McRent Rental company category:Standard
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McRent Coimbra c/o J.C. & Parracho Rent a Car, LdaEstrada Nacional No1, 3040-773 Cernache, CoimbraView map
Hiring a motorhome in Coimbra puts your trip at the heart of Portugal, halfway between Porto and Lisbon. The old university town overlooks the Mondego river; to the east rise the Serra da Estrela, the highest range in mainland Portugal, and the schist villages clinging to the slopes of the Lousã and Açor mountains; to the west, the Atlantic begins at Figueira da Foz. The Roman ruins of Conímbriga, the Buçaco forest and the monasteries of Tomar, Batalha and Alcobaça are less than two hours' drive away. Our partner company McRent offers its motorhomes here.
Pick-up is in Cernache, south of the city, on the N1, the old Lisbon-Porto road: you set off without crossing the historic centre.
1 rental partner
Where to pick up your vehicle in Coimbra?
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Coimbra
1 Schist villages and the Serra da Estrela
- Coimbra
- Lousã
- Piódão
- Seia
- Torre
- Manteigas
- Coimbra
From Lousã and its schist hamlets such as Talasnal, the road climbs into the Açor mountains to Piódão, a slate village built like an amphitheatre. You then reach Seia and the Torre, the highest point in mainland Portugal, before descending the glacial Zêzere valley to Manteigas. Tight hairpins and narrow roads: a compact motorhome is more at ease here.
- Distance
- about 380 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Compact low-profile motorhome
2 Conímbriga, Tomar and the great monasteries
- Coimbra
- Conímbriga
- Tomar
- Fátima
- Batalha
- Alcobaça
- São Pedro de Moel
- Figueira da Foz
- Coimbra
The Roman mosaics of Conímbriga open the loop, followed by the Convent of Christ in Tomar, former seat of the Knights Templar. The shrine of Fátima comes before the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça, listed like Tomar as UNESCO World Heritage. The return follows the ocean: the beach of São Pedro de Moel, then Figueira da Foz, a seaside resort at the mouth of the Mondego.
- Distance
- about 320 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
3 Buçaco, Dão wines and historic villages
- Coimbra
- Luso
- Buçaco
- Viseu
- Trancoso
- Almeida
- Sortelha
- Monsanto
- Castelo Branco
- Coimbra
To the north-east, the Buçaco forest and its neo-Manueline palace overlook the spa town of Luso. You then cross the Dão vineyards to Viseu and head for the historic villages of the Beira: Trancoso, the star-shaped fortress of Almeida near the Spanish border, Sortelha and Monsanto, perched among granite boulders. Return via Castelo Branco.
- Distance
- about 550 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Low-profile or over-cab motorhome
Weather and seasons
When to go in Coimbra?
Best time
May, June and September
May to June, September
highs 23 to 27 °C, lows 12 to 15 °C
The most pleasant months to leave from Coimbra: long days, little rain and ideal temperatures for walking in the schist villages or driving up into the Serra da Estrela. In early May, the Queima das Fitas, the big student festival, livens up the city; in September, the grape harvest begins in the Dão.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 29 to 30 °C, lows 16 °C
Summer is dry and hot in Coimbra, and even more so inland towards Castelo Branco. You can cool off at the praias fluviais, river beaches set up along the region's rivers, or by the ocean at Figueira da Foz. The forest fire risk is high: strictly respect the bans on fires and barbecues.
March, April and October
March to April, October
highs 17 to 23 °C, lows 8 to 13 °C
Mild but often rainy shoulder seasons. In spring, the cherry trees blossom around Fundão and the mountain streams of the Serra da Estrela are at their fullest; in October, the Buçaco forest takes on its autumn colours. Plan flexible stages and a rain jacket.
Winter
November to February
November to February
highs 14 to 17 °C, lows 6 to 10 °C
Winter stays mild in the city but it is the wettest season. At altitude, the Serra da Estrela gets snow: the road to the Torre may close and snow chains can be required. A heated vehicle lets you enjoy the monasteries, Coimbra's museums and the Luso spa in peace.
Climate in Coimbra, month by month
Most pleasant months: May to September.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 °C | 6 °C | 129 mm | 7 h/day |
| Feb | 16 °C | 7 °C | 90 mm | 8 h/day |
| Mar | 17 °C | 8 °C | 129 mm | 9 h/day |
| Apr | 20 °C | 10 °C | 128 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 23 °C | 12 °C | 65 mm | 12 h/day |
| Jun | 25 °C | 14 °C | 48 mm | 12 h/day |
| Jul | 29 °C | 16 °C | 10 mm | 13 h/day |
| Aug | 30 °C | 16 °C | 6 mm | 12 h/day |
| Sep | 27 °C | 15 °C | 41 mm | 11 h/day |
| Oct | 23 °C | 13 °C | 139 mm | 8 h/day |
| Nov | 17 °C | 10 °C | 139 mm | 7 h/day |
| Dec | 15 °C | 7 °C | 122 mm | 7 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Arrive by train rather than by plane
Coimbra has no commercial airport: the nearest are Porto and Lisbon. Fast trains on the Lisbon-Porto line stop at Coimbra-B station, from where a taxi takes you to the depot in Cernache, south of the city. Tell the company your arrival time to arrange the vehicle handover.
