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

Should you visit Cork or Calais?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cork and Calais can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Cork

Cork is a cultural, seaside, and youthful city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

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 nightlife, food, and beaches.

Cork and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cork or Calais?

You'll generally find more things to do in Cork than Calais. Cork is bigger than Calais, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Cork is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, and shopping, while Calais is more popular for its beaches. Cork is more touristy than Calais and is known for its friendly personality, its thriving art scene and its local craft beer. Also, Cork is famous for The Blarney Castle and Stone. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Cork different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cork or Calais?

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

Cork offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with historic sights and landmarks. Most notable is the Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone, but also make sure you check out St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Cork Public Museum, Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre, and St. Anne's Church.

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 Cork or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cork 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 Cork is an experience not to be missed. You'll find charming seaside cafes and award winning restaurants. Also make sure you check out the English Market, which is among the best in Ireland.

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 Cork or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Cork is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Cork is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a university city, so you'll find plenty of students, bars, clubs, and cheap beer. Many pubs also have live music with everything from rock to Irish folk music.

If you're looking for night time activities Calais has a few options to choose from. 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.

Is Cork or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a city with good options for its beaches. However, Cork is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Calais. 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.

Cork is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cork or Calais?

Cork 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 Cork. It offers a mix of high street shops and boutique vendors. Head to St. Patrick’s Street for some of the city's best shopping. Also check out Opera Lane and Oliver Plunkett Street.

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 Cork or Calais Better for Families?

Both Cork and Calais are notable to visit with kids.

Cork is a family-friendly place to visit. For a bit of outside time, head to Fota Wildlife Park, Regional Park Ballincollig, or Inchydoney Beach. Kids will also enjoy exploring Cork City Gaol which is a heritage museum, or the Toy Soldier Factory. And of course, there's the Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone.

Calais is a family-friendly city. 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 Cork or Calais Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Cork frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Visiting Blarney Castle is a highlight, but you can also wander along the river or do the Ballycotton Cliff Walk. There are also several gardens to explore or small theaters where you can see a play.

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 Cork or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Cork. There are plenty of hostels as well as a large student population and an active nightlife.

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 Cork or Calais Better for Students?

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

Cork is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's a university town with many students and plenty to do. The city plays host to many international students.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Calais is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Cork is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Calais has a few public transit options. 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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cork. In town you'll find bus service but if you want to explore anywhere else in the county you really need your own vehicle.

Is Cork or Calais a more walkable city?

Cork and Calais both are notable when exploring on foot.

Cork is somewhat walkable. The city center is compact and easy enough to explore on foot.

Calais is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Cork Worth Visiting? and Is Calais Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calais or Cork?

How long in Cork or Calais?

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

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

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

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

One day in Cork or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Cork. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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

A weekend in Cork or Calais?

Cork 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.

Calais 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.

Five days in Cork or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cork. 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.

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

A week in Cork or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the youthful destination of Cork. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The coastal city of Calais offers nightlife and food. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Cork or Calais?

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

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 Cork or Calais in the Summer?

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

In July, Cork is generally around the same temperature as Calais. Daily temperatures in Cork average around 16°C (60°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. Cork usually receives less sunshine than Calais during summer. Cork gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Cork usually receives more rain than Calais. Cork gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Cork or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Cork as well as Calais. Many visitors come to Cork in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, most visitors come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Cork is around the same temperature as Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cork averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Cork often gets less sunshine than Calais. Cork gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Cork usually gets more rain in October than Calais. Cork gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cork or Calais in the Winter?

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

The weather in Calais can be very cold. In the winter, Cork is a little warmer than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cork in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Cork usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during winter. Cork gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Cork. In January, Cork usually receives more rain than Calais. Cork gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Cork or Calais in the Spring?

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

In April, Cork is generally around the same temperature as Calais. Daily temperatures in Cork average around 9°C (48°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the spring, Cork often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Cork gets 157 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Cork usually gets more rain in April than Calais. Cork gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Cork