Car Hire Coimbra

Located in the Centro region, two hours north of Lisbon, the university city of Coimbra is one of Portugal’s history-filled gems. Set on a hillside above the majestic Rio Modego, Portugal longest river, Coimbra – pronounced ‘kweem-bra’ - was once the medieval capital of Portugal. Its university is one of the oldest in Europe and for visitors and students alike it’s regarded as the Oxford or Cambridge of Portugal.

As well as the appeal of this fascinating city, if you are planning a trip to the central area of Portugal between Lisbon and Porto, you have a treat in store for this is a region full of charm. With its mix of medieval cities, monasteries, attractive towns, rolling hills, forests and river valleys, the area around Coimbra is the perfect destination for a Portugal road trip.

Book now to collect your Avis hire car in Coimbra and get set to create your perfect driving adventure.

Our rental station is situated in the heart of Coimbra, close to the Mondego River. Cross the Santa Clara bridge, admiring the lovely views, and you're right in the middle of the old town, with its independent shops and tapas bars. 

The sparkling white centre of historic Coimbra is an inspirational but compact cityscape. You’ve the chance to release your inner student on a visit to Coimbra’s historic Palace of Schools to stroll the University precinct – a UNESCO World Heritage site - and while you are there, explore the magnificent Biblioteca Joanina. This beautiful baroque building houses around 60000 rare and antique books.

Head next to the former Bishop’s Palace to take in the view from the terrace at the Machado de Castro Museum before diving into spot treasures on show at one of Portugal’s foremost museums.

Don’t miss the honey coloured Old Cathedral that looks more like a fortress than a church from the outside. Wander to the Santa Cruz Church and Monastery regarded as one of Portugal’s most important churches.

Coimbra’s Old Town is a place to immerse yourself in a maze of narrow streets, independent shops, and small cafes. A pedestrian street divides the lower part of the old town (Baixa) from the upper (Alta), the perfect place to watch the world go by.

Hiring a car in Coimbra gives you the opportunity to explore some of central Portugal’s wildest, hidden landscapes.  A highlight is a road trip around the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, a mountain range with a route that you can drive over as far as the summit, Torre.

Buçaco

Another magical outdoor escape from Coimbra is the Buçaco Forest, around 30min drive north of the city. Carmelite monks planted this 260-acre arboretum 350 years ago – a highlight is the display of camelia blossom in Spring. At the heart of the forest is the spectacular Buçaco Palace, built for the Portuguese royal family and today a luxury hotel.

Conimbriga

Step back through the centuries on a road trip to the Roman ruins at Conimbriga around 45min drive south of Coimbra.  Conímbriga was occupied by Roman troops in 139 BC and from it developed the capital city of the Lusitania province. Today the ruins are among the most impressive in Europe.

Aveiro

You might feel you’ve travelled across borders on a day trip to the town of Aveiro. With its colourful houses, central canal and gondolas for navigation, there are shades of Venice here. Aveiro is a 50min drive northeast of Coimbra via the A1 highway and being by the coast a drive here provides the ideal opportunity to explore some of central Portugal’s glorious coastline.

If you are travelling to central Portugal, Coimbra is a great base to explore the region and with good access to the road network it’s easy to travel further afield to Lisbon (2hr) or Porto (1hr20min). Hiring a car gives you the freedom to explore the surrounding countryside at your own pace.

If you are driving in Portugal for the first time, it’s best to you familiarise yourself with the country’s driving rules before picking up your car. Some key road rules in Portugal include driving on the right and overtaking on the left. Be aware that mobile phones may only be used with a headset or hands-free device and you should not use the horn in a built up area unless in danger. For more information check out the latest road rules in Portugal.