A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aberdeen vs. Calais for Attractions, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Aberdeen or Calais?

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

Should I visit Aberdeen or Calais? 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.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a architectural, authentic, and historic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais

Calais is a authentic, undiscovered, and coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and museums.

Aberdeen and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aberdeen or Calais?

You'll generally find more things to do in Aberdeen than Calais. Aberdeen is bigger than Calais, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Aberdeen is better known for its museums and historical sights, while Calais is more popular for its beaches. Aberdeen is more touristy than Calais and is known for its longstanding maritime history and its many cultural sights and activities. Also, Aberdeen is famous for St Machar's Cathedral Aberdeen. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Aberdeen different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aberdeen or Calais?

Aberdeen is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Aberdeen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city's long running history means that there are plenty of sights and museums worth exploring. Highlights include St. Machar's Cathedral, the University and King's College of Aberdeen, Brig o'Balgownie, and the Tolbooth Museum.

Calais is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's a port city with a few good museums and landmarks to see. Check out the Town Hall, Burghers of Calais, La Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode, and Musée de la Guerre de Calais, as well as the Calais Lighthouse.

Is the Food Better in Aberdeen or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Aberdeen and Calais can be an enjoyable experience.

Aberdeen offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Everything from brunch bistros to fine dining are available in this city. You can enjoy local specialties or international options at any of the unique restaurants around town.

Calais has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The region is known for its mackerel, andouillette sausage, and endive and ham gratin. If you're passing through, this is also a good place to stock up on wine and cheese.

Is Aberdeen or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Both Aberdeen and Calais are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Aberdeen. The nightlife scene is diverse with whisky dens, local pubs, and even trendy nightclubs to choose from.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Calais. You'll find bars and pubs around town as well as a few clubs. Places range from trendy and high end to local dive bars.

Is Aberdeen or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a popular place for its beaches. However, Aberdeen is not a beach destination.

Calais is a good option for a beach vacation. There are some sandy beaches near town that have nice stretches of sand and plenty of sand dunes. Many locals enjoy sunbathing at the beaches.

Aberdeen is not a beach destination.

Is Aberdeen or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Aberdeen is well known for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Aberdeen. This city's old town is a hidden gem in Scotland. The cobblestone streets and long history make for a fascinating place to explore.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Aberdeen or Calais?

Both Aberdeen and Calais are notable shopping destinations.

Aberdeen is a great destination for shopping. A mix of modern shopping centers, antique vendors, and local boutiques make for an interesting shopping scene. For some of the city's best shopping head to Union Square Shopping Centre, the Trinity Centre, or Bon Accord Aberdeen.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Calais. Many visitors stock up on wine and cheese when they're passing through. It's common to head straight to Auchan or Carrefour to stock up on some items.

Is Aberdeen or Calais Better for Families?

Aberdeen is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Aberdeen is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Explore the city's history or wander through one of the many museums. Some of the best museums for kids include the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Little Treasures Toy Museum, the Aberdeen Science Center, and the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Adrenaline seekers will enjoy rock climbing and ropes courses at Transition Extreme or ziplining at Go Ape Crathes Castle. Also nearby is horseback riding and Codona’s Amusement Park.

Calais offers lots of family activities. There's the Nausicaa Aquarium, the Museum of the Atlantic Wall, and the Second World War Museum. There are also beaches and parks to explore as well as some nice playgrounds.

Is Aberdeen or Calais Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Aberdeen and Calais make for a notable place to visit.

Aberdeen is a nice destination for couples. There are many of the standard activities for couples such as interesting restaurants, theaters, and fun concerts.

Calais makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can picnic with wine and cheese or eat their way through the town's great restaurants. There are also some nice beaches where people enjoy sunbathing or relaxing.

Is Aberdeen or Calais Better for Students?

Aberdeen is a popular place for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Aberdeen is popular with students. The city is a nice affordable option for students who want to study at the University of Aberdeen.

Calais is not popular with students.

Is Aberdeen or Calais Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Aberdeen and Calais offer notable public transit options.

Aberdeen has a few public transit options. There are public buses through town and it's possible to pick up a Grasshopper ticket that lets you ride on most of the bus companies.

Calais has some public transit options. The city has 13 bus lines that run through town and into the surrounding areas. If you're arriving by ferry from the UK, there are shuttle buses that connect the ferry terminal to the train station.

Is Aberdeen or Calais a more walkable city?

Aberdeen is well known for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Aberdeen is a very walkable destination. It's easy to walk to most of the city's attractions.

Calais is somewhat walkable. Parts of the town are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Aberdeen Worth Visiting? and Is Calais Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calais or Aberdeen?

How long in Aberdeen or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Aberdeen and Calais. In our opinion, Aberdeen has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Aberdeen than Calais. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Aberdeen, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

Families should spend more time in Aberdeen than Calais. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Aberdeen, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calais than Aberdeen 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 Calais.

One day in Aberdeen or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Aberdeen. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Calais offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Aberdeen or Calais?

Aberdeen is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Calais is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Calais, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Aberdeen or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Aberdeen. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Calais is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Aberdeen or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Aberdeen. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Calais is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Aberdeen and Calais, we can see that Aberdeen 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 Aberdeen Expensive? and Is Calais Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Aberdeen or Calais?

Aberdeen has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Aberdeen and Calais, 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 Aberdeen or Calais?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Calais in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Aberdeen and Calais. The summer months attract visitors to Aberdeen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In July, Aberdeen is generally cooler than Calais. Daily temperatures in Aberdeen average around 14°C (58°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. Aberdeen usually receives less sunshine than Calais during summer. Aberdeen gets 157 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Aberdeen usually receives more rain than Calais. Aberdeen gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Aberdeen as well as Calais. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Aberdeen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Aberdeen is cooler than Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Aberdeen averages around 9°C (49°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Aberdeen often gets less sunshine than Calais. Aberdeen gets 93 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Aberdeen usually gets more rain in October than Calais. Aberdeen gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Aberdeen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Aberdeen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Aberdeen. In the winter, Aberdeen is cooler than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Aberdeen in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Aberdeen usually receives less sunshine than Calais during winter. Aberdeen gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Aberdeen usually receives more rain than Calais. Aberdeen gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Calais in the Spring?

Both Calais and Aberdeen during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Aberdeen in the spring for the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Aberdeen is generally cooler than Calais. Daily temperatures in Aberdeen average around 7°C (44°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the spring, Aberdeen often gets less sunshine than Calais. Aberdeen gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Aberdeen usually gets more rain in April than Calais. Aberdeen gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Aberdeen