Douro Valley Wine Tour from PortoCoimbra and Aveiro Tour from Porto
This Coimbra and Aveiro tour from Porto packs two of central Portugal's best-known cities into one day for $111 per person. Touch Tours Porto drives a group of no more than 8 in an air-conditioned van, about 1.5 hours to Coimbra, then on to Aveiro for a 50-minute moliceiro boat ride on the lagoon. The University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in Europe, is on the route, and a local pastry and water come with the price. Lunch is not included, so budget for that separately. This page breaks down what the price covers, how the day runs and when you would do better on the train. It sits alongside the comparison of every Douro Valley wine tour from Porto, so you can see where a city day fits your trip. Compare it with the other Douro Valley tours from Porto.
About This Tour
Touch Tours Porto runs a full-day trip from central Porto that combines Coimbra, the old capital and student city, with Aveiro and its canal-side Art Nouveau streets. The group travels in an air-conditioned car or van, so there is no coach crowd and no hotel pickups to eat the morning. The verified inclusions are the transport, the guide, the moliceiro boat ride on the Aveiro lagoon, a local pastry and water.
What you do not get is lunch and transport to the meeting point. Your guide suggests restaurant options in Coimbra District, and the 1.5-hour lunch stop is optional at an extra fee. The listing does not state that entry to the Joanina Library is included, so if the library is the reason you are going, plan for it as a possible extra. The tour needs at least 3 people to run and goes ahead even in rain.
$111 per person, booked on GetYourGuide. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.
Full day. The listing gives no departure or return clock time, only the phase-by-phase itinerary and about 1 hour of van time back to Porto at the end.
R. de Cândido dos Reis 105, 4000 Porto. There is no hotel pickup, so allow time to reach the meeting address.
Air-conditioned car or van with a live guide, up to 8 travelers. The tour needs a minimum of 3 people to run. Guides work in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Two cities in one day: a guided Coimbra walk of 20 minutes, a 40-minute University of Coimbra visit, a 1.5-hour optional lunch, a 20-minute guided Aveiro walk and a 50-minute moliceiro boat ride. A local pastry and water are included.
Lunch is not included and costs extra if you take the stop. Transport to and from the meeting point is your own cost. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.
Check Dates and Availability
The tour runs subject to a minimum of 3 booked travelers and operates even in rain. Pick a date and check live places with the operator on GetYourGuide.
Quick answer Price, group size and what is included
This Coimbra and Aveiro tour from Porto costs $111 per person for a full day in a group of up to 8, with a 4.7 rating from 108 GetYourGuide reviews.
Key takeaways
- The price includes the van, guide, 50-minute moliceiro boat, a pastry and water, but not lunch. See what the price covers.
- The University visit is 40 minutes. Whether the Joanina Library entry is covered is not stated in the listing.
- No hotel pickup. You meet at R. de Cândido dos Reis 105. Details in about this tour.
- Both cities are easy by train on your own. Compare the options at day trip from Porto to Coimbra.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing mixes a long Includes list with what is really provided, so this section uses the verified split. Only four things are confirmed inclusions, and lunch is listed as not provided.
Confirmed in the Price
Four items are verified inclusions: air-conditioned car transportation, a live guide, the moliceiro boat ride on the Aveiro lagoon, and a local pastry with water. That is the whole confirmed list. The boat is the only paid attraction inside the price.
On your own in Aveiro, a 45-minute moliceiro ride costs about €15 for adults and €7 for children aged 5 to 12, so the cruise is a real part of what you are paying for. The pastry is unspecified in the listing, and water is stated.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air-conditioned car or van | Yes | About 1.5 hours Porto to Coimbra, then 20 minutes to lunch country, 50 minutes to Aveiro and 1 hour back |
| Live guide | Yes | English, French, Spanish or Portuguese |
| Moliceiro boat ride | Yes | 50 minutes on the Aveiro lagoon |
| Local pastry and water | Yes | The pastry type is not stated |
| University of Coimbra visit | Visit stated, entry not stated | 40 minutes on site. Joanina Library entry is not listed as included |
| Coimbra guided walk | Yes | 20 minutes through the medieval gates and past the two cathedrals |
| Aveiro guided walk | Yes | 20 minutes |
| Lunch | No | Optional 1.5-hour stop, extra fee, the guide suggests restaurants |
| Transport to the meeting point | No | You reach R. de Cândido dos Reis 105 yourself |
What You May Pay on the Day
Lunch is the main extra, and the listing gives no price for it, so budget whatever a Portuguese sit-down meal costs where the van stops. The Joanina Library is the open question. The listing confirms a 40-minute University of Coimbra visit but never says library entry is included.
