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

Should you visit Athens or Calais?

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 Athens and Calais. 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.

Athens

Athens is a vibrant, energetic, and historic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

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. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping.

Athens and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Calais?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens than Calais. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Athens is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Calais attracts visitors for its beaches. Athens is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Athens is a must-visit destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Athens on the map. As a historical capital of the world, this city has countless museums and archeological sites including the famous Acropolis, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Agora.

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 Athens or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Athens is a must-visit destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

For foodies, Athens is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

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 Athens or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Athens is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Athens is a world class party destination. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

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 Athens or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a good destination for the beach. However, Athens is not a beach destination.

Calais offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Athens is not a beach destination.

Is Athens or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Athens is a must-visit destination for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Athens can be explored in its historical center. The city's "historic triangle" is between Syntagma, Omonia, and Monastiraki Squares. This area is also at the political and financial heart of the city.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Calais?

If you're looking to go shopping, Athens and Calais both offer plenty of nice spots.

Athens has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.

Calais is a great destination for shopping. 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 Athens or Calais Better for Families?

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

Athens is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.

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 Athens or Calais Better for Couples?

Athens and Calais both nice destinations for a couple.

Athens is a good city for couples to visit. The city is historical, fascinating, and romantic, making it a beautiful place to explore as a couple.

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 Athens or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is a must-visit destination for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Athens is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

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 Athens or Calais Better for Students?

Athens is well known for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Athens is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

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

Many visitors use the public transit system in Athens. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

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 Athens or Calais a more walkable city?

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

Athens is a very walkable destination. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Athens?

How long in Athens or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Athens and Calais. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than in Calais. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

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

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

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

One day in Athens or Calais?

Athens is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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.

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 Athens or Calais?

Athens is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. 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 Athens or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Athens. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. 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 Athens or Calais?

Athens is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic 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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Athens 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 Athens Expensive? and Is Calais Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Athens or Calais?

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

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 Athens or Calais in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Calais. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Calais. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Calais. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Calais. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Calais during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Calais. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Athens or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Athens in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Calais can be very cold during winter. In January, Athens is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Athens often gets more sunshine than Calais. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Calais. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Calais in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Calais. Most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

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

In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Calais during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Calais. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Athens