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

Should you visit Alicante or Calais?

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 Calais can help you decide which place is right for you.

Alicante

Alicante is a colorful, authentic, and vibrant city. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Calais

Calais is a undiscovered, coastal, and authentic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Alicante and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alicante or Calais?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Calais than Alicante. While Alicante is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Calais is more popular for its big city activities, while Alicante is known for its museums, food, and historical sights. Alicante is more touristy than Calais and is known for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and authentic restaurants. Calais is popular for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also home to The Town Hall.

How is Alicante different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Calais 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 Calais?

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

Alicante offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

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 Alicante or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Alicante is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Alicante is an experience not to be missed. 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.

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 Alicante or Calais Better for Nightlife?

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

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 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 Alicante or Calais Better for Beaches?

Alicante and Calais are good choices for a beach vacation.

Many people head to Alicante to enjoy the beach. 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.

Calais has a beach worth visiting. 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 Alicante or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Alicante is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

Alicante offers a nice historic old town area. The old district is filled with charming streets and some interesting museums. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Alicante or Calais?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Calais and Alicante.

Alicante offers some nice shopping areas. The city is known for its leather goods, but you'll also find international brands and shopping streets with fashion and different European names.

Calais has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Alicante or Calais Better for Families?

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

Alicante is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

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 Alicante or Calais Better for Couples?

Alicante is well known for couples. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Alicante frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

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 Alicante or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Alicante. There are hostels around town, as well as many budget-friendly hotels, so this is an affordable oceanfront destination for the budget-minded.

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 Alicante or Calais Better for Students?

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

Alicante is popular with students. 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.

Calais is not popular with students.

Is Alicante 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 Alicante and Calais.

You'll find some public transit in Alicante, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a comprehensive bus system through the city and region.

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 Alicante or Calais a more walkable city?

Alicante and Calais both are good when exploring on foot.

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Alicante?

How long in Alicante or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Alicante and Calais. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Alicante than in Calais. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Alicante, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

Families should spend more time in Alicante than Calais. 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 Calais. 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 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 Alicante.

One day in Alicante or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Alicante. 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 Alicante or Calais?

Alicante 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 Alicante or Calais?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of Alicante. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Alicante or Calais?

Alicante has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Alicante 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 Alicante 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 Alicante or Calais in the Summer?

Both Calais and Alicante are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Alicante for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Alicante is a little warmer than Calais. Typically, the summer temperatures in Alicante in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Calais averages at about 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Calais. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Alicante. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Calais during summer. Alicante gets 341 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Alicante usually receives less rain than Calais. Alicante gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Alicante or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Alicante during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Alicante because of the shopping scene. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In October, Alicante is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Alicante average around 20°C (68°F), and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

It's quite sunny in Alicante. In the autumn, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Calais. Alicante gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Calais. Alicante gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Calais in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Alicante and Calais. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Alicante this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Calais. Alicante is much warmer than Calais in the winter. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Calais during winter. Alicante gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Alicante usually receives less rain than Calais. Alicante gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Alicante or Calais in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Alicante as well as Calais. Many travelers come to Alicante for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Alicante is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the spring temperatures in Alicante in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Calais averages at about 9°C (47°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Alicante this time of the year. In the spring, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Calais. Alicante gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in April than Calais. Alicante gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Alicante