Which place is cheaper, Lucca or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Lucca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Lucca? 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 Lucca?
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.
Lucca
Lucca is of interest to travelers for its impressive architecture, interesting history and unique defensive walls that were designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. Impressively, these walls were never breached. Today there is a ring park on top of the walls that is an enjoyable place to walk. The city dates back to the Etruscan and Ancient Roman times and much of the architecture remains today. The city was an independent city state until the 18th century and was the birth place of Giacomo Puccini, a world famous Italian opera composer.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Lucca €106
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Lucca is €106. 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 Lucca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Lucca €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Lucca €122
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Lucca
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Lucca? 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 Lucca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Lucca €4.29
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 Lucca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lucca:
- Tasting in a Tuscan Vineyard with transfer from Lucca: $86
- Private Transfer from Lido di Camaiore to Pisa (PSA) Airport: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Lucca?
Prices for flights to both Lucca 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 €48Lucca €41
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 Lucca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lucca.
- Flavors of Lucca Food Tour with Local Guide: $75
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Capannori with Show Cooking: $93
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Gaiole in Chianti with Show Cooking: $93
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in San Miniato with Show Cooking: $93
- Lucca Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience : $99
- Traditional-Traditional Cooking Class cuisine course: $123
- Pasta Cooking Class with a Local Chef: $149
- Private Cooking Class at a Cesarina's Home in Gaiole in Chianti: $158
- Private Cooking Class at a Cesarina's Home in Pistoia: $158
- Lucca Home Cooking Class: $191
- Market Tour & Lunch/Dinner at a Cesarina's Home: $202
- 5 Hours Private Activity - Truffle Hunting with Dinner in San Miniato: $207
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Lucca €5.68
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 Lucca
Here are a few actual costs in Lucca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Wine and olive oil tasting & farm tour: $39
- 2 Hour Walking Tour at Lucca : $142
- 2-Hours Relax Walking Tour Through Lucca: $158
- BOOK YOUR PRIVATE WINE OR BEER AMAZING EXPERIENCE IN LUCCA: $123
- Bike Self-Tour in the Lucca Countryside and Green Landscapes: $70
- Carrara Marble Tour by shuttle from Lucca, Pisa or La Spezia port: $163
- Carriage tour in the historic center of Lucca: $84
- Cesarine: Market Tour & Typical Dining at a Local's Home in Lucca: $206
- Chianti Wine and Vinci half day Small Group Tour from Lucca: $119
- Cinque Terre Tour Small Group Tour from Lucca: $179
- Complete tour of the city and walls: $210
- Discover Lucca’s Secrets on a Guided Walking Tour: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Lucca €13
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 Lucca
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucca:
- Wine tasting in the historical Cantalici winery: $12
- Wine Tasting Experience - Tenuta Adamo Winery: $16
- Guided Winery Tour with Wine Tasting: $21
- Aperitivo Evening Food and Wine Tour: $80
- Private wine tasting in Versilia - 5 wines and a taste of local products: $82
- Chianti Half-Day Wine Tour in the Tuscan Hills Small Group from Lucca: $97
- Guided E-Bike and Wine Tour: $117
- Guided E-Bike Tour with Wine Tasting from Lucca: $119
- Bike Ride & WIne Tasting: $131
- Tuscan Wine Tour by shuttle from Pisa: $149
- Tuscan Wine Tour by shuttle from Lucca: $149
- Tuscan Wine Tour in Lucca by shuttle: $152
When comparing the travel costs between Coimbra and Lucca, we can see that Lucca is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Coimbra Expensive? and Is Lucca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Lucca?
Coimbra has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Lucca. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Lucca, 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.
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.