COIMBRA TRAVEL GUIDE

coimbra travel guide

If you are reading this you’ve decided to visit Coimbra. Or maybe you are wondering if you should. I visited Coimbra as a day trip during my trip to Portugal, as a stop between Lisbon and Aveiro.

Coimbra is a very interesting and history rich city. It used to be a Roman settlement and some structures of that time remain. It also used to be the capital of Portugal, and is the land of Inês de Castro and King Pedro, two major historical figures of Portuguese history. Also, Coimbra houses one of the oldest universities in the world: Coimbra University.

Would I recommend you visit? Honestly, I had lots of trouble finding the answer to this question before my trip so this is my verdict, having ended up visiting it. I think Coimbra is definitely worth a day or half day stop if you are doing a road trip but wouldn’t recommend you go out of your way to visit it, specially if your visit to Portugal is short (a week).

Now I’ll walk you through everything there is to do in Coimbra, where to stay and how to get there and around.

Things to do in Coimbra

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VISITING AMSTERDAM: EPIC AMSTERDAM BUCKET LIST

LAS MEJORES EXPERIENCIAS DE AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam Bucket List
Amsterdam Bucket List

Amsterdam was, before I fell in love with London, my favourite city in this world! Then, I guess it’s my second favourite now. The Netherlands holds a very special place in my heart!

I’ve visited Amsterdam more times than I can remember when I was a student in Rotterdam, and many more after. It’s hard to explain what makes it so special. I guess it’s a mixture of the beautiful canals, the “town” vibe despite being a capital city, the friendly locals and the fact that you can do most of it on foot, or by bike. Find the best things to do in Amsterdam in this post.

EPIC AMSTERDAM BUCKET LIST

Experience Amsterdam’s bike traffic

Amsterdam is the most bicycle friendly capital city in the world. 60% of the trips in the capital are done by bike! Also, isn’t cycling great for sightseeing? Rent a bike for the day or your stay, there are tons of rentals available. I even rented a tandem bike once. However, do be careful, there are a bunch of tourist accidents. So many, that the tourist board released a funny video on how to cycle safely.

amsterdam bucket list
Amsterdam Bucket List: Canals
Eat patatjes/frites 

The famous “pommes frites” from Belgium are also very popular in the Netherlands and are traditionally served in a cone with mayo on top. The best in Amsterdam can be found in Vleminckx.

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HOW TO SPEND THE BEST DAY IN SINTRA

HOW TO SPEND THE BEST DAY IN SINTRA
HOW TO SPEND THE BEST DAY IN SINTRA
Palacio da Pena. Shop mi look.

Sintra was one of the highlights of my Portugal trip. Seriously, I loved it. I regret tons not staying for one night versus just visiting for the day from Lisbon. It is a magical place likely due to the combination of nature with attractions that were just so incredible and unique. It’s truly out of a Portuguese fairy tale.

So, either if you are visiting for the day or spending one night I’ll walk you through how to best enjoy it.

How to get to Sintra and around

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BERMONDSEY BEER MILE: LONDON’S CRAFT BEER CRAWL

bermondsey londres
Bermondsey Beer Mile
Bermondsey Beer Mile

Disclaimer: I wrote this article on the Bermondsey Beer Mile as I was starting my travel + London blog and it became insanely popular. As such, I will update it every 2 months as there are more and more breweries appearing in the area by the minute. The last updated date is at the top of the article.

Are you a beer fan and a londoner? Or maybe just a beer fan visiting the city? Then you must not miss the Bermondsey Beer Mile!

Turns out that Bermondsey has become the hub for microbreweries in London. And the good news for you is that they open as taprooms so you can go taste their golden liquid right from the brewery. What’s even better is that they are conveniently located in a straight line over a mile. Hence why it’s called the Bermondsey Beer Mile. That, my friend, makes the perfect beer crawl.

Scared of getting hungry? Well fear not. There are also three food markets conveniently located along the Bermondsey Beer Mile. I’ve created a map for you to follow and I’ll walk you through the whole thing.

Don’t want to do this on your own? Luckily the folks at UK Brewery Tours have got you covered with three amazing tours of the Bermondsey Beer Mile area:

  • Bermondsey Microbrewery Experience: My top pick! Visit a number of breweries on the Bermondsey Beer Mile, learn about how beer is made, tour the equipment, speak to the brewers and sample the beers straight from the taproom. It’s been going on since 2014 and the guides are super knowledgeable: I did it with beer writer Des de Moor.
  • Bermondsey Beer Tasting Tour: A guiding tasting tour of three of the Bermondsey Beer Mile venues listed below.
  • Bermondsey Cheese Meat and Beer Tour: For those who want some food paired with their beer!
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