A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto de la Cruz vs. Coimbra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Puerto de la Cruz and Coimbra. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra?

Puerto de la Cruz

The coast of the island of Tenerife is a dream destination for those seeking a luxurious getaway full of beaches and parties. However, for those of you traveling with families or looking to simply avoid the hustle and bustle of the nightclub crowd, there's Puerto de la Cruz. Known as a sophisticated destination, Puerto de la Cruz is one of the top places to visit yet still retains its authentic, Canarian charm.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Luxury Tours to Spain, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Coimbra or Puerto de la Cruz?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto de la Cruz is €112, while the average daily cost in Coimbra is €103. 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 Puerto de la Cruz and Coimbra in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto de la Cruz 51
    Coimbra 44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto de la Cruz 102
    Coimbra 88
Compare Hotels in Puerto de la Cruz and Coimbra

Looking for a hotel in Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra? 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.

Hotels in Puerto de la Cruz


Hotels in Coimbra


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: Puerto de la Cruz Hotel Prices and Coimbra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto de la Cruz 40
    Coimbra 11

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra?

Prices for flights to both Coimbra and Puerto de la Cruz 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Puerto de la Cruz 34
    Coimbra 48

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto de la Cruz 28
    Coimbra 18

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto de la Cruz 5.00
    Coimbra 12

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 Puerto de la Cruz and Coimbra, we can see that Puerto de la Cruz 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 Puerto de la Cruz Expensive? and Is Coimbra Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra?

Coimbra has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Puerto de la Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Puerto de la Cruz and Coimbra, 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 Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra?

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 Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra in the Summer?

Both Coimbra and Puerto de la Cruz during the summer are popular places to visit.

Puerto de la Cruz is around the same temperature as Coimbra in the summer. The daily temperature in Puerto de la Cruz averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Coimbra fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Coimbra, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Puerto de la Cruz. In the summer, Puerto de la Cruz often gets more sunshine than Coimbra. Puerto de la Cruz gets 334 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coimbra receives 308 hours of full sun.

Puerto de la Cruz usually gets less rain in July than Coimbra. Puerto de la Cruz gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Puerto de la Cruz 24°C (75°F) 
    Coimbra 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto de la Cruz and Coimbra.

In the autumn, Puerto de la Cruz is a little warmer than Coimbra. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Puerto de la Cruz in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Coimbra averages at about 18°C (65°F).

In Puerto de la Cruz, it's very sunny this time of the year. Puerto de la Cruz usually receives more sunshine than Coimbra during autumn. Puerto de la Cruz gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Coimbra receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Puerto de la Cruz usually receives less rain than Coimbra. Puerto de la Cruz gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Puerto de la Cruz 21°C (70°F) 
    Coimbra 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Puerto de la Cruz as well as Coimbra.

In January, Puerto de la Cruz is generally much warmer than Coimbra. Daily temperatures in Puerto de la Cruz average around 18°C (64°F), and Coimbra fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Puerto de la Cruz often gets more sunshine than Coimbra. Puerto de la Cruz gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coimbra receives 124 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Coimbra. Puerto de la Cruz usually gets less rain in January than Coimbra. Puerto de la Cruz gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Puerto de la Cruz 18°C (64°F) 
    Coimbra 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Puerto de la Cruz or Coimbra in the Spring?

Both Coimbra and Puerto de la Cruz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Puerto de la Cruz is a little warmer than Coimbra in the spring. The daily temperature in Puerto de la Cruz averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Coimbra fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

It's quite sunny in Coimbra. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto de la Cruz. Puerto de la Cruz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Coimbra during spring. Puerto de la Cruz gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Coimbra receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Puerto de la Cruz usually receives less rain than Coimbra. Puerto de la Cruz gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Puerto de la Cruz 20°C (68°F) 
    Coimbra 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Coimbra and Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz Coimbra
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°C (64°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 11°C (51°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Feb 18°C (64°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 12°C (53°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Mar 19°C (66°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 13°C (56°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Apr 20°C (68°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
May 21°C (70°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 17°C (63°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Jun 23°C (73°F) 1 mm (0 in) 21°C (69°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 24°C (75°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 23°C (73°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 23°C (73°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Sep 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 22°C (71°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 21°C (70°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 18°C (65°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 14°C (57°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Dec 18°C (64°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 11°C (52°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)