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

Should you visit Calais or Zaragoza?

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

Should I visit Calais or Zaragoza? 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. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Zaragoza

Zaragoza is a compact, authentic, and cultural city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais and Zaragoza: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calais or Zaragoza?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Calais than Zaragoza. While Zaragoza is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Calais is very popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Zaragoza attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Zaragoza is more touristy than Calais and is known for its grand landmarks, local cuisine, and rich cultural scene. 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 Zaragoza?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Zaragoza offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. For such a small city, it really has a large number of cultural and historical attractions. The Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar is the most recognizable sight, but there's also the Museum of the Roman Forum of Caesaraugusta, the cathedral of Zaragoza, and the Aljafería Palace, among others.

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 Zaragoza? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza is an experience not to be missed. There are authentic restaurants that cater to locals and tourists alike. You'll also find some interesting food tours around town. Tapas are popular, as is chocolate and fresh, traditional recipes.

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 Zaragoza Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Zaragoza has a few options to choose from. The nightlife is at its best on weekends, when students and young locals head out on the town. Many evenings start with tapas and wine, but there are nightclubs and dancing as well.

Is Calais or Zaragoza Better for Beaches?

Calais is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Zaragoza is not a beach destination.

Calais has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Zaragoza is not a beach destination.

Is Calais or Zaragoza Better for its Old Town?

Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza. The old town is small but filled with monumental buildings and an authentic atmosphere.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Calais or Zaragoza?

Zaragoza is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Zaragoza. The city has many local shops selling locally produced items and interesting souvenirs. There are also boutiques, markets, and vintage shops that are fun to browse though.

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 Zaragoza Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Calais or Zaragoza.

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.

Zaragoza offers lots of family activities. When your kids get their fill of architecture and history, you can head to the Zaragoza Aquarium. Also worth a visit is the Emoz Museum, which is an origami museum. And if you need a break from sightseeing, take a kayak out on the Ebro River.

Is Calais or Zaragoza Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Zaragoza frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Filled with culture, beauty, and monumental buildings, this is a small and romantic city. It's particularly romantic at night when the streets are quiet and many of the buildings are lit up.

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 Zaragoza Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Zaragoza. There are enough hostels around town to choose from, and while it's not the backpacker haven that some Spanish cities are, it still sees a good number of young travelers.

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 Zaragoza Better for Students?

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

Zaragoza is popular with students. International students enjoy this small city because it has a local vibe where they can practice their Spanish and enjoy an authentic experience.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza. There are buses and trams around the city.

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 Zaragoza a more walkable city?

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

Zaragoza is a very walkable destination. The city center is very 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 Zaragoza Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Zaragoza or Calais?

How long in Calais or Zaragoza?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Calais and Zaragoza. In our opinion, Zaragoza has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Zaragoza than Calais. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Calais or Zaragoza?

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 museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Zaragoza. 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 Zaragoza?

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.

Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza?

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 Zaragoza. 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 Zaragoza?

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 shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Zaragoza. 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 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain.

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

Which is Bigger, Calais or Zaragoza?

Zaragoza has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Calais and Zaragoza, 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 Zaragoza?

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 Zaragoza in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Zaragoza. Many travelers come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Zaragoza in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Calais is much colder than Zaragoza in the summer. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Zaragoza fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zaragoza this time of the year. In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. Calais usually receives less sunshine than Zaragoza during summer. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Zaragoza receives 344 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Calais usually receives more rain than Zaragoza. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Calais or Zaragoza in the Autumn?

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

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

In the autumn, Calais often gets less sunshine than Zaragoza. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zaragoza receives 196 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets more rain in October than Zaragoza. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Calais or Zaragoza in the Winter?

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

Calais can be very cold during winter. In January, Calais is generally much colder than Zaragoza. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 4°C (40°F), and Zaragoza fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Zaragoza during winter. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Zaragoza receives 131 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Calais usually receives more rain than Zaragoza. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Calais or Zaragoza in the Spring?

Both Zaragoza and Calais during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Zaragoza this time of year.

Calais is much colder than Zaragoza in the spring. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Zaragoza fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

In Zaragoza, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Calais often gets less sunshine than Zaragoza. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zaragoza receives 217 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets more rain in April than Zaragoza. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Zaragoza and Calais