Driving to Coimbra: tolls, fuel & road trip guide
Coimbra rises in tiers above the Mondego River, its skyline dominated by one of Europe's oldest universities, founded in 1290. As Portugal's former capital and a longtime center of learning, the city blends Roman ruins, Romanesque cathedrals, and a lively student culture that still fills its steep lanes at night.
Top attractions
University of Coimbra
One of Europe's oldest universities, its historic core a UNESCO World Heritage Site crowned by a bell tower with sweeping views over the city and river.
Joanine Library
An 18th-century baroque library within the university, lined floor to ceiling with gilded, hand-carved bookshelves holding some 300,000 volumes.
Old Cathedral of Coimbra
A fortress-like Romanesque cathedral from the 12th century, one of Portugal's best-preserved examples of the style, with a cloister added two centuries later.
Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova
A 17th-century convent across the river from the old town, home to the silver tomb of Queen Isabel of Portugal, later canonized as a saint.
Se Nova de Coimbra
A Jesuit-built Mannerist church near the university, its ornate gilded interior contrasting with the plain granite facade typical of the order's architecture.
Driving to Coimbra
Road charges in Portugal
No motorway vignette or environmental sticker is required for passenger cars in Portugal; motorways are free or distance-tolled.
Mandatory equipment in Portugal
- Safety vest (reflective, high-visibility)
- Warning triangle
- Spare bulbs (headlights)
Driving distances from Coimbra
| To | Road km | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Nazaré | 113 | 1 h 37 min |
| Porto | 137 | 1 h 57 min |
| Obidos | 147 | 2 h 06 min |
| Barcelos | 192 | 2 h 45 min |
| Sintra | 224 | 3 h 12 min |
| Ponte de Lima | 226 | 3 h 14 min |
| Lisbon | 231 | 3 h 18 min |
| Valença | 258 | 3 h 41 min |
Fuel prices in Portugal
Petrol 95 €2.10/L · Diesel €2.19/L (2026-09-28)
Plan your route with EuroDrive Scout →