Which place is cheaper, Coimbra or Albufeira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Albufeira or Coimbra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Albufeira or Coimbra? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Albufeira or Coimbra?
Albufeira
Located in the Algarve region in the south of Portugal, Albufeira was once a small fishing village which has since evolved into a popular destination for tourists attracted by the area's beaches, pleasant climate, and fresh seafood.
Coimbra
Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlbufeira €148Coimbra €103
The average daily cost (per person) in Albufeira is €148, while the average daily cost in Coimbra is €103. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Albufeira and Coimbra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlbufeira €74Coimbra €44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlbufeira €148Coimbra €88
Compare Hotels in Albufeira and Coimbra
Looking for a hotel in Albufeira or Coimbra? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Albufeira Hotel Prices and Coimbra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Albufeira €34Coimbra €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albufeira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Albufeira:
- Transfer Vilamoura - Benamor Golf (Conceição): $79
- Transfer Vilamoura - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $29
- Transfer Vilamoura - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor): $70
- Transfer Vilamoura - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $70
- Transfer Vila Real de Santo Antonio - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor): $163
- Transfer Vila Real de Santo António - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $139
- Transfer Vila Nova de Cacela - Benamor Golf (Conceição): $64
- Transfer Vila Nova de Cacela - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor): $151
- Transfer Vila Nova de Cacela - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $151
- Transfer Tavira - Benamor Golf (Conceição): $46
- Transfer Silves - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor): $54
- Transfer Quarteira - Benamor Golf (Conceição): $79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $147
- Transfer Viseu - Porto: $156
Is it cheaper to fly into Albufeira or Coimbra?
Prices for flights to both Coimbra and Albufeira change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAlbufeira €48Coimbra €48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albufeira
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Albufeira.
- A Portuguese Dinner and Cocktail Experience with pick up: $49
- Portuguese Dinner and Cocktail Experience with Pick up: $52
- Dinner at the Vineyards in Lagoa: $60
- Algarve Bike and Food Tour with Sea Food and Wine Tasting: $61
- Sunset Safari with Traditional Dinner : $65
- 6-Hour Sunset Dinner Catamaran Cruise from Albufeira: $74
- Sunset Tour - Champagne and Traditional Dinner: $75
- Half-Day-Orange Picking &Jam Cooking/Lunch with the Orange Farmer: $109
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chanfana: Cooking Traditional Portuguese Cuisine Experience: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Albufeira €39Coimbra €18
Tours and Activities in Albufeira
Here are a few actual costs in Albufeira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Algarve Coast & Chapel of Bones ( Private Van Tour ): $52
- Safari Experience with Traditional Tapas: $76
- 3 Hour Benagil Sunset and Coastline Boat Tour in Albufeira: $36
- 3 Hour Cruise Experience from Vilamoura: $33
- 4 Hour Cruise along the Algarve Coastline: $92
- Albufeira 1 hour Off-Road Tour Buggy Adventure Tour: $33
- Albufeira 1.5-Hour Off-road Quad Tour: $43
- Albufeira 2 hour Off-Road Tour Quad Adventure Tour: $35
- Albufeira 3.5 hour Off-Road Tour Buggy Adventure Tour: $65
- Albufeira 3.5 hour Off-Road Tour Quad Adventure Tour: $46
- Albufeira 6-Hour Off-Road Quad Tour: $201
- Albufeira Algarve 4Hours Benagil Tasting Experience: $96
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.20
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.20
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $5.43
- Coimbra's Historical Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historical Highlights: $6.99
- Tomar: Unveiling the Templar Order with a Self-Guided Tour: $7.59
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.68
- Tomar Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.87
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.87
- Portugal dos Pequenitos entry ticket: $16
- Convent of Christ Tour "Portugal in the Map" - Visit Tomar with a local guide!: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlbufeira €26Coimbra €12
Sample the Local Flavors in Albufeira
Also in Albufeira, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl in Albufeira with Professional Party Makers: $32
- Sunset Wine Tasting With BBQ in Porches: $49
- Exclusive Wine Tasting Experience in Porches (Algarve): $49
- Porches Algarve Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting Experience: $53
- Half Day Safari Tour with Wine Tasting: $58
- Winery Tour with Wine Tasting and Tapas: $63
- Small-Group Wine Tour & Silves Exploration (from Albufeira): $67
- Wine Tour and Tasting - Semi-Private from Albufeira: $71
- Albufeira Coast Tour w/ Wine tasting & Chicken lunch: $74
- Albufeira Coast Tour with Wine Tasting and Chicken PiriPiri Lunch: $75
- From Private Lagos Tour Whith Wine Tasting: $92
- Lagos and Ponta Da Piedade Private Tour & Algarvian Wine Tasting: $106
Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Portugal: $27
- Self-drive Wine Tour in Bairrada Region: $174
- Full-Day Private Bairrada Sparkling Wine Tour from Coimbra: $178
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albufeira and Coimbra, we can see that Albufeira is more expensive. And not only is Coimbra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Coimbra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Coimbra and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Albufeira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Albufeira than you might in Coimbra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Albufeira Expensive? and Is Coimbra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Albufeira or Coimbra?
Coimbra has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Albufeira. When comparing the sizes of Albufeira and Coimbra, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Albufeira or Coimbra?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Albufeira or Coimbra in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Albufeira as well as Coimbra. The summer months attract visitors to Albufeira because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Albufeira is a little warmer than Coimbra. Typically, the summer temperatures in Albufeira in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Coimbra averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Albufeira usually gets less rain in July than Coimbra. Albufeira gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAlbufeira 25°C (78°F)Coimbra 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Albufeira or Coimbra in the Autumn?
Both Coimbra and Albufeira are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Albufeira this time of year.
In October, Albufeira is generally around the same temperature as Coimbra. Daily temperatures in Albufeira average around 19°C (67°F), and Coimbra fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. In October, Albufeira usually receives less rain than Coimbra. Albufeira gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAlbufeira 19°C (67°F)Coimbra 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Albufeira or Coimbra in the Winter?
Both Coimbra and Albufeira during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Albufeira for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Albufeira is around the same temperature as Coimbra in the winter. The daily temperature in Albufeira averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Coimbra fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Coimbra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Albufeira usually gets less rain in January than Coimbra. Albufeira gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAlbufeira 11°C (52°F)Coimbra 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Albufeira or Coimbra in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Albufeira and Coimbra. Many visitors come to Albufeira in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Albufeira is around the same temperature as Coimbra. Typically, the spring temperatures in Albufeira in April average around 15°C (60°F), and Coimbra averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In April, Albufeira usually receives less rain than Coimbra. Albufeira gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAlbufeira 15°C (60°F)Coimbra 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Coimbra and Albufeira
| Albufeira | Coimbra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (52°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| May | 19°C (65°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.