Coimbra

A Taberna

If you want to try chanfana, one of the most famous dishes of the region, you should definitely go to this restaurant, close to the football stadium. This restaurant is specialized in a limited amount of dishes, but the quality of the food is just amazing. Go there at night, and try the chanfana, even though you may not have a clue about what this is. This is the place for those who really appreciate good food. Don't go too late at night, because it can be a little crowded. The restaurant is very good, and it's located in the most densely populated area of the city.

12:30–15:00 & 19:30–22:30, closed Sun dinner & Mon lunch

Bar AAC

Bar Associação Académica de Coimbra

Coimbra University academic association bar. Entrance sometimes limited to University students.

Mon–Fri 10:00–04:00, Sat Sun 15:00–04:00

Bar Diligência

The oldest Fado House in Coimbra. Typical night bar where you'll find Fado de Coimbra and all kinds of Portuguese traditional music.

Mon–Sat 20:00–02:00, Sun closed

Café Santa Cruz

A historical cafe next to the "Igreja de Santa Cruz" (Holy Cross Church).

Mon–Wed Fri 07:00–00:00, Thu Sat Sun 08:00–00:00

Fangas Mercearia Bar

Small but tasty dishes, rich in flavour mainly because they use local products, good vegetarian even vegan choice, nice selection of Portuguese wines, surprising(ly good) desserts.

Mon–Wed 19:00–23:00, Thu Fri 19:00–23:30, Sat 12:30–15:30 & 19:00–23:30, Sun 12:30–15:30 & 19:00–23:00

Itália

The Italian restaurant in the city park and over the river, very close to the Santa Clara bridge (very popular with tourists). You have a lot of outside tables, if the weather permits, and the food is prepared by Italian cooks. It's not very expensive either.

Tue–Sun 11:30–23:30, Mon closed

João dos Leitões

One of the most typical restaurants of the city. Its main dish is a roasted piglet served whole with potatoes and salad.

Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00, Sat 09:00–15:00, Sun closed·EUR 5–EUR 18

Memorial da Irmã Lúcia

Sister Lúcia's Memorial

Dedicated to Sister Lúcia, one of three shepherd children who the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to at Fátima in 1917. She later became a Carmelite sister.

Tue-Sun 15:00–18:00, Mon closed·EUR 1.50, children under 12 free

Molho de Brocolos

Organic vegan food. Location isn't great tucked away at the back of the 2nd floor of a slightly run-down shopping centre, but the food and the staff totally make up for it.

€5-8 mains

Noites Longas

Disco near Praça da República, alternative sounding (metal, rock).

Tue Thu–Sat 19:00–07:00, Mon Wed Sun closed

O Telheiro

On the downside, it is very hard to get a table (but you will get one if you wait) and it is out of the centre of Coimbra (approx. 5 min from Coimbra B train station).

Tue-Sat 12:00–15:00 & 19:00–23:00, Sun Mon closed·EUR 10–EUR 25

Parque Dr. Manuel Braga

Parque da Cidade, Dr. Manuel Braga Park

City park on the Mondego River. Formerly property of the Benedictine monks. The park includes the Water Museum and several monuments.

Quebra

Bar Quebra Costas

Nice location on the stairs leading to Se Velha. Open air concerts.

Restaurante Vitória

Restaurante Vitória is in the city centre and has traditional dishes suchs as "cozido à portuguesa", "bacalhau assado na brasa", "chafana". Nice and quiet restaurant.

Salão Brasil

In the "baixinha" (downtown) centre. A unique room, with huge windows and very spacious, invites for a relaxed meal. The food is great with some unique dishes from around the country - like "Vitela Maronesa" and "Secretos de Porco preto". Vegetarian meals. During the weekends there is jazz, folk and fado concerts - most of them for free. It's great to finish your meal - you have plenty of time, Portuguese are always late - and get a concert right there. Sometimes they get very crowded.

Tue–Sat 18:00–02:00, Sun Mon closed

Salão Brazil

A restaurant but also a bar, most worthy during weekends, with - mostly - free jazz, folk and fado concerts.

