Called "the city of students", this beautifully preserved medieval city used to be the country’s capital before Lisbon stepped in. Coimbra is known for its university, the oldest in Portugal, and one of the oldest in Europe. Besides that, you will fall for its architecture as well as numerous labyrinthine streets full of cafes, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. 

Among the many archaeological structures dating back to the Roman era, when Coimbra was the settlement of Aeminium, are its well-preserved aqueduct and cryptoporticus. Similarly, buildings from the period when Coimbra was the capital of Portugal (from 1131 to 1255) still remain. During the late Middle Ages, with its decline as the political center of the Kingdom of Portugal, Coimbra began to evolve into a major cultural center. This was in large part helped by the establishment of the University of Coimbra in 1290, the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world.

Apart from attracting many European and international students, the university is visited by many tourists for its monuments and history. Its historical buildings were classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2013. Coimbra offers an outstanding example of an integrated university city with a specific urban typology as well as its own ceremonial and cultural traditions that have been kept alive through the ages.