The stay here represented good value for the money. The location is not ideal although it is an easy 10 minute walk to the historic downtown quarter. The place is...
more »
The stay here represented good value for the money. The location is not ideal although it is an easy 10 minute walk to the historic downtown quarter. The place is dated, no doubt about it. The room is plenty large although there were some issues: a/c did not work, it blew hot air - the shower was spraying water all over the place. Oh, and there was a short hair left in the bidet. How nice! « less
“Great Option”
May 4, 2013
BYOB, Chicago | Trip type: Friends getaway
The Tivoli Hotel was a great choice for our short stay in Coimbra. It is an easy walk from the train station and main squares and offers large, comfortable rooms...
more »
The Tivoli Hotel was a great choice for our short stay in Coimbra. It is an easy walk from the train station and main squares and offers large, comfortable rooms at a reasonable price. The staff is very helpful and friendly, offering tips and directions.
The hotel is more reasonably priced and modern as compared to many other choices in town. The bathrooms are dated, but still large by European standards and sufficient. The only compliant would be the wi-fi service, which did not provide a consistent signal. « less
“Awful place”
Apr 30, 2013
James13London, London | Trip type: Couples
Home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, there is a difference between a ruin and a place gone to ruin, and the Tivoli Coimbra sits firmly in the...
more »
Home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, there is a difference between a ruin and a place gone to ruin, and the Tivoli Coimbra sits firmly in the latter.
The rear of the hotel is reminiscent of a long-ago abandoned Chernobyl supermarket carpark. Tall weeds growing between cracks, a layer of grime covering the paint-peeled walls, a general uneasy feeling in the air... The front is a little tidier, but only a little. It's a bit like putting make-up on a 90-year-old - nicer to look at, but still a mistake to wake up next to it.
The staff reminded me of a character from The Office. Pleasant enough, but sticking firmly to their job descriptions. We were staying on one of the biggest days in the Portuguese calendar: Carnation Revolution Day. Yet when we asked the staff where to go to celebrate, they said they had no idea, and to maybe try walking down to the square.
Then they gave us our key cards and pointed us in the direction of our room. This was a real treat, as upon opening the door we were instantly transported back to the 1970s. I assumed that the manually operated metal blinds were attempting to remove my fingers when I tried to let in some light, but I now realise they were trying to do me a favour. The dark brown carpet was dated and grubby and the multiple stains lent it a seedy motel feel. The chairs were of a garden wicker variety and the 'feature' wallpaper belonged on the set of Rising Damp. The bathroom was no better, with 70s council lighting tube covers, exposed piping and a relic cream and brown hair dryer that left my girlfriend open-mouthed and me in hysterics.
After some debate, we decided to go back to reception - armed with the brochure picture and one we took on my iPhone. Again, the staff were pleasant, but they definitely had their patter down on this subject and the lack of surprise at our dissatisfaction was all-telling. It seems the brochure picture was for the Superior room, which we could upgrade to for a mere €15. Despite the fact we knew we'd been duped, €15 seemed a small price to pay to upgrade from a room where you wiped your feet on the way out. 15 euros lighter, we headed from the 3rd to the 5th floor.
This room resembled the picture. If you stood in the exact spot, looking at the exact angle, the photographer did. And you happened to have some professional lighting equipment. And access to PhotoShop. Otherwise, it wasn't dissimilar to the standard room, except the carpet had changed from brown to beige and the 70s garden furniture had morphed into 70s sitting room furniture. The bathroom was actually a fair bit better, if you could forgive the broken light and tacky shower curtain. By this point I'd forgive police tape and the outline of a body - I just wanted a shower and something alcoholic. Despite being out of season and a pleasant temperature outside, the room was hot and stuffy. The air conditioner was very noisy and did nothing to reduce the temperature, so we opened a window and endured the noise of the traffic below and myriad birds chirping. Fine for my girlfriend, who could sleep through a Richter 8 earthquake, but bad for me, hence I'm typing this at 6am...
Admittedly this was a stop-over for us to break up the drive back from The Algarve to northern Spain (we stayed in the beautiful Carmo Hotel in Lisbon on the way down). Therefore, yes, it was the cheapest stay of our trip. However, once you factor in the upgrade, the charge for parking and the charge for breakfast, it cost the same as the other beautiful hotels we stayed in that didn't charge for these 'extras' and were ten times better. Having explained this to reception on check-out, they were kind enough to drop the €15 upgrade charge, but this doesn’t change the fact that this is really just an over-priced 2-star hotel.
