Tile-lined cities, riverfront meals & easy train days
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Portugal by Rail
Lisbon to Coimbra
Lisbon and Coimbra sit about 176 km (109 mi) apart in a straight line, with Coimbra to the north. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Portugal by Rail itinerary, a 6-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 176 km · 109 mi
- Est. road distance
- 211–247 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Portugal by Rail itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 211–247 km (131–153 mi) and 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
Trains are the natural way to travel. Fast and regional services run between Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, and each city has an easily walkable core plus trams, metro or taxis for the hills. No car is needed for this route.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Coimbra
A full day covers the university and old town; stay the night for fado.
University of Coimbra
Hilltop university founded in 1290, with a clock tower and courtyard views.
Café Santa Cruz
Café inside a former monastery chapel, with Gothic vaults.
Zé Manel dos Ossos
Tiny traditional tavern with walls covered in notes, serving hearty pork dishes.
Parque Verde do Mondego
Riverside park and boardwalk along both banks of the Mondego.
Fado ao Centro
Nightly short show of Coimbra fado, sung by men in student capes.
Biblioteca Joanina
Baroque library from the 1700s with gilded shelves and a colony of bats.
Before you leave Lisbon
Spend three days: Belém one morning, Alfama and the castle another, plus a day trip to Sintra.
On this curated route
Where Lisbon → Coimbra sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Coimbra to Lisbon is the same 176 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in July, when Coimbra averages highs 11°C warmer than Lisbon. Over a year, Coimbra gets about 310 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon high | 14° | 15° | 16° | 17° | 19° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 22° | 20° | 17° | 15° |
| Coimbra high | 14° | 15° | 18° | 20° | 25° | 29° | 33° | 34° | 30° | 24° | 17° | 14° |
| Lisbon rain | 65 | 51 | 60 | 54 | 31 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 79 | 92 | 64 |
| Coimbra rain | 108 | 82 | 93 | 82 | 53 | 25 | 9 | 14 | 40 | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Coimbra month guides.
Lisbon to Coimbra: questions travelers ask
How far is Lisbon from Coimbra?
Lisbon is about 176 km (109 mi) from Coimbra in a straight line, with Coimbra to the north. By road, we estimate 211–247 km (131–153 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Lisbon to Coimbra?
An estimated 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min, assuming 211–247 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Lisbon to Coimbra?
Our Portugal by Rail itinerary includes this leg. Portugal by Rail runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in Apr – Jun.
Onward from Coimbra
- Coimbra to Porto 108 km
Guides for both ends
- Lisbon travel guide
- Lisbon weather best time to visit
- Coimbra travel guide
- Coimbra weather best time to visit
Coimbra by month
Plan Lisbon → Coimbra with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.