A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Caen vs. Playa del Ingles for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Caen or Playa del Ingles?

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 Playa del Ingles. 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.

Where Should I go: Caen or Playa del Ingles?

Caen

Caen is a city in France on the coast in the Calvados department of Lower Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there. The town was destroyed almost completely in 1944 during WWII and it is a remarkable achievement that Caen has kept so many of its historical monuments given the terrible battle that besieged the town following the Normandy beach landings. After the war the town passed through 15 years of reconstruction, and continued to improve afterwards. In recent years the town has made further significant efforts and Caen now has an attractive, carefully restored, historic center. The city has also preserved the memory of its past by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Memorial de Caen. The city is often considered the archetype of Normandy.

Playa del Ingles

Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.

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 Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.

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

Which is Bigger, Caen or Playa del Ingles?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of Caen and Playa del Ingles, 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 Playa del Ingles?

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 Playa del Ingles in the Summer?

Both Playa del Ingles and Caen are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Caen in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Caen is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the summer. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Caen. Caen usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during summer. Caen gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Caen usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Caen or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?

Both Playa del Ingles and Caen during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Caen for the city's sights and attractions during these months.

In the autumn, Caen is much colder than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Caen in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In Playa del Ingles, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Caen often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Caen gets 128 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets more rain in October than Playa del Ingles. Caen gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Caen and Playa del Ingles. The winter months attract visitors to Caen because of the museums and the cuisine.

The weather in Caen can be very cold. In January, Caen is generally much colder than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 5°C (41°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Caen usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during winter. Caen gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Caen usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Caen gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Caen or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Caen as well as Playa del Ingles. The activities around the city are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Caen is much colder than Playa del Ingles in the spring. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 9°C (49°F) in April, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. In the spring, Caen often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Caen gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Ingles. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Caen