24 Best Sights in Coimbra and Central Portugal, Portugal

This zigzag wooden walkway along the Paiva River offers scenic views of the river and the Arouca Geopark. From start to finish, the 8-km-long (5-mile-long) trail takes about 2½ hours and allows visitors to experience the surrounding landscape—waterfalls, granite cliffs, endangered species, and five geosites—without disrupting it. There's river beach access from the walkway, including the popular Praia do Vau midway through, perfect for a refreshing dip. The walkway has a modest €2 entrance fee (tickets required in advance). Near the Areinho entrance, you'll find the spectacular 516 Arouca suspension bridge, though separate €12 tickets are required to cross it. You can access the walkway from either Espiunca or Areinho. Check in advance that all sections of planned routes are open, as some parts required major rebuilding following wildfire damage in summer 2024. If in doubt, go with a walking tour.  While there are cafés located at both ends of the trail, make sure you pack enough water and snacks and wear comfortable walking shoes as this is a strenuous hike, requiring you to climb a lot of stairs, and can be especially challenging in the summer heat.

Designed by architect Luís Marçal Grilo, this contemporary cultural center stands out for its angular lines and expansive glass frontage, set within the green landscape of Parque das Abadias. Its auditoriums host theater, music, and dance, while galleries exhibit photography, crafts, and visual art. The on-site Olaias restaurant, recognized by the Michelin Guide, serves refined seasonal dishes.

Formerly the Universidade de Coimbra's chemical laboratory, this 18th-century neoclassical building now houses a museum displaying some 250,000 curious and intricate scientific instruments as well as rooms filled with interactive displays and interesting experiments. This is the most important science collection in Portugal, and one of the most important in Europe, covering biology, chemistry, and physics. 

The main draw of Figueira da Foz is the magnificent 2-km-long (1-mile-long) beach that locals claim is the widest in Europe. It has calm waters that offer plenty of shallow areas for paddling tots, making it particularly popular among families. The golden strand is so broad you'll stroll for several minutes just to get your feet wet, and it's flanked by a promenade lined with sprawling terrace cafés. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards. Best for: sunrise; sunset; swimming.  It can get crowded, but walk towards Buarcos to find the quieter stretches.

Ovar is a veritable open-air art gallery of azulejo tiles, and the city's Rua do Azulejo (literally, "Street of Tiles") is a guided route by the Atelier for the Conservation and Restoration of Tiles (ACRA), leading to some of the city's most notable examples of the distinctive style. The tourist office can provide information about start times, locations, and themed events, such as tile painting.

Covering an area of 126 square miles, this UNESCO-recognized park is home to one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the world, the 516 Arouca. The park itself is surrounded by the Freita, Montemuro, and Arada Mountains and crisscrossed by several rivers including the Paiva River, which makes it a great place for canyoning, canoeing, kayaking, and mountain climbing. There are 41 significant geosites—including a collection of giant trilobite (ancient marine animals) fossils, some of which are 465 million years old—and 14 mostly easy hiking trails that take visitors to the sites. The park is also home to the world-famous Paiva Walkways.

Above the village of Sortelha are the ruins of a small yet imposing castle. The present configuration dates back mainly to a late-12th-century reconstruction, done on Moorish foundations; further alterations were made in the 16th century. Wear sturdy shoes so that you can walk along the walls, taking in views of Spain to the east and the Serra da Estrela mountains to the west. The three holes in the balcony projecting over the main entrance were used to pour boiling pitch on intruders.

At Conímbriga's entrance is a portion of the original Roman road that connected Olissipo (as Lisbon was then known) and the northern town of Braga. If you look closely, you can still make out ridges worn into the stone by cart wheels. The road is just the beginning of the fascinating footprint left behind by the civilization that once dwelled here. A patchwork of mosaics reveals itself as you work your way across the paths. You'll be able to make out the foundations of several villas, including the House of Cantaber, named after a nobleman whose family was captured by invading barbarians in 465. The most extraordinary villa is the 3rd-century House of the Fountains, covered with mosaics depicting Perseus offering the head of Medusa to a monster from the deep. Private baths included a tepidarium (hot pool) and frigidarium (cold pool). Remnants of the central heating system that was beneath the floor are also visible. Alongside the ruins, an artifact-filled museum chronicles Conímbriga's Iron Age origins, its heyday as a prosperous Roman town, and its decline after the 5th-century barbarian conquests.

These 18th-century gardens are planted with rows of hedges cut in all sorts of bizarre shapes and contain an unusual assemblage of sculpture. Bordering one of the park's five small lakes are a path and stairway lined on both sides with granite statues of the apostles, the evangelists, and the kings of Portugal. The long-standing Portuguese disdain for the Spanish is graphically demonstrated here; the kings who ruled when Portugal was under Spanish domination are carved to a noticeably smaller scale than the "true" Portuguese rulers. Unfortunately, many statues were damaged by Napoléon's troops when the city was ransacked in 1807.

The evocative ruin of Coimbra's 14th-century monastery has undergone extensive restoration to reverse centuries of flood damage. For more than 300 years, the ground floor was completely immersed in water, silt, and mud due to its proximity to the Mondego River. Today, you can safely explore the ruin, observing eerie water stains along the walls. Outside are the excavations of the nuns' private quarters, their refectory, and cloisters, some still with their original tiles visible. There's also a kitchen garden and a contemporary museum displaying relics found during the restoration project.

Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela is Portugal’s largest protected natural area, covering much of the country’s highest mountains. It is the only place in mainland Portugal to regularly see snow, with a small ski resort operating in winter, while summer offers hiking trails, glacier valleys, and natural pools.

