A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aalborg vs. Caen for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Aalborg or Caen?

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 Aalborg and Caen. 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.

Aalborg

Aalborg is a historic, charming, and local town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Caen

Caen is a historic, park-filled, and important city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums.

Aalborg and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aalborg or Caen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Caen. Although Aalborg and Caen are both popular with visitors, Caen has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Caen is more popular for its museums and big city activities, while Aalborg is known for its nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and small town charm. Aalborg is popular for its half-timbered homes and waterfront setting. Caen is popular for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. It is also home to Pegasus Bridge.

How is Aalborg different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Caen and Aalborg. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aalborg or Caen?

Caen is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Aalborg is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Caen. There are many monuments around town commemorating the city's long history. You'll want to see Château de Caen, Pegasus Bridge, Mémorial de Caen, Musée de Normandie, and Musée des beaux-arts de Caen.

Aalborg offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some interesting museums around town such as the House of Music and the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art.

Is the Food Better in Aalborg or Caen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at excellent restaurants in both Aalborg and Caen.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Aalborg makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find an eclectic mix of trendy restaurants and local finds. There are also international options and modern street food.

Caen has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a market that's at its best on Sundays where you'll find fresh produce and other local ingredients. There are also Michelin starred restaurants, seafood restaurants, and other traditional dishes. Head to the Vaugueux Quarter for traditional dishes.

Is Aalborg or Caen Better for Nightlife?

Aalborg is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Aalborg has a large number of nightlife venues. Despite its small town vibe and relatively unknown status, Aalborg has a great nightlife scene. It's home to the longest continuous string of bars and clubs in all of Scandinavia. You'll find about 30 bars along the pedestrian street of Jomfru Ane Gade and in the early hours, drinks are also surprisingly cheap.

Caen has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene stays active thanks to the 30,000 students living in town. Head to the Rue Ecuyère for a pub crawl or hit up any of the other bars around town.

Is Aalborg or Caen Better for its Old Town?

Aalborg is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Caen does not have a historic old town.

Aalborg is a good destination for visiting its old town. The charming streets of the old town are filled with cafes that come to life during the warm summer months.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Aalborg or Caen?

Aalborg is a good destination for shopping. However, Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Aalborg. There are a number of shopping malls, shopping centers, and local boutiques around town.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Aalborg or Caen Better for Families?

Both Aalborg and Caen are good family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Aalborg. There is plenty of outdoor space, some kid-friendly museums, a zoo, and fascinating street art. Not far from town there's also Fårup Sommerland, which is a great amusement park.

Caen offers lots of family activities. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Aalborg or Caen Better for Couples?

Aalborg and Caen both good destinations for a couple.

Aalborg is a nice destination for couples. Art museums, parks, and interesting restaurants make this a nice town for a weekend trip.

Caen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Is Aalborg or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Aalborg and Caen are good places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Aalborg. There are a couple of hostels in town that offer accommodation for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Is Aalborg or Caen Better for Students?

Aalborg is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Aalborg. The town feels quiet during the rainy winter months but when the sun makes an appearance, it comes to life and people head outdoors and into the cafes.

Caen is not popular with students.

Is Aalborg or Caen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Caen is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Aalborg is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Caen can move around easily with public transportation. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

While Aalborg offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a decent bus system around town.

Is Aalborg or Caen a more walkable city?

Aalborg and Caen both are good when exploring on foot.

Aalborg is somewhat walkable. It's a walkable town, but it does get a lot of rain so some seasons are more pedestrian-friendly than others.

Caen is a somewhat walkable place. The city center is best explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Aalborg Worth Visiting? and Is Caen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Caen or Aalborg?

How long in Aalborg or Caen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Aalborg and Caen. In our opinion, Aalborg has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Aalborg than Caen. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Couples should spend more time in Aalborg than Caen. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Aalborg that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Aalborg than Caen if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Aalborg.

One day in Aalborg or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Aalborg. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Caen, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Aalborg or Caen?

Aalborg is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Caen, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Caen has to offer.

Five days in Aalborg or Caen?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the charming destination of Aalborg. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Caen is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Aalborg or Caen?

The local town of Aalborg offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Caen. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Caen. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Denmark, The Best Adventure Tours to Denmark, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aalborg and Caen, we can see that Aalborg is more expensive. And not only is Caen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Caen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Caen 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 Aalborg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aalborg than you might in Caen.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aalborg Expensive? and Is Caen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Aalborg or Caen?

Aalborg has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Aalborg and Caen, 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 Aalborg or Caen?

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 Aalborg or Caen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Aalborg as well as Caen. The summer months attract visitors to Aalborg because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Aalborg is around the same temperature as Caen in the summer. The daily temperature in Aalborg averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Aalborg usually gets more rain in July than Caen. Aalborg gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aalborg or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Aalborg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Aalborg this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the city's sights and attractions.

In the autumn, Aalborg is cooler than Caen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Aalborg in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Caen averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In October, Aalborg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Aalborg gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Aalborg or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Aalborg during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Aalborg for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Caen in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Caen can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Aalborg. In January, Aalborg is generally much colder than Caen. Daily temperatures in Aalborg average around -1°C (31°F), and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Aalborg usually gets less rain in January than Caen. Aalborg gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aalborg or Caen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Aalborg and Caen. Many visitors come to Aalborg in the spring for the small town charm. Furthermore, most visitors come to Caen for the activities around the city during these months.

Aalborg is much colder than Caen in the spring. The daily temperature in Aalborg averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In April, Aalborg usually receives less rain than Caen. Aalborg gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Aalborg