Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or San Sebastian?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or San Sebastian? 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 San Sebastian?
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.
San Sebastian
San Sebastián is a city in northern Spain very well known for its summertime fun in the sun. While the streets are cool and happening at night, they take on a different charm by day. Beautiful beaches line the city's edge, right next to elegant historic architecture and churches, topping charts as some of the best city beaches in Europe. The food, too, is said to be some of the best with traditional Basque cuisine as well as the popular pintxo (tapas) bites. San Sebastián is a place of lively culture, teeming with beauty, flavors, and colors.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103San Sebastian €90
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is €90. 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 San Sebastian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44San Sebastian €40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88San Sebastian €80
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and San Sebastian
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or San Sebastian? 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 San Sebastian Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11San Sebastian €14
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 San Sebastian
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
- San Sebastián-Bilbao city or airport private transfer: $273
- Private Transfer from the Airport to San Sebastian City: $84
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Vitoria: $291
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Bilbao: $268
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Pamplona Airport : $245
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Bilbao Airport: $268
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $247
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or San Sebastian?
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian 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 €48San Sebastian €31
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
Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Dinner for 2€55
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Lunch for 2€10
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Lunch for 2€31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Sebastian
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
- San Sebastian Walking and Food Tour: $104
- Insider Best Culinary Gems Guided Food Tour in San Sebastian: $109
- Basque Cuisine Cooking Class with Market Visit: $148
- Full Day San Sebastian Food Tour : $150
- I travel for Food Tour in San Sebastian: $152
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in the Old Town: $152
- Private San Sebastian Walking Food Tour: $158
- Michelin Star Secrets Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $213
- Food tour in San Sebastian and Visit to a Gastronomical Club: $224
- History and flavors of San Sebastian for Dinner with Eskerne Falcón: $235
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18San Sebastian €33
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Valle de los Caídos Monument€6.00
Tours and Activities in San Sebastian
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
- Biarritz & La Côte Basque Private tour: $246
- Biarritz and French Coast Small Grop Tour from San Sebastian: $86
- Bilbao city and Guggenheim Museum small group tour: $164
- Chef-Led Market Tour & Pintxo Lunch: $163
- Chef-Led Walking Pintxo Tour of San Sebastián : $272
- Cider House Experience From San Sebastian: $120
- City tour, bike ride: $45
- City tour, by electric bicycle: $50
- Coastal "Winery Camino Trail" Walking Tour from San Sebastian: $186
- Electric scooter city tour: $45
- Evening Pintxo-Tapas Tour with Discover San Sebastian: $191
- Exclusive Private Pintxos Adventure with Premium Spanish Wines": $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12San Sebastian €20
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 San Sebastian
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos & Wine Tour (Evening): $141
- Getaria Txakoli Wine Tour with Hotel Pick-up from San Sebastian: $148
- Best quality food & wine tasting tour in San Sebastian. : $191
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian: $240
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian: $251
- Full Rioja Wine Tour with Lunch from San Sebastian Private Tour: $298
When comparing the travel costs between Coimbra and San Sebastian, we can see that Coimbra 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 San Sebastian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or San Sebastian?
San Sebastian has a larger population, and is about 72% larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and San Sebastian, 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 San Sebastian?
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 San Sebastian in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as San Sebastian. Additionally, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Coimbra is generally a little warmer than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 23°C (73°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coimbra this time of the year. In the summer, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun.
Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than San Sebastian. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCoimbra 23°C (73°F)San Sebastian 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or San Sebastian in the Autumn?
Both San Sebastian and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to San Sebastian for the shopping scene during these months.
Coimbra is a little warmer than San Sebastian in the autumn. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 18°C (65°F) in October, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. It's quite rainy in Coimbra. In October, Coimbra usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCoimbra 18°C (65°F)San Sebastian 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or San Sebastian in the Winter?
Both San Sebastian and Coimbra during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Coimbra is a little warmer than San Sebastian. Typically, the winter temperatures in Coimbra in January average around 11°C (51°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually gets less rain in January than San Sebastian. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCoimbra 11°C (51°F)San Sebastian 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or San Sebastian in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and San Sebastian. Also, the beaches are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.
In April, Coimbra is generally a little warmer than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 15°C (59°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In Coimbra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.
San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Coimbra usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCoimbra 15°C (59°F)San Sebastian 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for San Sebastian and Coimbra
| Coimbra | San Sebastian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 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.