University of Coimbra

We spent about 2.5 hours here. I’m not particularly into academics or religion, but I wanted to see the historical architecture — and it was definitely worth the visit. If you want to explore more thoroughly, you may want to reserve extra time. For the smoothest route, start by going to the Information Center to pick up a map (it’s very useful). From there, walk about 6–8 minutes to begin at the Chemistry Laboratory. Recommended route: Chemistry Laboratory (20–25 mins) → Cabinet of Curiosities (25–30 mins) → Academic Museum (20–25 mins) → Royal Palace (15 mins) → St. Michael’s Chapel (5–10 mins) → Baroque Library / Joanina Library (20 mins) Make sure you reserve your library visit. If you haven’t done it online, you can book it at the Information Center. The library tour lasts 20 minutes and runs every 20 minutes. You enter from the lower floor, and staff will only allow entry up to 5 minutes before your reserved time. The visit starts with the Academic Prison (about 5 minutes), followed by 10 minutes inside the library. The most famous part — the Joanina Library on the “Noble Floor” — is absolutely stunning. You’ll spend another 10 minutes there, but note that photography is not allowed inside. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. A helpful reminder: all buildings close from 12:45 to 14:00 for lunch.

The University of Coimbra is not just a university — it’s a living monument to knowledge, history, and tradition. Walking through its courtyards feels like stepping into the soul of Portugal itself. Every stone seems to hold centuries of stories. The Joanina Library left me completely speechless. Its baroque beauty is breathtaking, but what touched me most was the delicate balance between grandeur and care — even the bats that live there play a role in preserving the old books, protecting them from insects through the night. It’s such a poetic reminder of how nature and history coexist in harmony. The old academic jail was another powerful stop — a stark symbol of how seriously the pursuit of knowledge and discipline were once taken. Standing inside, I could almost feel the echoes of students from long ago, their struggles and ambitions still lingering in the air. Then there’s the PhD defense room, solemn and majestic, where generations of scholars have presented their final work. The atmosphere there is filled with reverence — a quiet celebration of dedication and intellect. What truly makes the University of Coimbra unforgettable is its tradition. From the black capes of the students to the timeless rituals and songs, everything here feels deeply meaningful. It’s a place where the past and present walk side by side, reminding us that education is not just about learning — it’s about belonging to something greater.

It's New Years Eve and unfortunately it's closed. Was wanting to visit the library but had to do with touring the school premises outside. Quite a majestic school with a rich history.

Beautiful campus with a very rich history. Lots of interesting to see in this 13th century university. The library is stunning but somehow photography is not allowed.

The University of Coimbra is a treasure trove of history and knowledge. Inside, the stunning Baroque Joanina Library is a must-see with its ornate ceilings and vast collection of ancient books. Another highlight is the Sala dos Capelos, a grand hall with high, decorated ceilings once used for important ceremonies — truly mesmerizing!

Majestic open space with buildings around. A must visit in Coimbra. Great viewpoint as well over the river and Coimbra.

Major departments are medicine and law. About 25000 students are enrolled of which about 15% are international students. There are historical sections to visit, such as the library that carries about 60,000 books from 500 years ago Also, the chapel, though small, is very impressive with a unique organ.

In order to visit university you have to buy a ticket - 16€. Library was impressive! (You can't take photos or video inside). I have only seen such libraries in movies. Chapel was also beautiful. The rest was ok. The museums, which are included in the ticket, were ok. For example in the science museum they have a lot of interactive sections, however 90% are not working :( It would be better to have a separate ticket for library, as the rest are not really worth the money.

What a spectacular place and a must if you are in town and you like history and beauty. Perched high above the city, Universidade de Coimbra brings its "A game" with views, architecture, and of course, history. Make sure to get a ticket to see the library, royal palace, chapel and so much more. We were in a hurry so we zipped on through but this could take your whole day! Accessibility might be a slight challenge because the properties are so old but the good news is the ticket sales online have an accessible ticket option. Make sure to inquire rather than forgo if you have uncertainty! Tip: look up some history before you go, you will be even more in awe with some of the fun facts! One example: did you know there is a colony of bats in the library?! Go look up why. So amazing!

My wife and I were here on a Gate1 tour. Coimbra is the third-largest city in Portugal. We visited the University of Coimbra, among the oldest universities in Europe, with more than 700 years of history. Most impressive was their beautiful library. Interesting is the fact that the average yearly cost of tuition for a student at a public university is under $700 - yes, you read that right - $700, NOT $7,000 or $70,000! Grades 1-12 are compulsory. Some nice views overlooking the city.

