Coimbra is about 100 km away from Porto and 200 km from Lisbon, both cities having an international airport. From either airport, you can take a train, bus, or shuttle to Coimbra. Below are more details.
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Travel to Coimbra
Coimbra sits between two international airports: Porto (OPO), ~120 km away, and Lisbon (LIS), ~200 km away. Both connect to the city easily by train or intercity bus in about 2–3 hours.
Note. Schedules and fares below are indicative, cross-checked from operator websites in May 2026. Prices vary with time of day and how far ahead you book — please re-check the operator links before travelling.
- From Porto Airport (OPO)
Two good options — pick whichever suits your time of day, luggage and budget:
1.1. Train (via Porto-Campanhã)
1. Metro Line E (Purple), Aeroporto → Porto-Campanhã. About 35 minutes, every 15–20 min. Single fare (Zone 4): €2.30. Contactless Visa/Mastercard tap-at-the-gate also works. Check www.metrodoporto.pt.
2. CP Intercidades (IC) or Alfa Pendular (AP), Porto-Campanhã → Coimbra-B. About 1h 10–1h 20, roughly hourly. Fare approx €20–25; less if you book ahead at cp.pt.
1.2 Direct bus (no transfer)
FlixBus runs direct OPO → Coimbra from the airport bus parking (P8, arrivals level). About 2 hours, ~18 services/day, fare approx €10. Book at flixbus.com.
Note: Rede Expressos does not depart from the airport. To use them, take Metro Line E to Campanhã and board at the Terminal Intermodal de Campanhã (rede-expressos.pt). - From Lisbon Airport (LIS)
1.1 Train (via Lisboa-Oriente)
1. Metro de Lisboa, Red Line (Vermelha), Aeroporto → Oriente. About 5 minutes, 3 stops. Single fare: €1.92. No card needed. Lisbon Metro accepts contactless bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay) directly at the gate — tap on entry at Aeroporto, tap on exit at Oriente. One card per passenger. Check metrolisboa.pt. 2. CP Intercidades (IC) or Alfa Pendular (AP), Lisboa-Oriente → Coimbra-B. About 1h 45–2h, 1–2 trains per hour. Fare approx €20–25; varies with time of day and how far ahead you book at cp.pt
1.2 Bus
No direct intercity bus from the airport — take the metro first.
• FlixBus (via Oriente): Red Line to Oriente (5 min), then FlixBus Oriente → Coimbra (~2h 10, ~38/day, approx €10). flixbus.com
• Rede Expressos (via Sete Rios): Red Line → change at Alameda to the Green Line → Sete Rios (~25 min total), then Rede Expressos to Coimbra (~2h 10, approx €10).
Note: The old “Aerobus” airport shuttle has been permanently discontinued — ignore older guides recommending it.
Airport shuttle directly from OPO or LIS:
Another option could be an airport shuttle from either LIS or OPO : https://www.airportshuttle.pt/ with prices varying from 47€ or 40€, respectively. You should check their website for shedules and routes.
Direct taxi or rideshare from OPO or LIS:
A direct Uber, Bolt or taxi from either airport is possible but expensive — roughly €120 from Porto and €200 from Lisbon. Useful as a last resort or if you arrive at an odd hour; for everyone else, train or bus is the practical option.
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Arriving in Coimbra
Long-distance trains stop at Coimbra-B, ~3 km north of the centre. A free MetroMondego bus connects Coimbra-B to the city center (by the river) in ~5 min, every 15–20 min. Check https://transbordo-metromondego.my.canva.site/transbordo-mm
A taxi or Bolt should cost ~5€-10€ depending on your destination within the city.
To the Department of Physics
The venue is at the Physics Department of the University of Coimbra (Rua Larga, 3004-516 Coimbra), located in the historic uphill campus, and close to the Joanina Library.
• On foot from the Baixa (riverside): 10–15 min via Arco de Almedina and Rua Quebra-Costas. Steep — avoid with heavy luggage.
• City bus (SMTUC): lines 28 or 103 from Estação Nova (next to Coimbra-A) up to Universidade. On-board ticket €2.00 (covers 2 journeys). smtuc.pt
• Elevador do Mercado: public lift, Mercado Municipal → Rua Padre António Vieira (Alta). Step-free and easy with luggage. Mon–Sat 07:30–21:00, Sun 10:00–21:00, any SMTUC ticket accepted. details
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Below is a sketch that summarises the travel options.
