Portugal's old university city, with a dazzling baroque library, fado sung by students and steep lanes down to the river. Here's what Coimbra is like, when to go and how long to stay.
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Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
April to June and September to October are best. May brings the students' Queima das Fitas celebrations, which are lively and loud. Summer is hot and quieter as students leave. Winter is cool and wet.
A gilded baroque library at the old university. Book a time slot.
The clock tower, chapel and great hall at the top of the hill.
Fado sung by men in student capes, different from Lisbon's.
A fortress-like Romanesque cathedral.
A miniature park of Portugal's buildings, loved by children.
Roman ruins with mosaics, 20 minutes away.
Yes. The university and library are spectacular, and it's a lively student city between Lisbon and Porto.
One or two days covers the main sights.
Fly into Porto or Lisbon, then take the train, about an hour from Porto or 1 hour 45 minutes from Lisbon.
April to June and September to October, around 20 to 27°C.
Yes, ideally. Tickets are for timed slots and sell out in busy months.
Put Coimbra on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.