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

Should you visit Bristol or Calais?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bristol and Calais can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Bristol

Bristol is a cultural, friendly, and authentic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. 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 nightlife, food, and beaches.

Bristol and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bristol or Calais?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bristol than Calais. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Bristol is very popular for its museums, nightlife, and shopping, while Calais attracts visitors for its beaches. Bristol is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its laid-back atmosphere and progressive environmental policies. It is also well known for The Bristol Harbour. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Bristol different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Bristol offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city has some great museums and landmarks such as the SS Great Britain, M Shed, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and Cabot Tower.

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 Bristol or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Bristol and Calais can be an enjoyable experience.

Bristol is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find all of the classic British specialties such as bangers and mash or fish and chips. There are many restaurants, markets, and pubs where you can grab a relaxing meal and enjoy the British ambiance.

Calais offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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 Bristol or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Bristol is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Bristol is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The nightlife scene is diverse and inclusive. There are huge clubs that host well known DJs. There is also an underground music scene as well as local bars and even traditional speakeasies. Whether your interest is live jazz or upscale cocktail bars, there really is something for everyone.

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 Bristol or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a city with good options for the beach. However, Bristol is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Calais. 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.

Bristol is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bristol or Calais?

Bristol 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 Bristol. Head to Clifton Village for the most upscale boutiques or the Bristol Shopping Quarter for a diversity of budgets and brands. Gloucester Street is famous for its independent shops or there are the student neighborhoods of Park Street and the Triangle which have a number of trendy shops.

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 Bristol or Calais Better for Families?

Both Bristol and Calais are nice to visit with kids.

Bristol offers lots of family activities. The city has a number of kid-friendly museums, activities, and playgrounds. For museums, check out the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, the M Shed, or Aerospace Bristol. There are also boat rides and the Bristol Aquarium among other unique activities.

Calais is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Bristol or Calais Better for Couples?

Both Bristol and Calais are nice destinations for a couple's getaway.

Bristol is a good city for couples to visit. There are romantic restaurants, fun bars, and unique museums that make for a variety of different date options.

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 Bristol or Calais Better for Students?

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

Bristol is popular with students. It's a small and friendly city with enough diversity that it stays interesting and dynamic.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Bristol and Calais both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Bristol offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Metrobus serves the greater Bristol area.

Calais has a few public transit options. 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 Bristol or Calais a more walkable city?

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

Bristol is a very walkable destination. The city center is well designed for walking.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Bristol?

How long in Bristol or Calais?

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

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

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

One day in Bristol or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bristol. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Calais, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Bristol or Calais?

Bristol 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.

In Calais, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Calais has to offer.

Five days in Bristol or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bristol. 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 great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Bristol or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the diverse destination of Bristol. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calais. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Calais. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Historical Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bristol or Calais?

Bristol has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Bristol 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 Bristol 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 Bristol or Calais in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bristol as well as Calais. Many travelers come to Bristol for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Calais in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

Bristol usually gets less rain in July than Calais. Bristol gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bristol or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Bristol are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bristol in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Bristol is around the same temperature as Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bristol in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In October, Bristol usually receives more rain than Calais. Bristol gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bristol or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Bristol during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bristol for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Calais because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Calais can be very cold. In January, Bristol is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Bristol average around 6°C (43°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Bristol usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Bristol gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bristol or Calais in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bristol and Calais. The spring months attract visitors to Bristol because of the activities around the city. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

Bristol is a little warmer than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Bristol averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In April, Bristol usually receives around the same amount of rain as Calais. Bristol gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Bristol