Coimbra is a small city on a human scale and its university a jewel, I would recommend it as a destination for anyone looking for a year of study abroad. It has a simple traveler like me, I absolutely recommend not to miss a stop of at least a couple of hours on a city tour; personally I took the basic ticket that includes library, church and Royal Palace, I was curious about the other packages... With what I have chosen you are on the safe side, three very worthy historical visits, including the library which is wonderful with its inlaid and colorful woods. Without a doubt the best activity that Coimbra offers. PS advice to book in advance and arrive on time, arriving late you would miss a piece of the route (you start from the underground prison)

The entire university and its rich history are impressive. Because neither academic work nor student learning are suitable for tourist visits, the visit is concentrated on three beautiful, important rooms of the ancient library. There are windows of opportunity, long waiting times and unjustifiably high entrance fees. It is like an act of mercy to be admitted into these rooms for exactly 10 minutes, with a strict ban on photography, even without flashes. There are no hints and explanations. If you don't take this procedure, wear it with composure. There are also magnificent libraries elsewhere, and a better presentation almost everywhere. I found the visit disappointing. Gherardino

If you are in Coimbra visiting, this is a must….it is a UNESCO site (since 2013) … it was founded by King Dinis in 1290, established in Coimbra in 1537. It is one of the oldest university in Europe and was the only one in Portuguese speaking world until 1911. Our tickets 11 euros senior rate) bought on line …gives you the visit of the Palace, the botanical gardens, the library , the Micheal chapel and the grounds…In the palace, you visit the Armory room, examination room (with pictures of kings ) , the throne room…..the faculties room, each is decorated with its colour ( yellow is for medicine) we don’t see them all…It is well done each room has information sheets in different languages….it is a steep uphill to get to it , we took a Uber which only costs 3.33 euros . Also to visit all of this , just know , there is a lot of stairs, no elevators….

Beautiful and interesting. the royal palace is nice and the chapel breathtaking. Ticket office is not so easy to find. Did not appear to have that many people visiting on the day we were there. Unfortunate that we were not able to visit the library. Although we normally book everything in advance (months and months) this was a stop on way from Lisbon to Porto. Would have had to wait over 2 hours but again we did not see many people. Strongly recommend you book those tickets in advance.

I rented a car from Porto and went on a day trip to the University of Coimbra, the oldest university in Portugal. I arrived in the ancient city of Coimbra early in the morning, but I couldn't find a parking lot, so I was able to buy a ticket to visit the university at the earliest possible time, as the 11:00 entrance ticket was the fastest. Many parking lots were closed, so I was able to drive around the city and get a good idea of all the locations. It's a relatively small city with many slopes, so I felt that a motorcycle would be more convenient. The view of the city from the University of Coimbra at the top of the hill makes you feel like you understand why the university was founded in this small city. There are three places to see. Among them, the Joanina Library, reminiscent of the Harry Potter series, is a must-see. Although the interior is small, the ceiling is high and time flows slowly. By the way, photography is prohibited inside the library.

My wife and I were here on a Gate1 tour. Coimbra is the third-largest city in Portugal. We visited the University of Coimbra, among the oldest universities in Europe, with more than 700 years of history. Most impressive was their beautiful library. Interesting is the fact that the average yearly cost of tuition for a student at a public university is under $700 – yes, you read that right - $700, NOT $7,000 or $70,000! Grades 1-12 are compulsory. Some nice views overlooking the city.

The University of Coimbra is located at the highest point of the city. With the heat it was not easy to reach the complex. We had a timeslot and first visited the chapel and then the library. It's beautiful. Unfortunately, you can't take pictures there. The whole complex exudes grandeur and the view over the city is beautiful.

We were fortunate to take two UC tours. The botanical gardens with Tania and the University with Patricia. Both were truly outstanding. Needs to be booked ahead, click the 'guided tours' tab on the ticket page. Thank you so much.

Beautiful bookcase! Imposing and wonderful shame about the ban on taking photos. Royal Palace and the church are worth a visit. There is only some indication to reach the entry points for visits. Unfortunately you risk going back and forth several times to find the entrances.

Coimbra is a very nice Portuguese city totally worth a stop by. Very enjoyable on foot from the parks and restaurants along the river all the way up to the University. On the Main Street at river’s level enjoy typical local pastries at the outdoor traditional cafes.