Portugal is home to some of the most impressive Roman ruins in Western Europe, offering a fascinating glimpse into the country’s amazing past. Among these historic sites, Conimbriga stands out as one of the best-preserved Roman settlements in Portugal. If you enjoy visiting historic sites, and especially Roman ruins, then visiting Conimbriga Roman ruins should be on your list!
A Bit Of History
The Romans arrived in what is now Portugal around 218 BC. Over time, they took control of the region and made it part of the Roman province of Lusitania. They built roads, cities, aqueducts, and temples, spreading their language, laws, and way of life. Roman rule lasted for over 600 years and left a lasting mark on Portuguese culture, especially in places like Conimbriga, where many ruins can still be seen today.
Once a thriving Roman settlement, Conimbriga is one of the best-preserved Roman sites in Portugal. Today, you can walk through its ruins and see beautiful mosaics, the remains of grand houses, public baths, and even parts of the old city walls. It’s a fascinating place that brings Roman history to life in a peaceful countryside setting.
Getting There
Visiting Conimbriga Roman ruins is easiest done by car, as it allows you flexibility, as well as the option of combining the visit with other attractions in the area. But, if renting a car is not an option, you can still visit the ruins, it’ll just take a bit more time and effort! Here are the different ways in which you can reach Conimbriga Roman ruins from Coimbra, Porto and Lisbon:
From Coimbra
The archeological site of Conimbriga is located about an 20-minute drive from Coimbra. If you don’t have a car, you can take an Uber or Bolt to the ruins. The ride should cost roughly €15-20.
You can also take a Transdev direct bus to Conimbriga from Coimbra. Buses depart twice a day (at 9:30am and 12:30pm on weekdays, and at 12:30pm on weekends). There is just one return bus to Coimbra from Conimbriga – at 1:25pm on weekdays and at 1:55pm on weekends. That amount of time should be enough to explore the archeological site.
From Porto
The drive from Porto to Conimbriga takes about one and a half hours. I would definitely recommend having a car if you plan on visiting from Porto. If a car is not an option, you could take a train to Coimbra (~1 hour), and then either take the Transdev bus, or take an Uber or Bolt.
From Lisbon
It takes approximately 2 hours to drive to Conimbriga from Lisbon. There is so much to see and do along the way, that this could easily be a long day trip of exploring leaving from Lisbon. We combined our visit to Conimbriga with a hike in Buçaco National Forest, and it was perfect!
An alternative way for visiting Conimbriga Roman ruins from Lisbon is to catch a train from Lisboa-Oriente or Santa Apolonia to Coimbra-B. From there you can take a bus into Coimbra city, and then a Transdev bus from there. Rede Expressos and Flixbus run buses from Lisbon to Coimbra as well, so you could take the bus and them use the Transdev bus to reach Conimbriga. For these options, I would recommend spending a night (or more!) in Coimbra.
The Visit
Conimbriga is open every day from 10a.m. until 7p.m. (the last entry being around 5:15 p.m.) except for January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, and December 25th. Entrance tickets cost €4.50 for adults, and children until 12 are free. Residents of Portugal can also visit for free, and if you visit on Sunday or on a holiday after 2pm, you can also enter for free. The entrance ticket includes access to the ruins and the museum.
If possible, arrive early to avoid the midday heat and the big tour groups! We got there around 4 p.m. and the last group was leaving as we went in. Other than a handful of other people, we had the ruins basically to ourselves!
We were told to head to the ruins first and then visit the museum. Unfortunately, by the time we were finished seeing the ruins, the museum had already closed for the day. We read that the museum and visitor center house archaeological finds such as coins, pottery, mosaics, and statues. We were really bummed we didn’t get to see it! The visitor centre also includes restrooms, a café/restaurant, and a gift shop .
To visit the ruins, follow the self‑guided circuit through the site: you’ll start on the left side path, and will make a loop past the grand South Baths, public baths, forum, city walls, private villas like the House of Cantaber, and the remains of an amphitheater. This initial area really impressed us! The mosaicked floors were the best we had ever seen. That is, until we reached the House of Fountains later in the circuit!
Towards the end of the loop we reached the House of the Fountains, which is under cover. This last section houses the best preserved and most intricate mosaics. Look for the coin slot to activate the fountain. Fifty cents will get you a 2-minute water show! Make sure to take your time to go through this area. There are different side paths that will get you closer to the different mosaics, so make sure you don’t miss any of them!
Final Thoughts
We absolutely loved visiting Conimbriga Roman ruins! The mosaics were stunning, and incredibly well-preserved, especially considering that they are over 2,000 years old! If possible, I would suggest visiting Conimbriga during the cooler time of the year, as it can get pretty hot in that area. If visiting during the warm months, make sure to bring a hat and sunscreen, and carry water with you during the visit. Other than that, just enjoy this gem of a place!
To learn more about our travels, click here. If you want to read more about places to visit in Portugal, click here.
