Biblioteca Joanina
Biblioteca Joanina
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:40 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:40 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:40 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:40 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:40 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:40 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:40 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:40 PM
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- ClaudettBarcelona, Spain134 contributionsA must visit in CoimbraA must visit if you are walking through Coimbra. So far it is one of the most beautiful libraries I have visited. It's a shame that they don't allow you to take photos without flash or video. I suggest buying tickets online, otherwise you will have to go to the offices of the medical school about 500 meters from the library entrance, outside the patio where the library is located.Visited February 2024Traveled with friendsWritten February 15, 2024
- roularougeCologne, Germany370 contributionsAbsolutely worth seeing...pure goosebumps!Buy a ticket online for the time slot in which you want to go in. Everything is very well organized and there is no waiting time to enter the library. First you go into the somewhat less spectacular area and then you have 10 minutes in this dream of Baroque architecture and books from every era. There is one person in the room who makes sure that no photographs are taken. Some do it anyway. But it's much nicer to let this incredible atmosphere work its magic on you anyway. €13.50 is completely fine for everything you can visit.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 30, 2024
- Jan RBrisbane, Australia201 contributionsA Long way to the topWe are senior women who are prepared for a challenge and walking to the university was certainly that…a challenge. Hills and steps, and lots of them However it was worth the effort and views on the way up and once there are stunning The library itself is as others said, a short 10 mins inside the upper floor after leaving the goal below. You cannot take photos inside the library itself. We were cheeky and stood behind an English speaking guide. Make sure you do your homework so you can get the full impact of what was created so very long ago If you can hitch a ride do so. Or if you are younger than 80 (that’s me), then enjoy the workout on foot. Great for the leg muscles and the heartVisited June 2024Traveled with friendsWritten June 7, 2024
- Claudia SRatingen, Germany475 contributionsVery impressiveA great library for which you need a ticket. You have to get these at the tourist information desk beforehand as a combination ticket for various sightseeing options of the university.....i.e. with palace, chapel and science section or incl. all possible departments with or without a guided tour. All rooms are equipped with stands, in which laminated cards are available, which show a lot of interesting information in the different languages. Photography is allowed in the anterooms, not in the main library anymore!Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten August 4, 2024
- danielh5Westfield, New Jersey104 contributionsBeautiful historical libraryMust see when visiting Coimbra. Cool old library with prison. Bought tickets last minute online so were limited to afternoon. Expect to share space with tour groups. Went without a group, so learned from the information sheets in various languages. Recommend.Visited September 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten September 8, 2024
- knowsnyc888 contributionsLiterally stunningThe most ornate library I have ever seen. Full stop. There are 60, 000 volumes stacked up high and clever, hidden ladders with which staff can access them. Bugs are a hazard to books so the library keeps bats to eat them. Really. The timed tickets mean you can enjoy the space but you cannot take photos no matter you want to!Visited December 2024Traveled with friendsWritten December 3, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,037 contributions
Jun 2022
The Joanina library is the most beautiful part of your Coimbra University visit.
It's named after Portuguese King Joao V who ordered its construction to impress his future wife, Princess of Austria. During the 1700's Portugal was at its peak of colonial power, so many exclusive high quality materials were brought from the colonies to finish it. Best architects, wood sculptors and artists were engaged, which resulted in amazing decoration and beauty.
BEWARE:
1. You cannot buy tickets on the spot by the Library at the University square.
2. Tickets for the entire University complex are sold across the Chemical Laboratory (also included in the entrance) which is around the corner of the new Se Cathedral (some 10 min walk from the University square itself). Very illogical, but that's it - do that first to avoid double walking like we did.
3. You must comply with the time slot given for the library, to be there at exact time. Entrance is on the left side down the stairs from the front Library facade.
4. You go only with your tour and have a total of around 20 min.
5. First 5 min is for the basement floor which used to be an academic prison - disappointing and nothing to see.
6. Second 5 min is for the first floor where some historic books are (very average, you begin to think you waste your time and money)
7. The last 10 min are in the jaw dropping main library on the second floor (actually the main square level) where you will exit.
It's named after Portuguese King Joao V who ordered its construction to impress his future wife, Princess of Austria. During the 1700's Portugal was at its peak of colonial power, so many exclusive high quality materials were brought from the colonies to finish it. Best architects, wood sculptors and artists were engaged, which resulted in amazing decoration and beauty.
BEWARE:
1. You cannot buy tickets on the spot by the Library at the University square.
2. Tickets for the entire University complex are sold across the Chemical Laboratory (also included in the entrance) which is around the corner of the new Se Cathedral (some 10 min walk from the University square itself). Very illogical, but that's it - do that first to avoid double walking like we did.
