• Private Tour
• Carbon Neutral

Discover the rich Jewish heritage in Coimbra! Explore centuries-old cultural, historical, and scientific remnants of national and international significance. Uncover fascinating curiosities and embark on a journey into the past, delving into the vibrant Jewish history of Portugal.

Destination

Coimbra, Portugal

Category

Art Culture Tours

Duration

2 horas

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Português

Included

• Private guide

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with João .

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Praça 8 de Maio - Coimbra to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Plaza 8 de mayo

   Plaza 8 de Mayo. Esta plaza está vinculada a momentos importantes de la historia judía. En esta zona ocurrieron hechos muy tristes. Destacaremos también el famoso Monasterio Cristiano de Santa Cruz, que tuvo unas curiosas conexiones con la comunidad judía.

4. Antiguo barrio judío

   Visitaremos el antiguo barrio judío, extinto en el siglo XIV.

5. Plaza del Comercio

   En lo que respecta al pasado judío, también está estrechamente asociado a momentos difíciles.

6. Fuente judía

   Aunque ha habido renovaciones a lo largo de los años, Coimbra todavía tiene una fuente histórica judía con varios siglos de antigüedad.

7. Nuevo Barrio Judío

   Fundado en el siglo XIV para la comunidad judía, vamos a recorrer algunas de las calles principales que formaban parte de este barrio. Fruto de varios cambios profundos a lo largo del tiempo, hoy es un barrio sin herencia judía visible, pero de obligada visita.

8. Patio de la Inquisición

   El último tribunal de la inquisición que aún existe en el país se encuentra en Coímbra. En funciones entre los siglos XVI y XIX, el tribunal de Coímbra fue extremadamente violento. Persiguió a miles de personas (sobre todo judíos) y tenía el control de una parte de Portugal. Dependiendo del horario de nuestra visita (si es entre las 13 y las 18 horas, de martes a sábado, tenemos la posibilidad de visitar la exposición).

9. Mikve

   Hace unos años se descubrieron unos baños judíos. Se trata de la única mikve medieval muy bien conservada del país y una de las pocas de Europa. Visita exterior

10. Casa de Arístides

    Casa Aristides Sousa Mendes - La casa donde vivió como estudiante el gran héroe de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, que salvó miles de vidas.

11. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Dime la fecha de tu viaje y el tamaño del grupo
• Dime tus preferencias y deseos para que pueda personalizar el tour para ti.
• Espera mi oferta personal en tu bandeja de entrada!

Contáctame

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Yael

17 febrero 2025

Joao was very knowledgeable about both Jewish history and the general history of Coimbra. He patiently answered all my questions and made the history of the Jewish community of Coimbra come alive.

Lisa🇺🇸 United States

28 febrero 2025

Our walking tour around Coimbra with João was exactly what we hoped it would be. He gave us a great foundation from which we could (and did) explore on our own. Coimbra is a fascinating place but the terrain, with its many hills and winding narrow streets, requires an expert to decipher. We really enjoyed learning the secrets of Coimbra from João, then we were most appreciative of his knowledge when we struck out on our own. Thank you, João for a wonderful memory of Coimbra! Wow João

Georgia

5 febrero 2025

Joao was a terrific guide and very informative. We had ventured out on our own the day before but we experienced so much more on our tour with Joao. We also took him up on his recommendations for dining and Fado, both of which were excellent. Highly recommend! Excellent Tour of Coimbra

Kathie 🇺🇸 United States

10 noviembre 2024

Jaoa is extremely knowledgeable about Coimbra and enjoyed sharing its stories and sights with us. We let him know at the last minute that we would be 30 minutes late and he was very flexible and gracious. Would highly recommend himJaoa is very knowledgeable and flexible

Christine🇺🇸 United States

1 octubre 2024

We had a lovely 2 hours with João. We learned a lot about the history of Portugal and Coimbra. He went to University there so was able to give his perspective too. Coimbra

Karen🇺🇸 United States

30 septiembre 2024

We took the Highlights and Hidden Gems tour in Coimbra with João yesterday. He was extremely knowledgeable, spoke perfect English, and was able to answer every question we threw at him - including many that were far afield from the sights of Coimbra. We chose João because we are a group of senior Jews, and we noticed that he also had a tour of Jewish Coimbra. When we asked him to show us a few places of Jewish interest, he cheerfully modified our tour according to our interests. He also checked frequently to make sure we were feeling up to another three flights of steps before proceeding (note to those new to Portugal - expect hills *everywhere*.) I can’t speak highly enough about both João and the tour itself. Highly recommended!A++++ Exceptional tour with João

Irvin🇺🇸 United States

16 septiembre 2024

We had a delightful tour with João in Coimbra. He was indeed a local, having spent his entire life in the city, and his family has lived there for generations. He arrived promptly for the six-hour walking tour (we requested the longer tour) with a big smile and speaking perfect English. Since we knew little about the city other than from our guidebook, he was eager to share the history, lore and unique customs of this ancient university town. We asked many questions, and he answered them flawlessly. He was sensitive to the pacing of the tour, following our lead in terms of taking photos, bathroom breaks, and providing good cheer during climbs of the town’s steep cobblestone streets (mostly downhill!). He also selected a good place for lunch. A small side note: He mentioned in passing that he sometimes gave Jewish tours of the city. The Jewish population is long gone, and almost no vestiges remain since the Jews of Portugal were either expelled or murdered in the Inquisition centuries ago. We told him that we were Jewish, and he responded in a respectful and sensitive manner, which we deeply appreciated, particularly now. We recommend João without hesitation. Fascinating history from a true local!

Roz🇦🇺 Australia

11 septiembre 2024

We had a wonderful 2 hours with John walking the streets of Coimbra. Very informative and easy to listen to.Great guide John

Christy

21 agosto 2024

Seeing the university was incredible. It was a great way to learn about the city and places we wanted to explore. He was incredibly knowledgeable. Great introduction to Coimbra

Anne🇧🇪 Belgium

26 julio 2024

João is a great guide. Reacting very fast to our last minute request. Very knowledgeable and nice storytelling! Perfect Quick Start

ALISHA🇺🇸 United States

18 julio 2024

Highly recommend Joao. He was very friendly and knowledgeable as well as easy to work with. We enjoyed all that he had to share about Coimbra and the University. We had originally tried to book with Tiago who did not respond until several weeks after the inquiry with a decline the day before the tour date. Joao was empathic with my frustration and reassuring to make it a positive experience. Great experience

Marina

13 julio 2024

We had a fantastic three-hour tour of Coimbra with João! The tour was well tailored so that we could see the main sights. We've learned a lot about Coimbra and fell in love with this beautiful city! João is very knowledgeable and easy to communicate with. Highly recommend him!Tour in Coimbra with João