João

Local Guide

Responds quickly
  • I live in Coimbra
  • I speak English, Português
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 3 hours

Hi there! Nice to meet you

João

I'm João, from Coimbra, and I'm a licensed guide. I got a degree in anthropology and a master's degree in cultural heritage management and programming. I love soccer, history, books, animals, music, cinema, gastronomy, traditions and meeting new people and new cultures. Ah, i almost forgot to tell you... and i love to eat :). Fortunately, my city offers all this and much more.

Coimbra is a very rich city in historical and cultural terms. Unfortunately, those who visit Coimbra usually have a very short stay and don't have time to discover the city's charms, such as a general tour of the city or a specific tour of a monument.

I have plenty of ideas for routes :). My kind of routes are usually cultural.

I'm polite, friendly and always ready to answer tourists' questions ( It's important to say that, like everyone else, I don't know everything). And I'm also ready to learn from tourists. Tourism is also an interesting activity, because the guides always learn something new from the tourists we meet.

I'm very excited to help you get to know my city a little better

  • I live in Coimbra
  • I speak English, Português
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 3 hours

My Coimbra in pictures

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Reviews

Lisa
28 February 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
Yael
17 February 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.
Georgia
5 February 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
10 November 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
1 October 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
30 September 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
16 September 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
11 September 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 August 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
26 July 2024
João is a great guide. Reacting very fast to our last minute request. Very knowledgeable and nice storytelling! Perfect Quick Start

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  3. João , Local Guide