A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Calais vs. Bergamo for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Calais or Bergamo?

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

Should I visit Calais or Bergamo? 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 undiscovered, coastal, and authentic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and food.

Bergamo

Bergamo is a fascinating, beautiful, and under-rated city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais and Bergamo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Bergamo?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Calais than Bergamo. While Bergamo is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Calais is more popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Bergamo is known for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Bergamo is more touristy than Calais and is known for its historical buildings and beautiful squares. Calais is popular for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also home to The Town Hall.

How is Calais different from Bergamo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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.

Bergamo is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are historical buildings as well as fascinating museums that are worth checking out. Highlights include the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Colleoni Chapel, the Accademia Carrara, and the Cathedral of Sant'Alessandro.

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

Bergamo is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Bergamo is an experience not to be missed. You'll find traditional restaurants around town that serve the local specialties, many of which have their roots in peasant dishes. The flavors are humble but high quality and the food is fresh and masterfully prepared.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Calais. 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.

Is Calais or Bergamo Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Calais and Bergamo.

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

If you're looking for night time activities Bergamo has a few options to choose from. Despite not being high on the itinerary of many travelers, the city has a great nightlife scene that includes many local bars and clubs. You can enjoy a local brew or sip some Italian wine while you enjoy the atmosphere of the old town.

Is Calais or Bergamo Better for Beaches?

Calais is a nice place to visit for the beache. However, Bergamo is not a beach destination.

Calais has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Bergamo is not a beach destination.

Is Calais or Bergamo Better for its Old Town?

Bergamo is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

Bergamo offers a nice historic old town area. Since the old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town has become more popular with visitors. Still, you can enjoy the authentic and less touristy vibe of this beautiful city.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Bergamo?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Bergamo and Calais.

Many visitors go to Calais to go shopping. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Bergamo. There are a number of shopping areas around town including shopping malls and shopping streets. You'll find most of the major brands as well as some interesting boutique shops.

Is Calais or Bergamo Better for Families?

Calais is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Bergamo is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Calais is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Bergamo is not always a place people visit with their families. It's a beautiful city that is filled with history, and for kids there are pedestrian streets to explore and great Italian food. There's also the Museo di Scienze Naturali, which is worth checking out.

Is Calais or Bergamo Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Calais and Bergamo make for a good 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.

Bergamo is a nice destination for couples. Couples will appreciate the beautiful architecture and impressive squares. There are also great restaurants and pedestrian streets that are fun to wander through.

Is Calais or Bergamo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bergamo is a popular place for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bergamo. While it's not the most popular backpacker city in Italy, it does have a couple of hostels and guesthouses that offer affordable rates and a young vibe.

Calais is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. This part of France is often overlooked by tourists so you won't find many backpackers or hostels in the area. It does offer a glimpse into an authentic side of France.

Is Calais or Bergamo Better for Students?

Bergamo is a popular place for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Bergamo is popular with students. The university attracts international students and the city makes a great base for learning and exploring.

Calais is not popular with students.

Is Calais or Bergamo 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 Bergamo.

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 Bergamo offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses around town as well as two funiculars, one connecting Città Bassa with the Città Alta and the other connecting Città Alta to San Vigilio.

Is Calais or Bergamo a more walkable city?

Bergamo is well known for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Bergamo is a very walkable destination. There are many pedestrian streets and the best way to explore the city is on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bergamo or Calais?

How long in Calais or Bergamo?

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

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

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

One day in Calais or Bergamo?

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 nightlife when visiting the destination of Bergamo. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Calais or Bergamo?

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.

Bergamo 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 Bergamo?

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 Bergamo. 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 Bergamo?

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 shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Bergamo. This city 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 2-Week Tours from Rome, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Calais and Bergamo, we can see that Bergamo 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 Calais Expensive? and Is Bergamo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Calais or Bergamo?

Bergamo has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Calais and Bergamo, 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 Bergamo?

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 Calais or Bergamo in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Bergamo. Many travelers come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Bergamo in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Calais is generally cooler than Bergamo. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 17°C (63°F), and Bergamo fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bergamo this time of the year. In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. Calais usually receives less sunshine than Bergamo during summer. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Bergamo receives 286 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Calais usually receives less rain than Bergamo. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Calais or Bergamo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Calais as well as Bergamo. Many visitors come to Calais in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Bergamo for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Calais is cooler than Bergamo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Bergamo fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

In the autumn, Calais often gets less sunshine than Bergamo. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bergamo receives 137 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bergamo. Calais usually gets less rain in October than Bergamo. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Bergamo in the Winter?

Both Bergamo and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Bergamo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bergamo can be very cold. Calais can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Calais is much warmer than Bergamo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Calais in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Bergamo averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Bergamo during winter. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Bergamo receives 98 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Calais usually receives less rain than Bergamo. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Calais or Bergamo in the Spring?

Both Bergamo and Calais during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bergamo this time of year.

In April, Calais is generally cooler than Bergamo. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 9°C (47°F), and Bergamo fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Calais often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bergamo. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bergamo receives 169 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in April than Bergamo. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bergamo and Calais