Top Activities on the Ground in Coimbra

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Don’t settle for surface-level exploration of Tomar, the former global headquarters of the Knights Templar. Instead, delve deeper into the town’s rich history on a private walking tour that lets you explore at your own pace and ask as many questions as you like. Plus, you won’t have to worry about prebooking entry tickets for the Convent of Christ, as they’re included.

Tailored tour, tell me what you want to know and I will guide you up, letting you enjoy the place and people with time

The Sanctuary of Fátima in Portugal is a place of pilgrimage that moves any visitor from the first moment. It is a place that inspires peace, respect and devotion. It is one of the largest Marian Sanctuaries in the world and a popular visit for Popes. The Chapel of Apparitions is where you can feel the devotion of the pilgrims in a spiritual and intimate way. It is here that you will find the image that appeared to the Little Shepherds for the first time on May 13, 1917. As you walk through the Sanctuary, you can feel the energy that emanates from the countless faithful who arrive there with open hearts and renewed hope. The Sanctuary of Fátima is a place that overflows with incredible energy. - Visit the main basilicas and chapels of the sanctuary of Fátima - Discover the story of Our Lady's apparitions in 1917 - We always have a surprise for customers; - You will have free time for prayer/shopping;

Step beyond Tomar’s famous monuments and discover the medieval city that developed beneath its Templar stronghold. This private walking tour explores the people, communities, beliefs and traditions that shaped Tomar beyond its Templar legacy. Discover Santa Maria do Olival, the medieval Jewish quarter and Synagogue, São João Baptista Church, Santa Iria, the Mouchão Waterwheel and other historic landmarks. Go beyond monuments to understand how religion, commerce, water, architecture and different communities shaped the city. Our storytelling combines local knowledge with Portuguese academic research. One founder has lived in Tomar for almost 50 years and holds a Master’s degree with distinction in Cultural Tourism Product Development. The Templar narrative is also curated with input from an active member of a contemporary Portuguese Templar Order. History without myths. Mystery without fiction.

Visit, on foot, the most iconic sites of the city of Coimbra, such as the University of Coimbra, Sé Nova, Sé Velha, Torre de Almedina, the historic center of the city and the church of Santa Cruz, accompanied by a Guide, Expert in History, Art History, Tourism and Cultural Heritage. Get to know some of the traditions of Coimbra’s students and experience the city’s medieval mysticism live. You do not enter any monument, except the Church of Santa Cruz, if there is no Mass. If there are reservations in Portuguese and English for the same time, the visit will be made in English, if it is not possible to arrange a Guide for each language.

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.

Serra da Lousã is known for its “magic villages” of schist but it is not just its stone houses that are magical. In this walk of about 18 km and 900 m of positive difference, we will take you to discover its forests of oak, chestnut and pine trees, always accompanied by water courses and waterfalls. Along this walk we will visit several schist villages where we will take you to imagine what it would be like to live in this summer refuge for shepherds and farmers. Come with us on this adventure, the nature of Serra da Lousã awaits you.

Venture into Portugal’s largest caves and discover the stunning Serra de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park on this 7-hour e-bike tour. Experience the thrill of riding through breathtaking landscapes while exploring the impressive underground formations of the Mira de Aire Caves. This adventure combines nature and excitement, guided by an expert who will enhance your journey with insights about the area. Suitable for participants with a minimum height of 145 cm, this tour includes e-bike rental, helmet, and insurance for safety and peace of mind. - Explore Portugal’s largest caves on an exhilarating e-bike tour - Journey through the beauty of Serra de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park - Expert guide to share insights and enhance your adventure - Includes e-bike, helmet, and insurance for a safe experience

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.

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.

Venture away from the bustling city and spend a day in wine country on this full-day excursion. Visit central Portugal’s Bairrada wine region for a day filled with tastings and local experiences. Stop at a few vineyards to learn about the winemaking process, including how to make sparkling wine. Sample various wines, stroll through the vines, walk through deep cellar tunnels, and more over the course of the day.

In this tour we invite you to come cycling in the vineyards, knowing this vast territory in a different and exclusive way, where you will have direct contact with the grapes and the producers. Time to visit one of the traditional wineries of the Rota da Bairrada and finish with wine and sparkling wine tasting.

Leiria has a castle on the hill and centuries of history below it — this tour connects both. This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through Leiria on foot, using phone-based riddles to guide you from one landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time. • Visit the Sé de Leiria cathedral and the Moinho do Papel, discovering the craft and religious heritage that shaped this quiet Portuguese city • Go at your own pace, take breaks along the river, and let the riddles lead the way • Great for groups of any size — the scoring system adds some friendly competition to a very walkable city 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. Leiria's castle has watched over the city for 900 years — your 2-hour tour is nothing by comparison.

Tomar was built by the Knights Templar — and their legacy is still very much alive in the streets you're about to walk. This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through Tomar on foot, using phone-based riddles to guide you from one landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time. • Follow the clues to the Monumento Dom Henrique and Praça da República, piecing together Tomar's remarkable place in Portuguese and European history • Move at your own speed — the app guides you, the city rewards you • Riddles, trivia, and photo tasks make this a standout activity for families, school trips, and curious couples 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. The Templars built this city to last forever — you've got about two hours.

Discover Coimbra like never before with the Secrets of Coimbra City Game, a fun self-guided walking tour and city game packed with puzzles, riddles and hidden stories! This GPS-based exploration game lets you experience Coimbra while exploring famous spots such as the University of Coimbra, the Old Cathedral of Coimbra, the Santa Cruz Church, the Manga Garden and the Dom Pedro V Market. Play solo for a personal challenge or together with friends, family or colleagues. During the game you solve tricky questions, puzzles, riddles and creative photo tasks to score points, unlock extra clues and solve the final mystery. Pause whenever you want and continue later at your own pace. Compete for a place on the leaderboard or play competitively for team building, making this scavenger hunt and walking tour through Coimbra perfect for every type of explorer.

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!

pensar em Portugal é pensar na sua fascinante história, rica em conquistas/descobertas e momentos memoráveis. Desde a fundação até aos dias de hoje, preservamos com orgulho tradições e costumes

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.