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

Should you visit Birmingham 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 Birmingham and Caen can help you decide which place is right for you.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a historic, vibrant, and fun-filled city. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and theater.

Caen

Caen is a historic, park-filled, and important city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

Birmingham and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Birmingham or Caen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Birmingham than Caen, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Birmingham is more popular for its theatre productions, nightlife, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Caen is known for its food and big city activities. Birmingham is popular for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. It is also home to Victoria Square. Caen is popular for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings.

How is Birmingham different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the high quality sights and museums in either Birmingham or Caen.

Many visitors head to Birmingham specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

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 Birmingham or Caen Better for Theater?

Birmingham is a very popular place for theatre. However, Caen is not a theatre destination.

Birmingham offers many theater and performance venues for visitors. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Caen is not a theatre destination.

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

Caen is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Caen. 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.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

Is Birmingham or Caen Better for Nightlife?

Birmingham is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Birmingham has a large number of nightlife venues. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

Caen has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Birmingham or Caen Better for Music?

Birmingham is renowned for live music. However, Caen is not a live music destination.

Birmingham is known as a music capital around the world. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Caen is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Birmingham or Caen?

Birmingham is a very popular place for shopping. However, Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Birmingham. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Birmingham or Caen Better for Families?

Birmingham 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.

Birmingham is a very family-friendly destination. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

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 Birmingham or Caen Better for Couples?

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

Birmingham makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

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 Birmingham or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Caen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.

Is Birmingham or Caen Better for Students?

Birmingham is renowned for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

Birmingham is a very popular place to visit for students. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

Caen is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Visitors to Caen can move around easily with public transportation. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Birmingham has a few public transit options. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Is Birmingham or Caen a more walkable city?

Birmingham is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Birmingham is very walkable. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Birmingham?

How long in Birmingham or Caen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Birmingham and Caen. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Birmingham than in Caen. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Birmingham, and 2-3 days is enough time in Caen.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Caen than Birmingham 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 Caen.

One day in Birmingham or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the theater and nightlife when visiting the destination of Birmingham. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

With museums and nightlife around the historic city of Caen, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Birmingham or Caen?

Birmingham is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the live music. 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Caen, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Birmingham or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the bustling destination of Birmingham. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Caen, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Birmingham or Caen?

The bustling city of Birmingham offers food and shopping. 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 popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, 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 Birmingham and Caen, we can see that Birmingham is more expensive. And not only is Caen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Caen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Caen 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 Birmingham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Birmingham than you might in Caen.

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

Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Caen?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham 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 Birmingham 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 Birmingham or Caen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Caen. Many visitors come to Birmingham in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Birmingham is around the same temperature as Caen in the summer. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Caen during summer. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Caen. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Birmingham or Caen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Caen. Most visitors come to Birmingham for the shopping scene and the music scene during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Caen because of the city's sights and attractions.

In the autumn, Birmingham is cooler than Caen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Birmingham in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Caen averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Caen. Birmingham gets 103 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets less rain in October than Caen. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, 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. The weather in Birmingham can be very cold. In January, Birmingham is generally cooler than Caen. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 3°C (38°F), and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Caen during winter. Birmingham gets 58 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Birmingham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Birmingham or Caen in the Spring?

Both Caen and Birmingham during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the activities around the city.

Birmingham is around the same temperature as Caen in the spring. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the spring, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Caen. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Caen. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Caen and Birmingham