Which place is cheaper, Vigo or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Vigo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Vigo? 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 Vigo?
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.
Vigo
Originally a small fishing town, Vigo has grown to become the most populated municipality in the region of Galicia in northwestern Spain. Remnants of the old world still exist in its historic center architecture and plazas, while the commodities of a modern city have blended into its boundaries. The old center remains the hub of activity with plenty to see and do, shopping and dining included.
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 G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Vigo €99
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Vigo is €99. 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 Vigo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Vigo €43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Vigo €86
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Vigo
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Vigo? 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 Vigo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Vigo €37
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 Vigo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vigo:
- Private Transfer from Vigo Cruise Port to Porto Hotels: $43
- Private Transfer from Vigo Cruise Port to Porto Airport (OPO): $43
- One-Way Private Transfer From/To Vigo Airport: $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Vigo?
Prices for flights to both Vigo 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 €48Vigo €35
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 Vigo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vigo.
- Gourmet Hands on Cooking Class in Galicia with the Chef: $162
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Vigo €10
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 Vigo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vigo are as follows:
- Afternoon Walking Tour in Pontevedra: $18
- Albarino : Sensorial experience and Heritage: $129
- Essential Walking Tour through the Emblematic Places of Vigo: $32
- Exclusive Vigo experience: $155
- Full Day Santiago de Compostela Private Tour from Vigo, Shore Excursion: $169
- Full-Day Excursion to Santiago from Vigo for Cruisers Only: $75
- GROUP walking tour in Vigo: $1.09
- Monumental Morning Walking Tour in Pontevedra: $17
- Morning electric bike tour of Vigo and photography contest: $76
- New 2-hour Electric Bike Tour and Photography Contest: $34
- Night Walking Tour of Pontevedra: $21
- Private Tour in Ourense: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Vigo €5.71
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
When comparing the travel costs between Coimbra and Vigo, 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 Vigo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Vigo?
Vigo has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Vigo, 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 Vigo?
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 Vigo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Vigo.
In July, Coimbra is generally around the same temperature as Vigo. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 23°C (73°F), and Vigo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vigo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coimbra this time of the year. In the summer, Coimbra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vigo. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vigo receives 299 hours of full sun.
Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than Vigo. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Vigo receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCoimbra 23°C (73°F)Vigo 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Vigo in the Autumn?
Both Vigo and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Coimbra is around the same temperature as Vigo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 18°C (65°F) in October, and Vigo fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vigo during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Vigo receives 174 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vigo. It's quite rainy in Coimbra. In October, Coimbra usually receives less rain than Vigo. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Vigo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCoimbra 18°C (65°F)Vigo 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Vigo in the Winter?
Both Vigo and Coimbra during the winter are popular places to visit.
In the winter, Coimbra is around the same temperature as Vigo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Coimbra in January average around 11°C (51°F), and Vigo averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In the winter, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than Vigo. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vigo receives 110 hours of full sun.
Vigo 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 Vigo. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Vigo receives 232 mm (9.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCoimbra 11°C (51°F)Vigo 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Vigo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Vigo.
In April, Coimbra is generally a little warmer than Vigo. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 15°C (59°F), and Vigo fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In Coimbra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than Vigo during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Vigo receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.
Vigo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Coimbra usually receives less rain than Vigo. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Vigo receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCoimbra 15°C (59°F)Vigo 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Vigo and Coimbra
| Coimbra | Vigo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 232 mm (9.1 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 228 mm (9 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.