This ‘runseeing’ tour of Coimbra has a lot of elements making for a scenic and interesting run: historic highlights of Coimbra’s historic centre, several parks, the fifth oldest botanical garden in the world, scenic overlook, riverside paths, and even a running track! Note it’s hilly away from the river. Use our mapped route as a guideline, as the streets of the centre are narrow & maze-like.
Start at the Praça da República, next to the Tourist Office and do a short loop around the Jardim da Sereia, which features a fountain and ornate outdoor sculpture. Next, due a 1 km loop of Av. Bandeira, which has lovely, green median and is lined with older, colorful buildings. Then, LEFT on R. Alexandre Herculano briefly, and RIGHT on Rua Venâncio Rodrigues, which is a wide, monument-lined leading into the University of Coimbra. We then do a loop around the historic centre, using R. Aguiar/Esteirinhas, passing several important sites, notably the Romanesque Sé Velha de Coimbra.
Next, run through the scenic Botanic Garden, a classic formal garden dating back to the 1700s — it’s the fifth oldest in the world!
- Option: Run from the Botanic Garden on a path to the Miradoro (scenic overlook). Adds ~2 km out & back and a bit of elevation gain. It’s on the route map.
Use the paths through the bamboo forest to head toward the Mondego River, where you’ll run through the riverfront Parque da Cidade Manuel Braga garden park and then south along the river path to the Pte. Pedonal pedestrian bridge. Cross to the western side of the river, and run north on riverside paths through Parque do Choupalinho [Option: running track located at the stadium for the University of Coimbra]. Cross back over the Santa Clara Bridge to return to the centre.
Add-Ons: To extend the run and do some hills, you can run on the roads/stairs above the river, west of the N110, where there are three monasteries. You can also combine with all or part of our Mondego River route.
This ‘runseeing’ tour of Coimbra has a lot of elements making for a scenic and interesting run: historic highlights of Coimbra’s historic centre, several parks, the fifth oldest botanical garden in the world, scenic overlook, riverside paths, and even a running track! Note it’s hilly away from the river. Use our mapped route as a guideline, as the streets of the centre are narrow & maze-like.
Start at the Praça da República, next to the Tourist Office and do a short loop around the Jardim da Sereia, which features a fountain and ornate outdoor sculpture. Next, due a 1 km loop of Av. Bandeira, which has lovely, green median and is lined with older, colorful buildings. Then, LEFT on R. Alexandre Herculano briefly, and RIGHT on Rua Venâncio Rodrigues, which is a wide, monument-lined leading into the University of Coimbra. We then do a loop around the historic centre, using R. Aguiar/Esteirinhas, passing several important sites, notably the Romanesque Sé Velha de Coimbra.
Next, run through the scenic Botanic Garden, a classic formal garden dating back to the 1700s — it’s the fifth oldest in the world!
- Option: Run from the Botanic Garden on a path to the Miradoro (scenic overlook). Adds ~2 km out & back and a bit of elevation gain. It’s on the route map.
Use the paths through the bamboo forest to head toward the Mondego River, where you’ll run through the riverfront Parque da Cidade Manuel Braga garden park and then south along the river path to the Pte. Pedonal pedestrian bridge. Cross to the western side of the river, and run north on riverside paths through Parque do Choupalinho [Option: running track located at the stadium for the University of Coimbra]. Cross back over the Santa Clara Bridge to return to the centre.
Add-Ons: To extend the run and do some hills, you can run on the roads/stairs above the river, west of the N110, where there are three monasteries. You can also combine with all or part of our Mondego River route.
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