A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Calais vs. San Remo for Food, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Calais or San Remo?

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

Should I visit Calais or San Remo? 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 beaches, shopping, and museums.

San Remo

San Remo is a relaxing, beautiful, and scenic coastal city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Calais and San Remo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or San Remo?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Calais than San Remo. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Calais is very popular for its museums and big city activities, while San Remo attracts visitors for its food, beaches, historical sights, and impressive beauty. San Remo is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its olives, lemons, and flower market. 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 San Remo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Calais is a popular place for its museums and history. However, San Remo 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.

San Remo does not have museums and landmarks.

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

San Remo 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 San Remo is an experience not to be missed. The local restaurants are charming and sell a number of local specialties. Many traditional dishes are made with rabbit or chicken. There are also vegetable pies and sardenaira, which is a type of pizza that's made with tomatoes, garlic, and anchovies. Also make sure you pick up Baci di Sanremo, which are soft chocolate biscuits that are available in local bakeries.

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 San Remo Better for Nightlife?

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

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 San Remo has a few options to choose from. The city has a number of clubs and bars where you can enjoy a drink or hang out late into the evening. It's a pretty mellow nightlife scene, but there's still plenty of places to go as well as a local vibe that doesn't have the influx of tourists that you find in many of other Italian cities.

Is Calais or San Remo Better for Beaches?

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

San Remo is considered a top beach destination. The beautiful sandy beaches are nice to visit and it's possible to rent chairs and umbrellas in many places. The main beach in town is Spiaggia dei Porti. Other popular nearby beaches include Spiaggia dei tre ponti, which is a large public beach, and Cala degli Orsi, which is one of the most beautiful public beaches in the area.

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 San Remo Better for its Old Town?

San Remo is well known for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting San Remo. The old quarter of Pigna is a Medieval area with narrow streets that feel as if they're frozen in time. The hills offer impressive city views and the area has a unique historic character.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or San Remo?

Shopping is a popular activity in both San Remo 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 San Remo. There are local and international brands as well as a shopping mall and outlets where you can enjoy shopping.

Is Calais or San Remo Better for Families?

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

San Remo is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The area offers plenty of outdoor activities that the whole family will enjoy. There's horseback riding, hiking, rowing, snorkeling, cooking classes, farm tours and more. There are also a number of hotels in the area that have kid-friendly activities.

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 San Remo Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit San Remo frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's known as the city of flowers, and the many beautiful gardens make this a truly romantic place to visit. Couples will enjoy soaking up the city's history and enjoy the vibrant culture and outdoor activities that are available.

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 San Remo 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 San Remo.

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 San Remo offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are local buses around town.

Is Calais or San Remo a more walkable city?

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

San Remo is a very walkable destination. The old quarter is fun to explore on foot and there are a number of walking tours through town.

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 San Remo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Remo or Calais?

How long in Calais or San Remo?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Calais or San Remo to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Calais than San Remo 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 San Remo.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Remo 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 San Remo.

One day in Calais or San Remo?

The city of Calais offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of San Remo. 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 San Remo?

Calais is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Calais, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

San Remo 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 San Remo?

Calais is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Remo. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 San Remo?

Calais is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the beautiful destination of San Remo. This coastal 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 comparing the travel costs between Calais and San Remo, we can see that San Remo 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 San Remo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Calais or San Remo?

Calais has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of San Remo. When comparing the sizes of Calais and San Remo, 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 San Remo?

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 San Remo in the Summer?

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

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Remo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. In the summer, Calais often gets less sunshine than San Remo. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Remo receives 295 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets more rain in July than San Remo. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or San Remo in the Autumn?

Both San Remo 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 San Remo for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

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

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Remo. In October, Calais usually receives less rain than San Remo. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Calais or San Remo in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Calais. In January, Calais is generally much colder than San Remo. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 4°C (40°F), and San Remo fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

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

Calais usually gets less rain in January than San Remo. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or San Remo in the Spring?

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

Calais is much colder than San Remo in the spring. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and San Remo fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

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

In April, Calais usually receives less rain than San Remo. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Remo and Calais