Top Coimbra How to Get Around - page 3

The ancient trees and scenic nature trails of Bussaco Forest lie just a half-hour drive from Coimbra, but you’ll need your own transport to visit. On this tour, maximize your time with a local guide and a morning hike selected to suit your group, whether you have a specific route in mind or want to prioritize scenic views and wildlife-watching.

Soak up the scenery of central Portugal from the back of a bike—something few travelers really get to experience—during this full-day ride down the Ecopista do Dão. In the company of a guide and a small group capped at 8 participants, cover almost 50km and enjoy an intimate experience that is well-suited to experienced cyclists.

The Romanesque Routes offer the opportunity to discover three essential places to Roman life in the central area of the country, accompanied by our friendly guide, you will have a unique and complete experience. Our guide will accompany you throughout the tour, show you the best places and answer all questions. Our goal is for you to have a tour, without haste, as comfortable as possible, and that is why we offer a pick up service at the place that suits you best. Come and discover more about Roman life and the legacy that is still preserved today, not only in ruins, but in culture, handicrafts, agriculture and so many other things.

I'll guide you through narrow medieval streets, where Romans walked like it was theirs, where later António Salazar, the man behind the longest-lived dictatorship in Europe, strolled with similar demeanor, and further through newer neighbourhoods where the real owners, the people, quietly carry on. Where you can unmask the real Coimbra. I share 25 years of my photography experience — from streets and studios of Eastern Europe, London, and New York as a portrait photographer to orange rocks of Spain as a rock climbing photographer — to help you see this city like a pro.

Venture away from the city of Coimbra and spend a day immersed in nature during this private excursion. Head to the mountains for a look at the small shale villages that dot the landscape including Piodao, relax on the riverside beach in Coja, and see a few waterfalls. Throughout the tour, your guide regales you with information about the local area and makes time for you to explore.

Learn all about Fatima today in this half day guided tour. You'll have plenty of stops along the way, and be driven to each in an air conditioning, private vehicle. Your guide will be an English speaker, and they will explain the history and significance of the places you see along the way. Visit churches, chapels, and significant houses along the tour today.

Many visitors rush through Tomar on the way to see the Convent of Christ and miss the town itself. This small-group walking tour digs into the local history and culture, with a guide who shares tales of the Knights Templar and Tomar's old Jewish community. Wind through backstreets, a riverside park, and the oldest synagogue in Portugal while picking up local tips along the way.

This visit is the most complete for those who want to learn more about the history of the University of Coimbra and its surroundings. In addition to the history of the University of Coimbra's heritage, it is important to know the life and traditions of the students and their interaction with the city and its inhabitants. Did you know that in just over two hours, you will take a journey that is more than 700 years old? It's a tour not to be missed, exclusive to our agency. Our team of guides who, in addition to having experience, are former students from the University of Coimbra, specialized in the areas of History, Art History, Heritage and Tourism. Therefore, it will be a special and enriching experience, at all levels, just for your reservation, we only work with private groups.

Guided tours are good for getting oriented, but often follow strict itineraries on tight schedules. With this self-guided audio tour, explore the heart of Coimbra’s historical center at your own pace. Walk through the city’s old medieval gates to the alleys, sidewalk cafes, and music venues of Alta da Cidade (Upper Town). Learn about the history of Fado music, and finish your tour at the university campus, where you’ll catch amazing views of the city and Mondego River.

The city of Coimbra was the first capital of the kingdom of Portugal, but its history goes back much further. It came to prominence in Roman times, but it was during the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula that the city of Coimbra became instrumental in consolidating the formation of the kingdom of Portugal, the oldest nation-state in Europe. That’s why this city has some of the most impressive medieval monuments in Portuguese history, which we invite you to discover in the company of local guides who were former students at the University of Coimbra, the oldest in Portugal.

Escape the crowds and delve into the natural and agricultural wonderland of the Gaios trail— leading to the Penedo C'Abana viewpoint—on a hiking tour of Tábua. Throughout this private hike, you'll be able to stop to rest and take photographs whenever you like, as well as walking at a pace that suits you and your party.

Venture beyond city limits to discover some of Portugal’s most transportive scenery—and enjoy a fully personalized experience—on this private half- or full-day tour of the Serra da Lousã mountains. Pick your tour time and duration, meet your driver-guide in Coimbra, and set off via 4x4 vehicle. You’ll head into the mountains, will go off-roading, will look out for wildlife like deer and foxes, and will visit the region’s historic schist villages.

Delve back in history on this small-group cycle tour to the ancient Dolmens in Azenha. Your personal guide tells you stories of spirits, local heroes, battles, and other neolithic sites-much more than you would learn on a self-guided tour. Ride mountain bikes through gorgeous natural trails, then spend time at Cara Creek Eco Lodge to use the natural pools, sauna, and sit by the riverside beach.

