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

Should you visit Frankfurt or Calais?

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 Frankfurt and Calais can help you decide which place is right for you.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a connected, energetic, and dynamic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais

Calais is a coastal, authentic, and undiscovered city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Frankfurt and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Frankfurt or Calais?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Frankfurt than Calais. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Frankfurt is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Calais attracts visitors for its beaches. Frankfurt is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. It is also well known for The Old Town Center. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France.

The Old Town Center

How is Frankfurt different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Frankfurt offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

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 Frankfurt or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt is an experience not to be missed. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

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 Frankfurt or Calais Better for Nightlife?

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

Frankfurt is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

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 Frankfurt or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is very good for the beach. However, Frankfurt is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Calais to enjoy the beach. 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.

Frankfurt is not a beach destination.

Is Frankfurt or Calais Better for its Old Town?

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

Frankfurt offers a nice historic old town area. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Frankfurt or Calais?

Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

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 Frankfurt or Calais Better for Families?

Frankfurt is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

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.

Is Frankfurt or Calais Better for Couples?

Both Frankfurt and Calais are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Frankfurt is a good city for couples to visit. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

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 Frankfurt or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is well known for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Frankfurt is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

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 Frankfurt or Calais Better for Students?

Frankfurt is a must-visit destination for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Frankfurt. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Frankfurt is a must-visit destination for its public transit. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Frankfurt has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

While Calais offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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 Frankfurt or Calais a more walkable city?

Frankfurt is well known for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Frankfurt is a very walkable destination. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Frankfurt?

How long in Frankfurt or Calais?

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

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

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

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

One day in Frankfurt or Calais?

Frankfurt is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Calais. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Calais has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Frankfurt or Calais?

Frankfurt 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the authentic destination of Calais. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Frankfurt or Calais?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic city of Calais. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Frankfurt or Calais?

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

Calais is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt Expensive? and Is Calais Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Calais?

Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt or Calais in the Summer?

Both Calais and Frankfurt during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Frankfurt for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Frankfurt is a little warmer than Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Frankfurt. In the summer, Frankfurt often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Frankfurt gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets more rain in July than Calais. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Calais. The autumn months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In the autumn, Frankfurt is cooler than Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Frankfurt in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Calais during autumn. Frankfurt gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Calais. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Calais in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Calais. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Calais. It's quite cold in Frankfurt in the winter. In January, Frankfurt is generally much colder than Calais. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 1°C (34°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Calais. Frankfurt gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Calais. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Calais in the Spring?

Both Calais and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Frankfurt is a little warmer than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Frankfurt usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during spring. Frankfurt gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Frankfurt usually receives more rain than Calais. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Frankfurt