How to get to Coimbra


The international airports are the Airport of Porto (about 100 km, north of Coimbra) and the Airport of Lisbon (at about 200 km, south of Coimbra). Both airports have regularly scheduled flights to and from all main European destinations as well as major world cities [see more…]. Coimbra has no international airport.

The quickest/cheapest way will be to arrive either in Lisbon or Porto and take the train to Coimbra. To get in either case from the airport to the train station, your best bet is the metro.

From Lisbon Airport

By Airport Shuttle

An alternative is the service of airport shuttles from the airports (either Lisbon or Porto), directly to Coimbra hotels (and vice-versa). You can book online at https://www.airportshuttle.pt/, or contact directly coimbra@airportshuttle.pt.

By Train

The recommended route is:

Lisbon Airport (by metro/taxi/uber) –> Lisboa Oriente (by train) –> Coimbra-B

If you choose to travel to Portugal directly through the Airport of Lisbon, please have in mind that this Airport is 200km from Coimbra, but it has more connecting flights from most international centres. Arrive at Lisbon Airport, and take the metro to Gare do Oriente.

You need to buy a metro card (Viva Viagem) and charge it at the machines. One ticket is needed to go from the airport to Oriente station (~10min ride). A new metro will arrive every 6-10 minutes depending on the time of day. The metro line connected the airport to Oriente station is direct, so no need to change lines.

At Oriente station, take the train to Coimbra:

The line goes from Lisbon to Porto, via Coimbra. You can pre-book your tickets at www.cp.pt, or just buy them at the station counters.

A 2nd class ticket should be around 25€, from Lisbon to Coimbra (with small variations according to the speed of the train). You can choose either Alfa (AP) or Intercidades (IC). AP trains are more comfortable than IC trains, and also quicker.

You will arrive at Coimbra-B train station.

You can continue traveling using your ticket to Coimbra-A (the central train station) but you will need to change trains. The connection trip takes just 4 min and there is a connection every 10-30 minutes (depending on the time of day). You can also take a taxi/uber to your hotel from Coimbra-B (which should cost around 5-10€).

Please note, the last IC train leaving Lisbon towards “Coimbra-B” departs around 10pm.

By Bus

You will need to take the metro or catch a taxi/uber to “Sete Rios” Bus Station. The journey should take approximately 15 minutes. Express buses to Coimbra run every hour (during the day) and you should expect the journey to take approximately 2 hours and a half. The price of the ticket should cost around 15€.

Check the Express Buses Network or Flixbus websites for the timetable and prices:

https://www.rede-expressos.pt/en/default.aspx
or
https://www.flixbus.pt/

By Car

When leaving the airport, you should take the A1 motorway to Coimbra and exit at “Coimbra Sul”. You should expect the journey to take about 2 hours.


From Porto Airport

If you choose to travel to Portugal directly through the Airport of Porto, please remember that, although this Airport is closer to Coimbra, it may have fewer connecting flights to most international centres. If you are flying to Lisbon you can pick a connecting flight to Porto but this will not save you time.


By Airport Shuttle

An alternative is the service of airport shuttles from the airports (either Lisbon or Porto), directly to Coimbra hotels (and vice-versa). You can book online at https://www.airportshuttle.pt/, or contact directly coimbra@airportshuttle.pt.

By Train

The recommended route is:

Porto Airport (metro/taxi/uber) –> Porto-Campanhã (train) –> Coimbra-B

Arrive at Porto Airport, and take the metro (tram) to Campanhã station.

You will need to buy a metro card (Andante card) and charge it (probably with Z4 tickets). Just a single line (line E – violet line) goes from the airport to Estádio do Dragão. Campanhã in this line is the stop before the last. The trip will take around 40 minutes, and there is a new connection every 20-30 minutes (depending on the time of day).

At Campanhã station, take the train to Coimbra. You can pre-book your tickets at www.cp.pt, or just buy them at the station counters.

A 2nd class ticket should be less than 20€ from Porto to Coimbra (with variations according to the speed of the train). You should choose either Alfa (AP) or Intercidades (IC). AP trains are more comfortable than IC trains and also quicker.

You will arrive at Coimbra-B train station. You can continue traveling with your ticket to Coimbra-A (the central train station) but you will need to change trains. The connection trip takes just 4 min and there is a connection every 10-30 minutes (depending on the time of day). You can also take a taxi to your hotel from Coimbra-B (which should cost no more than 10€).

Note that the last IC train leaving Porto for “Coimbra-B” departs from Porto “Campanhã” at around 8:30pm.

By Bus

By express bus: you can catch buses from the Express Bus Network or Flixbus also at Campanha station. Simply follow the signs leading to the bus section of the station. Express buses to Coimbra run every hour and you should expect the journey to take approximately 1 hour. The price of the ticket should cost around 15 euros.

Check the Express Buses Network or Flixbus websites for the timetable and prices:

https://www.rede-expressos.pt/en/default.aspx
or
https://www.flixbus.pt/

By Car

By car: when leaving the airport, you should take the A1 motorway to Coimbra and exit at Coimbra Norte. You should expect the journey to take about 1h15m.

Once you are in Coimbra


The venue is located on the main engineering campus of the University of Coimbra, known as “Pólo 2“.

Hotels are more easily found in the city centre, which is within walking distance of the University’s old campus. If you choose a hotel further away from the city centre, you can also travel to the University by taxi (about €10,00), uber or by city bus.

City buses:

  • Lines 24T and 34 connect the city centre to Pólo 2, where the conference is held.
  • Bus stops “Miguel Bombarda” and “Universidade (pólo Dois)” will leave you at Pólo 2.

For visiting, the old campus of the University of Coimbra is also served by other city buses. These do not go through the main campus itself, but the stop “Arcos do Jardim” is within a 2 minutes walking distance:

  • Line 5: Pedrulha – Estádio
  • Line 11, Line 11C: Arnado – Bairro Norton de Matos
  • Line 24: Arnado – Quinta da Nora
  • Line 24T: Bairro Norton de Matos – Palácio da Justiça

Timetables in Portuguese are available on the SMTUC bus provider web page.

You may also find the moovit app useful for getting around on public transport in Coimbra. Bus tickets can be purchased directly from the driver in cash (2€), and you should have preferably the exact amount or small change. You can also buy a card and charge it with a minimum of 3 tickets, at SMTUC stores and newspaper stands/stores.

Accommodation

For conference attendees, the 2024 ICIR committee has arranged discounts with local hotels, which you may benefit from when booking your accommodation. These include the following:

  • Quinta das Lágrimas Hotel – 20% discount on the “Online Special Fee” (Tarifa Especial Online): Apply the code ICIR2024.
  • Dona Inês Hotel – 10% discount over the daily rate. Simply reserve by e-mail, using the subject Conferência ICIR 2024.
  • Vila Galé Hotel – 10% discount using the code ICIR2024.

Visa Requirements

Portugal is in the Schengen area (comprising 26 European countries), for which foreigners may need an entry visa.  If you do need it, please make sure you apply for it well in advance before your departure.  In the Schengen area, you may travel freely between member countries. However, we recommend you access the SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras – Immigration and Border Services) website and Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas. For more information or questions, contact the Local Organizing Committee.