Top Coimbra Outdoor Activities

One of the world's oldest universities, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Portugal's University of Coimbra is a special place—but it can be tricky for first-time visitors to know where to go. Instead, leave all the planning to someone else on this small-group, guided tour of the university's highlights. Look forward to discovering the magnificent Joanina Library, St. Michael's Chapel, and more, all while learning insider facts and stories.

A city built around a university older than most countries — Coimbra takes learning seriously and fun seriously too. This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through Coimbra on foot, using phone-based riddles to guide you from one landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time. • Puzzle at the Jardim da Manga and its curious yellow cloister-fountain • Enter the orbit of the Mosteiro de Santa Cruz, resting place of kings • Climb to the Paço das Escolas, ceremonial heart of the university Available in 24 languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian — see the full list when booking and choose yours when you start the game in the app. Around 2 hours - any group size. Class is in session — attendance optional, curiosity mandatory.

With its lush river paths, picturesque forests, and gentle mountains, Ceira Valley is ideal for canyoning—but getting started can feel intimidating, especially without experience. Ideal for nature lovers of all levels, this half-day canyoning excursion includes all equipment and hands-on support from a guide, so you can relax and focus on slides, jumps, and river crossings.

The Best Way to Discover Coimbra: Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour. Play, learn, and walk! Explore at your own pace with a 100% self-guided activity. Start anytime (24/7) with no guides or schedules. Pause for a photo at Praça do Comércio or a stroll through Praça Dom Dinis and resume whenever you're ready—even the next day. This unique team-building activity is perfect for couples, families, and groups. The "Complete City" Package - Everything you need in one app: Interactive Game: Solve puzzles and discover 10+ major attractions, plus hidden gems revealed along the way. Learn the history/legends of each site. Insider Tips: Access hand-picked local restaurant and shop recommendations. What you will visit: Santa Cruz Church, Praça do Comércio, Barbican Gate, Sé Velha, National Museum Machado de Castro, New Cathedral, University of Coimbra, Minerva Stairs, Praça Dom Dinis, and Jardín Botánico de la Universidad.

Venture into the forests of Central Portugal, without the worry of getting lost, on this private and personalized tour of Bussaco. Enjoy time away from the bustling streets of Coimbra and spend time in nature as you explore enchanting landscapes, learn about the area's biodiversity, and visit the gardens of the Bussaco Palace Hotel—a unique opportunity to visit an area of the country that many tourists miss.

Visit remote places up in the mountains outside Coimbra that take a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to reach on this private tour of the schist villages around Lousã Mountain. Drive up into the mountains to see a series of these scenic villages made of shale stone, some of which will involve hiking to reach and passing through forest home to local wildlife. Places on this tour are limited to travelers.

Our school is located in a stunning landscape with unmissable fauna and flora. When the host of the experience in a natural environment is one of the most robust and imposing animals, contrasting with all its sweetness and delicacy, it makes the baptism on horseback a lively, unique and unforgettable experience. Over 25 minutes in tune with the horse, any nature lover, with or without equestrian experience, child or adult, will awaken an illustrious and distinct sensation. It is an ideal experience to open doors to a whole passion for the equestrian world.

Discover the rich history and traditions of Coimbra and its ancient university during this guided tour. Join your dedicated tour guide and walk around the campus of Portugal’s oldest university, visiting the Royal Palace, chapel, the assembly room, and the stunning Joanina Library. Then, venture out to the city to see key landmarks including the cathedral, the Barbican Gate, and the Santa Cruz Monastery.

Dating back to medieval times, the mountainous villages surrounding Coimbra are like something from a fairy tale, but navigating the winding roads alone can be stressful. This private half-day trip transports you through the traditional villages of Lousa, providing cultural context and translation that you’d struggle to get if you were on your own.

