Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
We've compiled the best of the best in Coimbra - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Once a 14th-century chapel, this atmospheric spot in Coimbra's Jewish Quarter now hosts nightly fado performances. There's a bar serving cocktails and tapas alongside heartier local fare and Portuguese wines, and you can opt for either a fado show and dinner, or just the fado and a drink. Either way, book at least a day in advance.
Here you can enjoy traditional fado at its atmospheric best: in a room that's dark except for the spotlight on the performer. Daily sessions begin at 6 pm with a short history lesson on fado, followed by performances of the genre's most famous songs. It's best to book in advance via the website.
In Coimbra's old town, this dark, musty bar hosts free nightly fado performances in a cavernous underground room. Significantly less formal than its competitors, Coimbra's oldest fado house has an authentic feel. Grab a bar stool and order a beer and some petiscos. Performances start at around 10 pm.