This is the only hotel we've stayed at in Coimbra, so we can't fairly compare it to any others in the area, but at least by staying somewhere else you'll have a chance of finding a gem. The Tivoli is guaranteed disappointment. « less
“Superior room with plenty of space”
Feb 21, 2013
Antonio L, Povoa de Varzim, Portugal | Trip type: Business
I am demanding in what concerns the hotels.
The service was nice and everyone welcoming. Our bags were in the room even before our arrival.
You can see that it...
more »
I am demanding in what concerns the hotels.
The service was nice and everyone welcoming. Our bags were in the room even before our arrival.
You can see that it was an old building that was refurnished, they should bet in a different cleaning system as the aromas should be fresher.
The room had space and was nice but the street noises at the night were very intense. Maybe someone could ask for a room in the interior part and tell us the experience. « less
“Great Stay at Great Price”
Jan 16, 2013
CjBrooks, London, United Kingdom | Trip type: Friends getaway
My husband and I were travelling with a friend of mine and we were able to get two rooms here for a very reasonable price. The rooms were very large...
more »
My husband and I were travelling with a friend of mine and we were able to get two rooms here for a very reasonable price. The rooms were very large for European standards, the bathrooms were incredibly clean and the robe was comfy! Every single member of the hotel staff was incredibly helpful, they spoke English, Spanish and French very well. While the hotel is on the street, they have black out blinds that are controlled from a switch on your bed and help tremendously to reduce noise. Coimbra is small, but if you are coming in from the A4/A1 and have a car to park, this hotel is a great option as parking elsewhere can be difficult. Make sure you visit the university and talk to the students that are there to answer any questions! « less
These reviews are the subjective opinions of individual travelers and not of TripAdvisor LLC nor of its partners.
Details
Room Windows:
Windows Do Open
Policies / Expenses
Room Types - Tivoli Coimbra
Non Refundable Standard Single
Two Twin Beds
Satellite channels with pay movies are offered for your entertainment. A minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has complimentary toiletries. A safe, a desk, and complimentary newspapers are among the conveniences offered.
Standard Single
Two Twin Beds
This room measures 377 square feet (35 square meters). Wireless Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected, and the LCD TVs offers satellite channels. A minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has complimentary toiletries. A safe, a desk, and complimentary newspapers are among the conveniences offered.
Non Refundable Standard Double
One King Bed or
Two Twin Beds
Satellite channels with pay movies are offered for your entertainment. A minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has complimentary toiletries. A safe, a desk, and complimentary newspapers are among the conveniences offered.
Standard Double
One King Bed or
Two Twin Beds
This room measures 377 square feet (35 square meters). Wireless Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected, and the LCD TVs offers satellite channels. A minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has complimentary toiletries. A safe, a desk, and complimentary newspapers are among the conveniences offered.
Non Refundable Single Superior Room
Two Twin Beds
Satellite channels with pay movies are offered for your entertainment. A minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has complimentary toiletries. A safe, a desk, and complimentary newspapers are among the conveniences offered.
Single Superior Room
Two Twin Beds
This room measures 377 square feet (35 square meters). Wireless Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected, and satellite channels with pay movies are offered for your entertainment. A minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has complimentary toiletries. A safe, a desk, and complimentary newspapers are among the conveniences offered.
Superior Double
One Double Bed
This room measures 377 square feet (35 square meters). Wireless Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected, and the LCD TVs offers satellite channels. A minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has complimentary toiletries. A safe, a desk, and complimentary newspapers are among the conveniences offered.
Non Refundable Superior Double
One Double Bed
Satellite channels with pay movies are offered for your entertainment. A minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has complimentary toiletries. A safe, a desk, and complimentary newspapers are among the conveniences offered.
Testimonials: Why use Hotel Planner?
"I have recommended your service to several people. It has been extremely helpful. It is very efficient and a great time saver for someone who needs to make arrangements amidst working, family, etc." E.C. - Buffalo, NY
"Originally I thought planning reservations for a group would be challenging, however, your site made it much easier than I ever imagined! Thank you!" S.R. - Hartford, CT
Based on 92 traveler reviews 
Value
Cleanliness
“Good value, large dated rooms”
“Awful place”
Non Refundable Standard Single
Non Refundable Standard Double
Non Refundable Single Superior Room 
Superior Double