Venue | Ecoflor 2024

COIMBRA

Welcome to the ‘Student’s City’! The 21st edition of EcoFlor takes place at the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra. The department is located on Calçada Martim de Freitas and upon entering the building, you will find signage that will guide you.

40°12'25.6"N 8°25'19.0"W

College of São Bento

Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra

Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra

HOW TO GET HERE

If travelling by plane, you can land at one of the two main airports in Portugal: one in Lisbon and another in Porto. Coimbra is located halfway between the two airports.

If you arrive in Lisbon, you should take the Red metro line to the ‘Lisboa-Oriente’ train station and, from there, take a train to ‘Coimbra B’ station.

If you arrive in Porto, you should take the Violet metro line until ‘Trindade’ and there you should take the Green or Red lines to the ‘Porto-Campanhã’ train station. From there, take a train to ‘Coimbra B’ station.

You can check the train schedules at CP Times and Prices.

Another option is to use a shuttle service. For more informations, visit their webpage Airport Shuttle.

Alternatively, you can take a bus to Coimbra. You can find schedule information at Rede Expressos or Flixbus.

Note: In Coimbra, there are two train stations: Coimbra (city centre) and Coimbra B (main station). If you prefer to disembark at the Coimbra station, you will need to disembark at Coimbra B and take another train to Coimbra without purchasing an additional ticket.

In Coimbra B and in the bus station, there are taxi stands, but you can also use the Uber or Bolt apps. Additionally, the city has a public transportation network called SMTUC. We suggest the lines 103 and 28 connecting the downtown to the University; lines 24, 5 and 11 stop in the ‘’Arcos’’ (aqueduct) very close to the Department of Life Sciences; and the Botanical Garden line starting on the other side of the river, passing by the Mondego Green Park, the Botanical Garden and the University.

WHERE TO STAY

In Coimbra, you will find several accommodation options, including hotels, hostels and apartments. Here are only some suggestions:

Hotel Dona Inês (R. Abel Dias Urbano 12, 3000-001 Coimbra)
Hotel Oslo (Av. Fernão de Magalhães 25, 3000-175 Coimbra)
Hotel Astoria (Av. Emídio Navarro 21, 3000-150 Coimbra)
Hotel Ibis Coimbra Centro (Av. Emídio Navarro 70, 3000-150 Coimbra)
Hotel Tivoli Coimbra (R. João Machado 4, 3000-226 Coimbra)
Hotel Botânico Coimbra (Bairro de São José 15, 3030-207, Coimbra)
Casa de São Bento (R. de Tomar 7, 3000-401 Coimbra)
Hi Coimbra – Pousada da Juventude (R. Dr. Henriques Seco 14, 3000-145 Coimbra)
Serenata Hostel (Largo da Sé Velha 21 e 23, 3000-383 Coimbra)

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

Coimbra offers a wide variety of places where you can eat traditional Portuguese cuisine (and more), enjoy the end of the day at a terrace and even experience a bit of the academic spirit or listen to ‘Fado de Coimbra’.
Go to Praça da República or stroll down the old narrow streets to the downtown area and explore the various options that Coimbra has to offer.

Here are some suggestions (CHECK THIS LINK FOR MAP):
Fangas Mercearia Bar (R. de Fernandes Thomas 45-49, 3000-168 Coimbra)
A Cozinha da Maria (Praça do Comércio 110, 3000 – 116 Coimbra)
Jardim da Manga (R. Olímpio Nicolau Rui Fernandes, 3000-303 Coimbra)
Dux Taberna Urbana (R. Dr. Manuel Rodrigues 39, 3000-226 Coimbra)
Zé Manel dos Ossos (Beco do Forno 10, 3000-192 Coimbra)
Tapas nas Costas (R. Quebra Costas 19, 3000-340 Coimbra)
Café Atenas (R. Lourenço de Almeida Azevedo 84, 3000-250 Coimbra)
The Murphy’s Irish Pub (R. Almeida Garret 1, 3000-021 Coimbra)
Casa das Caldeiras (R. Padre António Vieira 5, 3000-350 Coimbra)
Café Santa Cruz (Praça 8 de Maio, 3000-300 Coimbra)
Passaporte - Lounge Terrace (R. da Couraça Estrela 13, 3000 – 433 Coimbra)
Fado ao Centro (R. Quebra Costas 7, 3000-340 Coimbra)

If you need to do some shopping, you will easily find supermarkets and grocery stores. Here are some options:
Continente Bom Dia (Av. Fernão de Magalhães 333, 3000 – 176 Coimbra)
Pingo Doce Rua da Sofia (R. João de Ruão 171, 3000-229 Coimbra)
Mini Preço Praça 8 de Maio (Praça 8 de Maio 11, 3000-300 Coimbra)
Mercado D. Pedro V (R. Olímpio Nicolau Rui Fernandes 208, 3030-122 Coimbra)
Aqui é Fresco – Celas (Av. Dom Afonso Henriques 138, 3000-009 Coimbra)
Pingo Doce Celas (Av. Calouste Gulbenkian 810, 3004-503 Coimbra).

YOU SHOULD VISIT

University of Coimbra One of the oldest Universities in Europe. You can visit 'Pátio das Escolas', the Baroque Library ('Biblioteca Joanina'), Saint Michael’s Chapel, the Tower of the University, the' Via Latina' and 'Porta Férrea'. Learn more here.

Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra Founded in 1772 and located in the heart of the city. You can learn more here.

Mondego Green Park near the river Mondego, it is the perfect place to sunbathe, walk, eat & drink or read a book.

Monastery of Santa Cruz Founded in 1131, it is a National Pantheon where the first King of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, and his son, D. Sancho I, are buried. Learn more here.

Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha located in the left margin of the Mondego river, founded in 1283 and, years later, refounded by Queen Saint Isabel de Aragão. Marked by the floods caused by the waters of the Mondego river, it is a fine example of the architecture of that period. Learn more here.

Quinta das Lágrimas the legend goes that it was here that the forbidden love between Prince D. Pedro and a galician maiden called Inês de Castro was lived. It was also here that Inês was murdered at the command of King Afonso IV, father of D. Pedro. Since then, her blood has given colour to the stones of the fountain that sprung from her tears. Learn more here.