3. You must comply with the time slot given for the library, to be there at exact time. Entrance is on the left side down the stairs from the front Library facade.
4. You go only with your tour and have a total of around 20 min.
5. First 5 min is for the basement floor which used to be an academic prison - disappointing and nothing to see.
6. Second 5 min is for the first floor where some historic books are (very average, you begin to think you waste your time and money)
7. The last 10 min are in the jaw dropping main library on the second floor (actually the main square level) where you will exit.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K72
Melbourne, Australia3,085 contributions
Jul 2023
Beautiful library in the university with an interesting history. You pay 13.5 euro to enter and then are given a 10 min slot to explore the dungeons and then a further 10 mins to explore the library. You can take photos or touch anything. It's a dark/ humid room but is quite intricately decorated,
It was great to see but really very expensive for 10 mins!
It was great to see but really very expensive for 10 mins!
Written July 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RandyRoss
Ridgetown, Canada12,803 contributions
May 2022
The Biblioteca Joanina, sometimes known in English as the Joanine Library, is a Baroque library in Coimbra, Portugal, located at the heart of the University of Coimbra. It is regularly considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
The Biblioteca Joanina is named after its founder, King John V of Portugal, who began construction on the library in 1717, during the onset of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe. It is home to more than 70,000 volumes, including many priceless, historical documents and first editions. It is registered as a National Monument.
Entry is down a set of stairs outside and then back up a couple of sets of stairs inside (however, there is an easier option for people with mobility issues). Our guide told us that photos were not allowed, although I did not see any signs to that effect. Tours are scheduled in advance and time inside is strictly limited.
The Biblioteca Joanina is named after its founder, King John V of Portugal, who began construction on the library in 1717, during the onset of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe. It is home to more than 70,000 volumes, including many priceless, historical documents and first editions. It is registered as a National Monument.
Entry is down a set of stairs outside and then back up a couple of sets of stairs inside (however, there is an easier option for people with mobility issues). Our guide told us that photos were not allowed, although I did not see any signs to that effect. Tours are scheduled in advance and time inside is strictly limited.
Written June 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ivana c
28 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
All very beautiful. Worth the visit. Too bad the lack of kindness of the employees at the entrances. Even at the entrance to the prison and then the Joanina library we had to stand in the pouring rain without being able to enter one meter even though we had the ticket. The cost of the cumulative ticket for the various entrances is 13.50, which seemed expensive to us, taking into account that there are several rooms that are NOT accessible, that you cannot take photos in the library even without a flash, including that you can only stay in there for a very short time and that the visits must be conducted completely independently without a guide. The chemistry laboratory then has half of the instruments demonstrating the experiments NOT working and overall not very interesting. The chapel, however, is very, very beautiful. Even here the girl at the entrance doesn't know what kindness is. Meh.
Written February 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I K
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Family
After buying tickets online and waiting for two hours we got a whole 10 minutes to look at the library (which looks pretty nice but imo not extremely spectacular) Make sure you take mental pictures because real pictures are not allowed. Best parts were the ceiling paintings.
It’s a total rip off to pay over €10 per person for 10 minutes in this library. My advise, don’t get tricked into this and just walk into a church (often for free) every now and then. You will see similar (if not better) paintings there and you can come and go when you want to.
It’s a total rip off to pay over €10 per person for 10 minutes in this library. My advise, don’t get tricked into this and just walk into a church (often for free) every now and then. You will see similar (if not better) paintings there and you can come and go when you want to.
Written July 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irene b
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
It seemed to me that for the price they ask, they don't let you enjoy the visit. They have areas with doors where you cannot access the next area until a bell rings. If you go individually, they make you enter with huge guided groups and the rooms become crowded and noise is created between conversations that spoils the visit. For such a famous library, these things spoil the visit
Written August 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
philJ6664YE
99 contributions
Oct 2024 • Friends
Due to a fire drill, the tour was reduced to 3 minutes inside the library. The employee – very unsympathetic – was totally unable to tell us when we could get back inside. And no excuses. Nothing. Nada.
Very bad organization. Despising staff. This is how to ruin what I had hoped for for so many days. Grr,
Very bad organization. Despising staff. This is how to ruin what I had hoped for for so many days. Grr,
Automatically translated
Written October 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcos Gonzalez
Spain211 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
Old library with a vast collection of books and rococo architecture. It wasn't that shocking to me. The library of the National Palace of Mafra seems to me to have more documentary and historical value. They do not allow taking photographs and you can only stay for 10 minutes. If you are not super interested in meeting her, I would skip her on my visit.
