I'm debating whether to make a quick overnight stop in Coimbra when taking the train from Porto to Lisbon. It gets mentioned a lot in guidebooks, etc. I've read a lot about the place, here is a lot of vague talk about the university, but not why anyone would want to go out his way to see it. I've looked at youtube videos and don't see very much. I still have no feel for whether Coimbra is worth the bother. And it is a bit of bother since, the train station is a bit removed from town and the hotels appear sadly deficient. It also costs me half a day that could be spent in Porto.

So what's the reason to go there?

The library at the university.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblioteca_Joanina

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-...950711/?no-ist

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/b...the-world.html

The library is amazing.

The old town is interesting.

There are Roman ruins just outside at Conimbriga that are well worth seeing.

I have been to Coimbra twice and wouldn't hesitate to go back.

I'd say it depends on your interests and how much time you have. We enjoyed Coimbra, but we stayed in the area and went into the town for one day.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7623705654880/ and subsequent pictures

Hit the yellow triangle and ask Fodors to change your tag from Poland to Portugal.
Coimbra is worth it. The university and it's library are reasons enough to visit.
For a nice hotel see Quinta de las Lagrimas.

Go to Coimbra, it is a nice place, besides just the University

Thanks for the thoughts. I'll just stay in Porto and may go to Guimaraes in stead. In the end, the deciding factor is the hotels in Coimbra. The ones convenient to the old town all look fairly bad. The ones out of the core don't look so great either.

We spent a night in Guimares and thought it a lovely town. It was far more crowded than Coimbra.

"We spent a night in Guimares and thought it a lovely town. It was far more crowded than Coimbra."

Thanks for the observation. That seals it.Despite the constant whining about places being too touristy, the fact is that they are touristy because they are the better places. If I wanted nontouristy, I'd go to the Ukraine.

You're the one who sounds whiney to me. Be sure to stay and eat by the waterfront in Porto if your idea of "better" is touristy. You'll be with your peeps.

Tend to agree with sandra. What on earth is wrong with the Hotel Vitoria in Coimbra?

And I would be happy to return to Lviv in Ukraine. Syria, now...

I stopped off when taking a train from Lisbon to Porto for a few hours and it was great - better to stay perhaps but if need be a few hours to go up to the upper old town - Coimbra B train station is in the moernish lower town - walk up steps or take I think a funicular up to the amazing university area and lovely huge quare there - yes the library is fantastic.

When we were in Coimbra we walked up the steps to the University and walked down another way via a street. If there was a funicular we sure missed it.

Last time I was there (2004) I seem to remember they had installed an elevator. Maybe a combination. Anyway, there was mechanical assistance in getting up to the university. Since I was sleeping in the old town I found it very useful!

Yes, it was quite the climb -- good exercise I guess, but would have preferred a funicular or elevator!

Ok elevator - I knew there was some kind of lift but I walked, being an exercise maniac.

We stayed at a very modern (remodeled) hotel in Coimbra, right down the street from the train station. It was small and we did not expect it to be such a large and modern room and bath. It was very nondescript on the outside but I highly recommend it. I'll try to find the name of it.

O.K. I found the hotel on booking.com. It is hotel Vitoria. We walked there from the tr ain station. There is a bus stop around the corner but we walked everywhere. I definitely recommend going there. As others have said, the library is amazing. I would not have missed Coimbra. One comment about the hotel - the lady at the front desk spoke French. She had little English.

PalenQ: maniac is right