Portugal Regions: Beira Litoral
The region of Beira Litoral is in the north west of Portugal west of Beira Alta and Beira Baixa.
The Beira Litoral hugs the Atlantic Coast and inland includes the university town of Coimbra and the resort towns of Figueira da Foz, Praia de Mira and Aveiro.
Main Towns
The Serra do Bucaço, north of Coimbra, is home to the Mata Nacional do Bucaço, (National Forest of Bucaço), where giant cedars and ferns as well as a range of exotic plants can be found.
The 105-hectare forest was established in the 17th century by Carmelite monks who enclosed the forest with stone walls and laid out several walking paths. There are small lakes and chapels within the forest. There are also fine views from Cruz Alta a high point at 545 meters.
The small spa town of Luso lies just outside the forest and is famous for its healing mineral waters. Luso water is a famous brand of mineral water found nationwide. Visitors help themselves for free at the Fonte São João spring.
Nearby Bucaço was the site of a battle during the Peninsular War in 1810 and has a small Museu Militar dedicated to the event. Visitors can stay at the five star Palace Hotel do Bucasso, formerly a royal palace completed in 1907. Within the hotel grounds are the atmospheric ruins of the convent Santa Cruz do Bucasso.
South of Coimbra there is fine walking around Lousã in the Serra da Lousã with its schist villages, which are beginning to establish Eco-tourism.
The major towns in Beira Litoral are Coimbra, Figueira da Foz and Aveiro.
Coimbra is famous for the historic Coimbra University, several fine museums and its two cathedrals, Se Velha and Se Nova as well as the Roman remains at Conimbriga, a short distance south of the city.
Figueira da Foz lays claim to Europe's widest beach and is both a working port and summer holiday resort. The Atlantic waves draw surfers throughout the year and its casino a different kind of high roller. Though not Portugal's most beautiful town, Figueira da Foz has a pleasant Municipal Garden and the interesting Museu Municipal Dr. Santos Rocha. The suburb of Buarcos north of the centre is the nicest part of town and the place to come for beach-side fish restaurants.
Aveiro is a town of canals and pretty bridges. It is situated on a large lagoon and wetland south of Porto at the mouth of the Rio Vouga. There are two beaches south along the coast and a number of museums in town, including the outstanding Museu de Aveiro
Getting to Coimbra
Train Travel in Portugal
Coimbra Station A is the main station for regional trains. Tel. 239 834 998 for local rail information.
Coimbra Station B is the main station for trains to and from outside the region. It is a 5-minute ride north of Coimbra.
There is a free connection between the stations on a local train.
Coimbra Parque Station in the south-east is now disused following a planned light-rail network was shelved in 2011 at the height of Portugal's financial crisis. Buses from the station now connect the town to Lousa and Serpins to the south east.
Frequent daily trains make the 2-hour or 3-hour 20 min-run between Lisbon and Coimbra.
Hourly trains to Porto; 1 hour 20 mins - 1 hour 30 mins. One train every hour connects Coimbra to the coastal town of Figueira da Foz. It takes an hour. There are also trains to Guarda, Santa Comba Dão and Luso-Buçaco.
Car Travel in Portugal
From Lisbon take the A1 highway north. Takes about 2 hours.
But beware: most of central Coimbra is closed to cars.
Bus Travel in Portugal
Coimbra's Bus Station is on Avenida Fernão de Magalhães.
Frequent buses a day make the 2 hours 20 min-run between Lisbon and Coimbra.
7-12 buses a day run between Coimbra and Porto. It takes between 90 mins and 2 hours 45 mins depending on the type of bus.
For the Roman ruins at Conimbriga take the morning Joalto/AVIC bus (30 minutes).
There are local buses from the main bus station and Coimbra B railway station to Praca da Republica. Bus #40 takes a loop including the stations and Linha Azul electric buses service the pedestrianized old city.
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
Coimbra has a number of centrally located places to stay including the recommended Hotel Oslo, the 4-star Tivolo Coimbra, the Sapientia Boutique Hotel and the 5-star Hotel Quinta das Lagrimas.
See here for a full listing of hotel accommodation in Coimbra.
Featured Hotel
Hotel Astoria, three star, 82 rooms.
Av. Emidio Navarro 21
Eating
The Beira Litoral region is known for its fresh fish. A must-visit is the Mercado do Peixe (Fish Market) in Aveiro. While in Aveiro also try the town's ovos moles (sweetened cooked egg yolks). Leitao assado (roast suckling pig) is another of the region's specialties centred on the small town of Mealhada.
The region is home to the Dão Valley and its fine wines. Towns to sample the excellent wines are Santa Comba Dão, birthplace of Antonio Salazar, and Santar, an attractive village 30 km to the north east.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
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