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Coimbra
Coimbra [1] is a city in Central Portugal.It is the main city in the Centro region.
Culture and History
Travel to Coimbra & Visa Requirements
Train station(Coimbra via Coimbra-B)
Flights and airtickets to Coimbra
The most convenient airports for Coimbra are (in order of distance):
By train
All of the trains connecting Porto and Lisbon stop at Coimbra- B; about 1h00 from Porto and about 1h 45m from Lisbon. Long distance services only serve Coimbra B station (away from city center) but all tickets include a 5 min train ride to Coimbra A (center of Coimbra)"Baixa de Coimbra"{downtown}. Fast train only stop at Coimbra-B station, while Coimbra, or Coimbra-A is right in the city center. Train times (from any location) can be found on the National Rail - CP[4]
By car
The best way to drive to Coimbra is using the A1 Highway. Take any exit to Coimbra and you will be about 10 min away from the city center.
Buses to Coimbra
The bus station is located at Av. Fernão de Magalhães and is easily reached with a local bus or by foot(a long walk{10 minutes} to city center). It has destinations for all of Portugal (with changes for some far away destinations), it´s faster and fares are - normally - cheaper than the train.
Coimbra is hard city to drive as it was built around the medieval structures. The best option for visiting Coimbra is to find an hotel with parking or to park near the city center and then walk around. The main attractions are in the city center and within walking distance of each other. Driving not advised in the city center, unless familiar. Also, parking is difficult. Coimbra Baixa is the lower{downtown}; Alta is the highest part of the city,also difficult to drive.
Tours & Getting around Coimbra
Most of the things to see and do in Coimbra, and most of the places to eat, drink and sleep are within reasonable walking distance of each other and of the rail station,in Baixa. There several hotels, residencials, pensions, restaurants, cafes, pastry shops, and nightclubs. Transit: buses, trolleys, electric cars. Most monuments are in Baixa and Santa Clara(across Mondego river). Smaller shops,restaurants,hotels,mostly in Baixa and Santa Clara. Major Shopping malls are in Alta,by Solum,near municipal staduim/pool.
Coimbra attractions and sightseeing
- University of Coimbra [5]
- Botanical Garden
- Machado de Castro National Museum [6]
- Old Cathedral(Se Velha){Impressive Cathedral}
- New Cathedral of Coimbra(Se Nova)
- Igreja de Santa Cruz (church in Baixa)
- Medieval Downtown (Sao Tiago;Sao Bartolomeu)
- Jardim da Sereia - "Mermaid's Garden" aka Jardim de Santa Cruz
- Penedo da Saudade(a beautiful garden)
- Sister Lucia of Jesus Memorial
- Parque Manuel Braga and Parque Verde do Mondego- City parks by the Mondego River
- Mondego River
- Portugal dos Pequenitos - "Portugal of the little ones"
- Quinta das Lagrimas and its tragic story of love.
- Sta. Clara-a-Velha Convent
- Sta. Clara-a-Nova Convent
- Eurostadium Cidade de Coimbra - one of Euro2004 stages
- Museum of Science
Coimbra city tours
Have a walk up to the top of University Hill from the Mondego river (one of the three great rivers of Portugal),a gorgeous view.
Fado
There are two kinds of fado in Portugal: Fado from Lisbon and Fado from Coimbra, none should be missed. [Fado,nostalgic songs played by guitarr]
- Coimbra Fado group Verdes Anos
Student life
There is always a lot going on in the student community, go and find out what's up. There are two student festivals held every year:
- Festa das Latas
- Queima das Fitas
Get lost
The center of Coimbra is a great place to get lost, Coimbra is a small city but it is full of interesting spots. Museums(Machado de Castro),Torre d`Anto,etc.
Coimbra souvenirs & shopping
The medieval center of Coimbra is unusual in retaining a number of independent bookshops, boutiques, toyshops, galleries, antique and foodshops.There are several bookstores,cafes,restaurants,esplanadas. In Alta/Olivais:
- Coimbra Shopping
- Dolce Vita
- Forum Coimbra
If you are even just a bit into pottery, the traditional pottery is a must.
Coimbra Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive
Having a meal is not really a problem in Coimbra, since the city has a lots of restaurants,some typical,in old city(Baixa).
Budget
Three reasonably big shopping centers serve the standard fast food meals you can find everywhere. They are located in key places in the city, but not necessarily close to the tourist attractions of the city.
Mid Range
- Italia, 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.
- Zé Manel dos Ossos is one of the most famous restaurants in Coimbra, and for a good reason. 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.
- Restaurante Vitória is located in the city centre and has portuguese traditional dishes suchs as "cozido à portuguesa", "bacalhau assado na brasa", "chafana". It'a a nice and quiet restaurant.
- Salão Brasil in the "baixinha" (downtown) center. 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.
- 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.
- Toscana is 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...
- O Telheiro - this restaurant deserves a visit, it is unbelievable: lots of great food and cheap prices. On the down side it is Very hard to get a table(but you will get one if you wait) and it is out of the center of Coimbra.
- Farinha de Milho in Anca, a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful setting with beautiful traditional Portuguese food. This restaurant is in an old water mill in a small village just 10 minutes drive from Coimbra.
Splurge
- Quinta das Lágrimas hotel's restaurant may be the best restaurant in the city. It's the most expensive place in the city though... Be sure to wear your best clothes if you go there. It's a very fancy place.
- Gengibre is modern and elegant restaurant near the Santo Antonio dos Olivais church
Coimbra nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs
- There is a lot of quality wine production in the regions surrounding Coimbra, try some "Bairrada" wine.
- Don't miss the "licor beirao", a national sweet liquor drink born and made in the region.
- Try the different varieties of firewater "Agua-Ardente". One is made only from grapes while the other is made from mixed fruit. Each have a unique and different after taste.
Cafes
- Cafe de Santa Cruz is a historical cafe next to the "Igreja de Santa Cruz" (Saint Cross Church).
- The bars in the new City Park are open all day long.
Night out
A warning, the students in this town seem to prefer Tuesday or Thursday night to go out. On weekends, this city is sleepy as many students go home to their families.
- a Capela bar, were you can find yourself surrounded by Portuguese guitar tunes and "Fado de Coimbra" get a grip of this so traditional local culture.
- Diligencia Bar - also typical night bar were you'll find Fado de Coimbra.
- Salao Brazil - A restaurant but also a bar, most worthy during weekends, with - mostly - free jazz, folk and fado concerts.
- BAAC - Academic Association Bar, entrance limited to University students.
- Xuven - bar near Praca da Republica.
- Procura-me - bar near Praca da Republica.
- The bars in the "Parque Verde do Mondego" are a good place to go for a drink during Spring and Summer.
- The bars around the "Praca da Republica" are full of the spirit of the students of the University, mainly during weekdays in Autumn, Winter and Spring.
Clubs
- Noites Longas - Disco near Praca da Republica, alternative sounding (metal, rock).
- Via Latina - Disco near Praca da Republica, techno and house.
- Vinyl - One of the best clubs in Coimbra.
Coimbra cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging
Budget
There are several cheap hostels around the city center.
- Pousada de Juventude is quite inexpensive. In June 2008 the going rate was 11 Euros a night plus 2 euros if you are don't have the card from youth hostel.
- Residencial Domus, rua Adelino Veiga 62, [7]. They have cheaper rooms in another building just opposite - a double costs 20 euros (February 2006).
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This page was last edited at 09:53, on 24 November 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by David Cross, Wikitravel user(s) Morph and Texugo, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.
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