Which place is cheaper, Bilbao or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Bilbao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Bilbao? 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 Bilbao?
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.
Bilbao
The industrial city of Bilbao is located on a port of the Nervión River in northern Spain, an important location of Basque country. While the downtown is filled with skyscrapers and innovative architecture, it sits between a river and mountains of natural allure. A city of hard-workers to the core, Bilbao displays remnants of its industrial past, though in more recent years it has transformed into a center for art. It is now a popular location for visitors looking to experience art galleries and museums.
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 G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Bilbao €137
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Bilbao is €137. 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 Bilbao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Bilbao €72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Bilbao €144
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Bilbao
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Bilbao? 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 Bilbao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Bilbao €26
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 Bilbao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
- Private transfer from Bilbao City Center to Bilbao Airport (BIO): $33
- Private transfer from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Bilbao City Center: $33
- Private one way arrival OR departure transfer in Bilbao from/to airport: $67
- Private Transfer on arrival and departure in Bilbao: $72
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Vitoria city: $84
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to San Sebastian: $291
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Pamplona: $229
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Logroño: $245
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Laguardia town: $199
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Elciego town: $199
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Bilbao: $153
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to San Sebastian Airport: $291
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Bilbao?
Prices for flights to both Bilbao 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 €48Bilbao €45
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bilbao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
- Basque Food Tour with Guide: $86
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairings: $102
- Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao : $109
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class with Open Bar: $112
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairing: $115
- Basque Flavours: High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $120
- Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $134
- Private Food Tour, Food Lovers with Tastings: $134
- Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $142
- Traditional Basque Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $155
- Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour: $197
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Bilbao €29
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
Tours and Activities in Bilbao
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- PRIVATE San Sebastian and Basque Coast Tour from Bilbao: $290
- Pintxos Tasting in Bilbao Small Group or Private Walking Tour: $81
- 2 Hours Private Family Guided Walking Tour in Bilbao: $197
- 3-day Bilbao Bike Tour and Guggenheim Museum Ticket: $257
- Awesome Bilbao – Private Family Walking Tour: $384
- BILBAO-City Highlights Bike Tour: $36
- Basque Country 7-Day Guided Tour from Bilbao: $1,144
- Bike tour with Pintxos & Drinks in Getxo (Scenic Bilbao Seaside): $60
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Walking Tour with guide: $286
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Private Walking Tour from Hotel/Center: $279
- Bilbao - Private Historic walking tour: $374
- Bilbao 3-Day Package: Guggenheim, Hotel Stay and Bike Tour: $251
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Bilbao €21
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 Bilbao
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Bilbao: $25
- Immersive Evening Spanish Wine Tasting w/ Sommelier: $53
- Spanish Wine Tasting with Sommelier (close to Guggenheim museum): $54
- Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide: $79
- Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting: $80
- Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $148
- Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $176
- Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $187
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Vitoria: $240
- From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $241
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $246
- Architectural Rioja Small Group Wine Tour with Lunch from Bilbao : $246
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao 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 Bilbao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bilbao 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 Bilbao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Bilbao?
Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Bilbao, 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 Bilbao?
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 Bilbao in the Summer?
Both Bilbao and Coimbra during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Coimbra is generally a little warmer than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 23°C (73°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite sunny in Coimbra. In the summer, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.
Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than Bilbao. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCoimbra 23°C (73°F)Bilbao 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Bilbao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Bilbao. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.
Coimbra is a little warmer than Bilbao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 18°C (65°F) in October, and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Bilbao 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 Bilbao. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCoimbra 18°C (65°F)Bilbao 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Bilbao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Bilbao. Additionally, many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene.
In the winter, Coimbra is a little warmer than Bilbao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Coimbra in January average around 11°C (51°F), and Bilbao averages at about 9°C (48°F).
In the winter, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Coimbra usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Bilbao. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCoimbra 11°C (51°F)Bilbao 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Bilbao in the Spring?
Both Bilbao and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city.
In April, Coimbra is generally a little warmer than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 15°C (59°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. In April, Coimbra usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCoimbra 15°C (59°F)Bilbao 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Bilbao and Coimbra
| Coimbra | Bilbao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 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.