Which place is cheaper, Volterra or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Volterra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Volterra? 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 Volterra?
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.
Volterra
Located in Tuscany, Volterra has an interesting history and impressive sights for travelers who want to see more of the Tuscan region than the popular city of Florence. The town was originally a Neolithic settlement and is believed to have been continuously inhabited since the end of the 8th century BC. It was a bishop's residence during the 5th century and then an episcopal power during the 12th century. It was later conquered by the Florentines but opposition to their rule led to much rebellion.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Volterra €101
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Volterra is €101. 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 Volterra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Volterra €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Volterra €122
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Volterra
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Volterra? 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 Volterra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Volterra €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 Volterra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Volterra:
- Private Transfer from San Gimignano to Firenze (FLR) Airport: $248
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Volterra?
Prices for flights to both Volterra 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 €48Volterra €36
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 Volterra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Volterra.
- Buffet dinner at the farm: $49
- Dining experience at a local's home in San Gimignano with show cooking: $93
- Volterra - Olive oil tasting with lunch with lunch or dinner: $112
- Pizza Cooking Class: $112
- Fresh Pasta Cooking Class: $112
- "Hands in dough" Cooking Class with Lunch: $120
- Tuscan Cooking Class: $126
- Tuscany: Wine Tasting Lunch or Dinner: $128
- Winery Cave Dinner & Tasting in Tuscany - Romantic & Lovely : $137
- Fiorentina Steak Dinner & Wine Tasting: $164
- Cooking class, wine tasting and 2500 year old granaries: $175
- Cooking Classes in Tuscany among the Chianti Vineyards: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Volterra €11
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 Volterra
Here are a few actual costs in Volterra for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cesani Wine Experience: $33
- Chianti and Castle Small Group Tour from San Gimignano: $93
- Discover Volterra with Licensed Tour Guide: $214
- Private Balsamic Vinegar Experience with Wine, Evo Oil & Meal: $69
- Private Tour in San Gimignano: $150
- Private Tour: San Gimignano Walking Tour: $207
- Private walking tour in San Gimignano with a local licensed guide: $218
- San Gimignano Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $293
- San Gimignano, Volterra, St Galgano Abbey small group tour: $149
- Truffle Lunch & Hunting Experience in San Gimignano: $180
- Tuscany: Volterra Truffle Hunting Experience: $203
- Volterra - Archeotour by e-bike with tasting: $187
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Volterra €16
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 Volterra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Volterra:
- San Gimignano: Chianti wine tasting : $33
- Casa Emma Wine Tasting : $34
- Gourmet Wine Tour San Gimignano Wine Tasting - San Quirico Winery: $36
- 5 Wine Tastings in San Gimignano: $60
- Lunch with Wine Tasting: $60
- "Gourmet" Wine Tasting at Cesani's: $66
- Wine Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $71
- Vineyard Walk & Wine Tasting in Tuscany: $115
- Brunello Wine Tasting from San Gimignano: $130
- Exclusive evening wine tasting at organic winery : $218
- Chianti e-bike tour from Florence with wine tasting: $284
- Private Excursion: Volterra & San Gimignano+wine tastings: $289
When comparing the travel costs between Coimbra and Volterra, 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 Volterra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Volterra?
Coimbra has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Volterra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Volterra, 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 Volterra?
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 Volterra in the Summer?
Both Volterra and Coimbra during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Volterra this time of year.
In the summer, Coimbra is around the same temperature as Volterra. Typically, the summer temperatures in Coimbra in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Volterra averages at about 23°C (74°F).
In Volterra, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Coimbra. In the summer, Coimbra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Volterra. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Volterra receives 316 hours of full sun.
Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than Volterra. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Volterra receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCoimbra 23°C (73°F)Volterra 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Volterra in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Volterra. Furthermore, many travelers come to Volterra for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Coimbra is generally a little warmer than Volterra. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 18°C (65°F), and Volterra fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Volterra during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Volterra receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Volterra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Coimbra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Coimbra usually receives less rain than Volterra. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Volterra receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCoimbra 18°C (65°F)Volterra 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Volterra in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Volterra. Additionally, many visitors come to Volterra in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Coimbra is a little warmer than Volterra in the winter. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 11°C (51°F) in January, and Volterra fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In the winter, Coimbra often gets more sunshine than Volterra. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Volterra receives 105 hours of full sun.
Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Coimbra usually gets more rain in January than Volterra. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Volterra receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCoimbra 11°C (51°F)Volterra 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Volterra in the Spring?
Both Volterra and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Volterra for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Coimbra is a little warmer than Volterra. Typically, the spring temperatures in Coimbra in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Volterra averages at about 13°C (55°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually receives more sunshine than Volterra during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Volterra receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Volterra. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Volterra receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCoimbra 15°C (59°F)Volterra 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Volterra and Coimbra
| Coimbra | Volterra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 85 mm (3.3 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.