Embark on a journey through the heart of Coimbra with TouringBee's convenient mobile guide on your smartphone. This itinerary is specifically crafted to allow you to explore the city's attractions within a brief span of 1.5-2 hours. Experience the charm of quaint streets and lookout points, intriguing tales, and local folklore. Navigate the route at your leisure, without the need to keep up with a tour group. Feel free to pause at a café or detour to explore an intriguing side street, and return to the route whenever you wish. If you have just one day to visit Coimbra, spend it with a TouringBee audio guide and gain more insights than those who have spent a week there.

Discover one of Portugal’s largest Roman settlements—and couple visits to ancient ruins with a museum excursion—during this private-half day Conimbriga tour. Choose between morning and afternoon start times, depart from your Coimbra hotel, and travel via private vehicle. You’ll discover Conimbriga’s ruins and famed aqueduct, will visit the PO.RO.S - Portugal Roman Museum in Sicó, and can also explore the Museu Monografico de Conimbriga.

The Agricultural Colony of Ílhavo located 5 minutes from the center of Aveiro has a stunning landscape with unmissable fauna and flora. All this immensity allows you to have a feeling of being in a completely stunning and natural place, in the middle of the forest. The breathtaking views make the tour an incredible experience.

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

A unique caving experience in the third largest cave in Portugal, discovering and exploring learning about the underground world.

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.

Discover the unspoiled beauty of Central Portugal on horseback! We offer guided trail rides through rolling hills, forests, picturesque villages and quiet country paths. Choose the ride that matches your experience: Tour 1 – Experienced Riders (1.5–2.5h) For riders aged 13+ who ride regularly and confidently control a horse at walk, trot and canter, with a balanced, independent seat. Not suitable for occasional/holiday riders or riders without sufficient experience. Tour 2 – Walk & Trot (1–1.5h) For adults and children aged 10+ with some riding experience. Mainly walk, with occasional trot. Riders must be able to post the trot and control their horse independently. An additional guide may accompany the group for extra support. Tour 3 – Guided Walk (45 min) For children and adults with little or no experience. The horse is led by a guide and the ride is entirely at walk. For safety reasons, we may adjust your booked ride if your experience does not match the required level.

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.

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.

Just outside of Coimbra are the schist villages of Lousã, homes made of crystalline stone. On this private tour, visit the villages of Cerdeira, Candal, and Talasnal in just a few hours. Explore each village and admire the shale houses, cork trees, narrow streets, and panoramic views of the Lousã mountains.

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.

We invite you to live an experience in the imposing Massif of Sicó that shapes this wild scenery, as well as the way of life of the people. Here, side by side, stone and man steadfastly resist the wear and tear of time. You look around and the entire landscape appears dominated by the sharp edges of the stone. On the way to Buracas valley, we will hike in fields of lapiás, authentic “stone cemeteries”, dolinas (sinkholes) and hold your breath for the most impressive scenery of all: the Casmilo caves, popularly known as “the mouths of the mountains”. Then we will enter the canyon and hike to the Our Lady of Circulo Santuary, in the top of the mountain, and visit the Outeiro windmill! In this hike we will also pass in three mountain villages. IMPORTANT: Feel safe, we have the "Clean & Safe" seal from Turismo de Portugal!

Discover the hidden gems of Central Portugal on a thrilling quad tour that takes you off the beaten path. Starting with a warm welcome at the quinta, you’ll be equipped with all necessary gear and receive a detailed safety briefing from your experienced guide. Choose from a variety of tours, each tailored for different skill levels, from easy scenic routes to challenging off-road trails. Whether you're exploring serene forests or charming villages, enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and learn fascinating facts about the region. A perfect outdoor activity for families, couples, or solo adventurers looking to make unforgettable memories in nature. You can book a 1h, 2h or 3h quad tour.

Take a break from city life and spend a day immersed in nature on this private hiking tour from Coimbra. Visit the ancient ruins of Conimbriga to learn about Roman history, then hike through the Mouros River Valley, stopping at a waterfall and a small village at the base of Sicó Mountain.