# Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva de Coimbra, Portugal: what it is and when to go

> Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva de Coimbra is a building in Coimbra, Portugal. Interests: Museums and art. The best time to visit is March to October. In June there are 14 h 51 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 09. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Portugal: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/exploratorio-centro-ciencia-viva-de-coimbra/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Building in Coimbra, Portugal · Museums and art
- **Where:** Portugal · Rotunda das Lajes, 3040-255, Coimbra
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Nearest airport:** OPO Porto, 119 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [exploratorio.pt](https://www.exploratorio.pt/)
- **Coordinates:** 40.19703, -8.4293

## What it is and where

Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva de Coimbra is a building in Coimbra, Portugal. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Portugal: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/coimbra/), where this site lists 55 more places to see, 1.1 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 40.19703, -8.4293; 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 covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=40.197027%2C-8.429296)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=40.197027%2C-8.429296)

It is one of the [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/museos/) places in Portugal. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva de Coimbra is **March to October**.

| 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. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

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).

## Before you go to Portugal

To enter Portugal there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Portugal checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz (the same as in Spain); emergencies: 112.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Piscinas do Mondego](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/piscinas-do-mondego/): Hot spring bath · 190 m
- [Pedro e Inês bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/ponte-pedonal-pedro-e-ines/): Footbridge in Coimbra, Portugal · 493 m
- [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 · 620 m
- [Portugal dos Pequenitos](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/portugal-dos-pequenitos/): Building or structure in Coimbra, Portugal · 652 m
- [University of Coimbra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/universidade-de-coimbra/): Public university in Coimbra, Portugal · 1.2 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Portugal guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/).

## More in Portugal: Museums and art

- [Jerónimos Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/monasterio-de-los-jeronimos/): building in Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon District, Portugal
- [Calouste Gulbenkian Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/museo-calouste-gulbenkian/): art museum in Lisbon, Portugal
- [National Museum of Ancient Art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/museo-nacional-de-arte-antiguo/): museum in Lisboa, Portugal
- [Palace of Queluz](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/palacio-nacional-de-queluz/): former royal palace and current national palace at Queluz, Sintra, Portugal
- [Palácio da Bolsa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/palacio-da-bolsa/): building in Porto, Porto District, Portugal
- [Capela dos Ossos](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/chapel-of-bones/): small interior chapel in Evora, Portugal

Every Portugal place under Museums and art, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/museos/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva de Coimbra?

It is a building in Coimbra, Portugal. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Portugal: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva de Coimbra?

March to October. In June there are 14 h 51 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 09.

### How do you get to Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva de Coimbra?

The nearest main airport is Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), 119 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=40.197027%2C-8.429296) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Portugal is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/#moverse).

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

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Portugal map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Piscinas do Mondego](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/piscinas-do-mondego/), [Pedro e Inês bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/ponte-pedonal-pedro-e-ines/), [Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/mosteiro-de-santa-clara-a-velha/). The rest is in [the Portugal guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/portugal/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/533555864), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10278715), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).