Central Portugal
3
Day Itinerary •
Portugal
Three days in Central Portugal reveals the most extraordinary and most overlooked region in the country, its remarkable combination of the UNESCO university city of Coimbra, the extraordinary boulder village of Monsanto, the finest Baroque monastery at Alcobaca, the remarkable Batalha monastery and the extraordinary medieval pilgrimage town of Tomar giving the finest historic heritage route in Portugal outside Lisbon and Porto. This route covers the essential Central Portugal experience: the extraordinary Coimbra university and old town, the remarkable Batalha and Alcobaca monasteries, the extraordinary Templar castle and convent of Tomar, the remarkable Fatima pilgrimage sanctuary and the extraordinary boulder village of Monsanto, the most dramatic village in Portugal.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to October
Getting There
Drive from Lisbon (2 hours) or Porto (1.5 hours). Train to Coimbra.
Getting Around
Car essential for the full route. Train works for Coimbra alone.
Budget Per Day
Approx 70 to 140 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy , mostly driving and heritage site walking
DAY 1
COIMBRA
MORNING
COIMBRA UNIVERSITY AND OLD CATHEDRAL
Coimbra University is the most extraordinary academic heritage in Portugal, its remarkable UNESCO-listed campus on the hill above the Mondego river containing the extraordinary Biblioteca Joanina, the finest Baroque library in the world with extraordinary gilded shelving and the remarkable painted ceiling, and the remarkable St Michael's Chapel. The Old Cathedral of Coimbra is the finest Romanesque building in Portugal. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: Walk down to old town
MIDDAY
SANTA CRUZ MONASTERY AND OLD TOWN
Santa Cruz Monastery is the most extraordinary Manueline building in Coimbra, its remarkable facade and the extraordinary pulpit carved by Nicolas Chanterene giving the finest Manueline carving in Portugal outside Belem. The remarkable tombs of the first two kings of Portugal make this the most historically significant church in the country. Entry approx 2 euros. Drive: Walk to river
AFTERNOON
MONDEGO RIVER AND PORTUGAL DOS PEQUENITOS
The Mondego riverside in Coimbra gives the most extraordinary promenade in central Portugal, the remarkable view back up to the university on the hill giving the finest city panorama in the country. The extraordinary Portugal dos Pequenitos, the remarkable miniature park of traditional Portuguese architecture built in the 1940s, gives the finest overview of the country's architectural heritage in a single extraordinary garden. Entry approx 10 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Machado de Castro National Museum in Coimbra occupies the most remarkable building in the city, its remarkable former episcopal palace built directly above the extraordinary Roman cryptoporticus, a 1st-century underground gallery still entirely intact beneath the museum. Entry approx 6 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Coimbra old town Outstanding Portuguese coffee near the university. The finest student cafe atmosphere in Portugal. | Lunch: Tasca in Coimbra Outstanding central Portuguese lunch with chanfana goat stew and local Bairrada wine. | Dinner: Restaurant in Coimbra Outstanding dinner in the finest university city in Portugal. Local leitao roast suckling pig.
DAY 2
THE WORLD HERITAGE MONASTERIES
MORNING
BATALHA MONASTERY
Batalha Monastery is the most extraordinary Gothic building in Portugal, its remarkable UNESCO-listed Manueline church built to celebrate the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota containing the extraordinary Founder's Chapel with the tombs of King Joao I and Henry the Navigator, and the remarkable Unfinished Chapels, the finest unfinished Gothic structure in the world. The extraordinary flying buttresses and the remarkable cloister give the finest Gothic heritage in Iberia. Entry approx 6 euros. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
ALCOBACA MONASTERY
Alcobaca Monastery is the most extraordinary Cistercian monastery in Portugal, its remarkable UNESCO-listed Gothic church containing the extraordinary royal tombs of Pedro I and Ines de Castro, the most celebrated medieval love story in Portugal, carved in extraordinary 14th-century Gothic detail. The remarkable cloister of Silence and the extraordinary kitchen with a river running through it give the finest monastery experience in the country. Entry approx 6 euros. Drive: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
TOMAR TEMPLAR CONVENT AND CASTLE
Tomar is the most extraordinary Templar heritage town in Portugal, its remarkable Convent of Christ on the hilltop containing the extraordinary Charola, the original 12th-century Templar rotunda, and the remarkable Manueline window, the finest single Manueline carving in Portugal. The extraordinary castle walls enclosing the entire hilltop complex give the finest medieval military heritage in central Portugal. Entry approx 6 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Aljubarrota battlefield near Batalha is the finest medieval battlefield heritage in Portugal, the remarkable 1385 site where Portugal defeated Castile and confirmed its independence. The extraordinary interpretation centre gives the finest military heritage context in central Portugal. Entry approx 7 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before monastery drive Early start for Batalha. The extraordinary Gothic church is finest before the tour buses arrive at 10am. | Lunch: Restaurant in Alcobaca town Outstanding central Portuguese lunch in the remarkable market town beside the extraordinary UNESCO monastery. | Dinner: Restaurant in Tomar Outstanding dinner in the finest Templar town in Portugal. Local river fish and excellent central Portuguese wine.
