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

Should you visit Calais or Siena?

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

Should I visit Calais or Siena? 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 authentic, undiscovered, and coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Siena

Siena is a beautiful, romantic, and charming city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Siena?

You'll generally find more things to do in Calais than Siena. Calais is bigger than Siena, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Calais is better known for its beaches and big city activities, while Siena is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Siena is more touristy than Calais and is known for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Calais different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Siena offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. At the heart of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazza del Campo. Other world famous sights include Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, Torre del Mangia, and Pinacoteca Nazionale.

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 Siena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Siena 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 Siena is an experience not to be missed. The town is all about local flavors and many restaurants use local ingredients in their dishes. Pecorino of Pienza is the local cheese, and you'll also find many cured meats. Local pasta dishes include wild boar ragu and a local spaghetti. You'll also find local meats such as lamb, rabbit, chicken and pork.

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 Siena Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Siena has a few options to choose from. The nightlife is laid back and relaxed. Most visitors enjoy socializing in the evening and meeting friends at Piazza del Campo. There are often live performances which you can enjoy as well as many cafes and wine bars around town.

Is Calais or Siena Better for Beaches?

Calais is very good for its beaches. However, Siena 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.

Siena is not a beach destination.

Is Calais or Siena Better for its Old Town?

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

The rich history of Siena can be explored in its historical center. The beautiful old town is filled with medieval brick buildings. At the heart of the city is Piazza del Campo, which is a lively square with many neighborhoods spreading out from there.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Siena?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Siena 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 Siena. The main shopping street in town is Via Banchi di Sopra, which has many boutiques that sell clothing, bags, and other items. The town also has many leather goods, ceramics, and other local items available.

Is Calais or Siena Better for Families?

Calais is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Siena is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Calais is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Siena is not always a place people visit with their families. The beauty and history may be lost to the little ones but there is a great atmosphere that even the young ones will appreciate. Kids will enjoy climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia or visiting one of the many playgrounds around town.

Is Calais or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is a must-visit destination for couples. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Siena makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With its impressive beauty and long running history, this is a truly romantic city. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plazas and neighborhoods that are great for exploring. There are also many great restaurants, superb wine, and world class sights that are not to be missed.

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 Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Siena. Many backpackers visit Siena as a daytrip from nearby Florence. While there are some affordable places to stay here, the atmosphere isn't as backpacker friendly as nearby Florence.

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 Siena Better for Students?

Siena is well known for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Siena is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's home to one of the oldest universities in Italy, and it's a wonderful study abroad destination for any student who wants to spend some time in Italy.

Calais is not popular with students.

Is Calais or Siena 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 Siena.

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 Siena offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Is Calais or Siena a more walkable city?

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

Siena is a very walkable destination. The compact town center is best explored on foot.

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 Siena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Siena or Calais?

How long in Calais or Siena?

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

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

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

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

One day in Calais or Siena?

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Siena. 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 Siena?

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.

Siena 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 Siena?

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 Siena. 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 Siena?

You'll find food and shopping around the undiscovered 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 shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Siena. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Calais or Siena?

Calais has a larger population, and is about 41% larger than the population of Siena. When comparing the sizes of Calais and Siena, 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 Siena?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Calais or Siena in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Siena. 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 Siena for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Calais is cooler than Siena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Calais in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Siena averages at about 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Siena this time of the year. In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. Calais usually receives less sunshine than Siena during summer. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Calais usually receives around the same amount of rain as Siena. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Calais or Siena in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Calais as well as Siena. Many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Siena in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Calais is generally cooler than Siena. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 12°C (54°F), and Siena fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Calais often gets less sunshine than Siena. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in October than Siena. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Siena in the Winter?

Both Siena and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. Calais is much colder than Siena in the winter. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Siena during winter. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Calais usually receives less rain than Siena. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Calais or Siena in the Spring?

Both Siena and Calais during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Siena because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Calais is cooler than Siena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Calais in April average around 9°C (47°F), and Siena averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Calais often gets less sunshine than Siena. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in April than Siena. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Siena and Calais