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

Should you visit Caen or Siena?

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 Siena. 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 historic, park-filled, and important city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums.

Siena

Siena is a history, beautiful, and romantic city. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Caen and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Caen or Siena?

Both Siena and Caen have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Caen is more popular for its big city activities, while Siena is known for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Siena is more touristy than Caen and is popular for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. Caen is popular for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings.

How is Caen different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the high quality sights and museums in either Caen or Siena.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around 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.

Siena offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. At the heart of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazza del Campo. Other world famous sights include Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, Torre del Mangia, and Pinacoteca Nazionale.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at high quality restaurants in both Caen and Siena.

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 Siena. The town is all about local flavors and many restaurants use local ingredients in their dishes. Pecorino of Pienza is the local cheese, and you'll also find many cured meats. Local pasta dishes include wild boar ragu and a local spaghetti. You'll also find local meats such as lamb, rabbit, chicken and pork.

Is Caen or Siena Better for Nightlife?

The good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Caen and Siena.

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.

Siena has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife is laid back and relaxed. Most visitors enjoy socializing in the evening and meeting friends at Piazza del Campo. There are often live performances which you can enjoy as well as many cafes and wine bars around town.

Is Caen or Siena Better for its Old Town?

Siena is renowned for its historic old town. However, Caen does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Siena is one of the most recognized in the world. The beautiful old town is filled with medieval brick buildings. At the heart of the city is Piazza del Campo, which is a lively square with many neighborhoods spreading out from there.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Caen or Siena?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Siena. The main shopping street in town is Via Banchi di Sopra, which has many boutiques that sell clothing, bags, and other items. The town also has many leather goods, ceramics, and other local items available.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Caen or Siena Better for Families?

Caen is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Siena 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.

Siena is not always a place people visit with their families. The beauty and history may be lost to the little ones but there is a great atmosphere that even the young ones will appreciate. Kids will enjoy climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia or visiting one of the many playgrounds around town.

Is Caen or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is renowned for romance. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Siena is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. With its impressive beauty and long running history, this is a truly romantic city. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plazas and neighborhoods that are great for exploring. There are also many great restaurants, superb wine, and world class sights that are not to be missed.

Caen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Is Caen or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen and Siena are both good 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 Siena. Many backpackers visit Siena as a daytrip from nearby Florence. While there are some affordable places to stay here, the atmosphere isn't as backpacker friendly as nearby Florence.

Is Caen or Siena Better for Students?

Siena is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

Many students visit Siena. It's home to one of the oldest universities in Italy, and it's a wonderful study abroad destination for any student who wants to spend some time in Italy.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

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

Public transit in Caen is fairly effecient and thorough. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Siena has some public transit options. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Is Caen or Siena a more walkable city?

Siena 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.

Siena is very walkable. The compact town center is 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 Siena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Siena or Caen?

How long in Caen or Siena?

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

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

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

One day in Caen or Siena?

In Caen, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this park-filled destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Siena. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Caen or Siena?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Caen. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Siena is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Siena?

Caen is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Caen. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the romantic destination of Siena. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Caen or Siena?

You'll find nightlife and food around the important destination of Caen. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The romantic city of Siena offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Caen or Siena?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Siena. When comparing the sizes of Caen and Siena, 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 Siena?

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 Siena in the Summer?

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

Caen is cooler than Siena in the summer. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Siena fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Siena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. In the summer, Caen often gets less sunshine than Siena. Caen gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Siena. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Siena in the Autumn?

Both Siena 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 Siena for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Caen is cooler than Siena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Caen in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Siena averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Caen usually receives less sunshine than Siena during autumn. Caen gets 128 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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

Should I visit Caen or Siena in the Winter?

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

Caen can be very cold during winter. In January, Caen is generally cooler than Siena. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 5°C (41°F), and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Caen often gets less sunshine than Siena. Caen gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Caen or Siena in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Caen and Siena. The spring months attract visitors to Caen because of the activities around the city. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Siena this time of year.

Caen is cooler than Siena in the spring. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 9°C (49°F) in April, and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Caen usually receives less sunshine than Siena during spring. Caen gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Caen usually receives less rain than Siena. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Siena and Caen