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

Should you visit Calais or Genoa?

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

Should I visit Calais or Genoa? 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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Genoa

Genoa is a colorful, energetic, and historic port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Genoa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Calais than Genoa. While Genoa is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is very popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Genoa attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Genoa is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also well known for The Town Hall.

How is Calais different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Genoa offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city has a long history and it is filled with monuments, palaces, and museums. Popular places to visit include the Via Garibaldi Palaces, the aquarium (one of the largest in Europe), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Santi Ambrogio.

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 Genoa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Genoa 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 Genoa is an experience not to be missed. The city's maritime roots have influenced its cuisine and you'll find seafood in many local dishes. Other classic Genoese flavors include pesto, anchovies, fried squid, and focaccia and cheese.

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 Genoa Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Genoa has a few options to choose from. The city lights up at night and it's fun to experience the activity and energy. There's a nice evening atmosphere with many people out and about. You can grab drinks in Piazza Lavagna or see live music in Porto Antico. There are also many bars and clubs around town.

Is Calais or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Calais is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Genoa is not a good destination for its beaches.

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.

Genoa is a good spot to see the beach. While many people head to other nearby towns to enjoy the beach, you will also find a beach just ten minutes from the old town by bus. Boccadasse is one of the closest beaches to town. It's also possible to do a day trip to other more famous beaches in the area, but you need to be prepared to travel a bit farther.

Is Calais or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

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

Genoa offers a nice historic old town area. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Genoa?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Genoa 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 Genoa. You can pick up a number of different souvenirs around town including baskets, t-shirts, and local pesto. Popular shopping areas include Galleria Mazzini, Via Roma, and Via XX Settembr.

Is Calais or Genoa Better for Families?

Genoa is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Genoa is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city is home to the second biggest aquarium in Europe as well as the Galata Maritime Museum and the Nazario Sauro Submarine. In the port there's also Vascello Nettuno, which was a pirate ship that was used in the filming of the movie 'Pirates' by Roman Polanski. Other fun kid-friendly attractions include La Biosfera, The Children's Museum, and the Bigo Lift.

Calais offers lots of family activities. 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.

Is Calais or Genoa Better for Couples?

Genoa is well known for couples. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Genoa frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's a beautiful port city with charming neighborhoods and some great restaurants. Couples will enjoy exploring this beautiful city and visiting its palaces and cathedrals.

Calais is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Calais or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Genoa is well known for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Genoa is a very popular port city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of affordable hostels in the area, and while this isn't the top backpacker destination in Italy, it is a nice place to spend some time.

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 Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is well known for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Genoa is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. It's a popular study abroad destination so you'll find a number of international students in the area. The city is also well connected for exploring the region.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Genoa 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 Genoa. There's a wide range of different public transit options that are all operated by AMT. The system includes buses, an underground (one line), funiculars (two), lifts (ten), a boat, cogwheel and narrow gauge railways.

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 Genoa a more walkable city?

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

Genoa is a very walkable destination. The old town, where most tourists spend the majority of their time, is easy to explore 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 Genoa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Calais?

How long in Calais or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Calais or Genoa. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Genoa due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Calais, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

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

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

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

One day in Calais or Genoa?

In Calais, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this coastal destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Genoa. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Calais or Genoa?

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

Genoa 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 Genoa?

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

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

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Genoa. This port 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Calais or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Calais and Genoa, 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 Genoa?

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 Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Calais during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Calais is cooler than Genoa in the summer. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

In Genoa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Calais. In the summer, Calais often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets more rain in July than Genoa. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Genoa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Genoa. Many visitors come to Calais in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Calais is much colder than Genoa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Calais in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Genoa averages at about 19°C (66°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during autumn. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Calais usually receives less rain than Genoa. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Calais or Genoa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Calais as well as Genoa. Most visitors come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Genoa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Calais can be very cold during winter. In January, Calais is generally much colder than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 4°C (40°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Calais often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in January than Genoa. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Genoa in the Spring?

Both Genoa and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

Calais is much colder than Genoa in the spring. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during spring. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Calais usually receives less rain than Genoa. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Calais