Coimbra is a university city on a hill above the Mondego, about halfway between Lisbon and Porto. The Alta, with the University of Coimbra, rises above the Baixa, the lower town of shops along the river, and the south bank holds Santa Clara-a-Velha and Portugal dos Pequenitos.

This page covers how to reach Coimbra, the areas of the city, and its student traditions, music and food.

Getting to Coimbra

By train: long-distance trains on the line between Lisbon and Porto stop at Coimbra-B station, north of the centre, and local trains run on to the station in the centre.
By road: the A1 motorway between Lisbon and Porto passes Coimbra.

Areas of Coimbra

Alta: the upper town, with the University, the Old and New Cathedrals and the Museu Nacional Machado de Castro, reached by steep streets from the Baixa.
Baixa: the lower town, with Rua Ferreira Borges, Praça do Comércio and Praça 8 de Maio, where the Santa Cruz Monastery stands.
South bank: the bank of the Mondego opposite the city, with Santa Clara-a-Velha, Portugal dos Pequenitos and the Quinta das Lágrimas.

In and around Coimbra

Museu Nacional Machado de Castro: the national museum of the city, in the former bishops' palace in the Alta, with sculpture, painting and Roman remains.
Sé Nova: the former Jesuit church in the Alta, now the cathedral of Coimbra.
Botanical Garden: the garden of the University, created in the 18th century under the reform of the Marquis of Pombal.
Quinta das Lágrimas: an estate and garden on the south bank, linked to the story of Pedro and Inês.
Conímbriga: the Roman ruins and museum in the municipality of Condeixa-a-Nova, south-west of Coimbra.

River beaches in Coimbra

Palheiros e Zorro beach

Location⁨Coimbra⁩
Beach type⁨Inland beach⁩

Rebolim beach

Location⁨Coimbra⁩
Beach type⁨Inland beach⁩

Traditions, music and food

Academic traditions: students of the University wear the black academic gown, and the Queima das Fitas marks the end of the academic year in May.
Coimbra fado: a form of fado linked to the University, traditionally sung by men.
Food: chanfana, a goat stew cooked in red wine, roast suckling pig from the nearby Bairrada, and arroz doce, sweet rice.