A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dover vs. Honfleur for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Dover or Honfleur?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dover and Honfleur can help you decide which place is right for you.

Dover

Dover is a breathtaking, iconic, and rustic town. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food, hiking, and museums.

Honfleur

Honfleur is a scenic, historic, and peaceful city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Dover and Honfleur: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dover or Honfleur?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Honfleur than Dover, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Honfleur is better known for its food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Dover is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Dover is well known for the famous White Cliffs of Dover as well as the ferry connection to mainland Europe. Honfleur is well known for its influence over Impressionist art, its stunning harbor, and its beautiful buildings. Also, Honfleur is famous for St Catherine's Church.

How is Dover different from Honfleur?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dover or Honfleur?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Dover or Honfleur.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Dover. Aside from the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, there is the Dover Castle, the South Foreland Lighthouse, and the Grand Shaft.

Honfleur is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Some of the most notable sights around the town include Saint Catherine's Church, Le Vieux Bassin, Notre-Dame de Grace, and the Normandy Bridge.

Is the Food Better in Dover or Honfleur? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Honfleur is a world-class destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Honfleur has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Located on the coast of Normandy along the English Channel, seafood is a defining element for most dishes here. Foodies flock to this town for its Michelin starred restaurants as well as its local cafes and quaint eateries. For land-lovers, there's a popular local cider-braised pork that you must-try. And for dessert make sure you try the Tarte Tatin.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Dover. The town has a growing food scene that includes waterfront restaurants and local dishes. Find a restaurant with a view to make sure you take full advantage of the setting.

Is Dover or Honfleur Better for Nightlife?

Honfleur is very good for its evening party scene. However, Dover is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Honfleur. Restaurants come to life at night when music flows out onto the streets. The town is not known for its partying, but that doesn't mean that it's a sleepy place that shuts down when the sun sets.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Dover. The nightlife has a relaxed atmosphere with wine bars and microbreweries.

Is Dover or Honfleur Better for Beaches?

Honfleur is a moderate city for the beach. However, Dover is not a beach destination.

The beach in Honfleur is worth checking out. The town sits by the estuary of the Seine and there are two beaches not far from town. Butin Beach is the closest to town and the most popular, but Vasouy Beach is more relaxed and natural.

Dover is not a beach destination.

Is Dover or Honfleur Better for Hiking?

Dover is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Honfleur is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Dover. There are many beautiful countryside walks that take you through the rolling hills and along the iconic white cliffs. Some of the best hikes in the area include The England Coast Path, The North Downs Way Saxon Shore Way.

Honfleur is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Dover or Honfleur?

Honfleur is a moderate city for its shopping areas. However, Dover is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Honfleur has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. It's a charming town with boutique shops, chocolate shops, and the standard tourist places that sell souvenirs and t-shirts.

Dover is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Dover or Honfleur Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Dover or Honfleur.

Dover is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a few kid-friendly museums like the Dover Transport Museum and the Dover Castle. Also make sure you check out the South Foreland Lighthouse.

Honfleur is a family-friendly town. Located on the coast of Normandy, the town has boat rides, quirky museums, and Vieux Bassin, which is a beautiful and lively harbor. For kids who need to stretch their legs, there are many parks and outdoor spaces to enjoy.

Is Dover or Honfleur Better for Couples?

Both Dover and Honfleur are very good destinations to visit as a couple.

Dover is a very popular place to visit for couples. The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic sight and perfect for a romantic trip away. Also make sure you check out St. Margaret's Bay Beach and the Kearsney Abbey Gardens.

Honfleur makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It has, arguably, one of the area's most beautiful harbors. There are also many great seafood restaurants, relaxing gardens, and spas that are perfect for couples.

Is Dover or Honfleur Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dover is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Honfleur is lacking in options for backpackers.

Dover is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find several nice hostels to choose from in the town.

Honfleur is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. You'll likely have more luck looking for an apartment than a hostel, so if you're looking for a place to stay with a social setting, you may be out of luck.

Is Dover or Honfleur Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Dover and Honfleur offer respectable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Dover. There are public buses through the district.

Public transit is mostly limited in Honfleur. HO Buses travel from the outskirts or town into the center and are used mainly by locals. If you plan to head into Normandy to see the countryside, you'll want to have a car.

Is Dover or Honfleur a more walkable city?

Honfleur is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

Honfleur is a very walkable destination. The city center is compact and easy to explore on foot. There are also many coastal walks leading out of town.

Dover is somewhat walkable. You can wander around the countryside, but prepare for rolling hills and great views.

For even more information, also check out Is Dover Worth Visiting? and Is Honfleur Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Honfleur or Dover?

How long in Dover or Honfleur?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Dover and Honfleur. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Dover than in Honfleur. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dover, and 1-3 days is enough time in Honfleur.

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

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

One day in Dover or Honfleur?

The beautiful town of Dover offers museums and food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Honfleur, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this serene destination offers. Lots of people come for the food. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Dover or Honfleur?

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

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

Five days in Dover or Honfleur?

Dover 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.

Honfleur is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Honfleur. Lots of people come for the food. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Dover or Honfleur?

Dover is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

You'll find nightlife and food around the serene destination of Honfleur. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

When comparing the travel costs between Dover and Honfleur, we can see that Honfleur 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 Dover Expensive? and Is Honfleur Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Dover or Honfleur?

Dover has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Honfleur. When comparing the sizes of Dover and Honfleur, 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.