Toscana

Another very popular Italian restaurant, close to the new bridge. The decoration is great, with a lot of pictures from Florence, Venice, Rome. The quality of the food is quite high. It's definitely not your standard pizza.

Mon 19:00–22:30, Tue–Sat 12:00–15:00 & 19:00–22:30, Sun closed

Zé Manel dos Ossos

A unique atmosphere inside the restaurant is responsible for this fame, but the food is good too. The walls of the restaurant are filled with small pieces of paper, with writings from clients. Be aware that it is quite a small space, so there's a big probability that you won't find a table. Generous portions and a charcoal grill that makes a big difference compared with the electric ones. Try the bone marrow stew (from which the restaurant takes its name) or the grilled seabass or a great dish of stewed octopus and potatoes.

Mon–Sat 12:30–15:00 & 19:30–22:00, Sun closed

àCapella

A bar where you can find yourself surrounded by Portuguese guitar tunes and Fado de Coimbra. Get a grip of this so traditional local culture.

Daily 19:00–02:00

Machado de Castro National Museum

Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro

Museum housing the sculpture of Joaquim Machado de Castro (1731–1822), among numerous other artworks. Collections include archaeology, sculpture, precious metals, jewellery, paintings, textiles, ceramics, furniture, and drawings. From the 12th century to 1910, the building served as the palace of the bishop of Coimbra.

Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, closed Mon·Adults EUR 6, students & seniors 65+ EUR 3, kids 0–12 free

Monastery of the Holy Cross

Mosteiro de Santa Cruz

Founded in 1131, this church is a national monument where Portugal's first two kings, Afonso Henriques and Sancho I, are buried. It was built in Romanesque style, and became Manueline over the centuries through renovations.

Mon–Sat 11:30–16:30, Sun 14:00–17:00·EUR 3

New Cathedral of Coimbra de Coimbra

Sé Nova

A late-16th- and 17th-century Mannerist and Baroque cathedral.

Old Cathedral of Coimbra

Sé Velha de Coimbra

A 12th-century Romanesque cathedral. In the 16th century, many Renaissance features were added.

Old Monastery of Saint Clare

Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha

13th-century Gothic monastery/convent on the bank of the River Mondego. It's a national monument.

Portugal dos Pequenitos

Portugal for the Little Ones

A theme park containing child-sized recreations of Portuguese monuments and villages, including pieces from the islands and from Coimbra itself, as well as models of sights from former colonies. There's also a museum showing 300 scaled-down recreations of historical clothing.

1 Mar–15 Oct: 10:00–19:00 daily; 16 Oct–28/29 Feb 10:00–17:00 daily; closed 25 Dec·Adults 14–64 EUR 12, kids 3–13 EUR 7, seniors 65+ EUR 9, kids 0–2 free, full pricing details

Science Museum of the University of Coimbra

Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra

Scientific collections from the fields of botany, zoology, anthropology, mineralogy, astronomy, geophysics, physic, chemistry, and natural history. Some items date back to 1772 when reforms by the Marquis of Pombal lent importance to the study of sciences.

Mar–Oct: chemistry 10:00–19:00 daily, physics & natural history 10:30–13:00 & 14:00–19:30 daily, academic gallery Mon–Fri 10:00–15:00 by appt; Nov–Feb: chemistry 10:00–18:00 daily, physics & natural history 10:00–13:00 & 14:00–18:00 daily, academic gallery 10:00–15:00 daily by appt·Adults EUR 5, students 18–26 & seniors 65+ EUR 3.50, kids 13–18 EUR 2.50, kids 0-12 free

University of Coimbra

Founded in Lisbon in 1290, the second oldest university on the Iberian peninsula eventually found a permanent home in Coimbra in 1537. Among the beautiful buildings on the campus is the Biblioteca Joanina library. The university enrolls over 20,000 students, and famous alumni include national poet Luís de Camões and Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. It's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013.

Alma Shopping

Rua General Humberto Delgado 207

Sun–Thu 08:30–23:00, Fri Sat & holiday eves 08:30–00:00

Botanical Garden

Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra

Coimbra Shopping

Avenida Mendes Silva

Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00, Sat Sun 08:00–17:00