Schist Villages & Castles: Coimbra's Hidden Gems

Explore Schist Villages and Medieval Castles near Coimbra. Uncover hidden treasures, rich history, and stunning landscapes on this immersive private tour.

Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Lousa Castle - The journey begins at this intriguing castle, whose unique location captivates all who visit. Guests will explore the castle, uncover its historical significance, and hear enduring legends that continue to capture the popular imagination.
  • Aldeias do Xisto - These villages provide an authentic and captivating experience,…
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Inclusive tourism guide
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Embark on a day trip from Coimbra to uncover the rich history and heritage of the area. Visit some of the region’s most picturesque Schist Villages and explore two of its most significant castles. This private tour offers a chance to discover the hidden gems around Coimbra, true treasures that reveal the area’s past. Wander through the Villages, immerse…

Location
Estação Coimbra B
I will contact you with more details after booking.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(30 Ratings)
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Y1212zbsandral
Oct 21, 2025
Great guide; great tour. - Monica was a knowledgeable and helpful guide, and the tour was interesting given the history of the villages. It was a great learning experience and fun. We highly recommend Monica and the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Perryjm2022
Oct 16, 2025
Schist Village immersion - Mónica is a fantastic guide with a huge amount of knowledge of the schist villages. She is incredibly generous with her time and helped my elderly mom feel comfortable as well, making sure that she had a shaded place to rest while my wife and I explored. Her explanations of the origins of the villages as well as her close relationships allow her to bring a lucky few people to truly see the beauty of the area and the people that live there. This is a great change of pace from the bustle of Coimbra and I can’t give a higher recommendation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Justin_p
Oct 15, 2025
Schist Villages tour - The Schist Villages tour was really great and a nice change of pace from the other experiences we have had in Coimbra, Lisbon, Nazare, etc. Our guide, Monica, was the absolute best and was very knowledgeable about each of the villages that we visited. We walked through four villages and in each one Monica was pointing out interesting things and talking with local residents that she is friends with. As a part of our group, we were traveling with an older family member and Monica was very attentive to their needs and comfort with the walking paths. Highly recommend this tour if you are looking for something a little different and want to experience a different part of Portuguese culture that is more relaxing than the usual tourist attractions.
Review provided by Viator
Amy
Oct 6, 2025
Wonderful Schist Villages tour - Mónica is a wonderful tour guide. There was four of us in the group and she did a great job keeping us all engaged. She shared relevant stories growing up in nearby area and is very passionate about sharing the rich history of Coimbra. I highly recommend Mónica.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fiona_g
Oct 2, 2025
Very Enjoyable - This is the perfect tour for people who prefer a small, personalised activity. Mónica is a wonderful guide who genuinely cares about the places she takes us to and the people who live and work there. Her knowledge of the history is excellent and she happily shares this with her guests. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the villages and Mónica was very accomodating of our schedule. Can highly recommend for anyone who wants to avoid mass tourism and learn from a local passionate about her country and people!
Review provided by Viator
Cheryl_b
Aug 26, 2025
Monica and the Schist Village tour - Monica is a very sweet person, we enjoyed spending the day with her. And she has a great deal of knowledge about the area. She was easily able to change the tour just a bit due to fires in some of the villages we were to visit, as she wanted to make sure we had a memorable tour. Wishing you all the best! Cheryl B.
Review provided by Viator
E8767wksarahc
Aug 10, 2025
The Perfect Day Trip - Mónica was amazing - I learned so much on this tour. She was professional, kind, thoughtful of my experience, and so knowledgeable of the areas we visited. This was highlight of my whole Portugal trip! I would absolutely recommend and even return for another visit. Thank you, Mónica!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mobile48887688841
Aug 6, 2025
Extra visits - I loved it!!! A Different Experience, Off That Third Party Beaten I strongly advise anyone wanting to discover a more authentic side of the country and closer to the lives of the gents
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer57564940672
Jul 3, 2025
Awesome day with Monica. - Monica's knowledge and enthusiasm made this one of the most interesting and enjoyable tours we've been on Especially the cooling river pool swim when the temp was 40C. A great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inspire19549675371
Jun 4, 2025
Wonderful Tour - Monica was a wonderful guide to the villages and mountains. She had a lot of interesting stories and we had good conversations about the history of Portugal and the places we visited. It was clear that she loves the places and that made the Tour really amazing. I would recomend travelling with Monica!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $115
up to 4 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).