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

Should you visit Calais or Caen?

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

Should I visit Calais or Caen? 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 authentic, undiscovered, and coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping.

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. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Calais and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Caen?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Calais than Caen. While Caen is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is better known for its beaches and shopping, while Caen is more popular for its museums and food. Caen is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Calais different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Caen is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Caen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Calais is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

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

Caen 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 Caen is an experience not to be missed. 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.

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 Caen Better for Nightlife?

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

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 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.

Is Calais or Caen Better for Beaches?

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

Calais offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Caen?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Calais. 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.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Calais or Caen Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Calais or Caen.

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.

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

Is Calais or Caen Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Calais and Caen make for a notable 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.

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.

Is Calais or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

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

Caen is well known for its public transit. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

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

While Calais offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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.

Is Calais or Caen a more walkable city?

Calais and Caen both are notable when exploring on foot.

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Calais?

How long in Calais or Caen?

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

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

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

One day in Calais or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Calais. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

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.

A weekend in Calais or Caen?

Calais 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.

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.

Five days in Calais or Caen?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the coastal destination of Calais. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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.

A week in Calais or Caen?

The authentic city of Calais 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.

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.

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

Which is Bigger, Calais or Caen?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 49% larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Calais and Caen, 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 Caen?

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 Caen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Calais as well as Caen. Most visitors come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Caen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Calais is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Calais in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Caen averages at about 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Caen. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. In the summer, Calais often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Caen. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Calais or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Calais because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

In October, Calais is generally around the same temperature as Caen. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 12°C (54°F), and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Calais usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Caen during autumn. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Calais usually receives less rain than Caen. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Calais or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Calais during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Calais this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. It's quite cold in Calais in the winter. Calais is cooler than Caen in the winter. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Calais often gets less sunshine than Caen. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in January than Caen. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Caen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Caen. Many travelers come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Calais is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Calais in April average around 9°C (47°F), and Caen averages at about 9°C (49°F).

Calais usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Caen during spring. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Calais usually receives less rain than Caen. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Calais