If it is not, the Joanina, University and Science Museum programme costs €16.50 and takes about 3 hours, while the guided Paço das Escolas tour including the library, Royal Palace and São Miguel chapel is listed at €25 for adults. Neither figure is part of this tour price. Drinks with lunch, tips and shopping in Aveiro are your own costs.
One reviewer mentioned mechanical issues on the day that did not spoil the trip, which is worth knowing before you book a tight connection after it.
| Possible extra | Listed cost | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch stop, 1.5 hours | Extra fee, not stated | Ask the guide for the suggested restaurants and check menus before sitting |
| Joanina Library entry | €16.50 programme, or €25 guided Paço das Escolas tour | Not stated as included, so treat as your own cost and check with the operator before booking |
| Old Cathedral cloister | A few euros | Outside the guided 20-minute walk |
| Tips | Not stated | Not listed in the price |
Sources: CP Douro line timetable, Quinta do Bomfim (Symington)
The clock tower rises over the University of Coimbra courtyard. Photo: Mister No, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives durations for every stop but no clock times for departure or return, so the schedule below uses the stated blocks in order.
Meet at R. De Cândido Dos Reis 105
You gather at R. de Cândido dos Reis 105, 4000 Porto, There is no hotel pickup, so plan your own route. The tour needs 3 people minimum and runs in rain. The departure time is not stated in the listing, only that the whole thing is a full day, so check your booking confirmation for the start hour.
Van Ride to Coimbra, About 1.5 Hours
The first leg is a 1.5-hour drive south to Coimbra in the air-conditioned car or van. The listing calls it a scenic ride. With up to 8 travelers there is no coach boarding, and your guide can talk through the day on the way.
Coimbra Guided Walk, 20 Minutes
In Coimbra, an old capital of Portugal, the guided portion is 20 minutes through the medieval gates and past the Old and New Cathedrals and the main monuments. Twenty minutes is a pass through, not an exploration. The highlights list mentions visiting the old cathedral and trying a local pastry, which matches the included pastry.
The Old Cathedral cloister is a separate paid entry if you want to go back later.
University of Coimbra, 40 Minutes
The visit to the University of Coimbra, the oldest in the country and one of the oldest in Europe, is 40 minutes. That is time for the courtyard and the main monuments with the guide. It is not enough for the full Joanina Library programme, which alone takes about 3 hours and runs on timed slots with 10 minutes allowed inside the library.
If the library is your priority, this tour gives you a look, not a deep visit.
Lunch in Coimbra District, 1.5 Hours, Optional
After 20 minutes in the van you stop for lunch in Coimbra District. The stop lasts 1.5 hours and costs extra. Lunch is not provided, though the guide suggests options.
If you skip it, use the time as you like, but the van schedule stays the same.
Aveiro Guided Walk, Then the 50-minute Boat
A 50-minute drive brings you to Aveiro. A 20-minute guided walk covers the city and its Art Nouveau buildings. Then comes a 50-minute moliceiro boat cruise on the Aveiro lagoon to see the colorful fishermen houses from the water.
Free Time and the Ride Back
You get 30 minutes of free time in Aveiro for shopping, a walk and views on the way. Then it is about 1 hour in the van back to R. de Cândido dos Reis 105 in Porto. The return clock time is not stated in the listing.
Things to Do in Coimbra Portugal - Day Trip from Porto
Things to do in Coimbra on a day trip from Porto, the first half of this tour. Third-party video by Tina's Veganderlust. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing is blunt about limits. Several of them are dealbreakers for specific travelers, and each has an alternative below.
