aportación, ya que nos ayuda a explicar mejor cómo funcionan nuestros tiempos dinámicos. Esperamos que hayan disfrutado de su estancia en Coimbra. ¡Un saludo cordial!
