Portugal: Coimbra

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The satisfied smirk of people in love can be seen on the faces of visitors to Coimbra. This university town is the perfect place to be blissful. Picnic along the banks of the muddy Mondego river as crew boats glide by. Drink rich Portuguese wine at a tiny cafe. Watch university students dressed in black capes hurry off to class, as you wander along the historic streets of the city. Ponder the ways of the western world at Conimbriga, an ancient Roman archaeological site. Even if you aren't with someone, Coimbra will fill you with a delicious feeling of joie de vivre.

When to go:
September through May (when students are still in school) is an ideal time to visit. You'll get a sense of what the university town is like, and avoid the summer crowds, too.

What to Do:
History/Ruins:
Se Velha (Old Cathedral), Arco de Almedina, Se Nova, Universidade Velha, Palacio de Sobre Ribas, Torre de Anto are some of the historic sites worth checking out.

Museums:
Museu Machado de Castro has a huge collection of the works of 18th century sculptor, Machado de Castro, in addition to sculpture from the 14th through the 18th centuries.

Shopping:
Rua Ferreira Borges is one of the main shopping streets where you'll find knickknacks and miscellaneous tourist stuff. Praca do Commercio has fashionable shops in historic houses. Head to the suburbs if you really want to shop. Condeixa, ten miles out of town, is a good place to buy ceramics.

Natural Wonders:
Enjoy the shade and vegetation at Parque de Santa Cruz, or view the plants and greenery at the Jardim Botanico. O Choupal is a poplar grove along the river that is popular with joggers.

Cultural Comments:
Coimbra is the second city of fado. Walking the alleyways in the student quarter you might hear the melancholy tunes echoing from a window, or see people gathered around singers in a neighborhood square.

Nightlife/Bars:
Coimbra is a university town, making it well-suited to barhopping. The night really starts around 10:30 and goes to 3 a.m. on weeknights and dawn on the weekends.

Cafe Quotient:
Coimbra has cheap cafes galore! For a something a little different, there's the Cafe Santa Cruz. It isn't cheap, but it's well-worth visiting. Once a chapel, the interior of the cafe has wonderful vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and wood paneling.

Cost:
Costs in Coimbra are a little less expensive than in Lisbon and the Algarve.

Getting Around:
It's a three-hour train ride from Lisbon. Buses take 2 hours, but are a bit more expensive.

Safety:
Use common sense in looking after yourself and your things.

Language:
Portuguese is spoken, but many people in the service industry know English or other Western European languages. Most students also speak some English.

Party/Social Scene:
Coimbra is a university town filled with friendly students and a rocking nightlife.

Other Info:
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