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

Should you visit Faro or Calais?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Calais, 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 active, popular, and busy resort town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, 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. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Faro and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Calais?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Calais than Faro, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Calais is better known for its museums, food, and big city activities, while Faro is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and historical sights. Faro is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its historical sights and rich culture. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Faro different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Calais 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 Calais?

Calais is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Calais is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

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 Calais Better for Nightlife?

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

Faro is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

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 Faro or Calais Better for Resorts?

Faro is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Calais is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Faro is a great choice. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Calais is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Calais Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Calais is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Faro has a few good snorkeling spots. 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.

Calais is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Calais Better for Beaches?

Both Faro and Calais have notable beaches worth visiting.

Faro has a beach worth visiting. 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.

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.

Is Faro or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

Faro offers a nice historic old town area. 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.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Calais?

If you're looking to go shopping, Faro and Calais both offer plenty of notable spots.

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.

Calais offers some nice shopping areas. 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 Faro or Calais Better for Families?

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

Calais offers lots of family activities. 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.

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 Calais Better for Couples?

Faro and Calais are both notable 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.

Calais makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 Faro or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Faro. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

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

Faro and Calais both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Faro offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

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.

Is Faro or Calais a more walkable city?

Faro and Calais are notable when it comes to walkability.

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Faro?

How long in Faro or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Faro and Calais. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Faro than in Calais. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

Families should spend more time in Calais than Faro. 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 Faro than Calais. 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 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 Faro.

One day in Faro or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Faro. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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 Faro or Calais?

Faro 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 Faro or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Faro. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. 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 Faro or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the active destination of Faro. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The authentic 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 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Calais?

Calais has a larger population, and is about 80% larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro 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 Faro or Calais?

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 Faro or Calais in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Faro as well as Calais. Many visitors come to Faro in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Faro is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 25°C (78°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Calais. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the summer, Faro often gets more sunshine than Calais. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in July than Calais. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Faro for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Calais because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Faro is much warmer than Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Calais during autumn. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Faro usually receives more rain than Calais. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Faro or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Faro during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

It's quite cold in Calais in the winter. In the winter, Faro is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Faro in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Faro often gets more sunshine than Calais. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Calais in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Calais. The beaches are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, Faro is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 17°C (62°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Calais during spring. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Faro usually receives less rain than Calais. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Faro