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

Should you visit Calais or Milan?

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

Should I visit Calais or Milan? 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 nightlife, food, and beaches.

Milan

Milan is a chic, cultural, and trendy city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

Calais and Milan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Milan?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Milan than Calais. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Milan is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, music, historical sights, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Calais attracts visitors for its beaches. Milan is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its grand squares, dramatic architecture, and its leadership in the fashion world. It is also well known for Piazza del Duomo. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Calais different from Milan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Milan offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The Milan Cathedral is the most famous landmark in the city, but other sights include Castello Sforzesco, Pinacoteca di Brera, and Sant'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 Milan? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

For foodies, Milan is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a mix of traditional dishes combined with modernized, trendy restaurants. You can try a new dish by a groundbreaking chef, or sample a long running favorite like risotto alla Milanese.

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 Milan Better for Nightlife?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Milan is a world class party destination. The city has a huge number of students and young professionals, which make it a fun place with an active nightlife. There are cocktail bars, trendy clubs, and relaxed pubs that you can chose from.

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 Milan Better for Music?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its music scene. However, Calais is not a live music destination.

In Milan you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The diversity of music ranges from classical concerts to techno raves. Popular venues include Blue Note Milan, Santeria Social Club, and Spirit de Milan.

Calais is not a live music destination.

Is Calais or Milan Better for Beaches?

Calais is a city with good options for the beach. However, Milan 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.

Milan is not a beach destination.

Is Calais or Milan Better for its Old Town?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Milan can be explored in its historical center. Known as the Centro Storic, this area is the most popular with tourists. It's where you'll find the most historic buildings and beautiful sights in the city.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Milan?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its shopping areas. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Milan is a world class destination for shoppers. Famous as the fashion capital of Italy, shopping is the thing to do here. There are many streets that are lined with the biggest designers in fashion. Make sure you check out Via Monte Napoleone, Via Della Spiga, and Corso Buenos Aires.

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.

Is Calais or Milan Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Calais or Milan.

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.

Milan offers lots of family activities. The city has a science museum and a children's museum, MuBa, that is great for the kids. There are also a number of parks to explore as well as playgrounds where the kids and get out their energy.

Is Calais or Milan Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Milan frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. There are many beautiful buildings, excellent shopping, and romantic restaurants that make for a wonderful couple's getaway.

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 Milan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Milan is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. While not as popular with backpackers as some Italian city's, there are a number of hostels and great activities that are fun for visitors.

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 Milan Better for Students?

Milan is a must-visit destination for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Milan. It is one of the more popular city's for international students in Italy. It is very livable with a lot of culture and a fun nightlife, so you're sure to have the experience of a lifetime.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Milan is a must-visit destination for its public transit. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Milan has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. Options include metro, bus, tram, and train lines.

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 Milan a more walkable city?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Milan on foot is easy. In particular, the city center is walkable.

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 Milan Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Milan or Calais?

How long in Calais or Milan?

In either Calais or Milan, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Milan than Calais because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Calais, and 1-5 days is enough time in Milan.

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

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

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

One day in Calais or Milan?

In Calais, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this authentic 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.

Milan is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Calais or Milan?

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.

Milan 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 Milan?

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 Milan. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Calais or Milan?

You'll find food and shopping around the coastal 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 nightlife and live music when visiting the cultural big city of Milan. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town 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 Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Calais and Milan, we can see that Milan 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 Milan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milan 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 Milan Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Calais or Milan?

Milan has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Calais and Milan, 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 Milan?

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 Milan in the Summer?

Both Milan and Calais during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Calais in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Milan for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Calais is cooler than Milan in the summer. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Milan fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Milan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Calais. In the summer, Calais often gets less sunshine than Milan. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 250 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in July than Milan. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Milan receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Milan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Milan. Most visitors come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Milan because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Calais is cooler than Milan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Calais in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Milan averages at about 15°C (58°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Milan during autumn. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Milan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Calais usually receives less rain than Milan. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Milan receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Calais or Milan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Calais as well as Milan. The winter months attract visitors to Calais because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Milan this time of year.

It's quite cold in Milan in the winter. The weather in Calais can be very cold. In January, Calais is generally cooler than Milan. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 4°C (40°F), and Milan fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Calais often gets less sunshine than Milan. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 119 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in January than Milan. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Milan receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Milan in the Spring?

Both Milan and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Calais this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Milan for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Calais is much colder than Milan in the spring. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Milan fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Milan during spring. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Calais usually receives less rain than Milan. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Milan receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Milan and Calais