Which place is cheaper, Arles or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Arles?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Arles? 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: Coimbra or Arles?
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.
Arles
Arles is a city (and commune) in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department. A large part of the Camargue is located on the territory of the commune, making it the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory. The city has a long history, and was considerably important in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there. The Arles area is full of culture and rich in history. It has many treasures, points of interest, and colorful sunbaked houses and is a great introduction into the Camarguais culture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Arles €142
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Arles is €142. 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 Coimbra and Arles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Arles €71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Arles €142
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Arles
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Arles? 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: Coimbra Hotel Prices and Arles Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Arles €23
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: $157
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arles
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arles:
- Arles to Marseille Airport (MRS) - Departure Private Transfer: $117
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Arles?
Prices for flights to both Arles and Coimbra 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 dayCoimbra €48Arles €52
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
Typical Food Prices in Arles
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arles:
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Cooked Clams€4.50
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Ice Cream€1.00
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Arles €31
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.21
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $5.45
- 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: $7.62
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.65
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Tomar Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Discover Coimbra's Legacy through a Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Portugal dos Pequenitos entry ticket: $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arles
Here are a few typical costs in Arles for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Castle Entrance Fee€5.50
Tours and Activities in Arles
Here are a few actual costs in Arles for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Arles 2-Hour Private Walking Tour: $187
- Arles Private guided walking tour from Marseille: $342
- Arles, Saint-Rémy & Les Baux De Provence: Guided Tour: $1,176
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour: $201
- Art and History Walking Tour: $299
- City tour 1 hour of the city, its history, its monuments,: $84
- City tour 45mn of the city, its history, its monuments,: $70
- From Avignon: Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence & Saint-Rémy Tour: $106
- Half Day Private Guided Tour of Arles: $202
- Private Guided Tour of Arles: $218
- Provence Region Roman Abbey of Montmajour Entrance Ticket: $7.64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Arles €24
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Arles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Arles:
- Lavender Field & Distillery Tour between Nimes & Arles: $6.20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Arles, we can see that Arles 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 Arles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arles 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 Coimbra Expensive? and Is Arles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Arles?
Coimbra has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Arles, 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 Coimbra or Arles?
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 Coimbra or Arles in the Summer?
Both Arles and Coimbra during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences.
Coimbra is around the same temperature as Arles in the summer. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Coimbra. In the summer, Coimbra often gets less sunshine than Arles. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.
Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than Arles. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCoimbra 23°C (73°F)Arles 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Arles in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Arles. Furthermore, many visitors come to Arles in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Coimbra is a little warmer than Arles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Coimbra in October average around 18°C (65°F), and Arles averages at about 16°C (61°F).
Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arles during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Arles receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Coimbra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Coimbra usually receives less rain than Arles. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCoimbra 18°C (65°F)Arles 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Arles in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Arles. Additionally, most visitors come to Arles for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Coimbra is generally much warmer than Arles. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 11°C (51°F), and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In the winter, Coimbra often gets less sunshine than Arles. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.
Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Coimbra usually gets more rain in January than Arles. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCoimbra 11°C (51°F)Arles 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Arles in the Spring?
Both Arles and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Arles because of the natural beauty.
Coimbra is a little warmer than Arles in the spring. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
It's quite sunny in Arles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arles during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Arles. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCoimbra 15°C (59°F)Arles 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Arles and Coimbra
| Coimbra | Arles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.