A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cardiff vs. Caen for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Cardiff or Caen?

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

Should I visit Cardiff or Caen? 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.

Cardiff

Cardiff is a green, industrial, and up-and-coming city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Caen

Caen is a park-filled, important, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, museums, and nightlife.

Cardiff and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cardiff or Caen?

Both Caen and Cardiff have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Cardiff is very popular for its shopping and impressive beauty, while Caen attracts visitors for its museums and food. Cardiff is famous for having the most castles per square mile of any city in Europe. Caen is famous for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings.

How is Cardiff different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Caen and Cardiff. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cardiff or Caen?

Caen is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Cardiff is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Caen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are many monuments around town commemorating the city's long history. You'll want to see Château de Caen, Pegasus Bridge, Mémorial de Caen, Musée de Normandie, and Musée des beaux-arts de Caen.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Cardiff. The most notable landmark of the city is the famous and well-preserved Cardiff Castle. Visitors also enjoy seeing the Victorian arcades, museums, and cathedrals around town.

Is the Food Better in Cardiff or Caen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Caen is a great destination for its restaurant scene. However, Cardiff is a city with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Caen. There's a market that's at its best on Sundays where you'll find fresh produce and other local ingredients. There are also Michelin starred restaurants, seafood restaurants, and other traditional dishes. Head to the Vaugueux Quarter for traditional dishes.

Cardiff may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Welsh cuisine is known for its stews and hearty vegetable dishes. The national dish is cawl, which is a stew made with lamb and vegetables. Other local favorites include Welsh rarebit, which is a type of cheese toast, and Glamorgan Sausage, which is actually made with vegetables.

Is Cardiff or Caen Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Cardiff or Caen has a better nightlife scene.

Cardiff has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is all about fun and most of the activities are driven by the large and diverse student population.

If you're looking for night time activities Caen has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene stays active thanks to the 30,000 students living in town. Head to the Rue Ecuyère for a pub crawl or hit up any of the other bars around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Cardiff or Caen?

Cardiff is a good destination for shopping. However, Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Cardiff. Shopping options include shopping malls and boutique lined streets. There is a nice mix of independent shops and major chains to choose between.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Cardiff or Caen Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Cardiff or Caen.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cardiff. The city has a number of climbing and play areas, museums, and playgrounds that can keep the little ones entertained. There are also plenty of outdoor parks and trails to wander around.

Caen offers lots of family activities. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Cardiff or Caen Better for Couples?

Caen is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Cardiff is a city with minimal options for couples.

Caen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Cardiff is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The most romantic experiences involve a night out dining at nice restaurants, enjoying a cocktail at a classy bar, and strolling through neighborhoods and soaking up the atmosphere.

Is Cardiff or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen is a popular place for backpackers. However, Cardiff is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Cardiff is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Cardiff or Caen Better for Students?

Cardiff is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Cardiff. Most students come to study at Cardiff University, which is a leading university in Great Britain.

Caen is not popular with students.

Is Cardiff or Caen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Caen is a great destination for its public transit. However, Cardiff is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Caen can get you around easily. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cardiff. There is a bus system that you can use to get around.

Is Cardiff or Caen a more walkable city?

Cardiff and Caen both are nice when exploring on foot.

Cardiff is a somewhat walkable place. There are pedestrianized areas and the waterfront is nice to walk around but there is still room for improvement when it comes to walkability.

Caen is a somewhat walkable city. The city center is best explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Cardiff Worth Visiting? and Is Caen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Caen or Cardiff?

How long in Cardiff or Caen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cardiff and Caen. In our opinion, Caen has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Caen than Cardiff. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Cardiff, and 2-3 days is enough time in Caen.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Caen than Cardiff 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 Caen.

One day in Cardiff or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Cardiff. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Caen, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Cardiff or Caen?

Cardiff is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Caen, you'll find nightlife and food. 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 Caen has to offer.

Five days in Cardiff or Caen?

You'll find shopping and museums around the industrial destination of Cardiff. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Caen 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.

A week in Cardiff or Caen?

The industrial city of Cardiff offers museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Caen. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Caen. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cardiff and Caen, we can see that Cardiff is more expensive. And not only is Caen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Caen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Caen 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 Cardiff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cardiff than you might in Caen.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cardiff Expensive? and Is Caen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Caen?

Cardiff has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff and Caen, 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 Cardiff or Caen?

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 Cardiff or Caen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cardiff as well as Caen. Most visitors come to Cardiff for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Caen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Cardiff is generally around the same temperature as Caen. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 17°C (63°F), and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Caen. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cardiff this time of the year. In the summer, Cardiff often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Caen. Cardiff gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.

Cardiff usually gets more rain in July than Caen. Cardiff gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cardiff or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Cardiff are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Cardiff because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Cardiff is cooler than Caen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Cardiff usually receives less sunshine than Caen during autumn. Cardiff gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Cardiff. In October, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Caen. Cardiff gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cardiff or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Cardiff during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. It's quite cold in Cardiff in the winter. In the winter, Cardiff is cooler than Caen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cardiff in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Caen averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Cardiff often gets less sunshine than Caen. Cardiff gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.

Cardiff usually gets more rain in January than Caen. Cardiff gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cardiff or Caen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cardiff and Caen. Many travelers come to Cardiff for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Cardiff is generally around the same temperature as Caen. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 9°C (48°F), and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

Cardiff usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Caen during spring. Cardiff gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cardiff usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Cardiff gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Cardiff