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

Should you visit Faro or Caen?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Caen, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Faro

Faro is a popular, busy, and active resort town. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Caen

Caen is a historic, park-filled, and important city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

Faro and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Caen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Caen. Although Faro and Caen are both popular with visitors, Caen has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Caen is more popular for its museums, food, and big city activities, while Faro is known for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, and shopping. Faro is more touristy than Caen and is known for its historical sights and rich culture. Caen is popular for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. It is also home to Pegasus Bridge.

How is Faro different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Caen is great for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Caen can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Caen is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Faro. It has become a major tourist town, so you have to get a bit creative to find a more traditional restaurant. Look for fresh seafood like cod, monkfish, or shellfish if you want some local flavors.

Is Faro or Caen Better for Nightlife?

Faro is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Faro has a large number of nightlife venues. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Caen has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Faro or Caen Better for Resorts?

Faro is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Caen is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Faro for its luxury resorts. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Caen is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Caen Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a good destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Caen is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Faro. There are both snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities in the area. It's possible to snorkel off of several beaches or arrange a scuba diving excursion with a local dive shop.

Caen is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Caen Better for Beaches?

Faro is a good destination for its beaches. However, Caen is not a beach destination.

Faro offers a nice beach destination. The most popular beach in the area is Faro Beach. It can get crowded during the summer months but if you walk a bit you can often get away from the crowds. To reach the beach you'll need a car or you can take the bus as the beach is about 10 km away.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Caen Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Caen does not have a historic old town.

Faro is a good destination for visiting its old town. You'll find historic buildings and cobblestone streets in the old town. It's a nice place to explore, grab a bite to eat, and do a little shopping.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Caen?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Faro. The town isn't as big as some others, so it's shopping scene isn't as comprehensive, but you will find the major brands as well as souvenir shops to peruse when you need a break from the beach.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Faro or Caen Better for Families?

Caen is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Faro is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

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

Faro is not the most family-friendly destination. There are some nice nature reserves in the area so kids who love wildlife will enjoy a visit.

Is Faro or Caen Better for Couples?

Faro and Caen are both good to visit as a couple.

Faro is a nice destination for couples. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

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.

Is Faro or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Faro and Caen are good places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Faro. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Caen is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

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

Caen is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its public transit.

Public transit in Caen is fairly effecient and thorough. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Faro has a few public transit options. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Is Faro or Caen a more walkable city?

Faro and Caen are good when it comes to walkability.

Faro is somewhat walkable. The city's old town is particularly walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Faro?

How long in Faro or Caen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Faro and Caen. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Faro than in Caen. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 2-3 days is enough time in Caen.

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

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

One day in Faro or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Faro. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Caen. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Faro or Caen?

Faro is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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.

Caen 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 Faro or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the popular destination of Faro. This resort town offers something for everyone. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

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

A week in Faro or Caen?

The popular resort town of Faro offers shopping and nightlife. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

The historic city of Caen 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Caen?

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

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 Faro or Caen in the Summer?

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

Faro is a little warmer than Caen in the summer. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Caen during summer. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Faro usually receives less rain than Caen. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Faro or Caen in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Faro is much warmer than Caen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Faro in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Caen averages at about 12°C (54°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the autumn, Faro often gets more sunshine than Caen. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Caen. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Caen in the Winter?

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

The weather in Caen can be very cold. In January, Faro is generally much warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 12°C (54°F), and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Faro usually receives more sunshine than Caen during winter. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Faro usually receives more rain than Caen. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Faro or Caen in the Spring?

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

Faro is much warmer than Caen in the spring. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

It's quite sunny in Faro. In the spring, Faro often gets more sunshine than Caen. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in April than Caen. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Caen and Faro