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

Should you visit Galway or Caen?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Galway and Caen can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Galway

Galway is a historical, vibrant, and lively city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Caen

Caen is a historic, park-filled, and important city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums.

Galway and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Galway or Caen?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Galway than Caen. While Caen is larger than Galway, Galway has more sights and attractions for tourists. Galway is more popular for its nightlife and shopping, while Caen is known for its museums and food. Caen is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music. It is also home to The Galway Market.

How is Galway different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Caen is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Caen. 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.

Galway offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.

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

Caen is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Caen makes for a great culinary experience. 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.

Galway has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Galway or Caen Better for Nightlife?

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

Galway has a large number of nightlife venues. The nightlife scene is among the best in Ireland. The city embraces the friendly Irish hospitality and there are laid back pubs and bars around town as well as a few trendy nightclubs.

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 the Shopping Better in Galway or Caen?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Galway. You'll find shopping both in the city center as well as at suburban shopping malls. For some of the best shopping head to The Latin Quarter, The Westend or the outdoor market which is found in Church lane by St Nicholas' Church.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Galway or Caen Better for Families?

Both Galway and Caen are good to visit with kids.

Galway is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the National Aquarium Galway or simply wandering around the Latin Quarter. About 15 minutes outside of the city is the Wildlands Adventure Park which has ziplines, ropes courses, and other adrenaline filled activities. Brigit's Garden is another fun place to let kids stretch their legs.

Caen is a family-friendly city. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Galway or Caen Better for Couples?

Both Galway and Caen are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Galway is a nice destination for couples. There are nice restaurants, beautiful walks, and a few parks to explore. There are also several romantic places just outside of town that make for a great day trip.

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 Galway or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Galway is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Is Galway or Caen Better for Students?

Galway is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

Caen is notable for its public transit. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Caen. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Galway has some public transit options. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.

Is Galway or Caen a more walkable city?

Galway is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Galway is very walkable. If you stay in central Galway, the area is generally compact and walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Galway?

How long in Galway or Caen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Galway and Caen. In our opinion, Galway has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Galway than Caen. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Caen than Galway. 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.

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

One day in Galway or Caen?

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

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Caen. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Galway or Caen?

Galway 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.

Caen 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 Galway or Caen?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Caen. 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 Galway or Caen?

The friendly city of Galway 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the important destination of Caen. 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 Budget Tours to Ireland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Galway or Caen?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Galway 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 Galway or Caen?

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 Galway or Caen in the Summer?

Both Caen and Galway during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Galway this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Galway is cooler than Caen in the summer. The daily temperature in Galway averages around 16°C (60°F) in July, and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In Caen, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Galway often gets less sunshine than Caen. Galway gets 142 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.

Galway usually gets more rain in July than Caen. Galway gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galway or Caen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Galway and Caen. Many travelers come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Caen in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions.

In the autumn, Galway is cooler than Caen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Galway in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Caen averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Galway usually receives less sunshine than Caen during autumn. Galway gets 96 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Galway gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Galway usually receives more rain than Caen. Galway gets 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Galway or Caen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Galway as well as Caen. Many visitors come to Galway in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Caen can be very cold during winter. In January, Galway is generally around the same temperature as Caen. Daily temperatures in Galway average around 6°C (42°F), and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Galway often gets less sunshine than Caen. Galway gets 59 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.

Galway receives a lot of rain in the winter. Galway usually gets more rain in January than Caen. Galway gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galway or Caen in the Spring?

Both Caen and Galway are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Galway for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Caen because of the activities around the city.

Galway is around the same temperature as Caen in the spring. The daily temperature in Galway averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

Galway usually receives less sunshine than Caen during spring. Galway gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Galway usually receives more rain than Caen. Galway gets 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Galway