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

Should you visit Caen or Urbino?

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 Urbino. 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.

Urbino

Urbino is a authentic, laid back, and historic town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Caen and Urbino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Caen or Urbino?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Caen than Urbino, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Caen is better known for its museums and big city activities, while Urbino is more popular for its historical sights, shopping, 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. Urbino is well known for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere.

How is Caen different from Urbino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Caen is great for its historical sights. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

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.

Urbino is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. At the heart of the city are its historical sights. The cathedral is worth a visit, as is The Ducal Palace, but for most visitors, simply soaking up the town's atmosphere is the best experience.

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

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

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 Urbino. The city's history has influenced its cuisine. Traditional foods include cornbread, truffles, and meat sausage. While these options aren't as common today, you can still find them if you seek them out.

Is Caen or Urbino Better for Nightlife?

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

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.

Urbino has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Because of the large student population, there are usually some fun activities going on at night. You'll find some good bars around town that are fun to hang out at.

Is Caen or Urbino Better for its Old Town?

Urbino is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Caen does not have a historic old town.

Urbino is a good destination for visiting its old town. The historic center feels a bit undiscovered by Italian standards. There are stone houses and the town is built on a steep hill, giving it a beautiful setting.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Caen or Urbino?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Urbino. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Caen or Urbino Better for Families?

Caen is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Caen offers lots of family activities. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Urbino is not the most family-friendly destination. The city is filled with history and architecture, which may be lost on the kids. There are the classic Italian restaurants which is a favorite among kids and adults alike.

Is Caen or Urbino Better for Couples?

Urbino is a very popular place for romance. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Urbino makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This walled city is fun to explore and can make for a great romantic stop. The city is walled and has many historical buildings which couples will enjoy learning about together.

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 Urbino Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Urbino 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.

Urbino is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not well known by backpackers and there are a very limited number of hostels in the area.

Is Caen or Urbino Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Urbino. The student population is a large part of this small city. University students are usually happy and enjoy many activities and outings into the surrounding area.

Caen is not popular with students.

Is Caen or Urbino 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. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its public transit.

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

Public transit is generally limited in Urbino. The town is accessible by bus but not by train.

Is Caen or Urbino a more walkable city?

Caen and Urbino are notable when it comes to walkability.

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

Urbino is a somewhat walkable place. Many parts of the city are easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Urbino or Caen?

How long in Caen or Urbino?

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

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

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

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 Urbino. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Caen or Urbino?

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.

Urbino 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 Urbino?

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 historic destination of Urbino. 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 Urbino?

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 historic town of Urbino 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 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Caen or Urbino?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Urbino. When comparing the sizes of Caen and Urbino, 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 Urbino?

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 Urbino in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Caen and Urbino. Most visitors come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Urbino because of the family-friendly experiences.

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

In July, Caen usually receives less rain than Urbino. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Caen or Urbino in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Caen as well as Urbino. The autumn months attract visitors to Caen because of the city's sights and attractions. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Urbino this time of year.

Caen is cooler than Urbino in the autumn. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Urbino fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Caen usually gets less rain in October than Urbino. Caen gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Caen or Urbino in the Winter?

Both Urbino and Caen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Caen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Urbino for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Urbino. It's quite cold in Caen in the winter. In the winter, Caen is much warmer than Urbino. Typically, the winter temperatures in Caen in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Urbino averages at about 3°C (37°F).

In January, Caen usually receives more rain than Urbino. Caen gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Caen or Urbino in the Spring?

Both Urbino and Caen during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Caen for the activities around the city. Furthermore, many visitors come to Urbino in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Caen is generally cooler than Urbino. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 9°C (49°F), and Urbino fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Caen usually gets less rain in April than Urbino. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Urbino and Caen