Should you visit Funchal or Coimbra?
Should I visit Funchal or Coimbra? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Funchal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Coimbra or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €75, while the average daily cost in Coimbra is €82. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Funchal and Coimbra in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €82 in Funchal For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €70 in Coimbra For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Funchal travelers spend around €25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food in Coimbra costs travelers about €38 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Funchal €25
Coimbra €38
Typical Food prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Madeira Evening Tour with Dinner and Performance:
$44
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Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show:
$45
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“Petiscos” cooking experience & Market Tour:
$70
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Madeira Sunset by 4x4 with Dinner from Funchal:
$70
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Funchal than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €7.95 on transportation in Funchal on average per day.
Coimbra's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €8.58 per person, per day on transportation in Coimbra.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Service Airport Transfer:
$25
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Private Airport Transfer: from Funchal to Madeira Airport (FNC):
$19
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One-Way Private Transfer from Madeira Airport to Funchal or Monte:
$14
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Madeira: Private Transfer to or from Palheiro Golf or Choupana:
$15
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Madeira: Private Transfer to or from Camara de Lobos:
$15
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Madeira: Funchal Shared Transfer to or from Airport:
$11
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Madeira Private Transfer: To/From Funchal Airport:
$18
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Madeira Private Arrival Transfer:
$32
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Madeira Funchal Airport FNC Arrival Private Transfer by Business Car:
$34
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Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service:
$19
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Madeira Airport Round Trip Private Transfers Services:
$34
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Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal:
$21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer Coimbra/Figueira da Foz/Buçaco - Up to 7 People:
$460
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Transfer Coimbra/Figueira da Foz/Buçaco - Up to 3 People:
$373
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Private Transfer From Coimbra To Lisbon Stops in Batalha Fátima Tomar Alcobaça:
$280
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Transfer Lisbon visiting Fátima Sanctuary:
$136
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Private transfer from Coimbra to Lisbon:
$126
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Transfer Porto visiting Aveiro:
$121
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Lisbon Private Transfer to or from Coimbra:
$108
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Porto Private Transfer to or from Coimbra:
$71
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Coimbra?
Prices for flights to both Coimbra and Funchal 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Funchal, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €12 per day, per person.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Coimbra can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €14 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
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3-Hour Madeira Scenic Island Tour (Price per Sidecar - 1 or 2 passengers):
$143
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3d Fun Art Museum Ticket:
$11
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4x4 Full-Day Tour to Explore Portugal's Scents and Flavors:
$51
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Amazing Skywalk and more... Half day Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$40
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Arieiro Peak & Nun´s Valley in Open Roof 4x4 Tour + Dolphins Watching:
$81
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Arieiro Peak and Nun´s Valley Half day Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$40
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Ariero Peak, Santana "Biosphere Reserve" & more...Full day Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$49
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Best of Funchal Private Tour:
$243
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Best of Funchal private walking tour with local specialities tasting:
$467
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Best of Madeira Private Tour Half Day:
$54
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Boat and Open Roof 4x4 Tour:
$1,595
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Botanic Garden Tour:
$50
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Aveiro, Barra and Costa Nova Fullday Tour:
$149
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Bairrada Route Wine and Gastronomic Experience:
$123
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Batalha Alcobaca Nazaré Óbidos Private Tour Full Day With Local From Coimbra:
$218
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Batalha Fátima Tomar Alcobaca Private Tour Full Day With Local From Coimbra:
$218
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Bussaco Forest Walking Experience:
$44
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Bussaco Palace, Gardens & Forest Halfday Tour:
$100
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Bôa Vista | Secret Palace - Fado & Drinks Experience:
$15
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Coimbra Exclusive Walking Tour:
$20
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Coimbra Experience Walking Tour:
$25
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Coimbra Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
$16
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Coimbra Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and Mondego Cruise:
$19
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Coimbra Private Walking Tour:
$199
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Funchal, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €13.
Typically, people visiting Coimbra spend on average €9.86 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Funchal City Tour with Madeira Wine Tasting:
$15
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Half Day Traditions and Enchanting Valleys - Eira do Serrado, Curral das Freiras, Monte, Madeira Wine Tasting:
$49
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Skywalk & Professional Wine Tasting and Vineyards Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$60
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Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting:
$94
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Cabo Girão Skywalk+Vineyards+Wine Tasting Tour in Open Roof 4x4+Dolphin Watching:
$98
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Full-Day Madeira Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$166
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Madeira wine tasting and sightseeing private tour from Funchal:
$534
When comparing the travel costs between Funchal and Coimbra, 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.
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