Destinations > Portugal > Central Portugal

Central Portugal

Most backpackers hit Lisbon before heading down to party on the Algarve or north for port tasting in Porto, in most cases they shoot through Portugal's interior and miss out of some very impresive places that include the walled cities of Évora and Óbidos.

Évora

All travellers should try to visit this Moorish walled city that dates back around 2000 years. Although it is only a small city with around 50,000 inhabitants, only Lisbon has more important monuments. The centre of Évora has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Practical Information

Évora Tourist Information Centre

Praça do Giraldo 73, Évora

Tel (266) 2 26 71

Coming & Going

Évora isn't located on the main rail line, which means it is overlooked by many travellers, however it is easy to reach from Lisbon and there are also connections to Coimbra, Porto and the Algarve.

Buses are the most frequent transport method with over 10 buses a day to Lisbon, several buses to Faro and a couple of buses to Coimbra. Buses depart from the bus station on Rua da República.

Trains arrive at the station on Rua Dr Baronha. Évora is located on a branch off the Lisbon-Beja train line and you need to change trains at Casa Branca. Trains from Lisbon depart from Estação Barreiro on the southern banks of the Tagus.

It is easier to get to Évora from Porto or the Algarve as the Comboio Azul train stops here en route between Porto and Faro. Unfortunately this train only runs during the peak season and doesn't run every day.

Sights

Igreja de São Francisco & Capela dos Ossos

Évora's most visited church is the Capela dos Ossos (chapel of bones), which is behind the altar of Igreja de São Francisco. This small chapel was built by three monks in the 17th century using the bones of 5000 people.

Praça 1 de Maio, Évora

Admission €1

Open Jan-Mar & May Mon-Sat 9am-1pm & 2.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-1pm; Jun-Sep Mon-Sat 9am-1pm & 2.30pm-6pm, Sun 10am-1pm; Oct-Dec 9am-1pm & 2.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-1pm

Igreja de São João Evangelista

This small church is worth visiting for its excellent azulejos (Portuguese tiles).

Largo do Vila Flor, Évora

Admission €3

Open Tue-Sun 10am-noon & 2pm-6pm

Museu de Évora

This small museum near the cathedral features temporary exhibits as well as relics from Évora including Roman and medieval artefacts.

Largo do Marquês de Marialva, Évora

Admission €1.50

Open Tue-Sun 10am-12.30pm & 2pm-5.30pm

Sé

Évora's cathedral dates from 1186 and is one of Portugal's most impressive. The cloisters are home to tombs of Évora's archbishops and a small museum.

Rua de São Manços, Évora

Admission free; museum €3

Open Jan-May Tue-Sun 9am-noon & 2pm-5pm; Jun-Aug Tue-Sun 9am-5pm; Sep-Dec Tue-Sun 9am-noon & 2pm-5pm

Templo Romano

This extremely well-preserved second century Roman temple is Évora's most famous attraction.

Largo do Vila Flor, Évora

Admission free

Open 24 hours

Óbidos

This charming walled hilltop village is worth visiting to see the ancient white houses and quaint cobblestone streets surrounded by the medieval walls. At only 2½ hours north of Lisbon, it's close enough to visit as a daytrip from the capital.

Practical Information

Óbidos Tourist Information Centre

Rua Direita, Óbidos

Tel (62) 95 92 31

Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm

Coming & Going

Local buses travel between Óbidos and nearby towns including Caldas da Rainha and Peniche. There are around five trains a day from Lisbon; you will need to take a train from Estação Rossio to Cacém and then transfer to another train to Óbidos.

Sights

The main attraction in Óbidos is the town itself, rather than any specific attractions. Apart from the castle (which is now a hotel), the main attraction is the Igreha de Santa Maria.

Igreja de Santa Maria

This church is the largest in Óbidos features azulejos (Portuguese tiles) from the 17th century.

Rua Direita, Óbidos

Coimbra

Coimbra is a vibrant city with lots of students who study at the university, which was founded in 1290.

The city is divided into two: the baixa (lower town) by the river is the main commerical centre and alta (upper town) is the older part of the city where the university and many of Coimbra's main attractions are located.

Practical Information

Coimbra Tourist Information Centre

Largo Dom Dinis, Coimbra

Tel (239) 832 591

Praça da República, Coimbra

Tel (239) 833 202

Turismo Centro

Largo da Portagem, Coimbra

Tel (239) 833 019

Website www.turismo-centro.pt

Coming & Going

Coimbra is centrally located between Lisbon and Porto and all trains and many buses travelling between the two cities stop here.

There are two main train stations in Coimbra. Most long distance trains only stop at Coimbra B station, although Coimbra A is more centrally located. There are frequent local trains that connect the two stations.

Coimbra's bus terminal is located on Avenida Fernão de Magalhães. There are frequent buses to Lisbon and Porto and there are also buses to Évora and the Algarve.

Local Transport

Coimbra's public transport network consists of buses and a suburban train network. Buses are the most useful option for travellers. Bus 1 runs between Coimbra A station and the university and buses 11 and 24 go from Coimbra A station to Praça da República.

Accommodation

Pousada de Juventude de Coimbra

Rua Henrique Seco 14, 3000-145 Coimbra

Tel 239 822 955

Sights

Igreja de Santa Cruz

This 12th century monastery is built in Mannerist and baroque styles and is home to the tombs of Kings Afonso Henriques and Sancho I.

Praça 8 de Maio, Coimbra

Tel (239) 822 941

Admission €1

Open Mon-Sat 9am-noon & 2pm-5pm, Sun 4pm-6pm

Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro

This art museum features a collection of Flemish and Portuguest paintings although it is mostly noted for its collection of 14th-16th century sculpture.

Largo Dr José Rodrigues, Coimbra

Bus 1

Tel (239) 823 727

Admission €3

Open Tue-Sun 9.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-5.15pm

Sé Nova (New Cathedral)

Dating from 1598, this cathedral took around 100 years to complete and it comprises styles ranging from classic to baroque.

Largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra

Tel (239) 823 138
Admission free

Open Tue-Sat 9am-noon & 2pm-6.30pm, Sun 10am-noon & 4pm-6pm

Sé Velha (Old Cathedral)

More unique and impressive is Coimbra's old cathedral. This fortress-like building dates from 1162 and is one of Portugal's best examples of romanesque architecture.

Largo da Sé Velha, Coimbra

Admission €0.75

Open Mon-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Tel (239) 825 273

Universidade de Coimbra

Portugal's oldest university was founded in 1290 and moved from Lisbon to Coimbra in 1537. It is the country's most prestigous university and it is home to several attractions that include the baroque Biblioteca Joanina, which was built in 1717 and contains around 250,000 books; Capela de São Miguel, an ornate chapel dating from 1517 and Sala dos Capelos, an old hall used for academic ceremonies that boasts an ornate wooden ceiling.

Largo da Porta Férrea, Coimbra

Bus 1

Tel (239) 859 800

Website www.uc.pt

Admission €4 for all university attractions or €2.50 for each sight; students €2.80 for all attractions or €1.75 for each sight
Open Jan-Apr 9.30am-5.30pm; May-Sep 9am-7pm; Oct-Dec 9.30am-5.30pm