School Visits

Why here

Nothing on this hill is a replica. The Science Museum occupies the actual chemistry laboratory built for the 1772 Pombaline reform — your students stand at benches where experimental science entered Portugal. The Botanical Garden was planted the same year as a living textbook for medicine and natural history, and it still teaches. This is the difference between hearing about the history of science and standing inside it.

Choosing a programme

© Universidade de Coimbra

Each programme on UCTour lists the school levels it is designed for, but broadly:

• Pre-school and early primary — the Botanical Garden and Science Museum workshops: smelling, touching, stories with botany in them, and hands on everything the house rules allow.
• Middle years — the Science Circuit: the Chemistry Laboratory, Cabinet of Curiosities, Mineral Gallery and Academic Museum, with the UC Exploratório rounding off the day.
• High school — the Palace of Schools with the Joanina Library, or the full Palace + Science Circuit programme: university history as a preview of university life.

Every route can bend toward your class's curriculum; say so in the booking notes.

Logistics, sorted

• Buses: drop-off is at the foot of the hill; plan the uphill walk into your timing (it's part of the visit).
• Lunch: picnic-friendly spots in and around the Botanical Garden and by the river near the Exploratório.
• Teachers: accompanying teachers enter free.
• Groups: each programme on UCTour states its own minimum and maximum group size and how far ahead the booking request has to be made.
• Preparation: pre-visit materials are available so the visit lands on ground you've already prepared in class.

Book ahead — school slots at the Exploratório and garden workshops fill quickly in term time.