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

Should you visit Bonn or Calais?

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

Should I visit Bonn or Calais? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Bonn

Bonn is a beautiful, outdoorsy, and lively city. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais

Calais is a authentic, undiscovered, and coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Bonn and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bonn or Calais?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Calais than Bonn. While Bonn is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is better known for its beaches and big city activities, while Bonn is more popular for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and quaint atmosphere. Bonn is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its many museums, cultural venues, and university atmosphere, as well as being the birthplace of Beethoven. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Bonn different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Bonn offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Some of the most popular museums include Haus der Geschichte (history), Beethoven's House, and Kunstmuseum Bonn (art). For architecture check out the Old Town Hall and Bonn Minster. Other landmarks include Poppelsdorf Palace and Schloss Drachenburg.

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 Bonn or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Bonn and Calais offer notable local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bonn. Like much of the food in Germany, you'll find local dishes are hearty and filling. Potatoes and meats are popular ingredients, as are milk, butter, and vegetables. For local flavors try the Rhenish Sauerbraten (veal stew), Reibekuchen (German pancakes), or Christmas Sausages.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in 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 Bonn or Calais Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Bonn and Calais.

If you're looking for night time activities Bonn has a few options to choose from. There are bars and nightclubs around town but even more popular are the cultural events that the city hosts. If nightlife is important to you, try to visit during one of the festivals around town.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Calais. 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 Bonn or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a popular place for its beaches. However, Bonn is not a beach destination.

Calais is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Bonn is not a beach destination.

Is Bonn or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Bonn is well known for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Bonn. The old town is filled with cobblestone streets and charming shops. There are also cafes and restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bonn or Calais?

Bonn is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Bonn. A mix of local shops and major chains make shopping fun and easy. Whether you're interested in souvenir gifts or a new outfit, there are countless stores around town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Calais. 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 Bonn or Calais Better for Families?

Bonn is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Bonn is a very family-friendly destination. Just outside of the town is the Haribo factory outlet store where you can pick up a number of sweet treats and spend some time exploring with the kids. Another favorite activity for the whole family is a trip to nearby Phantasialand. This is one of the best amusement parks in Germany and it has many rides for teens and younger kids alike. In town, you'll find playgrounds and kid-friendly museums. Kids will also love a visit to Schloss Drachenburg Castle.

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 Bonn or Calais Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bonn and Calais make for a notable place to visit.

Bonn is a nice destination for couples. Churches, architecture, and botanical gardens all make this a great couples destination. You can take a cruise down the Rhein or enjoy a meal at one of the best restaurants.

Calais makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 Bonn or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bonn. Many backpackers skip this town, so its a good option for travelers who want to get off the beaten backpacker trail. There are affordable hotels and hostels around town as well as restaurants where you can pick up something cheap to eat.

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 Bonn or Calais Better for Students?

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

Bonn is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has a very international vibe and you'll likely run into people speaking English around town. Job opportunities in the area are good and there are schools that attract students from around the globe.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Bonn 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 Bonn. There is a light rail system that includes 9 lines and 64 stations. There are also buses around town. Bonn is connected to the region by convenient commuter trains so it's possible to visit as a day trip.

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 Bonn or Calais a more walkable city?

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

Bonn is a very walkable destination. The compact old town is easy to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Bonn?

How long in Bonn or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bonn and Calais. In our opinion, Bonn has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bonn than Calais. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Bonn or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bonn. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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

A weekend in Bonn or Calais?

Bonn 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 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.

Five days in Bonn or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bonn. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

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

A week in Bonn or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Bonn. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The authentic city of Calais 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Bonn or Calais?

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

The summer brings many poeple to Bonn as well as Calais. The summer months attract visitors to Bonn because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In July, Bonn is generally around the same temperature as Calais. Daily temperatures in Bonn average around 19°C (66°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Calais. In the summer, Bonn often gets less sunshine than Calais. Bonn gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Bonn usually gets more rain in July than Calais. Bonn gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bonn or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Bonn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Bonn this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Bonn is around the same temperature as Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bonn averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Bonn usually receives less sunshine than Calais during autumn. Bonn gets 109 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bonn usually receives less rain than Calais. Bonn gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bonn or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Bonn during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bonn for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bonn. In the winter, Bonn is much colder than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bonn in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Bonn often gets less sunshine than Calais. Bonn gets 45 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Bonn usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Calais. Bonn gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bonn or Calais in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bonn and Calais. Furthermore, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Bonn is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Bonn average around 10°C (50°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Bonn usually receives less sunshine than Calais during spring. Bonn gets 145 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bonn usually receives more rain than Calais. Bonn gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Bonn