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

Should you visit Coimbra or Le Mans?

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

Should I visit Coimbra or Le Mans? 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 Le Mans?

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.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a city in France, on the Sarthe River. Le Mans is found about 80 kilometers north of Tours, and south of Alencon. To many of course, Le Mans is famous only for a 24 hour racing event once a year. If you are not interested in cars and car racing, it is best to avoid visiting Le Mans in the middle of June. However, Le Mans also has a fantastic old town and is well worth the visit. Known as the Cite Plantagenet, this is where in 1129 Geoffrey Plantagenet married Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England and gave birth to Henry II.

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 Adventure Tours to France, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Le Mans, we can see that Coimbra is more expensive. And not only is Le Mans much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Le Mans would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Le Mans 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 Coimbra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coimbra than you might in Le Mans.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Coimbra Expensive? and Is Le Mans Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Le Mans?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Le Mans, 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 Le Mans?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Coimbra or Le Mans in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Le Mans. Furthermore, many travelers come to Le Mans for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Coimbra is a little warmer than Le Mans. Typically, the summer temperatures in Coimbra in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Le Mans averages at about 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Le Mans this time of the year. In Coimbra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than Le Mans during summer. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 231 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Coimbra usually receives less rain than Le Mans. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Coimbra or Le Mans in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Le Mans. Additionally, many visitors come to Le Mans in the autumn for the small town atmosphere.

In October, Coimbra is generally a little warmer than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 18°C (65°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than Le Mans. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 117 hours of full sun.

Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Coimbra usually gets more rain in October than Le Mans. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Coimbra or Le Mans in the Winter?

Both Le Mans and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Le Mans for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Le Mans can be very cold during winter. Coimbra is much warmer than Le Mans in the winter. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 11°C (51°F) in January, and Le Mans fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than Le Mans during winter. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 54 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Coimbra. In January, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Le Mans. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Coimbra or Le Mans in the Spring?

Both Le Mans and Coimbra during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town charm.

In the spring, Coimbra is a little warmer than Le Mans. Typically, the spring temperatures in Coimbra in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Le Mans averages at about 10°C (50°F).

It's quite sunny in Coimbra. In the spring, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than Le Mans. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 168 hours of full sun.

Coimbra usually gets more rain in April than Le Mans. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Le Mans and Coimbra