# Things to see in Coimbra (Portugal): 55 places and when to go

> Coimbra is a city in Portugal with around 107,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 55 places in and around it, mainly History (25), Nature (12), Hot springs (8). The best known are University of Coimbra, Monastery of the Holy Cross and Old Cathedral of Coimbra. The best time to come is March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 14 h 51 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 09. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/coimbra/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** Portugal · 40.2004, -8.4167
- **Population:** About 107,000
- **Places:** 55 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/historia/) (25) · [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/naturaleza/) (12) · [Hot springs](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/termal/) (8) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/museos/) (7) · [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/espiritual/) (6) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/fauna/) (5)
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Also possible:** November to February.
- **Nearest airport:** OPO Porto, 119 km as the crow flies
- **Highest point:** Serra do Penedo, at 1,048 m.

## What to see in Coimbra

The places in and around Coimbra, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [University of Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/universidade-de-coimbra/): Public university in Coimbra, Portugal · 1.1 km
- [Monastery of the Holy Cross](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/igreja-de-santa-cruz/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 1.6 km
- [Old Cathedral of Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/se-velha-de-coimbra/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 1.3 km
- [Conímbriga](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/ruinas-de-conimbriga/): Building or structure in Condeixa-a-Nova, Portugal · 13 km
- [New Cathedral of Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/new-cathedral-of-coimbra/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 1.3 km
- [Portugal dos Pequenitos](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/portugal-dos-pequenitos/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 1.5 km
- [Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/mosteiro-de-santa-clara-a-velha/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 1.4 km
- [Buçaco Forest](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/mata-nacional-de-busaco/): Park in Mealhada, Portugal · 20 km
- [Machado de Castro National Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/museu-machado-de-castro/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 1.2 km
- [Lorvão Abbey](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/mosteiro-de-lorvao/): Building or structure in Penacova, Portugal · 11 km
- [Buçaco Palace](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/palacio-hotel-de-busaco/): Cultural heritage monument in Mealhada, Portugal · 20 km
- [Aqueduto de São Sebastião](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/aqueduto-de-sao-sebastiao/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 793 m
- [Castle of Soure](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/castelo-de-soure/): Building or structure in Soure , Portugal · 24 km
- [Castle of Lousã](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/castelo-da-lousa/): Building or structure in Lousã, Portugal · 19 km
- [Castle of Penela](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/castelo-de-penela/): Building or structure in Penela, Portugal · 19 km
- [Convento de Santa Cruz do Buçaco](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/convento-de-santa-cruz-de-busaco/): Building in Mealhada, Aveiro District, Portugal · 20 km
- [Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/mata-nacional-de-vale-de-canas/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 3.9 km
- [Museu Monográfico de Conimbriga](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/museu-monografico-de-conimbriga/): Museum in Condeixa-a-Nova, Portugal · 13 km
- [Serra do Rabaçal](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/rabacal/): Mountain in Portugal · 20 km
- [Pelourinho da Lousã](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/pelourinho-da-lousa/): Pillory in Lousã, Portugal · 18 km
- [Pelourinho de Ega](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/pelourinho-de-ega/): Pillory in Condeixa-a-Nova, Portugal · 15 km
- [Pelourinho de Penela](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/pelourinho-de-penela/): Pillory in Penela, Portugal · 19 km
- [Pedro e Inês bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/ponte-pedonal-pedro-e-ines/): Footbridge in Coimbra, Portugal · 889 m
- [Serpins train station](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/serpins-estacao-al/): Train station in Portugal · 18 km

And the other 31, by what you come to do:

