A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Caen vs. Sestri Levante for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Caen or Sestri Levante?

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 Sestri Levante. 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.

Sestri Levante

Sestri Levante is a quiet, scenic, and local seaside town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food and beaches.

Caen and Sestri Levante: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Caen or Sestri Levante?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Caen than Sestri Levante, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Caen is better known for its museums, nightlife, and big city activities, while Sestri Levante is more popular for its resorts, beaches, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Caen is well known for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. Also, Caen is famous for Pegasus Bridge. Sestri Levante is well known for its two bays and coastal setting.

How is Caen different from Sestri Levante?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Caen is great for its historical sights. However, Sestri Levante does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Caen. 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.

Sestri Levante does not have museums and landmarks.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at very good restaurants in both Caen and Sestri Levante.

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 Sestri Levante. You'll find many restaurants along the central road in the old town, Via XXV Aprile. Seafood is popular, as are many other Italian favorites. If you're visiting during the summer months then it's best to make reservations as wait times can be long.

Is Caen or Sestri Levante Better for Nightlife?

Caen is a city with good options for its evening party scene. However, Sestri Levante is not a good destination for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Caen has a few options to choose from. 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.

People don't go to Sestri Levante for the nightlife. There are a few places to grab a drink, but if you're looking for nightlife, you'll really need to head out of town.

Is Caen or Sestri Levante Better for Resorts?

Sestri Levante is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, Caen is not a resort destination.

Sestri Levante has a handful of resorts to choose from. There are a number of hotels in the old town or by the beach. You'll also find a decent selection of vacation rentals. During peak season you'll want to make your reservations early.

Caen is not a resort destination.

Is Caen or Sestri Levante Better for Beaches?

Sestri Levante is a good destination for its beaches. However, Caen is not a beach destination.

Sestri Levante offers a nice beach destination. Home to two beaches, this makes a nice holiday spot if you're hoping to relax by the water. The beaches can get crowded with Italians during the summer months, but it still offers a charming seaside spot. Many people head to the beach by the the Bay of Silence in part because it's free. Make sure you arrive early. By the Bay of Fairytales you can rent chairs and umbrellas and enjoy a little more space.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is Caen or Sestri Levante Better for Families?

Both Caen and Sestri Levante 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 Sestri Levante. This is a great spot for families that want a relaxing holiday with a small town vibe. The picturesque setting is said to have inspired fairytales, and today kids will enjoy playing on the playgrounds or exploring at the adventure park. There are also hikes, activities, and restaurants that are great for kids and adults alike.

Is Caen or Sestri Levante Better for Couples?

Caen and Sestri Levante 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.

Sestri Levante makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This scenic setting offers a relaxing holiday for couples who want to enjoy quiet time together. There are plenty of outdoor activities and a cultural town with a lot of beauty to explore. It's one of the lesser known destinations in the area, so you will have a peaceful small town vibe that's great for a romantic getaway.

Is Caen or Sestri Levante Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Sestri Levante is not a good destination for backpackers.

Caen is a good city to visit for backpackers. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Sestri Levante is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are some dorm rooms in town, but most backpackers head to one of the more well known destinations in the area. The atmosphere and history makes for a unique experience for those who do make the trip.

Is Caen or Sestri Levante 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, Sestri Levante is not as popular, but is still a nice seaside town 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.

Sestri Levante has a few public transit options. The town can be explored on foot and there are buses and trains that can be used for day trips.

Is Caen or Sestri Levante a more walkable city?

Sestri Levante is renowned for its walkability. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Sestri Levante. There are pedestrian promenades and charming streets through town that are best explored 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 Sestri Levante Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sestri Levante or Caen?

How long in Caen or Sestri Levante?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Caen and Sestri Levante. In our opinion, Caen has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Caen than Sestri Levante. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Caen, and 1-3 days is enough time in Sestri Levante.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Caen than Sestri Levante 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 Sestri Levante?

In Caen, you'll find nightlife and food. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Sestri Levante is a small town where visitors enjoy the food. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Caen or Sestri Levante?

Caen is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Sestri Levante 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 Sestri Levante?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Caen. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Sestri Levante is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This seaside 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 Sestri Levante?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the city of Caen. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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.

Because Sestri Levante is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Caen or Sestri Levante?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Sestri Levante. When comparing the sizes of Caen and Sestri Levante, 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.