Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra
About This Museum
Tucked away in the historic University of Coimbra, this museum feels less like a static display and more like a curious professor's cabinet of wonders. It masterfully blends the tactile fun of modern science centers with the dignified, slightly dusty charm of a bygone academic era. You'll find yourself turning a century-old electrostatic generator one moment and admiring a beautifully preserved lynx the next. It’s a place where physics, chemistry, and natural history share a common roof, inviting you to touch, ponder, and explore.
Collection Highlights
Get hands-on with surprising physics instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries—many still work! A whole room is dedicated to these interactive marvels. Then, wander through the zoology gallery, where an impressive collection of taxidermied animals, from local birds to exotic big cats, creates a silent menagerie under the vaulted ceilings.
Visitor Information
It's perfectly situated right in the heart of the university district, so it's easy to combine with a tour of the famous Joanina Library. Give yourself at least an hour and a half to properly tinker with the exhibits; kids especially love the chance to actively participate. Check the university's website for current opening times as they can shift with the academic calendar.
Architecture & Building
Housed within the former chemical laboratory building, the setting itself is a vintage exhibit. Expect soaring ceilings, beautiful wooden display cases crammed with specimens, and grand staircases that whisper of generations of scholarly pursuit.
Contact & Location
Address: Largo do Marquês de Pombal, Sé Nova, Alta, Coimbra (Sé Nova, Santa Cruz, Almedina e São Bartolomeu), Coimbra, 3000-315, Portugal
Phone: +351 239 240 870
Website: Visit Website