- **Nature**: [Aqueduto romano de Conímbriga](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/aqueduto-de-alcabideque/), [Castelo de Germanelo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/castelo-de-germanelo/), [Serra do Penedo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/penedos-de-gois/), [Safra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/safra/), [Serra de Santa Quitéria](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/serra-de-santa-quiteria/), [Bio-Reserva Senhora da Alegria](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/bio-reserva-senhora-da-alegria/), [Karri Knight](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/karri-knight/), [Praia Fluvial da Peneda](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/praia-fluvial-da-peneda/), [Praia Fluvial Senhora da Ribeira](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/praia-fluvial-senhora-da-ribeira/)
- **History**: [Capela da Rainha Santa Isabel](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/capela-da-rainha-santa-isabel/), [Church of Santa Maria Maior (Góis)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/igreja-matriz-de-gois/), [Residência senhorial dos Castelo Melhor](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/residencia-senhorial-dos-condes-de-castelo-melhor/), [Buracas do Casmilo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/buracas-do-casmilo/), [Roman villa of Rabaçal](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/villa-romana-do-rabacal/)
- **Museums and art**: [Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva de Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/exploratorio-centro-ciencia-viva-de-coimbra/), [Casa de São Tomé](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/museu-portugal-romano-em-sico/)
- **Beaches**: [Praia Fluvial de Palheiros e Zorro](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/praia-fluvial-de-palheiros-e-zorro/)
- **Food and drink**: [Adega Monte Formigão](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/adega-monte-formigao/), [Destilatum - Destilaria Portuguesa S.A.](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/destilatum-destilaria-portuguesa-s-a/)
- **Hiking**: [Caminhos de Fátima (Caminho do Centenário)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/caminhos-de-fatima-caminho-do-centenario/), [Grande Rota do Bussaco](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/grande-rota-do-bussaco/), [Grande Rota Terras de Sicó](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/grande-rota-terras-de-sico/), [Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas — Praia fluvial de Palheiros-Zorro](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/mata-nacional-de-vale-de-canas-praia-fluvial-de-palheiros-zo/)
- **Stargazing**: [Observatório Astronómico António dos Reis](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/observatorio-astronomico-antonio-dos-reis/), [Coimbra University observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/observatorio-geofisico-e-astronomico-da-universidade-de-coim/)
- **Hot springs**: [Piscinas do Mondego](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/piscinas-do-mondego/), [Piscinas do Parque de Campismo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/piscinas-do-parque-de-campismo/), [Praia Fluvial da Moenda](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/praia-fluvial-da-moenda/), [Praia Fluvial das Canaveias](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/praia-fluvial-das-canaveias/), [Praia Fluvial de Valeiro do Barco](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/praia-fluvial-de-valeiro-do-barco/), [Praia Fluvial do Cornicovo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/praia-fluvial-do-cornicovo/)

## When to go to Coimbra

The best time to visit Coimbra is **March to October**; also possible: November to February. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 26 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 28 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 41 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 04 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 14 |
| June | Best time | 14 h 51 |
| July | Best time | 14 h 36 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 36 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 15 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 54 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 44 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 09 |

In June there are 14 h 51 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 09. In June, 53 of the 55 places are at their best.

When to go to Portugal in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Coimbra

The nearest main airport is Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO, Porto), 119 km as the crow flies. How to get around Portugal (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=40.2004%2C-8.4167)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=40.2004%2C-8.4167)

## Other towns nearby

- [Montemor-o-Velho](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/montemor-o-velho/): 9 places · 22 km
- [Aguada de Baixo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/aguada-de-baixo/): 9 places · 34 km
- [São João do Monte](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/sao-joao-do-monte/): 10 places · 47 km
- [Cabanas de Viriato](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/cabanas-de-viriato/): 12 places · 49 km
- [Aveiro, Portugal](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/aveiro/): 20 places · 53 km
- [Leiria](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/leiria/): 57 places · 61 km

And all of Portugal, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Coimbra?

The best known: [University of Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/universidade-de-coimbra/), [Monastery of the Holy Cross](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/igreja-de-santa-cruz/), [Old Cathedral of Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/se-velha-de-coimbra/), [Conímbriga](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/ruinas-de-conimbriga/), [New Cathedral of Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/new-cathedral-of-coimbra/). In all, 55 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Coimbra?

March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 14 h 51 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 09.

### How do you get to Coimbra?

The nearest main airport is Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), 119 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=40.2004%2C-8.4167) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Coimbra as the destination and these 55 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).