Explore the best places
Igreja de São Julião / Igreja Matriz de Setúbal
- heritage
Praça do Bocage, 135
2900-349, Setúbal
The main and side facades of this church feature imposing Manueline portals dating from the 1513 renovation. Inside, the highlight is the three naves adorned with 18th-century tile panels.
Praia de Galapinhos
- beach
Praia de Galapinhos
2925, Galapos
A beach bordered by a slope covered in lush vegetation, with inviting waters. There is a small bar in this area where you can have light meals.
Praia do Portinho da Arrábida
- beach
Portinho da Arrábida
2925, Portinho da Arrábida
A small beach with calm, crystal-clear waters and a rich marine fauna. In the background, you can see Pedra da Anicha, a zoological reserve with great plant and animal diversity. Nearby is a cave, Lape de Santa Margarida, with traces of Lower Paleolithic man. In the distance, you can see the Forte de Nossa Senhora da Arrábida. Quality restaurants offer typical regional dishes, highlighting Azeitão cheese, honey, and wine. It has been classified as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal.
Praia da Figueirinha
- beach
Praia da Figueirinha
2900, Praia da Figueirinha
A very beautiful and pleasant beach where environmental education courses are organized. It has a library and first aid post, and water slides are available for rent. There is a good quality restaurant and many traditional shops. It has already received an award for Most Accessible Beach.
Miradouro do Penedo da Saudade
- country
- leisure
Avenida Doutor Marnoco e Sousa
3000-331, Coimbra
This is a viewpoint filled with evocative marble plaques bearing excerpts from poems by famous Portuguese authors who studied in Coimbra. It also has an area called "Retiro dos Poetas" (Poets' Retreat), with effigies of authors such as Eça de Queiroz, António Nobre, and João de Deus. It offers a magnificent panoramic view of the city.
Biblioteca Joanina
- heritage
Praça da Porta Férrea
3000-447, Coimbra
This 18th-century building is notable for its magnificent Baroque portal on the exterior, topped by the national coat of arms of King John V. The simplicity of the facade contrasts with the profuse decoration of the interior, where the ceilings, painted by Lisbon artists António Simões and Vicente Nunes, and a huge canvas depicting King John V, executed around 1730 by Domenico Duprá, stand out. This library holds approximately 300,000 works, dating from the 12th to the 19th centuries, with an emphasis on law, philosophy, and theology.
Pátio da Inquisição
- heritage
Pátio da Inquisição
3000-221, Santa Cruz
This historic courtyard owes its name to the group of buildings surrounding it, where the Tribunal of the Holy Office operated from 1566 until its closure in 1821. It also formed part of the original College of Arts and currently houses the Center for Visual Arts.
Parque Verde do Mondego / Parque Doutor Manuel Braga
- country
- leisure
Avenida Emídio Navarro - Parque Verde do Mondego
3000, Coimbra
This is one of the most beautiful city parks in Coimbra, with flowerbeds and leafy trees, dedicated to leisure. The Mondego River forms the backdrop. It features some statuary and a beautiful bandstand by the architect Silva Pinto. On sunny days, there are plenty of activities for all tastes and ages. Electric cars and scooters, inflatable boats, canoes or pedal boats, pedal karts, or a ride on the Barca Serrana (a traditional boat) are some suggestions. If you prefer, go for a run or a bike ride on the four-kilometer path and, to relax, choose one of the terraces overlooking …
Arco e Torre de Almedina
- heritage
Rua do Arco Almedina, 7
3000-180, Coimbra
The Almedina Arch was part of the medieval walls, dating back to the 11th century, as indicated by the Arabic-origin toponym meaning "the city". Today it is the entrance to old Coimbra, where one can see a sculpture from the workshop of João de Ruão. The wall has Roman origins, having been expanded several times. It presents characteristics of Roman, Muslim, Romanesque, Gothic and Manueline architecture.
Mata Nacional do Choupal
- country
- leisure
Choupal
3000, Coimbra
The Choupal Forest is one of the most beautiful spaces in the city, possessing flora and fauna difficult to find elsewhere in the country. It has few specimens of the trees that gave it its name, with the exception of some species such as the white poplar, American poplar, and black poplar. Despite the aging of its vegetation, Choupal is still the most famous park in the city. The Coimbra Equestrian Centre is located here, where horseback riding is possible.