A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Coimbra vs. Calais for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Coimbra or Calais?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Coimbra or Calais? 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 Calais?

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.

Calais

Calais is a port city in northern France located across the English Channel from the clifftop town of Dover It's the principal ferry crossing point between France and England. Its old town, Calais-Nord, sits on an artificial island surrounded by canals.

Calais is a Cultural Link to Europe, just a hop, skip and a jump away from Belgium and England, on the Opal Coast in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. The city of Calais is exceptionally located between sea and countryside. Calais is renowned for its lace, which can be found in haute-couture designs. Preserved natural spaces abound with its 23 km of coastline, rugged cliffs, breathtakingly diverse terrain, and coastal villages. Whether on foot, bike or horseback, and even in the water along the coast, there is plenty to do to make this a great option for a visit!

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 Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Calais, we can see that Calais 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 Calais would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calais 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 Calais Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Calais?

Coimbra has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Calais, 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 Calais?

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 Calais in the Summer?

Both Calais and Coimbra during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

Coimbra is a little warmer than Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Coimbra. In the summer, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than Calais. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than Calais. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Coimbra or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Calais. Furthermore, many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Coimbra is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Coimbra in October average around 18°C (65°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than Calais during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Coimbra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Calais. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Coimbra or Calais in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Calais. Additionally, many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Coimbra is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 11°C (51°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than Calais. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Coimbra usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Coimbra or Calais in the Spring?

Both Calais and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

Coimbra is much warmer than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than Calais during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Calais. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Coimbra