A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aveiro vs. Caen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aveiro or Caen?

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 Aveiro and Caen. 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.

Where Should I go: Aveiro or Caen?

Aveiro

Aveiro has great canals that are lined by houses. Because of this ambiance, the town has earned its nickname the "Portuguese Venice." While it's similar, don't put too much into the name. The town is also known for it's colorful boats, referred to as moliceiros, that ride along the canals and under the bridges.

While the canals are lovely, most visitors actually come for the beaches. Aveiro's beaches are known for their clean and pristine sand. The shore is referred to as the Silver Coast, and has comfortably warm water, which is another major draw to the area.

Aveiro is comfortable year around because it's winters are mild and warm and its summer is somewhat cool. The winter months get the most rain and the summer is usually the driest. If you're there during the fall and winter, the winds will be strong making it the best time for surfing, sailing, and other water sports.

Caen

Caen is a city in France on the coast in the Calvados department of Lower Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there. The town was destroyed almost completely in 1944 during WWII and it is a remarkable achievement that Caen has kept so many of its historical monuments given the terrible battle that besieged the town following the Normandy beach landings. After the war the town passed through 15 years of reconstruction, and continued to improve afterwards. In recent years the town has made further significant efforts and Caen now has an attractive, carefully restored, historic center. The city has also preserved the memory of its past by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Memorial de Caen. The city is often considered the archetype of Normandy.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Aveiro or Caen?

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

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 Aveiro or Caen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Aveiro and Caen. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

In the summer, Aveiro is a little warmer than Caen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Aveiro in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Caen averages at about 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. In Aveiro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aveiro usually receives more sunshine than Caen during summer. Aveiro gets 308 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Aveiro usually receives less rain than Caen. Aveiro gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Aveiro or Caen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Aveiro as well as Caen. Additionally, many travelers come to Caen for the city's sights and attractions.

In October, Aveiro is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Aveiro average around 17°C (62°F), and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Aveiro often gets more sunshine than Caen. Aveiro gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.

Aveiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Aveiro usually gets more rain in October than Caen. Aveiro gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aveiro or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Aveiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Caen in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Caen can get quite cold in the winter. Aveiro is much warmer than Caen in the winter. The daily temperature in Aveiro averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Aveiro usually receives more sunshine than Caen during winter. Aveiro gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Aveiro. In January, Aveiro usually receives more rain than Caen. Aveiro gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Aveiro or Caen in the Spring?

Both Caen and Aveiro during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Caen for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Aveiro is a little warmer than Caen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Aveiro in April average around 14°C (56°F), and Caen averages at about 9°C (49°F).

It's quite sunny in Aveiro. In the spring, Aveiro often gets more sunshine than Caen. Aveiro gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Aveiro. Aveiro usually gets more rain in April than Caen. Aveiro gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Caen and Aveiro