From the university city of Coimbra to the mountains: Covilhã is the starting point for the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, with glacial cirques, mountain lakes and the mainland's highest point, Belmonte a quiet place with a castle and Jewish history. Best from May to June and in September, with five overnights in just under a week.
6 Days / 5 Nights
May–June & September
RV Friendly
3 stops
Why This Route?
For hikers and peace-seekers to experience mountains and villages away from the coast.
Hidden Gems
Covão d'Ametade, a meadow at the source of the Zêzere below Cântaro Magro
Vale Glaciar do Zêzere near Manteigas, with hiking trails through the glacial valley
Jewish Museum in Belmonte on the history of the Crypto-Jews
Itinerary
Stop 1 • 2 Nights
Coimbra
City
Rich in culture and history. Perfect for an exciting city trip.
Coimbra is located on the Mondego, halfway between Lisbon and Porto. The city served as Portugal's capital during the 12th and 13th centuries and has been the permanent home of the country's oldest university since 1537. The University, the Upper Town, and Rua da Sofia have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013. Students in black cloaks shape the cityscape, accompanied by its unique Fado, sung by men.
15 Sights
18 Restaurants
Culture and History
The Romans called the settlement Aeminium. In 1131, Afonso Henriques made Coimbra his residence; it remained the capital until 1255. The university, founded in Lisbon in 1290, moved several times before finally settling in Coimbra in 1537, in the former Royal Palace on the hill.The Fado de Coimbra is traditionally sung by men in student attire and accompanied by the Coimbra guitar, often in the form of serenades. In May, students celebrate the Queima das Fitas with parades and concerts. The Quinta das Lágrimas is associated with the story of Pedro and Inês de Castro, who was murdered in Coimbra in 1355.
Rich in culture and history. For adventure seekers.
Covilhã, on Serra da Estrela's eastern slope, was for centuries Portugal's wool town. Today, the Universidade da Beira Interior, old factories, and much street art shape the image. From here, you quickly reach the Torre.
11 Sights
10 Restaurants
Culture
The sheep herds of the Serra provided the wool, the mountain streams the hydropower: This made Covilhã the centre of the Portuguese textile industry. With the decline of the factories in the 20th century, the university arrived, taking over many of the old halls. Since 2011, the WOOL Festival has been painting facades in the old town, with many motifs alluding to its textile history.Mountain cheese from the Serra da Estrela, kid, and regional cured meats are served.
Belmonte is a small village on a hill in the Beira Interior, east of the Serra da Estrela. Pedro Álvares Cabral, who in 1500 became the first European to reach Brazil, was born here. Belmonte is also known for its Jewish community: descendants of forcibly baptised Jews secretly preserved their customs here for centuries and only openly professed their faith again in the 20th century.
4 Sights
3 Restaurants
Culture and History
After the forced baptism of Jews in Portugal in 1497, many families lived outwardly Catholic but secretly adhered to Jewish rites. In Belmonte, this tradition of the Crypto-Jews endured particularly long. It was only in 1917 that engineer Samuel Schwarz brought the community to public attention, and in 1996, the Bet Eliahu Synagogue was inaugurated.The Cabral family owned the castle of Belmonte; Pedro Álvares Cabral was born here around 1467.
