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

Should you visit Calais or Glencoe?

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

Should I visit Calais or Glencoe? 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. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches.

Glencoe

Glencoe is a beautiful, picturesque, and natural village. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include food and hiking.

Calais and Glencoe: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Glencoe?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Calais. Although Calais and Glencoe are popular destinations, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is very popular for its museums, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Glencoe attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Glencoe is more touristy than Calais and is known for its mountaineering, hiking, and beautiful natural setting. 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 Glencoe?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Calais is a city with good options for its museums and landmarks. However, Glencoe does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Glencoe does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Both Calais and Glencoe 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 Glencoe. Local specialties include seafood and pub food. You'll also find plenty of whisky and local beer. There are a variety of dining options with local pubs alongside fine dining restaurants.

Is Calais or Glencoe Better for Nightlife?

Calais is a city with good options for its evening party scene. However, Glencoe is not particularly known for nightlife.

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.

Glencoe doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a handful of bars where you can relax with local whisky or beer.

Is Calais or Glencoe Better for Beaches?

Calais is a city with good options for the beach. However, Glencoe is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Calais. 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.

Glencoe is not a beach destination.

Is Calais or Glencoe Better for Hiking?

Glencoe is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Calais is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Glencoe. The area has dramatic hikes and stunning landscapes. Some of the best walks through the countryside include Inchree Falls, Grey Mare's Tail & Mamore Lodge, and The Two Lairigs.

Calais is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Glencoe?

Calais is a city with good options for its shopping areas. However, Glencoe is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Glencoe is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Calais or Glencoe Better for Families?

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

Glencoe is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Take a steam train along the Harry Potter Line. You'll feel like you're aboard the Hogwarts Express. You can also visit the Natural History Center, hike around the Glencoe National Nature Center, or visit the Glencoe Folk Museum.

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 Glencoe Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Glencoe frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy nature, hiking, and stunning scenery will enjoy a visit to this beautiful area.

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

Calais is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Glencoe is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Glencoe. There are local buses, but it's much easier to make the most of your visit if you have a vehicle.

Is Calais or Glencoe a more walkable city?

Calais is a city with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Glencoe is not particularly known for its walkability.

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

Glencoe is generally not a very walkable city. It's easier to fully experience the area if you have your own vehicle.

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

Should I spend more time in Glencoe or Calais?

How long in Calais or Glencoe?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Calais and Glencoe. In our opinion, Calais has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Calais than Glencoe. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Calais than Glencoe. 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 Glencoe 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 Glencoe?

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 food when visiting the destination of Glencoe. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Calais or Glencoe?

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.

Glencoe 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 Glencoe?

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 Glencoe. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Glencoe?

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 when visiting the beautiful destination of Glencoe. This village offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 Historical Tours in United Kingdom, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom.

When comparing the travel costs between Calais and Glencoe, 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 Glencoe Expensive?.