Coimbra is home to Portugal's oldest university, but behind the cloisters and the student "repúblicas" hides a far less visited side: emptied hospitals, palaces in ruins and a giant cement works swallowed by the scrub. Here we've gathered three abandoned places that are genuinely still standing in 2026 in the Coimbra region — no ticketed museums, just real ruins you can still explore. From the former Children's Hospital to the Midões Palace and the Cabo Mondego Cement Factory, ranked by visual power and historical weight.
Our map brings together more than 229,000 geolocated abandoned places across over 200 countries, and it's from that collection that we filtered to keep only real ruins still standing in 2026, never turned into a paid attraction. For each one: its history and an "Add to my map" button — the exact GPS coordinate is free, no credit card. This guide is part of our overview of urbex in Portugal; here I focus on the Coimbra region and the Beira interior.
Abandoned places in Coimbra: why Urbex Maps changes everything
Many "free" sites end up charging you 50 euros on a forum for the real address. We do the opposite: an "Add to my map" button unlocks the exact coordinate in your personal space, with no credit card. A community of more than 40,000 explorers since 2021 checks every coordinate at least twice before it's published. The three places below are ranked by visual power and historical importance; for each one, a link to its listing and to the urbex map of Portugal. Everything opens from the free urbex map or from your My map space.
The abandoned places of the Coimbra region at a glance
| Place | Area | Type | Access in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Former Children's Hospital | Coimbra (Celas) | Hospital / monastic dormitory | Forbidden (empty and vandalized) |
| Midões Palace | Tábua | Neo-Baroque palace | Forbidden (for sale, in ruins) |
| Cabo Mondego Cement Factory | Figueira da Foz | Cement works | Forbidden (natural monument) |
1. Former Children's Hospital of Coimbra: the emptied monastic dormitory
Housed in the former dormitory of the Celas Monastery, a building dating back to 1612, the Children's Hospital of Coimbra treated generations of children until it moved to new premises in 2011. Since then, the old granite complex has stood empty and vandalized, with looted rooms and broken windows in the very heart of the university city. It was once announced as a future artistic creation centre, but the works never started and the building remains abandoned. This is urbex right on the doorstep, in one of Coimbra's rare repurposed monastic complexes. More ruins on the urbex map of Portugal.
2. Midões Palace, Tábua: the Four Seasons palace in ruins
In Midões, in the municipality of Tábua, stands one of the most surprising palaces of the interior: the Midões Palace, built in the 19th century in a lavish neo-Baroque style. It is known as the "Four Seasons palace" for the allegorical statues that once decorated it. Today, the monumental facade hides a ruined interior — collapsed ceilings, stripped halls, gardens overrun by vegetation — and the property is for sale. It is the archetype of the forgotten palace that stays standing while falling apart inside, in a rarely explored rural setting. Discover the region on the map of Portugal.
3. Cabo Mondego Cement Factory, Figueira da Foz: the cement works above the natural monument
On the Cabo Mondego headland, between Figueira da Foz and the Serra da Boa Viagem, the Cement Factory operated for more than a century before closing in 2013. What remains is an impressive industrial complex — kilns, silos, sheds and an old inclined plane — left abandoned above a classified natural monument, famous for its geological strata and dinosaur footprints. The contrast between the industrial ruin and the protected cliff makes this one of the most singular urbex sites on the central coast. Extra caution: the terrain is rugged and sensitive.
Abandoned places in Coimbra: frequently asked questions
Is it legal to explore abandoned places in Coimbra?
Exploring is not a crime, but every one of these sites has an owner (private, municipal or state-owned): entering without permission may amount to trespassing. The former Children's Hospital and the Cabo Mondego cement works are fenced off, and the Midões Palace is private property up for sale. Never force entrances, don't damage anything and leave if you're asked to.
What is the best-known abandoned place in Coimbra?
In the city, the most talked-about is the former Children's Hospital, in the old dormitory of the Celas Monastery, empty since 2011. In the region, the Cabo Mondego Cement Factory, in Figueira da Foz, stands out for its industrial scale and its location above a classified natural monument.
How do I get the GPS coordinates of these places?
On each place above you have a card with the "Add to my map" button: when you click, the exact GPS coordinate is saved in your personal My map space, for free and with no credit card. You can then open everything on the free urbex map and browse by region.
Is it dangerous to do urbex in these places?
Yes, there are real risks: floors and roofs can give way, and there is glass, rubble and unstable structures. At the Cabo Mondego cement works, add the cliffs and the rugged terrain. Never go alone, take a flashlight and sturdy footwear, tell someone your route and respect the barriers.
Explore the urbex map of Portugal
These three places are only the beginning. The urbex map of Portugal gathers thousands of geolocated points, from north to south, each with its coordinate. Also check out our guide to abandoned places in Portugal, start with the Coimbra region, add your favourites to my map and set off to discover them — with respect for the places and for your own safety.