Universidade de Coimbra — Paço das Escolas
A former royal palace turned university campus since the 16th century, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes the Sala dos Capelos, the Capela de São Miguel and the Torre da Universidade, with views over the whole city and the Mondego valley.
The essentials
- Tickets
- 12€
The heart of one of Europe's oldest universities
The University of Coimbra was founded in 1290, and since 1537 it has had its permanent home on the hill once occupied by the old Paço Real, the Paço das Escolas. Portuguese kings lived here before the building passed into academic hands, and today it remains the symbolic core of the university, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013 along with the rest of the Alta and Sofia.
What the Paço das Escolas visit includes
The route combines several distinctive spaces: the Sala dos Capelos, the former throne room with royal portraits now used for doctoral ceremonies; the Capela de São Miguel, a Manueline chapel with a gilded Baroque organ; the Gabinete de Física, a museum of 18th-century scientific instruments; and the Tower, with panoramic views over the Mondego River. The Joanina Library is visited separately, in timed slots, within the same combined ticket.
Prices and opening hours
Several combined-ticket options exist, starting at around €12-13 for the most complete one (Paço das Escolas + Joanina). Hours vary by season: in low season (November-March) it closes around 5:30pm on weekdays, and in high season (March-October) it extends to 7:30pm, with last entry an hour before closing. It's worth booking online, especially in spring during the Queima das Fitas, when the campus fills with students in black academic capes.
A walk through the university's Alta district
Beyond the paid areas, it's worth strolling the Alta for free: the monumental entrance staircase, the Porta Férrea, the Pátio das Escolas with its statue of King João III, and the views from the lookout by the tower. It's the natural starting point for heading down afterward toward the Sé Velha and the Baixa de Coimbra.
Frequently asked questions
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Other places in Coimbra
Biblioteca Joanina
monumentoAn 18th-century Baroque library inside the Paço das Escolas, with gilded Portuguese-carved shelving and a colony of bats that protects the old books at night. Visits are only in 20-minute slots with a ticket to the university complex; there's no standalone ticket.
Sé Velha de Coimbra
iglesiaA 12th-century Romanesque cathedral, one of Portugal's best-preserved, with a fortress-like look and a Gothic cloister added later. Its facade was the setting for the Serenata Monumental that opens the Queima das Fitas.
Sé Nova de Coimbra
iglesiaA former 17th-century Jesuit church with a Mannerist Baroque facade, built as the city's new cathedral after the Society of Jesus was expelled. It houses a Baroque organ and the baptismal font of Pedro I.
Portugal dos Pequenitos
parqueA theme park opened in 1940 with miniature replicas of Portuguese monuments and sites from the country's former overseas expansion, designed for families with children. One of Coimbra's classics for over eight decades.
Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra
parqueA botanical garden founded in 1772, one of the oldest in Portugal, with over 1,200 species spread across terraces that descend toward the river, plus greenhouses and a central pond.
Mosteiro de Santa Cruz
iglesiaA monastery founded in 1131 right in the heart of the Baixa, the burial place of Portugal's first two kings (Afonso Henriques and Sancho I). Its Manueline facade and tiled choir are must-sees.
Queima das Fitas de Coimbra
fiestaEight days at the end of May when Coimbra becomes one of Europe's biggest academic festivals: midnight fado at the Sé Velha, black-caped fourth-year students in floats, and concerts until dawn. The 2026 edition ran from May 22 to 30, with the city closed to traffic for a full day.
Festas da Rainha Santa Isabel
fiestaEvery two years (even years), Coimbra honors Isabel of Aragon, the 14th-century queen and patron saint of the city. In 2026 the religious festivities run from July 1 to 12, with the two processions on July 9 and 12. Everything is free and outdoors; July 4 is a municipal holiday.
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PortoA 75 m baroque bell tower designed by Nasoni; 240 steps lead to the best panorama over Porto's rooftops.
Torre de Belém
Lisboa16th-century Manueline fortified tower on the Tagus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and symbol of the Age of Discoveries.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
LisboaManueline-Gothic masterpiece in Belém, a UNESCO site, home to the cloister and the tomb of Vasco da Gama.