Which place is cheaper, Costa Vicentina or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Costa Vicentina?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Costa Vicentina? 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 Costa Vicentina?
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.
Costa Vicentina
Costa Vicentina is the beautiful coastal area in southwest Portugal which runs through both the Algarve and Alentejo Regions along the southern coast. This is actually part of the longest stretch of protected coastline in Portugal, making it one of the best places to experience the unadulterated beauty and nature of the country. Costa Vicentina offers miles of some of the best Portugal beaches, fantastic hiking trails, and lovely old villages to explore. The area sees far more Portuguese tourists than international ones, so expect Portuguese to be the only language spoken by many people, especially in the smaller villages.
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 Walking Tours in Portugal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Costa Vicentina €125
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Costa Vicentina is €125. 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 Costa Vicentina in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Costa Vicentina €66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Costa Vicentina €132
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Costa Vicentina
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Costa Vicentina? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Costa Vicentina €40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $151
- Transfer Fátima To Lisboa: $112
- Transfer Viseu - Porto: $161
- Transfers Aveiro or Coimbra to Lisbon Airport: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Costa Vicentina?
Prices for flights to both Costa Vicentina 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 €48Costa Vicentina €34
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: $50
- Portuguese Cooking Class in Tomar Countryside in a Local Home: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Costa Vicentina €17
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.34
- Coimbra Top Attractions Walking Tour: $3.36
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.17
- Tomar Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.17
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Historic Center: $6.57
- City Train Tour through the Historic Area: $6.59
- Tomar: Unveiling the Templar Order with a Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- Coimbra's Historical Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Portugal dos Pequenitos entry ticket: $16
- Tomar's No1 English tour - Templar knights, battles and bloodshed: $31
- Mondego River Kayaking Tour: $33
- Walking Tour of Coimbra Heritage Site: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Costa Vicentina €8.71
Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:
- Full-Day Private Bairrada Sparkling Wine Tour from Coimbra: $183
- Self-drive Wine Tour in Bairrada Region: $218
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Costa Vicentina, we can see that Costa Vicentina 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 Costa Vicentina would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Costa Vicentina 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 Costa Vicentina Expensive?.
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.