Tolls: A1 with barriers, lighter inland
The A1 between Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto keeps traditional toll plazas, as does the A14 to Figueira da Foz. Inland, several former motorways with electronic gantries became toll-free in 2025: check the rules in force and ask the company whether the vehicle has an electronic toll tag.
Nights at campsites or motorhome areas
In Portugal, a motorhome may only spend the night at a campsite or an authorised area, or face a fine, which is higher in protected areas such as the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. Many municipalities in central Portugal, in the mountains as well as near the praias fluviais, have set up a motorhome area.
The upper town on foot
The steep lanes of the Alta, around the university, are impassable for a motorhome. Leave the vehicle at a campsite or motorhome area on the outskirts and walk or take the bus up from the Baixa, along the Mondego. The Quebra-Costas steps link the two districts.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Coimbra
Where can I pick up a motorhome in Coimbra?
Our partner company McRent hands over its motorhomes in Cernache, south of Coimbra, on the Estrada Nacional 1. The depot is run by a local rental company, J.C. & Parracho Rent a Car. The exact address and appointment time are given in your booking confirmation.
How much does motorhome hire cost in Coimbra?
The price depends on the season, with summer far more in demand than winter, on the rental length and on the size of the motorhome. Run a search with your pick-up and return dates: you get the real rates, mandatory fees included, which can be booked immediately.
Can I return the motorhome in Porto, Lisbon or Faro?
Porto, Lisbon and Faro are also departure cities of our partner companies. To find out whether a one-way trip from Coimbra is possible, enter another return city when searching: offers that accept it are shown, with any one-way fees already included in the price.
Can I drive to Spain with a motorhome hired in Coimbra?
The border is about two and a half hours' drive away via Viseu and Guarda, at Vilar Formoso, and Salamanca a little under four hours. Most companies allow Spain, sometimes for a surcharge: check the countries covered by the insurance in the offer conditions.
What should I see in Coimbra before setting off?
The university, a UNESCO site, and its baroque Joanina library deserve half a day. Add the Sé Velha, a Romanesque cathedral, the Santa Cruz monastery where the first kings of Portugal are buried, and the Quinta das Lágrimas. In the evening, the lanes of the upper town echo with Coimbra fado, sung by men in black capes.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Coimbra with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
Too rigid computer system
Eric L.
Portugal · Oct 2025
Avis Vérifiés
Easy to contact intermediary. For my part, a big thank you to Marlene for her availability and responsiveness.
C.
Portugal · Sep 2025
Trustpilot
Responsiveness to emails and requests is excellent.
L.
Portugal · Sep 2025
Trustpilot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Coimbra
What licence do I need for a motorhome hired in Coimbra?
A category B licence is enough for motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes, the category that covers most rental vehicles. A driver whose licence was issued outside the European Union may need to show an international driving permit. The minimum age and years of driving required are set out in the company's conditions.
Where can I sleep in a motorhome in central Portugal?
On the coast, Figueira da Foz and the nearby beaches have several campsites. Inland, there are campsites and municipal motorhome areas near the praias fluviais, around Lousã and in the Serra da Estrela, especially near Manteigas and Seia. In August, the Portuguese holiday period, book your pitches in advance.
When should I book a motorhome in Coimbra?
With only one company on site, choice quickly becomes limited: book several months ahead for July and August. Also bear in mind the great pilgrimages to Fátima, around 12 and 13 May and 12 and 13 October, which fill the region's campsites and motorhome areas. The rest of the year, a few weeks is often enough.
How many days should I plan around Coimbra?
Five days are enough for the schist villages and the Serra da Estrela, or for the monastery loop. A week lets you combine the mountains with Conímbriga, Tomar or Fátima. With ten to fourteen days, you can add the historic villages of the Beira, or even a detour to Salamanca.
Are the mountain roads suitable for motorhomes?
The road crossing the Serra da Estrela via the Torre is wide but long and steep: descend in a low gear to spare the brakes. Access roads to the schist villages, such as Piódão or Talasnal, are narrower; park at the entrance car parks, as the lanes are reserved for pedestrians.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Coimbra
Coimbra lies at the geographical centre of Portugal, a rare position for a motorhome departure. Within a day's drive, you go from the university cloisters to the granite peaks of the Serra da Estrela, from the schist hamlets of the Açor mountains to the waves of Figueira da Foz. The country's great sites, Conímbriga, Tomar, Fátima, Batalha and Alcobaça, form a compact loop, and Spain is only a few hours away via Guarda.
Pick-up with McRent in Cernache takes place far from the traffic jams of Lisbon and Porto, with direct access to the main north-south roads. Porto and Lisbon, 107 and 176 km away as the crow flies, are also departure cities of our partner companies, as is Faro: enough to plan a journey across the whole country. From May to September, the long dry days are best suited to this trip between mountains and ocean.