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

Should you visit Caen or Bergamo?

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 Caen and Bergamo. 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.

Caen

Caen is a park-filled, important, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, museums, and nightlife.

Bergamo

Bergamo is a historical, fascinating, and beautiful city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Caen and Bergamo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Caen or Bergamo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Caen. Although Caen and Bergamo are popular destinations, Caen has more sights and attractions for tourists. Caen is very popular for its museums and big city activities, while Bergamo attracts visitors for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Caen is famous for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. It is also well known for Pegasus Bridge. Bergamo is famous for its historical buildings and beautiful squares.

How is Caen different from Bergamo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Caen is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Bergamo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bergamo. There are historical buildings as well as fascinating museums that are worth checking out. Highlights include the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Colleoni Chapel, the Accademia Carrara, and the Cathedral of Sant'Alessandro.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at great restaurants in both Caen and Bergamo.

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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Bergamo. You'll find traditional restaurants around town that serve the local specialties, many of which have their roots in peasant dishes. The flavors are humble but high quality and the food is fresh and masterfully prepared.

Is Caen or Bergamo Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Caen and Bergamo.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Caen. 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.

Bergamo has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Despite not being high on the itinerary of many travelers, the city has a great nightlife scene that includes many local bars and clubs. You can enjoy a local brew or sip some Italian wine while you enjoy the atmosphere of the old town.

Is Caen or Bergamo Better for its Old Town?

Bergamo is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Caen does not have a historic old town.

Bergamo is a good destination for visiting its old town. Since the old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town has become more popular with visitors. Still, you can enjoy the authentic and less touristy vibe of this beautiful city.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Caen or Bergamo?

Bergamo is a good destination for shopping. However, Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Bergamo. There are a number of shopping areas around town including shopping malls and shopping streets. You'll find most of the major brands as well as some interesting boutique shops.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Caen or Bergamo Better for Families?

Caen is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Bergamo is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Caen is a family-friendly place to visit. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Bergamo is not always a place people visit with their families. It's a beautiful city that is filled with history, and for kids there are pedestrian streets to explore and great Italian food. There's also the Museo di Scienze Naturali, which is worth checking out.

Is Caen or Bergamo Better for Couples?

Caen and Bergamo both nice destinations for a couple.

Caen is a nice destination for couples. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Bergamo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will appreciate the beautiful architecture and impressive squares. There are also great restaurants and pedestrian streets that are fun to wander through.

Is Caen or Bergamo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen and Bergamo are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bergamo. While it's not the most popular backpacker city in Italy, it does have a couple of hostels and guesthouses that offer affordable rates and a young vibe.

Is Caen or Bergamo Better for Students?

Bergamo is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Bergamo. The university attracts international students and the city makes a great base for learning and exploring.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

Caen is notable for its public transit. Also, Bergamo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Caen has some very good public transit options. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Bergamo has some public transit options. There are buses around town as well as two funiculars, one connecting Città Bassa with the Città Alta and the other connecting Città Alta to San Vigilio.

Is Caen or Bergamo a more walkable city?

Bergamo 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.

Bergamo is very walkable. There are many pedestrian streets and the best way to explore the city is on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bergamo or Caen?

How long in Caen or Bergamo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Caen and Bergamo. In our opinion, Bergamo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bergamo than Caen. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Caen or Bergamo?

In Caen, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Bergamo. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Caen or Bergamo?

In Caen, you'll find nightlife and food. 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 Caen has to offer.

Bergamo 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 Caen or Bergamo?

Caen 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.

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

A week in Caen or Bergamo?

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

The beautiful city of Bergamo 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 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best 2-Week Tours from Rome, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Caen and Bergamo, we can see that Bergamo 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 Bergamo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bergamo 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 Caen Expensive? and Is Bergamo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Caen or Bergamo?

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

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 Caen or Bergamo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Caen as well as Bergamo. Many visitors come to Caen in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Bergamo for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Caen is cooler than Bergamo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Caen in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Bergamo averages at about 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bergamo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. In the summer, Caen often gets less sunshine than Bergamo. Caen gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bergamo receives 286 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets less rain in July than Bergamo. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Bergamo in the Autumn?

Both Bergamo and Caen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Caen for the city's sights and attractions during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bergamo because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Caen is generally cooler than Bergamo. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 12°C (54°F), and Bergamo fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Caen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bergamo during autumn. Caen gets 128 hours of sunny skies, while Bergamo receives 137 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergamo. In October, Caen usually receives less rain than Bergamo. Caen gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Caen or Bergamo in the Winter?

Both Bergamo and Caen during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Caen because of the museums and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bergamo this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bergamo in the winter. The weather in Caen can be very cold. Caen is much warmer than Bergamo in the winter. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Bergamo fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Caen often gets less sunshine than Bergamo. Caen gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bergamo receives 98 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Bergamo. Caen gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Bergamo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Caen and Bergamo. The activities around the city are the main draw to Caen this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bergamo for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Caen is cooler than Bergamo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Caen in April average around 9°C (49°F), and Bergamo averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Caen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bergamo during spring. Caen gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Bergamo receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Caen usually receives less rain than Bergamo. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bergamo and Caen