Wheelchair Users
The listing states the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. If you still want both cities with support, read the independent options in day trip from Porto to Coimbra and day trip from Porto to Aveiro, where you set your own pace and stops.
No Hotel Pickup, a Set Meeting Point
You must reach R. de Cândido dos Reis 105 yourself. If you are staying across town this adds time to an already long day. Braga and Guimarães day trip from Porto is also pickup-free and meets by Porto Cathedral, so it does not fix that. For a winery day with hotel collection, the Complete Douro Valley wine tour from Porto has a hotel pickup option.
A Full Day with Thin Time on the Ground
Guided time is 20 minutes in Coimbra, 40 at the University, 20 in Aveiro, plus 50 minutes on the boat and 30 of free time. A good part of the day is spent in the van. If you want hours rather than minutes in each city, do them on separate days.
Aveiro alone works well as a day trip from Porto to Aveiro, and Coimbra deserves its own day trip from Porto to Coimbra.
Lunch Buyers and Wine Day Seekers
Lunch costs extra and eats 1.5 hours of the itinerary. Travellers who want food and wine included in the fare should look at wine country instead. The Douro Valley two wineries, cruise and lunch tour from Porto includes a winery lunch, and the sommelier-led Douro Valley wine tour from Porto covers 2 wineries, lunch with DOC wines and a cruise in a group of 8.
Browse all Douro Valley wine tours from Porto before deciding.
Moliceiro boats float on the central canal in Aveiro. Photo: Vlach Pavel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Could You Do It Without a Tour?
Yes, and the trains make a strong case. Both cities sit on direct rail lines from Porto, and the fares the facts give are low compared with $111 a head.
The Train Option to Aveiro
The Porto to Aveiro urban train costs €3.95 single and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, with at least two departures an hour on weekdays. Intercidades costs €13.00 and Alfa Pendular €16.10, taking 54 to 60 minutes from Campanhã. Once there, a moliceiro ride costs about €15 for adults and €7 for children aged 5 to 12.
Aveiro is flat and walkable, and the BUGA shared bikes have a €5 registration balance with the first hour free. This is the easy DIY day of the two, and the day trip from Porto to Aveiro page walks it through.
The Train Option to Coimbra
Porto Campanhã to Coimbra-B takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes by Alfa Pendular or Intercidades, and Coimbra-B is a separate station from the city centre station, so check the connection. The university is the cost center: the Joanina Library, University and Science Museum programme is €16.50 for about 3 hours, the University plus Science Museum option is €12.50 for 2.5 hours, and a guided Paço das Escolas tour is €25. Tickets are non-refundable, entry is by timed slot, groups of up to 50 enter the library every 20 minutes with 10 minutes inside, and arriving 5 minutes early matters because a missed slot loses the entry.
The listing's 40-minute University stop cannot match that. Details are in day trip from Porto to Coimbra.
When the Tour Earns Its Price
A single-city day by train costs far less than $111 on your own. The case for the van is logistics: one booking covers both cities, no timetable juggling, a guide for context and door-to-door timing in one long day. It removes every transfer decision.
If you would rather keep the day free and structured around one region, the complete Douro Valley wine tour from Porto includes lunch and tastings for $113.53. For longer planning, see the free day trips from Porto or a 2-day trip from Porto.
Itinerary Step by Step
Durations come from the listing. The departure and return clock times are not stated, so the steps use phases.
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Day start
Meet the van at R. de Cândido dos Reis 105
Gather at R. de Cândido dos Reis 105, 4000 Porto. No hotel pickup, so allow your own transfer time. Groups run with 3 to 8 travelers.
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Morning
Drive to Coimbra, 1.5 hours
The air-conditioned car or van covers the roughly 1.5-hour run south to Coimbra with your guide.
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Morning
Coimbra guided walk, 20 minutes
A short guided pass through the medieval gates and the main monuments, including the Old and New Cathedrals.
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Midday
University of Coimbra, 40 minutes
A 40-minute visit to the oldest university in the country. Joanina Library entry is not stated as included, so treat it as a possible extra.
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Midday
Optional lunch in Coimbra District, 1.5 hours
A 20-minute van ride to the lunch stop. The meal costs extra and the guide suggests restaurants. Skipping it does not shorten the day.
