A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Calais vs. Lake Garda for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Calais or Lake Garda?

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

Should I visit Calais or Lake Garda? 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. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is a fun, energetic, and scenic lake. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Calais and Lake Garda: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Lake Garda?

Both Lake Garda and Calais have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Calais is more popular for its big city activities, while Lake Garda is known for its food, nightlife, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Lake Garda is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its beautiful setting, charming towns, and fun amusement parks. Calais is popular for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Calais different from Lake Garda?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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.

Lake Garda is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. While most people come for the natural beauty, there are also great castles that you can explore. Castello Scaligeri, Grotte di Catullo, and Castello Scaligero.

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

Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda is an experience not to be missed. You'll find many great local restaurants in the area. Most make use of local ingredients such as olive oil, lemons, wine, and fish. Pasta and risotto are both popular throughout the area as well.

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 Lake Garda Better for Nightlife?

Lake Garda is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Lake Garda is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. You'll find clubs and bars in various towns that make for a great nightlife scene. You'll even find beach parties and fireworks shows during the most popular times of the year.

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.

Is Calais or Lake Garda Better for Beaches?

Lake Garda is well known for the beach. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its beaches.

Lake Garda is considered a top beach destination. Despite there being no ocean, there are many great swimming beaches in the area. Many have sand and great places to relax. There's also plenty of watersports to choose from.

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.

Is Calais or Lake Garda Better for Hiking?

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

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Lake Garda. There are many great walking and hiking trails in the area that take you through the natural beauty, connect the charming towns, and offer spectacular viewpoints.

Calais is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Lake Garda?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda. Many villages around the lake are great for shopping. You'll find clothing stores, jewelry shops, and souvenir vendors with something for everyone.

Is Calais or Lake Garda Better for Families?

Lake Garda is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Lake Garda is a very family-friendly destination. The nearby amusement parks, including Gardaland, make this a popular destination for families. The area also has many places to swim, trails to explore, and castles to experience. Kids and adults alike will love this amazing kid-friendly area.

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 Lake Garda Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Lake Garda frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. You'll find a lot of families in the area because of the amusement parks, but that doesn't mean that this isn't a romantic and beautiful spot for couples. There are many charming towns to explore and scenic viewpoints to check out. There are also excellent romantic restaurants that you should try.

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 Lake Garda Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Lake Garda. There are a few good hostels around the lake that are affordable and fun. The area also see enough backpackers to keep the atmosphere fun and social.

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

Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda. There are ferries, buses, and trains in the area.

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 Lake Garda a more walkable city?

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

Lake Garda is a very walkable destination. There are walking trails that connect the villages around the lake and this how many people choose to get around.

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 Lake Garda Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lake Garda or Calais?

How long in Calais or Lake Garda?

It's fun to spend time in either Calais or Lake Garda. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda.

One day in Calais or Lake Garda?

With museums and nightlife around the authentic city of Calais, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Calais, one day is sufficent for most.

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

A weekend in Calais or Lake Garda?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Calais, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda?

Calais, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

Calais is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the scenic destination of Lake Garda. This lake 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 Tours for Seniors to Italy, and The Best Contiki Tours to Italy.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Calais or Lake Garda?

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 Lake Garda in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Calais as well as Lake Garda. The summer months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lake Garda this time of year.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lake Garda. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. In the summer, Calais often gets less sunshine than Lake Garda. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lake Garda receives 286 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in July than Lake Garda. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Lake Garda in the Autumn?

Both Lake Garda and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Calais this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Lake Garda for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

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

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Lake Garda during autumn. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Lake Garda receives 137 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Calais usually receives less rain than Lake Garda. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Calais or Lake Garda in the Winter?

Both Lake Garda and Calais during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Lake Garda in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Lake Garda can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Calais. In the winter, Calais is much warmer than Lake Garda. Typically, the winter temperatures in Calais in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Lake Garda averages at about 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Calais often gets less sunshine than Lake Garda. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lake Garda receives 98 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in January than Lake Garda. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Lake Garda in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Lake Garda. Many visitors come to Calais in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to Lake Garda for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

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

Calais usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lake Garda during spring. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Lake Garda receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Calais usually receives less rain than Lake Garda. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lake Garda and Calais