Should you visit Lisbon or Coimbra?
Should I visit Lisbon 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.
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
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 Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €103, 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 Lisbon and Coimbra in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €92 in Lisbon 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 Lisbon travelers spend around €33 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
Lisbon €33
Coimbra €38
Typical Food prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Wine & Dine Food Tour:
$22
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History and Flavors Half-Day Food Tour:
$29
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Virtual Portuguese Cooking Lesson:
$31
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Live Online Cooking Class from Pastel de Nata with Filipa:
$39
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Live Fado & Alfama Tour with Traditional Dinner:
$40
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Bohemian dinner party on a beautiful rooftop near the coast:
$42
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3-Hour Self-Guided Locals' Food Tour:
$48
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The magic of Pasteis de Nata cooking class in Lisbon:
$53
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Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Lisbon:
$54
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2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
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Zero-Waste Cooking Workshop:
$56
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Withlocals Your Way: Lisbon Personalised Private Food Tour:
$56
Local Transportation
Lisbon'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 €19 per person, per day on transportation in Lisbon.
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.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Óbidos Nazaré Alcobaça Batalha Fatima Private Transfer From Lisbon to Coimbra:
$280
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Transfers from/to Lisbon Airport to: Fátima Nazaré Alcobaça Óbidos Tomar Leiria:
$203
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Transfers from and to Lisbon-Algarve (Center Cities):
$625
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Transfer/Transport:
$45
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Transfer to Povoa do Varzim:
$591
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lisbon City to Airport:
$18
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Transfer in Private Minivan from Lisbon City to Airport:
$22
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Transfer in Lisbon:
$50
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Transfer from Sintra-Cascais to Lisbon Airport:
$84
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Transfer from Lisbon to Óbidos (And Vice Versa):
$245
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Transfer from Lisbon to Évora (And Vice Versa):
$228
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Transfer from Lisbon to Vilamoura or Quarteira:
$398
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer Porto visiting Aveiro:
$121
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Transfer Lisbon visiting Fátima Sanctuary:
$136
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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:
$126
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Private Transfer From Coimbra To Lisbon Stops in Batalha Fátima Tomar Alcobaça:
$280
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Porto Private Transfer to or from Coimbra:
$71
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Lisbon Private Transfer to or from Coimbra:
$108
Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Coimbra?
Prices for flights to both Coimbra and Lisbon 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, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Lisbon can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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 Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Évora Private Tour from Lisbon:
$326
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Évora and Arraiolos - 8 Hour Private Tour:
$54
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Évora and Estremoz: Private Full-Day Tour from Lisbon:
$388
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Évora and Megaliths Full-Day Private Tour from Lisbon:
$315
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Óbidos Experience:
$40
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Óbidos, Alcobaça, Batalha & Nazare Private Tour:
$121
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10 Days Private Tour in Portugal from Lisbon:
$2,476
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10 Hour Private Tour: Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais and Estoril Highlights:
$213
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12-Day Portugal and Andalucia Tour from Madrid:
$1,595
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2 Day Street Art Private Tour from Lisbon:
$933
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2 Days Private Tour In the Algarve from Lisbon:
$682
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2 Days Tour to Heart of Serra da Estrela from Lisbon:
$398
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
Typically, people visiting Lisbon spend on average €14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Coimbra spend on average €9.86 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
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Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$17
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Lisbon Pub Crawl with Free Drinks:
$18
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Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$18
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Lisbon 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$18
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Alternative Pub Crawl with a Local Guide:
$28
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3-Hour Portuguese History & Flavors Food & Wine Tour:
$30
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Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
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From Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
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Christ the King and Arrábida Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon:
$58
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From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
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Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
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Private Full-Day Arrábida Park and Wine Tour:
$67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Coimbra, we can see that Lisbon 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon than you might in Coimbra.
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