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

Should you visit Calais or Pompeii?

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

Should I visit Calais or Pompeii? 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 shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Pompeii

Pompeii is a iconic, one-of-a-kind, and ancient archeological site. Other popular activities here include museums.

Calais and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Pompeii?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Calais. Although Calais and Pompeii are popular destinations, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is very popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Pompeii attracts visitors for its museums. Pompeii is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 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 Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Pompeii is a must-visit destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Pompeii on the map. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

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 Pompeii? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Calais is very good for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Calais is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Calais or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Calais is very good for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Calais. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is Calais or Pompeii Better for Beaches?

Calais is very good for the beach. However, Pompeii is not a beach destination.

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.

Pompeii is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Pompeii?

Calais is very good for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for shopping.

Calais has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Calais or Pompeii Better for Families?

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

Pompeii is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

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 Pompeii Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Calais and Pompeii make for a nice 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.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

Is Calais or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Pompeii. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

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 Pompeii Better for Students?

Pompeii is a popular place for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Pompeii is popular with students. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Calais and Pompeii.

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.

While Pompeii offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Calais or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii 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 Pompeii on foot is easy. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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 Pompeii Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Calais?

How long in Calais or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Calais or Pompeii to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Calais than Pompeii because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Calais, and 1-2 days is enough time in Pompeii.

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

Couples should spend more time in Calais than Pompeii. 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 Pompeii 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 Pompeii.

One day in Calais or Pompeii?

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 museums when visiting the destination of Pompeii. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Calais or Pompeii?

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.

Pompeii is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. 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 Pompeii?

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 Pompeii. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. 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 Pompeii?

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 museums when visiting the famous destination of Pompeii. This archeological site 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

When is the best time to visit Calais or Pompeii?

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 Pompeii in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Calais as well as Pompeii. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Pompeii for the family-friendly experiences.

Calais is cooler than Pompeii in the summer. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Pompeii fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. In the summer, Calais often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets more rain in July than Pompeii. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Pompeii in the Autumn?

Both Pompeii and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Calais is cooler than Pompeii. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Calais in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Pompeii averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during autumn. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. In October, Calais usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Calais or Pompeii in the Winter?

Both Pompeii and Calais during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Pompeii for the museums during these months.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Calais is generally much colder than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 4°C (40°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Calais often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun.

Pompeii gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Calais usually gets less rain in January than Pompeii. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Pompeii in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Pompeii. Most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

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

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during spring. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Calais usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Calais