A Travel Price Comparison for France Calais vs. Auxerre for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Calais or Auxerre?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Calais or Auxerre? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Calais

Calais is a coastal, authentic, and undiscovered city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Auxerre

Auxerre is a undiscovered, authentic, and under-rated town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Calais and Auxerre: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Auxerre?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Calais. Although Calais and Auxerre are popular destinations, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Auxerre attracts visitors for its small town charm. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also well known for The Town Hall. Auxerre is famous for its food, wine, and art history.

How is Calais different from Auxerre?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Auxerre and Calais. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Calais or Auxerre?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Calais or Auxerre.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calais. It's a port city with a few good museums and landmarks to see. Check out the Town Hall, Burghers of Calais, La Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode, and Musée de la Guerre de Calais, as well as the Calais Lighthouse.

Auxerre is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although the town is often overlooked by tourists, there are many nice cathedrals and churches around town.

Is the Food Better in Calais or Auxerre? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Calais and Auxerre offer a number of nice restaurants to choose from.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Calais area. The region is known for its mackerel, andouillette sausage, and endive and ham gratin. If you're passing through, this is also a good place to stock up on wine and cheese.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Auxerre. The town is a the heart of the wine industry, so you'll find many great restaurants where you can enjoy local food and wine.

Is Calais or Auxerre Better for Nightlife?

Calais is very good for its evening party scene. However, Auxerre is not a good destination for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Calais has a few options to choose from. You'll find bars and pubs around town as well as a few clubs. Places range from trendy and high end to local dive bars.

Most people don't head to Auxerre specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It has a quiet nightlife with some nice bars and pubs.

Is Calais or Auxerre Better for Beaches?

Calais is very good for the beach. However, Auxerre is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Calais to enjoy the beach. There are some sandy beaches near town that have nice stretches of sand and plenty of sand dunes. Many locals enjoy sunbathing at the beaches.

Auxerre is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Auxerre?

Calais is very good for its shopping areas. However, Auxerre is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Calais has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Many visitors stock up on wine and cheese when they're passing through. It's common to head straight to Auchan or Carrefour to stock up on some items.

Auxerre is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Calais or Auxerre Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Calais or Auxerre.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Calais. There's the Nausicaa Aquarium, the Museum of the Atlantic Wall, and the Second World War Museum. There are also beaches and parks to explore as well as some nice playgrounds.

Auxerre offers lots of family activities. There's the Zoo de La Fleche and the Aquarium de Touraine. You can also wander through Musee de l'Avallon or des Plantes.

Is Calais or Auxerre Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Calais and Auxerre make for a nice place to visit.

Calais is a good city for couples to visit. Couples can picnic with wine and cheese or eat their way through the town's great restaurants. There are also some nice beaches where people enjoy sunbathing or relaxing.

Auxerre is a nice destination for couples. There are many great eateries as well nice architecture and, of course, excellent wine.

Is Calais or Auxerre Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Calais and Auxerre.

You'll find some public transit in Calais, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has 13 bus lines that run through town and into the surrounding areas. If you're arriving by ferry from the UK, there are shuttle buses that connect the ferry terminal to the train station.

While Auxerre offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses around town.

Is Calais or Auxerre a more walkable city?

Calais and Auxerre both are nice when exploring on foot.

Calais is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the town are more walkable than others.

Auxerre is somewhat walkable. The center is walkable but it is a bit more difficult to navigate than some nearby towns.

For even more information, also check out Is Calais Worth Visiting? and Is Auxerre Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Auxerre or Calais?

How long in Calais or Auxerre?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Calais or Auxerre to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Calais than Auxerre because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Calais, and 1-2 days is enough time in Auxerre.

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

Couples should spend more time in Calais than Auxerre. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Calais that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calais than Auxerre 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 Calais.

One day in Calais or Auxerre?

In Calais, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Auxerre. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Calais or Auxerre?

In Calais, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Calais has to offer.

Auxerre 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.

Five days in Calais or Auxerre?

Calais is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

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

A week in Calais or Auxerre?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calais. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Calais. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to France, The Best Tours for Seniors to France, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Calais or Auxerre?

Calais has a larger population, and is about 79% larger than the population of Auxerre. When comparing the sizes of Calais and Auxerre, 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 Calais or Auxerre?

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 Calais or Auxerre in the Summer?

Both Auxerre and Calais during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Auxerre for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Calais is around the same temperature as Auxerre in the summer. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Auxerre fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Auxerre, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Calais. In the summer, Calais often gets less sunshine than Auxerre. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auxerre receives 255 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in July than Auxerre. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Auxerre in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Auxerre. Many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Auxerre in the autumn for the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Calais is around the same temperature as Auxerre. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Calais in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Auxerre averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Calais usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre during autumn. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Auxerre receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Calais usually receives around the same amount of rain as Auxerre. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Calais or Auxerre in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Calais as well as Auxerre. Many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Auxerre for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Auxerre can be very cold during winter. Calais can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Calais is generally a little warmer than Auxerre. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 4°C (40°F), and Auxerre fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Calais often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auxerre receives 53 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in January than Auxerre. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Auxerre in the Spring?

Both Auxerre and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Auxerre because of the small town charm.

Calais is cooler than Auxerre in the spring. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Auxerre fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Calais usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre during spring. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Auxerre receives 167 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Calais usually receives less rain than Auxerre. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Auxerre and Calais