Portugal's oldest university was founded in Lisbon in 1290 and moved here when it was built in 1634. It occupies most of the center of the old city overlooking the new and the Mondego river. It has the clock and bell tower built in the 18th century, one of Coimbra's most famous landmark . Also one of the finest libraries in the world, Biblioteca Joanina. If in Coimbra, you must visit.

The University of Coimbra is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world, so there is more to see than the average university. Partly because it is a working university and partly because the sights are spread out, the visit was a bit disjointed. The visit structure was a bit different from what I read online on their webpage. The full visit was 12,5€ (November 2021). The palace was ok. The chapel was nice. I skipped the science museum. The botanical gardens were free and made for a pleasant walk. The visit to the library, the best part of the visit, was by "tour" (really just a fixed entry timeslot where someone watched the group and provided no commentary - so it was a supervised visit with 10 minutes in the antechamber and 10 minutes in the library). The library itself was splendid. No photos were allowed sadly. They actually have bats in there which eat pests, but they sleep in the day.

Super old university. The oldest in Portugal. University of Coimbra look like the Hogwarts school of magic. Even the student just dress like it. They all have a cape. It is so cool. It is almost like in the movie set of the Harry Porter. Unfortunately the day we visited is close for visitors due to Coronavirus. We have a chance to see the outside with different building. I was able to peek down to Sala dos Capelos. We actually looking forward for their Joanina Library. Unfortunately all close. We kind disappointed but we saw students dress with cape. It great tradition.

This university is worth a visit because 1. Established in the 13th century, the University of Coimbra is Portugal's oldest university, and one of the oldest in Europe. Some of the structures date back to Roman times! 2. Harry Potter!! It's not urban legend, J.K. Rowling did spend a few years in Portugal and got some inspiration from the university. if you visit the university, you'll definitely experience some Hogwarts moment. First, if you are lucky, you'll see the students walking around in black robes. As if they just walk off the film set. Next, visit the gorgeous library. You won't be surprised to see Hermione bent over some books scribbling with a quill. Now, be warned that visit is not free. You can walk around the ground, but entrance to the library, tower, and other areas require tickets. There are several packages you can choose from, but at the minimal do the "Palace of Schools" which includes the Baroque Library. Also, be warned that there is limited admission to the library, when you buy your ticket they will tell what your time slot will be. They also have guided tours which I'd highly recommend you to reserve ahead of time, by phone or email.

I went there to try to get my masters degree in a program with a description that did not match the actual content of the course. They say that they teach part in English and part in Portuguese, but this is not really true. It's not a problem that the programs are very much intended for native speakers of Portuguese, the issue is that they are not very accommodating to Portuguese learners. The university prides itself on its international student population but as an international student there who was not part of Erasmus, I felt more isolated than i ever have before. The academic services are not very helpful at all, and their online platforms UC student and inforestudante are not user friendly. They also have no online library database so you are left trying to find empirical information on Google scholar which is a personal turn off. If you are an international student looking to pursue a masters or a bachelors degree at this university, I would caution you. Phd students in psychology seem to come from various different countries to conduct laboratory research. They communicate with each other mostly in English and all of their projects are presented in English. If you can, you should check out the labs. That won't be the main focus of your time at the university however if you are not a phd student or research assistant.

It's ok, but I wouldn't make a special trip to see this. We were rushed through the library in what was basically a cattle call. We couldn't take pictures and there wasn't much room to move- let alone enjoy the place- and then we were rushed out. It wasn't really worth seeing (it's no Sintra palace, for example) and it's not peaceful, nor is there even that much to see. I'm sure it's got history- but so does everything else in Portugal. I thought I would like this place, but I didn't like the town or the university. I liked other smaller (cleaner) cities we went to much much better- and even just small places of interest (like Batalha monastery). Unless you have to go here, because it's on your tour, I wouldn't bother.

What a beautiful, historic campus. Tons of beautiful buildings everywhere you look, and even a big 60s era one. Fun to see the students all dressed in their uniforms, and just the ambiance of the city. What a romantic place to go to school--oldest in Portugal--how cool is that? I wonder how it impacts what and how you learn to be in such an historic and pretty surroundings? I just know you gotta be in good shape with all the climbing (mama mia!)