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Afternoon
Drive to Aveiro, 50 minutes
The van continues to Aveiro, the city of canals and Art Nouveau.
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Afternoon
Aveiro walk and 50-minute moliceiro cruise
A 20-minute guided walk, then 50 minutes on a traditional moliceiro boat on the lagoon past the colorful fishermen houses.
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Evening
Free time, then 1 hour back to Porto
30 minutes of free time for shopping and a walk, then about 1 hour in the van back to R. de Cândido dos Reis 105.
Pros and Cons
A straight read of the listing, with the trade-offs attached.
What we genuinely like
- A small group of up to 8 in an air-conditioned van, no coach crowd
- The 50-minute moliceiro boat ride, a local pastry and water are in the $111 price
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve now, pay later
- Multilingual guiding in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese
- Two cities covered in one day without renting a car
The honest downsides
- Lunch is not included and the optional 1.5-hour stop costs extra
- No hotel pickup, and R. de Cândido dos Reis 105 may be far from where you sleep
- Guided time is short: 20 minutes in Coimbra, 40 at the University, 20 in Aveiro
- Joanina Library entry is not stated as included, and the full programme alone takes about 3 hours
- The tour needs 3 booked travelers to run, so a small booking can be cancelled
- Not suitable for wheelchair users, and pets and smoking are banned in the vehicle
- It is a full day with a lot of van time for two cities, at $111 per person
Who it's NOT for: Anyone who wants long stops, a library visit, lunch included or a wheelchair-accessible vehicle should book a different day.
Questions About This Tour
How much does the Coimbra and Aveiro tour from Porto cost?
It costs $111 per person on GetYourGuide, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later. For context, a wine-country day like the Complete Douro Valley wine tour from Porto is $113.53 with lunch and tastings included.
Is the Joanina Library included in this tour?
The listing does not state that Joanina Library entry is included, only a 40-minute University of Coimbra visit. If you want the library, the Joanina, University and Science Museum programme costs €16.50 separately, which the day trip from Porto to Coimbra explains in full.
Is lunch included on this Coimbra and Aveiro tour?
No. Lunch is an optional 1.5-hour stop in Coimbra District at an extra fee, and the guide suggests restaurants. If a meal in the price matters more to you, the Douro Valley small group tour with lunch and river cruise from Porto includes a traditional Portuguese lunch.
Where do I meet the tour in Porto?
At R. de Cândido dos Reis 105, 4000 Porto. There is no hotel pickup, so you reach the meeting point yourself and return there at the end. Travellers who want pickup should look at a Douro Valley wine tour from Porto with a hotel collection option.
Is Aveiro worth visiting on a day trip from Porto?
Yes, the canals, Art Nouveau streets and the 50-minute moliceiro boat ride make it a rewarding stop, and this tour includes the boat. If you would rather spend a whole day there, the train costs €3.95 single and the day trip from Porto to Aveiro shows how.
How big is the group and what vehicle is used?
Up to 8 travelers in an air-conditioned car or van, with a minimum of 3 people needed for the tour to run.
What happens if it rains or few people book?
The tour takes place even if it rains. It needs at least 3 booked travelers, and with 24-hour free cancellation you can rebook if plans change. Other pickup-free city days with the same free cancellation terms include the Braga and Guimarães day trip from Porto.
What Travelers Said
David was an excellent guide and went above and beyond for us! We saw so much, far beyond what we would have seen exploring on our own. He really knows the history and geography of the country. Very accommodating and patient.
Loved our day trip to Coimbra and Aveiro. Tiago was very knowledgeable and helpful with our tour. I especially liked the restaurant he suggested for lunch in Aveiro. The food was regional and that is the experience we looking for. The boat ride in the river was breathtaking and the views were amazing. I highly recommend this tour and Tiago as a guide.
Our trip to Coimbra and Aveiro was wonderful! Tiago was such a great guide! He is so nice, friendly and personable! The tour was the perfect balance between history, information and free time. Tiago made excellent recommendations for places to visit in our free time and lunch spots. We followed his recommendations and had a great time! He made us feel like family and we thoroughly enjoyed our time together! I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Porto!
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