Written January 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shahar Klinger
Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal7 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
A beautiful library indeed, but very small - only 3 rooms, and not much to do there. We had 10 minutes to be inside, according to the guide outside, but we finished sight-seeing in about 5 and just waited with the rest of the group for the exit doors to be opened (you can't exit when you feel like).
No photography allowed, nothing interactive or out of the ordinary, very dark. All of this made the experience uninteresting.
No photography allowed, nothing interactive or out of the ordinary, very dark. All of this made the experience uninteresting.
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pilar R
Getxo, Spain8 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Years ago I visited the Joanina Library. I was so delighted with the space and the guide's explanations that I have decided to return to Coimbra just to visit it again.
So far so good. The change begins with the purchase of tickets that you have to pay to see at least three spaces even if you only want to visit one. Total amount €13.50.
They keep us waiting for forty minutes, looking at two rooms in a palace, without any type of explanation.
At the indicated time they tell us to see some monks' cells, I suppose, empty and in a deplorable state. The last ten minutes they open the door to the Joanina Library for us, a wonder of wonders, about which they tell us absolutely nothing, they haven't even said good afternoon to us. There was a man who acted as a guard so that no one touched anything or took photographs, but the magnificent explanation they gave us on the previous visit has disappeared.
This visit is not worth it.
So far so good. The change begins with the purchase of tickets that you have to pay to see at least three spaces even if you only want to visit one. Total amount €13.50.
They keep us waiting for forty minutes, looking at two rooms in a palace, without any type of explanation.
At the indicated time they tell us to see some monks' cells, I suppose, empty and in a deplorable state. The last ten minutes they open the door to the Joanina Library for us, a wonder of wonders, about which they tell us absolutely nothing, they haven't even said good afternoon to us. There was a man who acted as a guard so that no one touched anything or took photographs, but the magnificent explanation they gave us on the previous visit has disappeared.
This visit is not worth it.
Written August 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We bought tickets in advance for the Johanna Library (ticket includes Baroque Library, St. Michael's Chapel, the Royal Palace), the Chemistry Laboratory, the Cabinet of Curiosities and Botanical Garden) from the University website...can we just show up at each entrance and show the ticket, or do we still need to que at the ticket office to start our visit?
Written August 7, 2022
The library is the only thing that is timed, and the visit only lasts around 15 minutes in there. So if your bar code doesn’t have a specific time, you may need to go to the ticket office, which is a 10 minute walk from the sights. Otherwise, the other sights are restricted access, only a few people at a time but never a long queue or wait.
Written August 8, 2022
My wife and I are considering renting a car and driving from Lisbon to Porto thru the Douro Valley with stops at the Library and perhaps in Tomar. This will be our first visit to Portugal and do not speak Portuguese (but some Spanish).We have done well driving all over Western Europe and in Costa Rica but were concerned that this day trip was perhaps too ambitious, We will have GPS in the car or on our phone. Any thoughts?
Written June 7, 2021
As a Brazilian and speaking Portuguese, I've visited Portugal on many different occasions and wrote many reviews on Lisbon, Porto, Douro Valley, Aveiro, Coimbra, Tomar and many others. If you still need some more information, please check on my reviews. Best regards.
Written June 7, 2021
bdm301
Jerusalem, Israel
Do I have to book tickets ahead or can I just enter when I come?
Written November 6, 2019
You should start by buying from the ticket office when you get there. They will tell you the time of the visit. While waiting for your time, you can visit the rest of the campus.
Written December 12, 2019
I was planning on visiting the library tomorrow with my elderly parents. We arrive by car. Is this going to be even possible, and what are my options? Where do you pre-book online, too? Thanks!
Written August 13, 2019
There are parking options near to the ticket office. If you can find a spot there, you won't have any hills to climb, so walking to the library will be easy. I suggest that you use a gps navigation system to put you close to the location. The library is on three levels, so there will be stairs to climb on the inside.
Written August 14, 2019
Dear Stacey,
Is it possible to buy tickets for the library before arriving?
Thank you,
Abby
Written August 10, 2019
I didn't find anywhere to pre book those tickets. However we accidentally discovered that if you go later in the afternoon the queue was far less and so was the crowd. Bus tours are usually filling the area morning and early afternoon time slots.
Written August 16, 2019
De mémoire vous en aurez pour 10 à 20 minutes, c'est le temps d'attente qui est long et vous devrez réserver un créneau lors de l'achat de votre billet.
Written July 10, 2019
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