How to get to COIMBRA
If travelling from outside the Iberian Peninsula, you will
probably fly to Lisboa or Porto, from where there are good
train connections to Coimbra. Rail travel from both Lisbon and Porto is regular, fast and
reliable provided you take the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades
services (more information below).
There is also a reliable door to door shuttle service between Coimbra and Lisbon/Oporto airports. You may book it at www.airportshuttle.pt.
What airport to choose?
Coimbra is 120km away from Porto and 200km from Lisbon. Train connections between Lisbon and Porto are equally good (Coimbra is one of the stops of the Lisbon to Porto line). Thus, our advice is to choose based on the flights available.
Step-by-step guide from LISBON AIRPORT to Coimbra
1) Once you arrive at Lisbon Airport you should go to the
railway station Gare do Oriente. You can either:
-Take the metro (about 15 minutes and costs
1,45+0,50 euros). The Oriente station is the third stop after
Airport station.
-Take a taxi (about 10 minutes and should
cost 7-8 euros). Both the airport and Oriente station lie to
the north east of the town centre.
2) "Gare do Oriente" can be slightly confusing due to the lack
of signs. You arrive at the ground floor. You can buy the
tickets on the 1st floor. The train-lines are on the 2nd
floor. Once you arrive you go to the 1st floor, search for the
stairs that lead to lines 1 and 2. In front of those stairs
(still on the 1st floor) there is a ticket office where you
can buy your ticket. Alternatively, you can buy your ticket,
consult schedules, etc. on the green ATM-like machines on the
side of the ticket office. Tickets can also be bought online
or in any ATM machine, but this is only advisable if you know
your departure time in advance.
3) What type of ticket to buy? You should buy a ticket
for an Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train to Coimbra. The
cost depends on the type of ticket you buy and range from
19,20 - 22,80 euros (Intercidades - Alfa Pendular, 2nd class) and 24,30 - 32,80 euros (Intercidades - Alfa
Pendular, 1st class).
4) You can consult the schedules here: www.cp.pt. The
Alfa and Intercidades services are punctual and reliable.
Travel times range from 1h30m (Alfa Pendular) to 2h00m (Intercidades), approximately.
5) Get off the train when you arrive at Coimbra B (the
main Coimbra railway station). You can take another train for Coimbra
A station (downtown railway station) on the same ticket.
However, you can also get off at Coimbra B station and take a
taxi to your hotel (approximately 5 euros).
Step-by-step guide from Porto AIRPORT to Coimbra
1) Once you arrive at Porto airport take the metro to
the Campanhã railway station (line E). You should buy a Z4
ticket (4 zones) which costs 1,95+0,60 euros. The travel takes,
roughly, 40 minutes. You can download the timetable from this
address: en.metrodPorto.pt
2) Once you arrive at Campanhã you should buy a ticket
for an Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train to Coimbra. The
cost depends on the type of ticket you buy and range from
13,20 - 16,70 euros (Intercidades - Alfa Pendular, 2nd class) and 17,20 - 21,70 euros (Intercidades - Alfa
Pendular, 1st class). Tickets can be bought at the ticket office or on
the green ATM-like machines at the railway station. Tickets
can also be bought online or in any ATM machine, but this is
only advisable if you know your departure time in advance.
3) You can consult the schedules here: www.cp.pt. The
Alfa and Intercidades services are punctual and reliable.
Travel time is, roughly, 1h00m.
4) Get off the train when you arrive at Coimbra B (the
main railway station). You can take another train for Coimbra
A station (downtown railway station) on the same ticket.
However, you can also get off at Coimbra B station and take a
taxi to your hotel (approximately 5 euros).
About COIMBRA
Coimbra is a city in Coimbra Municipality in Portugal. It
served as the country's capital during the First Dynasty (12th
Century) and remains home to the University of Coimbra, the
first academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world
and one of the oldest in Europe.
The proper city has a population of more than 100,000.
However, over 400,000 people live in the Greater Metropolitan
Area of Coimbra, comprising 16 municipalities and spreading
over 3,372 km2. It is the seat of the Centro region, as well
as of the District of Coimbra and the Baixo Mondego subregion.
Like most university cities, Coimbra is home to many students
from elsewhere, including thousands of international students.
Coimbra is one of the most important urban centers of Portugal
after the much larger Lisbon Metropolitan Area and Porto
Metropolitan Area. Coimbra plays a role as the chief urban
centre of the central part of the country. The city contains
important archeological remains of structures dating from the
time when it was the Roman town of Aeminium, such as its
well-preserved cryptoporticus, as well as from the period when
it served as the capital of Portugal (from 1139 to about
1260). In the Late Middle-Ages, declining as the political
centre of the Kingdom of Portugal, Coimbra began to evolve
into a major cultural centre with the foundation of the
University of Coimbra in 1290. The university attracts
visitors from around the world due to its monumental buildings
and history, making the city an important touristic
destination.
