A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Coimbra vs. La Spezia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Coimbra or La Spezia?

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

Should I visit Coimbra or La Spezia? 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 La Spezia?

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.

La Spezia

Located on the coast beside the Ligurian Sea, La Spezia is known for its military and commercial harbors hosting the arsenal of the Italian Navy. It is also well connected by rail and by boat to Cinque Terre National Park - a unique collection of five medieval villages along the coastline - as well as other coastal towns of the region. Other attractions include a number of museums as well as an annual boat race called Palio de Golfo.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, La Spezia or Coimbra?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €138, while the average daily cost in La Spezia is €235. 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 La Spezia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Coimbra 44
    La Spezia 109
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Coimbra 88
    La Spezia 218
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and La Spezia

Looking for a hotel in Coimbra or La Spezia? 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 Coimbra


Hotels in La Spezia


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 La Spezia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Coimbra 11
    La Spezia 41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra

Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfers Aveiro or Coimbra to Lisbon Airport: $159
  • Private transfer in Coimbra City : $95
  • Private Transfer Coimbra to Take Christ's Convent : $274
  • Private Transfer Coimbra to Aveiro Costa Nova : $298
  • Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $161

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Spezia

Also for La Spezia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from La Spezia to Cinque Terre and Return to the Ship: $299
  • Private Transfer from La Spezia to Cinque Terre by car or van: $155
  • Private Transfer from La Spezia hotels to La Spezia Port: $67
  • Private Transfer from La Spezia Port to La Spezia Hotels: $67
  • Private Transfer from La Spezia Cruise Port to Pisa Airport (PSA): $210
  • Private Transfer La Spezia to Pisa by Business or Luxury Vehicle: $222
  • Guided Tour of Florence & Pisa with Bus Transfer: $87
  • La Spezia to La Spezia Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $67
  • La Spezia Cruise Port to Pisa Intl Airport (PSA) - Departure Private Transfer: $210
  • La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $134
  • La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
  • Arrival Private Transfer La Spezia to Genoa by Business or Luxury Vehicle: $278

Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or La Spezia?

Prices for flights to both La Spezia 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Coimbra 83
    La Spezia 96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra

For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Tomar Cooking Class & Garden-to-Table Meal with Lake Views: $142

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Spezia

For La Spezia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Taste Cinque Terre on a Full Meal Food Tour: $99
  • Small-Group Street Food Tour: $104
  • Sunset Cruise with Aperitif and Dinner: $105
  • Taste Cinque Terre on a Food Tour by Do Eat Better: $106
  • Tour of Apericena at Sunset and Dinner on Boat: $108
  • La Spezia. Sunset Aperitif and Dinner on the Boat: $115
  • Cesarine: Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in La Spezia: $118
  • La Spezia Cinque Terre Food Tour: $136
  • Private Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $169
  • Sunset dinner boat tour in the Gulf of Poets: $169
  • Cesarine: Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in La Spezia: $173
  • Cooking Class and Home Restaurant Experience: $175

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Coimbra 18
    La Spezia 39

Tours and Activities in Coimbra

For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2 Hours Private Walking Tour in Coimbra : $218
  • A tour between Cascades and Schist Villages, Piodão: $155
  • An adventure through the Forest and Palace of Bussaco - Coimbra: $89
  • An adventure through the Schist Villages of Lousã: $89
  • An adventure through the Schist Villages of Lousã (with walk): $155
  • Arista Tour - Penacova Windmills and Landscapes (noon): $89
  • Buggy Tour in Serra da Lousã 2Hours: $143
  • Buracas do Casmilo Private Hiking Tour from Coimbra: $101
  • Coimbra Adventure Discovery and Learning with a Local: $42
  • Coimbra City Tour : $24
  • Coimbra Downhill Tour Highlights History and Student Traditions: $5.96
  • Coimbra Downtown Walking Tour with uptown insights : $5.96

Tours and Activities in La Spezia

For La Spezia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Cinque Terre Private Wine And Views Tour: $298
  • Giraffe Boat Tour Unique Experience Beyond 5 Terre: $178
  • La Spezia Walking Tour: History, Panoramic Views, & Museum: $49
  • Pisa Tour by bus: $60
  • 3 Hour One-Way Boat Tour from La Spezia to Monterosso: $114
  • 3 Hours Sunset Boat Tour to Golfo dei Poeti Shared: $143
  • 4-Hour E-Bike Guided Tour of the Tellaro and Montemarcello Villages: $119
  • 5 LANDS LUXURY BOAT TOUR: $1,388
  • Best Florence and Pisa Excursion from La Spezia Cruise Port: $87
  • Best Florence and Pisa Tour for Cruise Visitors from La Spezia: $102
  • Best One Day Florence and Pisa Tour from your Cruise Ship: $96
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $107

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Coimbra 12
    La Spezia 35

Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:

  • Port Wine Tasting in Coimbra: $72
  • Self-drive Wine Tour in Bairrada Region: $251

Sample the Local Flavors in La Spezia

Also in La Spezia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • From Hiking in the Cinque Terre with wine tasting and light lunch: $140


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia 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 La Spezia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Spezia 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 La Spezia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Coimbra or La Spezia?

Coimbra has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of La Spezia. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra and La Spezia, 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.