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

Should you visit Dundee or Calais?

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

Should I visit Dundee or Calais? 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.

Dundee

Dundee is a historic, coastal, and cultural 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.

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 beaches, shopping, and museums.

Dundee and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dundee or Calais?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Calais than Dundee. While Dundee is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Dundee is well known for its maritime and manufacturing history as well as its focus on design. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Dundee different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Dundee and Calais have notable landmarks and museums for visitors.

Dundee is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. On the waterfront you'll find a couple of nautical museums such as RRS Discovery, and HM Frigate Unicorn. Other museums and sights include V&A Dundee, Tay Rail Bridge, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, and Glamis Castle.

Calais offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Dundee or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Dundee and Calais can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Dundee offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a few local dishes that the city is known for. These include Dundee Cake, Dundee marmalade, and Angus beef.

Calais has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 Dundee or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Both Dundee and Calais are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Dundee. The vibrant student population heavily influences the city's nightlife. There are a number of clubs and bars where you can hang out late into the night.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Calais. 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 Dundee or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a popular place for its beaches. However, Dundee is not a beach destination.

Calais is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Dundee is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Dundee or Calais?

Calais is a popular place for shopping. However, Dundee is not a good city for its shopping opportunities.

Calais is a great destination for 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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Dundee has some nice offerings. There are shopping centers and a few independent shops that are worth checking out. Head to Overgate Shopping Centre for the standard brands or Dundee's Farmer's Market for some local produce.

Is Dundee or Calais Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Dundee or Calais.

Dundee is a family-friendly place to visit. Head to the Dundee Science Center or check out Discovery Point. There's also the Dundee Treasure Trail as well as climbing walls and other outdoor activities for when the weather's nice.

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 Dundee or Calais Better for Couples?

Calais is a popular place for romance. However, Dundee is not a good city for its romantic activities.

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.

Most people don't think of Dundee as a couple's destination. The coastal city has some nice outdoor spaces and interesting restaurants that couples can enjoy.

Is Dundee or Calais Better for Students?

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

Dundee is popular with students. Its affordability and authenticity make this a nice option for students. It's also a very safe city.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Both Dundee and Calais offer notable public transit options.

Dundee has a few public transit options. The city has a public bus system.

Calais has some 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.

Is Dundee or Calais a more walkable city?

Dundee and Calais both are notable when exploring on foot.

Dundee is somewhat walkable. There are a number of walks through the town.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Dundee?

How long in Dundee or Calais?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calais than Dundee 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 Calais.

One day in Dundee or Calais?

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

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

A weekend in Dundee or Calais?

Dundee 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 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 Dundee or Calais?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calais. 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 Dundee or Calais?

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

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dundee or Calais?

Dundee has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Dundee 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 Dundee 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 Dundee or Calais in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dundee and Calais. The summer months attract visitors to Dundee because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In July, Dundee is generally cooler than Calais. Daily temperatures in Dundee average around 14°C (58°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. Dundee usually receives less sunshine than Calais during summer. Dundee gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Dundee usually receives more rain than Calais. Dundee gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Dundee or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Dundee as well as Calais. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Dundee this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Dundee is cooler than Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dundee averages around 10°C (49°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Dundee often gets less sunshine than Calais. Dundee gets 100 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Calais. Dundee gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dundee or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Dundee are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Dundee for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Dundee. In the winter, Dundee is cooler than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dundee in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Dundee usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during winter. Dundee gets 58 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Dundee usually receives more rain than Calais. Dundee gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Dundee or Calais in the Spring?

Both Calais and Dundee during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Dundee in the spring for the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Dundee is generally cooler than Calais. Daily temperatures in Dundee average around 7°C (45°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the spring, Dundee often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Dundee gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Calais. Dundee gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Dundee