Rent a car in Coimbra with Europcar
Around 130 kilometres from
Porto, Coimbra is the third largest city in Portugal. A stack of multicoloured houses sitting above the Mondego River, Coimbra is home to nearby Roman ruins, beautiful Renaissance architecture and the oldest university in the country. Biblioteca Joanina, the university library, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
Coimbra is seen as the most important town in Central Portugal, with a host of significant places around it. Choose car hire in Coimbra to discover everything the region has to offer in comfort and ease.
The Europcar car rental experience in Coimbra
There are two locations to pick up your car hire in Coimbra, in the town
centre and the
railway station.
Our fleet of car hire in Coimbra is varied, from economy car hire options including Renault Clio and Opel Astra - great choices for travelling around the city or beyond. Larger groups and families can look to the Audi A3 and Renault Megane for roomier and reliable transportation.
Europcar Coimbra also offers a large selection of van hire, with small and larger van rentals available on a short or long term basis. Europcar is as flexible as you need your car hire in Coimbra to be.
Driving in Coimbra
To rent a car in Coimbra, you will need a valid driver’s licence from your home country. Plus, foreigners are often asked for a photo ID or passport when stopped - sure you keep them with you at all times.
In Portugal, the national speed limits vary from 50 km/h in urban areas, to 90 km/h on rural roads and 120 km/h on motorways. Speed limits around residential buildings and schools are likely to lower to 40 km/h.
Parking in Coimbra is very limited due to its infrastructure. There is parking near Coimbra Baixa, on the west bank of the river, across the Ponte de Santa Clara. Free on-street parking is available around Praça da República, near the university. Your best bet is to look for hotels with on-site parking or to park outside of the city centre and explore on foot.
There are several tolls to pay on roads in Portugal, which can be paid by cash, credit/debit cards or electronically. There are several types of electronic tolls: Easy Toll, Toll Card, Toll Service and Via Verde Visitors. Via Verde and Easy Toll. Easy Toll is a pre-charged system connected to your credit card, Toll Card and Toll Service are pre-paid vouchers, and Via Verde are electronic wireless devices.
Discover Coimbra and surroundings by car
Once you have visited the main attractions in Coimbra, including the University of Coimbra Alta and Sofia and its Joanina library, there is plenty awaiting you in the area.
Around 40 minutes from Coimbra, Buçaco National Forest (30 kilometres) is a walled arboretum measuring 105 hectares, with over 250 species of different trees and shrubs. The site has been used for lots of botanical research over the years, thanks to its rare and varied plant forms. The dense forest is the perfect place to spend a day getting back to nature. Several walks and cycling routes are across the area, as well as the option to enjoy canoeing or horseback riding.
Tomar (78 kilometres), 50 minutes south of Coimbra, is a town with a mythical history. The headquarters of the Knights Templar for over 700 years, they built the Convent of Christ that as a defensive castle during the 12th century. Legend has it that the Knights would meet here during the fight to free Portugal from Islamic domination.
Driving onwards from Coimbra, visit Porto (122 kilometres) and the capital,
Lisbon (205 kilometres) by car.