DAY 3
MONSANTO AND FATIMA
MORNING
MONSANTO BOULDER VILLAGE
Monsanto is the most extraordinary village in Portugal, its remarkable medieval houses built into and around enormous granite boulders on a rocky hilltop giving the most dramatic village landscape in the country. The extraordinary ruins of the castle above the boulders, the remarkable narrow paths between the granite rocks and the extraordinary views over the Spanish border give the finest village experience in central Portugal. Castle entry free. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
IDANHA-A-VELHA ROMAN AND VISIGOTHIC CITY
Idanha-a-Velha is the most extraordinary archaeological palimpsest in Portugal, its remarkable tiny village built on the ruins of the Roman city of Egitania containing the finest Visigothic cathedral in the country, a remarkable Roman bridge, extraordinary Visigothic carved stones and ancient olive trees of extraordinary age. The most layered heritage in a single Portuguese village. Free. Drive: 1.5 hr drive
AFTERNOON
FATIMA PILGRIMAGE SANCTUARY
Fatima is the most extraordinary pilgrimage sanctuary in the Iberian Peninsula, its remarkable vast esplanade larger than St Peter's Square in Rome giving the finest expression of Catholic devotion in Portugal. The extraordinary Capelinha das Aparicoes, the small chapel on the site of the apparitions, the remarkable Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima and the extraordinary procession of candle-carrying pilgrims give the most moving religious experience in Portugal. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Penha Garcia village above the Ponsul gorge near Monsanto is the finest hidden village in the Beira Baixa, its remarkable dinosaur footprints preserved in the limestone riverbed giving the most extraordinary prehistoric natural heritage in central Portugal. Free. 20 minutes from Monsanto.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Monsanto village Outstanding Portuguese coffee in the most extraordinary village in Portugal. The only cafe between the boulders. | Lunch: Tasca near Idanha-a-Velha Outstanding central Portuguese lunch near the extraordinary Roman and Visigothic ruins. Local game and Beira wine. | Dinner: Restaurant near Fatima or return to Lisbon Outstanding Portuguese dinner near the pilgrimage sanctuary or on return to Lisbon or Porto.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Coimbra, Night 1 The finest university city in Portugal. Hotels from 70 to 160 euros. Excellent base for Day 1 and Batalha. Tomar, Night 2 Best base for the monastery day and Monsanto. Hotels from 60 to 140 euros. Walking distance from the Templar castle. Budget option Guesthouses in Coimbra from 40 euros. The old town is compact and walkable. Excellent transport links.
Top Tips
1. Coimbra Joanina Library: book the timed entry ticket online in advance. The extraordinary Baroque interior holds only 60 people at a time and sells out.
2. Batalha and Alcobaca are both UNESCO sites and both extraordinary. If time is short, Batalha for Gothic architecture and Alcobaca for the royal love story tombs.
3. Monsanto is most extraordinary at dawn before any other visitors. Drive up the narrow road at first light and walk the boulder village entirely alone.
4. The Tomar Templar Convent Manueline window is best photographed from the garden below. The finest single carving in Portugal is extraordinary in afternoon light.
5. Central Portuguese cuisine: order leitao assado (roast suckling pig) near Mealhada, chanfana (goat stew) near Coimbra and queijadas de Alcobaca at the monastery.
6. Fatima is most extraordinary during a major pilgrimage on the 13th of each month from May to October. The candlelight procession at night is unforgettable.
Total Budget
70 to 140 euros/day