Which place is cheaper, Barcelona or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Barcelona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Barcelona? 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 Barcelona?
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.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with a population of over 1.5 million people. It's also the capital of Catalonia and is located on the northeastern part of the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona is one of the country's most popular travel destinations because of its rich history, interesting architecture, and vibrant culture. Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympic games and that had a strong influence over tourism in the area. Many different neighborhoods were renovated and rebuilt. Modern design became the norm in many parts of the city, although there is still an old city feel and many efforts at preservation.
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 Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Barcelona €156
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Barcelona is €156. 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 Barcelona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Barcelona €96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Barcelona €192
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Barcelona
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Barcelona? 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 Barcelona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Barcelona €19
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Barcelona
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
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10 Trip Metro Ticket€7.80
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Airport Bus€5.00
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Metro€2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Barcelona
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
- transfer with wheelchair Accessible from Bcn airport/ port/city: $285
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Barcelona APT-HTL (BCN): $55
- Transfers From Cruise Port to Barcelona Airport: $37
- Transfers From Cruise Port to Barcelona Airport: $41
- Transfers From Barcelona Sants Train Station to Hotel bcn: $31
- Transfers From Barcelona Cruise Port to Barcelona Airport: $40
- Transfer to Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona: $27
- Transfer in private vehicle from Barcelona City - Barcelona Airport (BCN): $33
- Transfer in private vehicle from Barcelona Airport (BCN) - Barcelona City: $33
- Transfer in private minivan from Barcelona City - Barcelona Airport (BCN): $49
- Transfer in private minivan from Barcelona Airport (BCN) - Barcelona City: $44
- Transfer from cruise port to barcelona sants station : $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Barcelona?
Prices for flights to both Barcelona 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 €48Barcelona €33
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 Barcelona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
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Hot Cocoa & Churro€4.15
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Sandwich€1.70
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Baguette & Horchata€3.80
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Tapas on the beach€8.28
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Gelatto€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Barcelona
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
- Barcelona Street Food Tour with Local Market & City Center Visit: $21
- Barcelona Guided Street Food Tour and Gothic Quarter Visit: $21
- Flamenco at El Patio Andaluz with Optional Dinner: $27
- Walking Tour + Flamenco + Tapas Dinner (choose options): $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Barcelona with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
- La Barceloneta: Tapas Food Tour: $37
- Barcelona La Barceloneta Tapas Food Tour: $38
- Barcelona Street Food Tour: Local Market & Gothic Quarter with Expert Guide: $43
- Boqueria Market & Barrio Gotico Street Food Tour: $56
- Wine Tasting and Tapas 5-Course Pairing Dinner: $59
- Paella Cooking Experience & Wine: $59
- Paella Cooking Experience and Wine in Barcelona: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Barcelona €33
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 Barcelona
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
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Picasso Walking Tour and Museum Pass€42
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Souvenir Gaudi Book€8.55
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Admission to Museo Picasso€6.00
Tours and Activities in Barcelona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
- Barcelona Christmas Walking Tour: $29
- Cruise into Barcelona? Get the Most out of Your Visit!: $117
- Dali Museum, Besalu & Girona Tour from Barcelona by Fast Train : $120
- Girona and Costa Brava with Lunch: VIP Small Group Tour: $16
- Montserrat Mountains Half - Day Private Tour - From Barcelona : $261
- Private Guides Barcelona Tour with Skip The Line in Cathedral: $217
- Private Mountain Bike Tour in Barcelona: $33
- Sagrada Familia "Fast Track" Guided Tour in Barcelona: $106
- Sagrada Familia Bike Tour in Small Group: $86
- Sagrada Familia Comedy Tour: $3.26
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Gothic Quarter: $10
- Skip The Line - Early Picasso Museum and Born Neighborhood: $56
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Barcelona €17
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 Barcelona
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
- Barcelona Pub Crawl by King - Bar & Nightclub Hopping Tour: $14
- Barcelona Pub Crawl by KING - Nightlife Party Experience: $16
- Estrella Damm Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $16
- Night Pub Crawl Tour in Barcelona: $16
- Barcelona Bar Crawl: 4+ Venues, Free shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Estrella Damm Old Brewery Tour with Tasting: $21
- Estrella Damm Old Brewery Barcelona Guided Tour with Beer Tasting: $22
- Nightlife Tour - Barcelona Bar Crawl with Flamingos: $23
- Barcelona Bar Crawl: $26
- Barcelona Weekend Pub Crawl with 1.5 hour open bar@Hostel: $27
- Catalan Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour & VIP Club Entry: $29
- Barcelona Art & Wine Tour: $31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Barcelona, we can see that Barcelona 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 Barcelona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Barcelona 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 Barcelona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Barcelona?
Barcelona has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Barcelona, 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 Barcelona?
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 Barcelona in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Barcelona. Also, most visitors come to Barcelona for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Coimbra is around the same temperature as Barcelona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Coimbra in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Barcelona averages at about 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Barcelona. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coimbra this time of the year. In the summer, Coimbra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Barcelona. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Barcelona receives 308 hours of full sun.
Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than Barcelona. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCoimbra 23°C (73°F)Barcelona 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Barcelona in the Autumn?
Both Barcelona and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Barcelona because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Coimbra is generally around the same temperature as Barcelona. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 18°C (65°F), and Barcelona fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Barcelona during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Barcelona receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Coimbra. In October, Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Barcelona. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCoimbra 18°C (65°F)Barcelona 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Barcelona in the Winter?
Both Barcelona and Coimbra during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Barcelona this time of year.
Coimbra is a little warmer than Barcelona in the winter. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 11°C (51°F) in January, and Barcelona fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In the winter, Coimbra often gets less sunshine than Barcelona. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Barcelona receives 146 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually gets more rain in January than Barcelona. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCoimbra 11°C (51°F)Barcelona 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Barcelona in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Barcelona. Furthermore, many travelers come to Barcelona for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Coimbra is a little warmer than Barcelona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Coimbra in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Barcelona averages at about 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Barcelona this time of the year. In Coimbra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Barcelona during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Barcelona receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Barcelona. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCoimbra 15°C (59°F)Barcelona 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Barcelona and Coimbra
| Coimbra | Barcelona | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 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.