Coimbra – General Information

 Location, climate and surroundings

Coimbra is a very beautiful and peaceful town situated on the Mondego River, approximately 185 km Northeast of Lisbon and 98 km Southeast of Oporto.

The climate is mild and the rainfall averages 750 mm annually. The town is very well served of public transports and is easily accessible both by bus or fast trains either from Lisbon or Oporto. Coimbra's industry is not very strong, but both the commerce and the sector of services (specially the later) are very important and famous by their very high quality standards. The District of Coimbra has an area of about 3,956 km2. Roughly oblong-shaped, it extends inland from the Atlantic Ocean halfway across the country.

The western sector in the lower Mondego Valley is low and rolling country, but in the southeastern part, in the Serras da Lousã and Estrela, it rises to more than 1,200 m. In the west side of the District, at the mouth of Mondego and 50 km away, is Figueira da Foz, a summer resort and fishing centre, with its beautiful beaches of white sand.

The old centre is now applying for classification as heritage of mankind (UNESCO).

Here is a short film about Coimbra http://vimeo.com/30144885 (in Portuguese)

Travel and Accomodation

Travel by plane

To reach Coimbra from out of the country, the best is probably to take a plane to Lisbon or Porto and then trains to Coimbra. The two nearest airports are Lisbon, and Porto airports with an easy and direct connection with the city of Coimbra by train.

Porto to Coimbra:

Arrive at the Sá Carneiro Airport and catch the Metro (or a Taxi) to ‘Campanhã’ Station (train station) and then a train to Coimbra. In Coimbra train Station the best thing is to catch a taxi.

Trains:

http://www.cp.pt/cp/searchTimetable.do

Lisbon to Coimbra:

Arrive at the Portela Airport and catch a Taxito ‘Oriente’ Station (train station) and then a train to Coimbra. In Coimbra train Station the best thing is to catch a taxi.

Trains:

http://www.cp.pt/cp/searchTimetable.do

 Accommodation - Hotels

Three main hotels are recommended:

Hotel D.Luis (20 reservations already made there):
	http://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/best-western-d-luis.pt.html

 

Hotel Ibis
	http://ibishotel.com/pt/hotel-1672-ibis-coimbra/index.shtml

 

Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas
	http://www.quintadaslagrimas.pt/

  

You can find other hotels here:

http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en.html?city=-2163275