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

Should you visit Caen or Livorno?

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 Livorno. 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 important, historic, and park-filled city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Livorno

Livorno is a down-to-earth, waterfront, and friendly port city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Caen and Livorno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Caen or Livorno?

You'll generally find more things to do in Livorno than Caen. Livorno is bigger than Caen, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Livorno is better known for its beaches and shopping, while Caen is more popular for its museums and food. Caen is well known for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. Livorno is well known for its large port and its great seafood. Also, Livorno is famous for The Waterfront Promenade.

How is Caen different from Livorno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Livorno 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 Livorno?

Caen is great for its historical sights. However, Livorno is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

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.

Livorno offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The waterfront promenade and New Venice are nice to explore. There's an aquarium in town as well as a fun central market.

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

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

Caen has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Livorno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. As a port city, this is the place to try seafood. Many dishes include calamari, shrimp, or freshly caught fish. The city is less touristy than most in Italy, so even the food has an authentic and down-to-earth vibe.

Is Caen or Livorno Better for Nightlife?

The notable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Caen and Livorno.

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.

Livorno has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship, and depart in the evening, but the city is large and for those that stay the night, there are a number of bars and clubs around town.

Is Caen or Livorno Better for Beaches?

Livorno is a decent place to visit for its beaches. However, Caen is not a beach destination.

Livorno is a good spot to see the beach. The beaches are pebbly or rocky, so you won't really find a long stretch of sandy beach where you can relax. They can also stay very crowded.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Caen or Livorno?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Livorno. The main shopping street in town is Via Grande. It's generally filled with major chain stores and familiar brands.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Caen or Livorno Better for Families?

Both Caen and Livorno are notable family-friendly destinations.

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

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Livorno. The city has a nice aquarium as well as outdoor recreational activities like cycling and boating. There's a beach and parks where kids can stretch their legs and run around as well.

Is Caen or Livorno Better for Couples?

Caen and Livorno both notable 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.

Livorno makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are some nice museums as well as parks and boat rides that couples can enjoy. There's also an aquarium and a beach.

Is Caen or Livorno Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Livorno is not a good destination for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Livorno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers skip this city, so you won't find many hostels around town. It's a relatively affordable place to stay with some fun entertainment options if you do pass through.

Is Caen or Livorno 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, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its public transit.

The public transit in Caen can get you to most places easily. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Livorno has a few public transit options. There are buses around town including lines that run from the central train station to the port.

Is Caen or Livorno a more walkable city?

Caen and Livorno are notable when it comes to walkability.

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

Livorno is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are walkable, but if you're arriving by cruise ship, you'll want to take a shuttle bus from the port.

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

Should I spend more time in Livorno or Caen?

How long in Caen or Livorno?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Caen or Livorno to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Caen than Livorno because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Caen, and 1-2 days is enough time in Livorno.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Caen than Livorno 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 Caen or Livorno?

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

A weekend in Caen or Livorno?

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.

Livorno 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 Livorno?

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 food and shopping around the down-to-earth destination of Livorno. This port 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 Livorno?

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 down-to-earth port city of Livorno offers shopping and nightlife. 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 Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Caen or Livorno?

Livorno has a larger population, and is about 41% larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Caen and Livorno, 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 Livorno?

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 Caen or Livorno in the Summer?

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

In July, Caen is generally cooler than Livorno. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 18°C (64°F), and Livorno fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Livorno this time of the year. In Caen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Caen usually receives less sunshine than Livorno during summer. Caen gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Livorno receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Caen usually receives more rain than Livorno. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Livorno receives 24 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Caen or Livorno in the Autumn?

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

Caen is cooler than Livorno in the autumn. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Livorno fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Caen often gets less sunshine than Livorno. Caen gets 128 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Livorno receives 177 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Livorno. Caen usually gets less rain in October than Livorno. Caen gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Livorno receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Livorno in the Winter?

Both Livorno and Caen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Caen because of the museums and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Livorno this time of year.

The weather in Caen can be very cold. In the winter, Caen is cooler than Livorno. Typically, the winter temperatures in Caen in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Livorno averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Caen usually receives less sunshine than Livorno during winter. Caen gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Livorno receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Caen usually receives less rain than Livorno. Caen gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Livorno receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Caen or Livorno in the Spring?

Both Livorno and Caen during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city are the main draw to Caen this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Livorno for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, Caen is generally cooler than Livorno. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 9°C (49°F), and Livorno fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Caen often gets less sunshine than Livorno. Caen gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Livorno receives 192 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets less rain in April than Livorno. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Livorno receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Livorno and Caen