Short English version traslated by Cody Hanson*
Coimbra is a small city that isn’t very well connected. To get to Coimbra you may need to use several modes of transportation.
The airports in Oporto or Lisboa are the nearest. You may want to stay overnight in one of these cities before traveling on to Coimbra. Transportation by bus or train is more limited after 7 PM.
1. FROM THE AIRPORT
Oporto (OPO) and Lisboa (LIS) are the airports closest to Coimbra. Lisboa may have more bus and train service to Coimbra than Oporto. You should purchase the bus and train tickets to Coimbra when you arrive and not before.
- From the Oporto Airport: (“Porto”, Aeropuerto Francisco Sá Carneiro)
The airport’s website is here.
1.1.A. By Train (Oporto à Coimbra)
From the airport you take the subway (metro) line to the “Campanhã” Station (approx. 35 minutes). From the Campanhã Station you take the train to Coimbra. Consult the website for times and prices: www.cp.pt Last train leaves at approximately 10:00 PM
1.1.B. By bus (Oporto à Coimbra)
Since 2023, the best option I think is this first one. From the airport go to “Campanhã” (where is a train station but also a new bus station). Then, use the services given by the company flixbus. The bus is not only to Coimbra (e.g.: one is going to Madrid, but first stop Is Coimbra Station). When you arrive to the station, as this is a bit far away from the center, I recommend you to take a taxi, calling politaxis company (+351 239 499 090).
The other option is from the airport go to Rodoviária (bus station) to Coimbra. Once you arrive in Coimbra, the bus station is located on Fernando de Magallanes Avenue, about 15 minutes walking from the center.
The buses take 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2 hours to arrive. Bus service ends around 10:30 PM-11PM. Bus times and rates can be found here.
2. From the Lisboa Airport (LIS) or the so-called Portela Airport too)
The airport’s website is here (click).
2.1. By train (Lisboa–Coimbra)
There are trains approximately every hour and take about 2 hours to arrive to Coimbra. The cost is approximately 28 Euros, or 38 Euros round trip. Consult the website for times and prices: www.cp.pt
The best option to get to the train station from the airport is to take the subway to the train station Oriente (or “Gare do Oriente”) station and take the train towards Coimbra-B.
Another option is to go to the station “Sete Ríos”, a station where buses and trains meet. To get to the station “Sete Ríos”, from the airport you should take the subway to the “Jardím Zoológico” metro stop. You may also take a taxi to the Sete Ríos station for about 20 Euros.
Some trains stop at the Coimbra B station, far from the urban center, but from there you can change trains to get to Coimbra A, that is in the center.
It costs 50 cents to use the restrooms in the train stations. Keep some change with you.
2.2. By bus (Lisboa à Coimbra)
If you travel by bus, you can take flixbus company since 2023. Then, from the Airport go to “Campanhã” underground station, and look for flixbus. When you arrive to Coimbra, the station is not precisely in the center, so ask for a taxi calling politaxis (+351 239 499 090).
Another option is you take the “Rede Expressos”. From the Lisboa Airport go to the Sete Rios Station (Estação de Sete Ríos) that is at the metro station Jardím Zoologico. Take the train to the bus station in Coimbra on Fernando de Magallanes Avenue. Consult the website for times and prices.
Buses take 2 hours and 15 minutes to 3 hours and 50 minutes, depending on if they are direct or make stops.
At some places, it costs 50 cents to use the restrooms in bus stations.
3. TRAINS
3. 1. TO GET TO COIMBRA BY TRAIN FROM SPAIN OR FRANCE
There is an overnight train from Madrid that stops in Coimbra. Consult the website for times, stops, and prices: http://www.renfe.com/
If you purchase the ticket beforehand and travel during the week, the fare from Madrid-Coimbra can be very inexpensive (20 Euros for a seat 33 Euros for a bed). You can buy them two months in advanced aprox.
Keep the schedule in mind (to book a room in an hotel, etc). The train that leaves Madrid at 21:50 hours gets to Coimbra at 5:00 hours in the morning, though it can arrive up to an hour late.
4. TRAIN STATIONS IN COIMBRA: “COIMBRA A” (CENTER) Y “COIMBRA B” (OUTSIDE THE CITY)
The website for the national train service can be found here (there is a map of the National Rail Network at the last page): http://www.cp.pt)
Coimbra has two train stations. Coimbra A, or simply Coimbra, is the station in the center of the city. Coimbra B is on the outskirts of the city.
Some trains only arrive to Coimbra B. From there you can catch another train to Coimbra A. Sometimes this transfer is included in the cost of your ticket. It takes approximately 25 minutes to walk between the two stations. Only do this during the day.
5. 1. TO GET TO COIMBRA BY BUS FROM SPAIN
The website for the national train service can be found at flixbus webpage.
5.2. BUS SERVICE IN COIMBRA
Buses with stops at the University campus are: 2, 28, 34. However, it is easy to get around Coimbra on foot. See: http://www.smtuc.pt/ and http://www.smtuc.pt/postos/index.php
6. BY CAR
It is easy to get to Coimbra by car. From Madrid to Coimbra it takes 5 or 6 hours, passing through Salamanca. There are plenty of guides online to find out how to drive to Coimbra. See, for example: http://www.esg.pt/6atp/docs/como_chegar_a_coimbra_como_llegar_a_coimbra_how_to_get_to_coimbra.pdf
More pictures at https://instagram.com/leonorzozaya/
Have a good trip!
A map of the National Rail Network, from http://www.cp.pt
A map of Coimbra City, http://turismodecoimbra.pt/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MAPA_VU-2015_C_AF2_WEB.pdf
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* This Short English Version had been traslated by Cody Hanson, based on Leonor Zozaya’s Spanish version of the texts. Cody Hanson (Ph.D) is Assistant Professor of Spanish, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Indiana State University.