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

Should you visit Galway or Calais?

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 Calais 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 vibrant, lively, and friendly city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, 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. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Galway and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Galway or Calais?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Calais. Although Galway and Calais are about the same size, Calais has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Calais is better known for its beaches, while Galway is more popular for its nightlife. Galway is well known for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Galway different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Galway is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.

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 Galway or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Galway and Calais can be an enjoyable experience.

Galway offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

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 Galway or Calais Better for Nightlife?

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

Galway is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

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 Galway or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a city with good options for its beaches. However, Galway is not a beach destination.

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.

Galway is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Galway or Calais?

Both Galway and Calais are notable shopping destinations.

Galway is a great destination for shopping. 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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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 Galway or Calais Better for Families?

Both Galway and Calais are notable 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.

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 Galway or Calais Better for Couples?

Both Galway and Calais are notable 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.

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 Galway or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Galway is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

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 Galway or Calais Better for Students?

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

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

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Both Galway and Calais offer notable public transit options.

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

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 Galway or Calais a more walkable city?

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

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Galway?

How long in Galway or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Galway and Calais. In our opinion, Galway has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Galway than Calais. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Galway, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

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

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

One day in Galway or Calais?

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

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 Galway or Calais?

Galway 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 Galway or Calais?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the lively destination of Galway. 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 undiscovered 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 Budget Tours to Ireland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Galway or Calais?

Calais has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Galway 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 Galway 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 Galway or Calais in the Summer?

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

In July, Galway is generally around the same temperature as Calais. Daily temperatures in Galway average around 16°C (60°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. Galway usually receives less sunshine than Calais during summer. Galway gets 142 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Galway usually receives more rain than Calais. Galway gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Galway or Calais in the Autumn?

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

Galway is around the same temperature as Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Galway averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Galway often gets less sunshine than Calais. Galway gets 96 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Galway receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Galway usually gets more rain in October than Calais. Galway gets 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galway or Calais in the Winter?

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

The weather in Calais can be very cold. In the winter, Galway is a little warmer than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Galway in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Galway usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during winter. Galway gets 59 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Galway. In January, Galway usually receives more rain than Calais. Galway gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Galway or Calais in the Spring?

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

In April, Galway is generally around the same temperature as Calais. Daily temperatures in Galway average around 9°C (48°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the spring, Galway often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Galway gets 153 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Galway usually gets more rain in April than Calais. Galway gets 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Galway