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

Should you visit Aegina or Calais?

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

Should I visit Aegina 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.

Aegina

Aegina is a fun, active, and relaxing island. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Calais

Calais is a coastal, authentic, and undiscovered city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Aegina and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aegina or Calais?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Calais. Although Aegina and Calais are popular destinations, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is very popular for its big city activities, while Aegina attracts visitors for its museums, nightlife, and small town charm. Aegina is more touristy than Calais and is known for its local pistachio nuts, its nice seaside setting, and its easy access from Athens. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also well known for The Town Hall.

How is Aegina different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Aegina offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are several temples on the island such as the Temple of Athena Aphaia and the Temple of Apollo. There's also and Archeological Museum that is nice to visit.

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 Aegina or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Aegina and Calais can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Aegina area. There's a vibrant restaurant scene that includes traditional eateries serving seafood and refreshing ice cream shops where you can cool off with a scoop of your favorite flavor.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Calais. 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 Aegina or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Aegina is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Aegina is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There's a great nightlife scene on the island. Most of the dance clubs are found in Agia Marina and you'll find more relaxing lounges around Aegina Town and other villages on the island.

If you're looking for night time activities Calais has a few options to choose from. 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 Aegina or Calais Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Aegina and Calais are nice choices.

Aegina is a good option for a beach vacation. While most of the beaches are small and crowded, they do offer a number of tourist facilities such as nearby bars and restaurants, as well as hotels. The most popular beaches on the island are Souvala and Agia Marina.

Many people head to Calais to enjoy the beach. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Aegina or Calais?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Calais and Aegina.

Many visitors go to Aegina to go shopping. You'll find the standard souvenir shops around town where you can buy trinkets or other items you may have forgotten.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in 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 Aegina or Calais Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Aegina or Calais.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Aegina. Kids will enjoy the ferry ride from Athens as well as the pirate stories they'll hear throughout their trip. There are places that the whole family can swim and great restaurants with kid-friendly food.

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 Aegina or Calais Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Aegina and Calais make for a nice place to visit.

Aegina is a good island for couples to visit. Couples will appreciate the beauty and great restaurants that this beautiful island offers. It's a charming day trip from Athens that is filled with impressive historical sights and a nice atmosphere.

Calais is a nice destination for couples. 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 Aegina or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Aegina is a popular place for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Aegina. Like most visitors, backpackers can hop on a ferry in Athens and visit the island as a day trip. It makes a nice excursion with many affordable restaurants and fun activities.

Calais is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. This part of France is often overlooked by tourists so you won't find many backpackers or hostels in the area. It does offer a glimpse into an authentic side of France.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Aegina and Calais.

You'll find some public transit in Aegina, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. You'll find the central bus station in Aegina Town and there you can catch buses that travel around the island.

While Calais offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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 Aegina or Calais a more walkable city?

Aegina and Calais both are nice when exploring on foot.

Aegina is a somewhat walkable island. The town is walkable, but to explore elsewhere on the island, it's easiest to have your own vehicle.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Aegina?

How long in Aegina or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Aegina and Calais. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Calais than in Aegina. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Aegina, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

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

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

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

One day in Aegina or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Aegina. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Calais. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Aegina or Calais?

Aegina 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 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.

Five days in Aegina or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Aegina. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calais. 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.

A week in Aegina or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant destination of Aegina. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the coastal destination of Calais. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Honeymoon Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Aegina or Calais?

Calais has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Aegina. When comparing the sizes of Aegina 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 Aegina 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 Aegina or Calais in the Summer?

Both Calais and Aegina are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Aegina because of the beaches, the small town charm, 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.

Aegina is much warmer than Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Calais. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aegina. Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Calais during summer. Aegina gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Aegina usually receives less rain than Calais. Aegina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Aegina or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Aegina during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Aegina this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Aegina is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Aegina in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

It's quite sunny in Aegina. In the autumn, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Calais. Aegina gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in October than Calais. Aegina gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Calais in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Aegina and Calais. Many travelers come to Aegina for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, 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. In January, Aegina is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Aegina average around 10°C (51°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Calais during winter. Aegina gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Aegina usually receives around the same amount of rain as Calais. Aegina gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Aegina or Calais in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Aegina as well as Calais. Many visitors come to Aegina in the spring for the beaches and the small town charm. Additionally, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

Aegina is much warmer than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aegina this time of the year. In the spring, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Calais. Aegina gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in April than Calais. Aegina gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Aegina