Coimbra, a city of students, a city where we learn to say saudade, a city full of charms and nooks where sections of the old wall will guide us in an adventure full of history, memories and wisdom. We will start this adventure along the banks of the river Mondego, where we will cross a pedestrian colored bridge, the Pedro and Ines Bridge, towards the Tollgate. On this bridge, you still have the privilege of contemplating a great panoramic view to the magnificent city of Coimbra and surrounding mountains. Along this route, the vast historical, cultural and natural heritage of this city awakens, in each one of us, the desire to set out on an adventure. An adventure to discover the history and mysteries hidden along the streets and staircases, from the downtown area to the high zone of the city, an adventure to get to know the old walled city and the oldest University of Europe, the University of Coimbra.

Our product is unique, as it offers the possibility to visit the University, but also to stroll through the historic center of the city, entering the Sé Velha and Santa Cruz churches. Throughout the walk you can breathe a medieval aura, strolling through the gutters of an old city linked to the founding of Portugal. This visit is private, where you can enjoy a unique tour with just your group, people can interact with the guide, asking questions and exchanging ideas about the local culture and history.

Located just north of Coimbra, the 19th-century Buçaco Palace is a beautiful piece of architecture tucked away in the forest of the same name. On this private excursion, take a guided tour of the palace, gardens, and surrounding forest to learn about the history of the neo-Manueline style building.

Make the most of your time on shore on this private half-day shore excursion to Fatima Shrine. While most tours that include Fatima Shrine take all day and include other sights, this tour focuses on just the Shrine (including the Cathedral, Basilica and the Appearances Chapel), which you can visit at a relaxed pace, and get back to your ship on time without stress.

Take the hassle out of planning a visit to one of Portugal’s highest mountains—and visit several other destinations along the way—with this thoughtfully-curated full-day excursion to Estrela Mountain and Piodão. Forget about public transport with your private driver-guide at the wheel of the comfortable air-conditioned minivan and instead take in the views as you ascend (then descend) the mountain. Stops at Piodão, among other spots, are included.

Discover the history of Coimbra on a guided tour of the city's castles. Learn about the city's military fortresses and the role they played in the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. During the ascendancy of D. Afonso Henriques, he focused heavily on in the protection of the city, as it was essential for the conquest of the territory. At this time they were created a set of buildings and military fortresses that made it possible to fill the gap security and protect the city. At this time, the first king D. Afonso Henriques was fighting against Moors and Muslims and other communities that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula, through the conquest of kingdom. This network of castles was fundamental not only to protect the city of Coimbra, which at the time it was the place where the court was established, but also to guarantee the stability necessary for the continuation of the conquest of the south.

The Roman Empire had an enormous weight in our culture and the evidence of this can be found a bit everywhere in the Sicó area. In this adventure we will start to discover the complex of the Roman Ruins of Conímbriga where you can contemplate the architectural capability of the Roman people and how they lived. From here we will head towards another “ex-libris” of this region, the Casmilo Holes, majestic geological formations that were once complexes of underground caves that are now exposed to the surface. All this and much more is what we will discover in this adventure... ENTRY INCLUDED

Unveil the best kept secrets of the traditional culinary of Coimbra, paired with excellent local wines, in hidden locations you could not find on your own, learn about how these authentic delicacies end up on our tables and understand the importance of the Portuguese Maritime Expansion contribution to the local economy, society and gastronomy. Visit a hidden old tavern still in business since the 15th Century and finally, taste our best wine product: the "Espumante", traditionally made at this Wine Region DOC Bairrada while enjoying the best views over the city!

Schist villages have already been called “magic villages”, their names sound like Romans, Arabs and even barbarians, but it is their characteristic appearance that makes them so fantastic. These structures dating back to medieval times exude an architectural beauty that is still difficult to match today, even more fascinating are the places where they are located due to the need to settle for pastoral and agricultural activities. During this adventure we will take you to know some of the most beautiful schist villages of Serra da Lousã as well as the breathtaking landscapes that this unique place has to offer… It includes a jeep ride through the Lousã mountain range and a visit to the beautiful Schist villages in the morning and a walk of about 6 km and an intermediate level of difficulty in the afternoon along some of the most beautiful trails in the mountain.

Fátima is widely considered among Portugal’s most important Catholic pilgrimage sites, but visiting independently means missing its spiritual significance. On this tour, begin with a pickup at your Coimbra hotel and explore three of the chapels and basilica around Fátima. Visit Valinhos and the homes of the three shepherds before whom the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared, and learn of the sites’ importance to Catholics across the world.

Explore the legacy left by the Jewish community in the city and know how they passed here, always with the national context in mind. When did the Jews arrive? When did you leave and why, and how did you leave the country? Where did you live in Coimbra? What is its importance and legacy in the city and the country? What connects Coimbra/Portugal to World War II? These are some of the questions we will try to answer during the course. Get to know places in Coimbra linked to their Jewish past, some of them of great national and international importance (like the Inquisition Court, or the Judiciary). Discover the incredible legacy of the Jewish community in Coimbra. In this tour, if the Reservation is made in advance, and depending on the availability of the place, it can be made to the historic Mikveh (the visit of the place, will be made in the company of a Guide of the Chamber).