Conimbriga: Portugal's Best Roman Ruins

Conímbriga is the best-preserved Roman town in Portugal, with mosaic floors, houses, baths and a long defensive wall, set in the countryside just south of Coimbra. It’s a fascinating half-day for history lovers, and great for families too.

Quick answer: Conímbriga is about 20 minutes’ drive south of Coimbra, near Condeixa-a-Nova. A ticket covers the ruins and the museum. Allow 2 hours. Don’t miss the House of the Fountains, with its mosaics and working fountains. Combine it with Coimbra. See Coimbra tours.

What to see

• The House of the Fountains (Casa dos Repuxos): a grand villa with beautiful mosaic floors around a garden of fountains, which still spout water.
• The mosaics: hunting scenes, mythological figures and geometric patterns.
• The town wall: a long defensive wall, hastily built as the empire weakened.
• The baths, forum and aqueduct remains.
• The museum: finds from the site, including sculptures, coins and everyday objects.

Getting there

• By car: the easiest option, from Coimbra or the A1 motorway.
• By bus from Coimbra to Condeixa, then a walk.
• On a tour from Coimbra or Lisbon.

Tips

• Heat and shade: the site is exposed, so visit early in summer.
• Kids: the mosaics and fountains are a hit. See Portugal with kids.
• Combine: Coimbra’s university the same day. See the University of Coimbra guide.

More: the Coimbra guide, where to stay in Coimbra and a quick history of Portugal.

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