Belmonte sits on the edge of the park, and scenic villages such as Manteigas and Loriga lie within, providing access to trails and local culture. There is no single entrance or tickets; visitors explore via roads, trails, and guided routes. The train from Lisbon to Belmonte-Manteigas (roughly four hours) is one of Portugal’s most scenic, following the Tagus river and its tributaries through hills and valleys into the mountains.

The Centro de Interpretação da Serra da Estrela in Seia provides maps, guidance, and seasonal updates. From there, visitors can plan routes for hiking, swimming in glacial lakes, or other outdoor activities throughout the year.

The 516 Arouca bridge was created with the intention of raising Arouca's profile as a tourist destination, and its opening in 2021 as the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge (it was surpassed in 2022) led to a sudden influx of curious visitors. The 516-meter-long (1,693-feet-long) bridge, suspended 175 meters (574 feet) above the Paiva River, offers breathtaking views of the Aguieiras Waterfall, Paiva River gorge, and surrounding Arouca Geopark. The metal grid floor allows views straight down to the river below. Visitors cross in guided groups at scheduled times. Two access points require short hikes from parking: Areinho (500 stairs) or Alvarenga (easier 20-minute walk).

Coimbra's best loved family attraction, Portugal dos Pequenitos is made up of scale models of Portuguese houses, castles, and monasteries that children of all ages can play in. The well-maintained structures replicate Portugal's most important buildings and monuments, all built to the scale of a five-year-old. There are also sections devoted to scaled-down versions of typical buildings in the former Portuguese colonies, as well as traditional houses from across the country's diverse regions.

Less than 15 minutes' scenic drive from the bustle of Coimbra, this gorgeous river beach attracts sunbathers and swimmers in the June through September summer season. Crystal clear waters sit against a backdrop of deep green hills, and a cafe-bar on the sands provides ample opportunity to relax with a drink and petiscos after a swim. There are lifeguards, plenty of parking, and barbecue facilities for those who fancy grilling a fresh-caught fish. It's a Blue Flag beach, meaning it meets the highest environmental and safety standards. Amenities: lifeguards; food and drink; parking. Best for: swimming. 

Of the mighty complex of fortifications and dwellings that once made up the castle, only the tower and battlements remain. As you enter, note the scale-model replica of the caravel that carried Cabral to Brazil. On one of the side walls is a coat of arms with two goats, the emblem of the Cabral family (in Portuguese, cabra means "goat"). Don't miss the graceful but oddly incongruous Manueline window incorporated into the heavy fortifications. The castle ruins are on a rocky hill to the north overlooking town, and you'll find the small visitor information center next door.

On a hill between Coimbra and Figueira da Foz lies the well-kept castle of Montemor-o-Velho. Climb to the top and you'll be rewarded with some of the best views of the region. Montemor-o-Velho figures prominently in the region's history and legends. One popular story tells how the castle's defenders cut the throats of their own families to spare them a cruel death at the hands of the Moorish invaders; many died before the attackers were repulsed. The following day the escaping Moors were pursued and thoroughly defeated.

The castle walls and tower are largely intact. But, thanks to damage done during the Napoleonic invasions in 1811, little remains inside the impressive ramparts to suggest this was a noble family's home that once garrisoned 5,000 troops. Archaeological evidence indicates the hill has been fortified for more than 2,000 years. The two churches on the hill are also part of the castle complex; the Igreja de Santa Maria de Alcaçova dates back to the 11th century and contains some well-preserved Manueline additions.

The fairy-tale Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira sits 8 km (5 miles) northeast of Ovar. Its four square towers are crowned with a series of conical turrets in a display of Gothic architecture more common in Germany or Austria than in Portugal. Although the original walls date to the 11th century, the present structure is the result of modifications made 400 years later. From atop the towers you can make out the sprawling outlines of the Ria de Aveiro.

The town's modern, interactive eco-museum describes the surrounding geology and countryside.

Traditional salt production methods are on display at this small open-air museum on the edge of town. You can walk around the salt flats, watch workers extracting salt, and learn about the tools and techniques used in the process.

From the Old Town, the botanical garden sweeps down the side of the hill to the Mondego River. Designed by British architect William Elsden and two natural history teachers, Domingos Vandelli and Dalla Bella, it was created during the reform of the university in 1772 by the Marquis of Pombal. It's still a place of serious scientific study, with more than 1,200 species of plants covering 50 acres. There is also a foliage-filled greenhouse and a small botanical museum. The walk uphill along the marked trail takes takes around 45 minutes, or half that if you're headed down.

This bustling triangular plaza lined with cafés and restaurants sits at the foot of the Ponte Santa Clara over the Mondego River. The statue is of Joaquim António de Aguiar, and the pen in his hand represents the 1833 signing of a decree banning religious orders throughout Portugal.

Some of the world’s largest trilobite fossils—ancient marine creatures that could grow up to 90 cm long (nearly 3 feet)—are on display at this museum in Canelas, a village about 7 km (a 10-minute drive) southeast of Arouca, within the Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark. Set among the slate hills and forested slopes of the Freita Ridge, the fossils were discovered in nearby quarries and were key to the region’s Geopark status. Opened in 2006, the small museum showcases these Ordovician-era giants as its star attraction. Allow 20 minutes or so for the short film which tells the fascinating story of these creatures and their discovery in Arouca.

Aveiro's opulent, palm-filled city park is the biggest green space in the city, attracting everybody from joggers and strolling couples to kids attracted by the playground and skate park. An open air kiosk, Café Macaca, is a lovely spot for a cold drink and a snack under the shade of the trees.

A strange archaeological site on a dirt road has kept people guessing for years. The massive framework of granite blocks is thought to be of Roman origin, but experts are unable to explain its original function or provide many clues about its original appearance. Some archaeologists believe it was part of a much larger complex, possibly a Roman villa, and was subsequently used as a watchtower.