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

Should you visit Bruges 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 Bruges 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.

Bruges

Bruges is a cultural, beautiful, and historic city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. 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.

Bruges and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bruges or Calais?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Calais than Bruges. While Bruges is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is very popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Bruges attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Bruges is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also well known for The Town Hall.

How is Bruges different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Bruges offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with charming hidden corners as well as notable landmarks. The main square is Bruges' Markt which is where you'll find the the Belfry Tower. Other must-see sights include the Historium, Groeninge Museum, the Town Hall, and Brugse Vrije Museum.

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 Bruges or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bruges is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Bruges is an experience not to be missed. From its world class breweries to its famous chocolate shops, there is plenty to eat and drink around town. In the old town prices can be a bit high, but the dishes and atmosphere are great. Popular local dishes include Belgian waffles, fries, mussels, and beef stew.

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 Bruges or Calais Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is nice in both Bruges and Calais.

If you're looking for night time activities Bruges has a few options to choose from. It's famous for its beer and breweries, so you'll find a number of places to gather in the evening. There is a lack of nightclubs, so if dancing and partying hard is your style, then this may not be your place. The vibes are generally chill and relaxed at night. Most places are concentrated around old town or near Kuipersstraat or Zilverstraat.

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 Bruges or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a good destination for the beach. However, Bruges 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.

Bruges is not a beach destination.

Is Bruges or Calais Better for its Old Town?

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

The rich history of Bruges can be explored in its historical center. The old town is the main attraction, with its quaint cobblestone streets and beautiful brick architecture.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bruges or Calais?

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

Bruges has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city offers plenty of shopping, whether you're looking for souvenirs, trendy European brands, or local items. It's more geared towards tourists than locals, and you want find the same diversity that you get in some of the larger nearby cities, but you'll find unique lace items and other local goods in the old town. The streets around Markt Square, Steenstraat, Geld Monstraat, and Jakobstraat are the main shopping areas.

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 Bruges or Calais Better for Families?

Both Bruges and Calais are nice family-friendly destinations.

Bruges offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy sampling the unique chocolate around town, eating their fill of waffles, and getting their energy out in the park or at a local playground. There are also canal boat tours and horse drawn carriage rides that are fun for the whole family.

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 Bruges or Calais Better for Couples?

Bruges is well known for couples. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Bruges frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. This romantic city has amazing restaurants, charming streets, and impressive architecture. Couples will enjoy exploring the canals by boat or taking a horse drawn carriage ride through the old town. There are also a number of cute bed and breakfasts where you can stay.

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 Bruges or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is well known for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bruges is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few good hostels around town. The city sees its share of tourists, but many arrive as part of tours or river boat cruises. If you stay in a hostel, you shouldn't have trouble meeting other young travelers though. There are also plenty of well known breweries where you can gather with friends.

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

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

While Bruges offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a bus system that connects the train station to the old town. Otherwise, the city is best explored on foot.

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 Bruges or Calais a more walkable city?

Bruges is a must-visit destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Bruges on foot is easy. The train station is a short walk from the old town but the city is very walkable and best explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Bruges?

How long in Bruges or Calais?

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

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

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

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

One day in Bruges or Calais?

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

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 Bruges or Calais?

Bruges 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 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 Bruges or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bruges. 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.

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 Bruges or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Bruges. 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.

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 Cultural Tours in Belgium, The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Bruges or Calais?

Bruges has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Bruges 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 Bruges 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 Bruges or Calais in the Summer?

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

Bruges is around the same temperature as Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 17°C (63°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 Bruges this time of the year. In the summer, Bruges often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Bruges gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets more rain in July than Calais. Bruges gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Bruges are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bruges for 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, Bruges is around the same temperature as Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bruges in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Calais during autumn. Bruges gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bruges usually receives more rain than Calais. Bruges gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bruges or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Bruges during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bruges 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. Bruges can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Bruges is generally cooler than Calais. Daily temperatures in Bruges average around 3°C (38°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Calais. Bruges gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Bruges gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Calais in the Spring?

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

Bruges is around the same temperature as Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 8°C (47°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Bruges usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during spring. Bruges gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bruges usually receives around the same amount of rain as Calais. Bruges gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Bruges