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

Should you visit Caen or Rijeka?

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 Rijeka. 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. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Rijeka

Rijeka is a coastal, accessible, and diverse town. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Caen and Rijeka: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Caen or Rijeka?

You'll generally find more things to do in Rijeka than Caen. Rijeka is bigger than Caen, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Rijeka is better known for its nightlife, 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. Rijeka is well known for being a transportation hub in Croatia with a ferry and cruise ship port. Also, Rijeka is famous for Trsat Castle.

How is Caen different from Rijeka?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Caen is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Many visitors head to Caen specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

Rijeka is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Historical sights around town include Trsat Castle, the Petar Druzic Stairway, and Our Lady of Trsat. There are also museums such as PEEK&POKE Computer Museum and the Governor's Palace and Maritime and Historical Museum.

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

Caen is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Caen is an experience not to be missed. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Rijeka. It's known for its Mediterranean cuisine which includes more than seafood. There are local vegetable specialties in the area as well including asparagus and white truffles. Codfish stew and cuttlefish risotto are also popular.

Is Caen or Rijeka Better for Nightlife?

Rijeka is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Rijeka has a large number of nightlife venues. The city center has plenty of bars and clubs. Restaurants also stay open late and are popular places to hang out for locals and tourists alike.

Caen has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

Is Caen or Rijeka Better for Beaches?

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

Rijeka is a good spot to see the beach. There are pebbly and gravelly beaches in the area, with the best beaches to the west of the city. You'll need to take a public bus to reach most of them.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Caen or Rijeka?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Rijeka. There are many shopping centers, retail stores, and souvenir shops around town.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Caen or Rijeka Better for Families?

Rijeka is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Rijeka is a very family-friendly destination. The city has a number of outdoor activities for kids like nature parks and nearby beaches. There's also a puppet theater as well as the Astronomical Center of Rijeka.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Caen. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Caen or Rijeka Better for Couples?

Caen and Rijeka 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.

Rijeka makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a gateway to the Croatian islands. Many couples enjoy walking down the waterfront promenade or dining at a nice local restaurant. There are also beaches, parks, and historical sights to explore.

Is Caen or Rijeka Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen and Rijeka are both notable 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 Rijeka. There's no shortage of affordable hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Is Caen or Rijeka Better for Students?

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

Plenty of students visit Rijeka. It's a laid back seaside city that makes a nice semester abroad destination. As a gateway to the Croatian islands, it also offers transportation connections to other points of interest.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

Caen is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Caen. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Rijeka has some public transit options. KD Autrolej buses provide transit throughout the city.

Is Caen or Rijeka a more walkable city?

Caen and Rijeka are notable when it comes to walkability.

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

Rijeka is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Rijeka or Caen?

How long in Caen or Rijeka?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Caen or Rijeka to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Caen than Rijeka 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 Rijeka.

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

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

One day in Caen or Rijeka?

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Caen. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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

A weekend in Caen or Rijeka?

Caen 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.

Rijeka 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 Rijeka?

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

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

A week in Caen or Rijeka?

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

The accessible town of Rijeka 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 Adventure Tours to Croatia, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Croatia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Caen or Rijeka?

Rijeka has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Caen and Rijeka, 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 Rijeka?

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 Rijeka in the Summer?

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

In July, Caen is generally cooler than Rijeka. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 18°C (64°F), and Rijeka fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rijeka. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. In the summer, Caen often gets less sunshine than Rijeka. Caen gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 288 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets less rain in July than Rijeka. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Rijeka in the Autumn?

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

Caen is cooler than Rijeka in the autumn. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Rijeka fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Caen usually receives less sunshine than Rijeka during autumn. Caen gets 128 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Caen usually receives less rain than Rijeka. Caen gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Caen or Rijeka in the Winter?

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

Caen can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Caen is around the same temperature as Rijeka. Typically, the winter temperatures in Caen in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Rijeka averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Caen often gets less sunshine than Rijeka. Caen gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 96 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets less rain in January than Rijeka. Caen gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Rijeka in the Spring?

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

In April, Caen is generally cooler than Rijeka. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 9°C (49°F), and Rijeka fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Caen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rijeka during spring. Caen gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Caen usually receives less rain than Rijeka. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rijeka and Caen