Which place is cheaper, Zaragoza or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Zaragoza?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Zaragoza? 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 Zaragoza?
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.
Zaragoza
As the sun slips below the horizon, the night is greeted by the familiar glow of the exquisite cathedral Basilica del Pilar that stands above the city like a shimmering castle. This city is none other than Zaragoza, Spain, the capital city of the Zaragoza province in Aragon, Spain. Overlooking the Ebro River, Zaragoza has a population of 701,090, ranking the 32nd most populated municipality in the European Union. Zaragoza has attracted travelers from all across the world, causing the city to host the Expo in the summer of 2008 and also stand as a candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2012. Besides its glimmering cathedral, Zaragoza is also known for its rich history in folklore, local gastronomy, as well as hosting the well-known Fiestas del Pilar, the most celebrated of festivals in Spain.
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 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €103Zaragoza €126
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, while the average daily cost in Zaragoza is €126. 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 Zaragoza in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Zaragoza €65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Zaragoza €130
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Zaragoza
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or Zaragoza? 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 Zaragoza Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Zaragoza €23
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 Zaragoza
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zaragoza:
- Zaragoza Private Transfer from the city centre to Zaragoza Airport: $66
- Zaragoza Private Transfer from Zaragoza Airport to City centre: $66
- Zaragoza Downtown hotels to Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ) to Zaragoza Downtown hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ) to Zaragoza Downtown hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Private transfers Airport-hotel Zaragoza.: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Zaragoza?
Prices for flights to both Zaragoza 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 €48Zaragoza €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 Zaragoza
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zaragoza.
- Midday Market Tour and Spanish Cooking Class: $108
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Zaragoza €35
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 Zaragoza
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zaragoza are as follows:
- Complete tour + wine and tapas: $202
- Evening traditional tapas walking tour in old Zaragoza center: $104
- Haft-day Winery tour from Zaragoza: $158
- Kayaking in Fluvial EcoTourism with ebroNAUTAS: $44
- Midday Olive Oil Tour and Visit to Old Town of Belchite: $102
- Midday market and tapas tour of Zaragoza: $104
- Monumental Walking Tour in Old Town of Zaragoza: $93
- Olive Oil Tour and Visit to Belchite Old Town: $104
- Olive Oil and Winery Tour from Zaragoza City: $164
- Private custom tour with a local guide Zaragoza: $49
- Zaragoza - Historic Walking Tour: $320
- Zaragoza : Aquarium entry ticket: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Zaragoza €14
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 Zaragoza
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zaragoza:
- Wine Tasting and Tapas: $102
- Wine Tasting and Tapas in the ancient Town of Zaragoza: $104
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Zaragoza, we can see that Zaragoza is more expensive. And not only is Coimbra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Coimbra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Coimbra 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 Zaragoza would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zaragoza than you might in Coimbra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Coimbra Expensive? and Is Zaragoza Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Zaragoza?
Zaragoza has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and Zaragoza, 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 Zaragoza?
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 Zaragoza in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Zaragoza. Additionally, many visitors come to Zaragoza in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
Coimbra is cooler than Zaragoza in the summer. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Zaragoza fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zaragoza. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coimbra this time of the year. In the summer, Coimbra often gets less sunshine than Zaragoza. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zaragoza receives 344 hours of full sun.
Coimbra usually gets less rain in July than Zaragoza. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCoimbra 23°C (73°F)Zaragoza 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Zaragoza in the Autumn?
Both Zaragoza and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Zaragoza for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Coimbra is around the same temperature as Zaragoza. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Coimbra in October average around 18°C (65°F), and Zaragoza averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Zaragoza during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Zaragoza receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Coimbra. In October, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Zaragoza. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCoimbra 18°C (65°F)Zaragoza 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Zaragoza in the Winter?
Both Zaragoza and Coimbra during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Zaragoza because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Coimbra is generally a little warmer than Zaragoza. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 11°C (51°F), and Zaragoza fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In the winter, Coimbra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Zaragoza. Coimbra gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zaragoza receives 131 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually gets more rain in January than Zaragoza. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCoimbra 11°C (51°F)Zaragoza 8°C (46°F)
Should I visit Coimbra or Zaragoza in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Zaragoza. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Zaragoza this time of year.
Coimbra is around the same temperature as Zaragoza in the spring. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Zaragoza fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zaragoza this time of the year. In Coimbra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Coimbra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Zaragoza during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Zaragoza receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Zaragoza. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCoimbra 15°C (59°F)Zaragoza 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Zaragoza and Coimbra
| Coimbra | Zaragoza | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 39 mm (1.6 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 26 mm (1 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.