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

Should you visit Alicante or Caen?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alicante and Caen can help you decide which place is right for you.

Alicante

Alicante is a cultural, colorful, and authentic city. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping.

Caen

Caen is a park-filled, important, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, museums, and nightlife.

Alicante and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alicante or Caen?

Both Caen and Alicante have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Alicante is very popular for its beaches, historical sights, and shopping, while Caen attracts visitors for its big city activities. Alicante is famous for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and authentic restaurants. Caen is famous for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings.

How is Alicante different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Alicante and Caen.

Many visitors head to Alicante specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. This port city has a number of cultural and historical sights that are worth checking out. Castillo de Santa Bárbara, Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Alicante, and Basilica de Santa María are among the most well known.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Caen can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Alicante and Caen.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Alicante. It's by the sea, so you'll find plenty of seafood. Rice is the main staple for many dishes in town. This is also a vegetable growing region, so many recipes incorporate fresh vegetables. Popular dishes include arroz a banda, arroz con costra, and olleta alicantina.

Caen has a number of nationally recognized food spots and 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 Alicante or Caen Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Alicante and Caen.

Alicante has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. For the city's best nightlife, head to El Barrio Antiguo, which is the old district. This is where you'll find the highest concentration of bars and clubs, many of them having live music.

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

Alicante is a good destination for its beaches. However, Caen is not a beach destination.

Alicante offers a nice beach destination. If you step away from the touristy areas, you'll find some nice sandy beaches with blue water. Playa la Fustera is northeast of the city and popular with families and couples. If you have a car you can drive to the town of Moraira, which is near several nice beaches as well.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is Alicante or Caen Better for its Old Town?

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

Alicante is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old district is filled with charming streets and some interesting museums. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Alicante or Caen?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Alicante. The city is known for its leather goods, but you'll also find international brands and shopping streets with fashion and different European names.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Alicante or Caen Better for Families?

Alicante is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Alicante is a very family-friendly destination. This seaside city has many kid-friendly resorts, long sandy beaches, and adrenaline-filled theme parks. There's the Terra Mitica Park as well as a waterpark - Aqua Natura. Tabarca Island is also well worth a visit.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Caen. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Alicante or Caen Better for Couples?

Alicante is a very popular place for romance. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Alicante makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Nice resorts, long sandy beaches, and nearby vineyard tours make this a wonderful place for a couple's getaway. There are good restaurants and nice places where couples can take a stroll, hand in hand.

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 Alicante or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alicante and Caen are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Alicante is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels around town, as well as many budget-friendly hotels, so this is an affordable oceanfront destination for the budget-minded.

It's common for backpackers to visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Is Alicante or Caen Better for Students?

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

Plenty of students visit Alicante. It's by the water and it's an affordable city, making it a good option for students. The beaches and active nightlife will keep you entertained when you take a break from your studies.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

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

Caen has some very good public transit options. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

While Alicante offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a comprehensive bus system through the city and region.

Is Alicante or Caen a more walkable city?

Alicante and Caen both are nice when exploring on foot.

Alicante is a somewhat walkable place. There are many parts of the city that can be explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Alicante?

How long in Alicante or Caen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Alicante and Caen. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Alicante than in Caen. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Alicante, and 2-3 days is enough time in Caen.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Alicante 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 Alicante.

One day in Alicante or Caen?

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

The city of Caen offers nightlife and food. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Alicante or Caen?

Alicante 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.

Caen 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 Caen, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Alicante or Caen?

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

Caen 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 Alicante or Caen?

The colorful city of Alicante 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.

Caen 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 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Alicante or Caen?

Alicante has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Alicante 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 Alicante 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 Alicante or Caen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Alicante as well as Caen. Many visitors come to Alicante in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Alicante is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Alicante average around 25°C (77°F), and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Caen. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Alicante this time of the year. In the summer, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Caen. Alicante gets 341 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in July than Caen. Alicante gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Alicante are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Alicante for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Caen because of the city's sights and attractions.

Alicante is much warmer than Caen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Alicante. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Caen during autumn. Alicante gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Alicante usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Alicante 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 Alicante or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Alicante during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Alicante because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

It's quite cold in Caen in the winter. In the winter, Alicante is much warmer than Caen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Alicante in January average around 11°C (52°F), and Caen averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Caen. Alicante gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in January than Caen. Alicante gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Caen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Alicante and Caen. The beaches are the main draw to Alicante this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the activities around the city.

In April, Alicante is generally much warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Alicante average around 16°C (60°F), and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In Alicante, it's very sunny this time of the year. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Caen during spring. Alicante gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Alicante usually receives less rain than Caen. Alicante gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Alicante