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

Should you visit Glasgow or Calais?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Glasgow 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.

Glasgow

Glasgow is a historic, high energy, and friendly city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Glasgow and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Glasgow or Calais?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Glasgow than Calais. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Glasgow is very popular for its museums, nightlife, music, and historical sights, while Calais attracts visitors for its beaches. Glasgow is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its rich culture, its beautiful Victorian and art nouveau architecture, and its large student population. It is also well known for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Glasgow different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Glasgow offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is rich in culture and offers many fascinating sights including the Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the Necropolis.

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 Glasgow or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Glasgow and Calais offer a number of nice restaurants to choose from.

Glasgow is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city's food scene continues to grow and innovate. You'll find plenty of seafood options as well as international cuisine and everything from fine dining to local cafes.

Calais offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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 Glasgow or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Glasgow is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Glasgow is a world class party destination. The city has some of the best nightlife in the entire country. There are clubs, bars, techno warehouses and more. Some of the best clubs include Sub Club, The Berkeley Suite, and The Garage.

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 Glasgow or Calais Better for Music?

Glasgow is a must-visit destination for its music scene. However, Calais is not a live music destination.

In Glasgow you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. Known to some as "the city of music", you'll find a wide range of music venues, live shows, festivals, and even a great underground music scene.

Calais is not a live music destination.

Is Glasgow or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Glasgow is not a beach destination.

Calais has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Glasgow is not a beach destination.

Is Glasgow or Calais Better for its Old Town?

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

Glasgow offers a nice historic old town area. High Street is one of the oldest and most well known streets in the city.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Glasgow or Calais?

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

Glasgow has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city has independent boutique shops as well as major brands. Head to the "Style Mile" for some of the best shopping. It's a district that offers pedestrian-friendly shopping and includes high end boutiques and independent markets. Also check out The Barras Market, Buchanan Street, and High Street.

Calais is a great destination for shopping. 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 Glasgow or Calais Better for Families?

Glasgow and Calais are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Glasgow offers lots of family activities. The city has some family-friendly museums including the hands on The Burrell Collection, the Glasgow Science Center, and The Riverside Museum. If you have older kids who enjoy the water, there are some water activities in town. Check out Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow Wake Park or Outdoor Pursuits. There are also climbing gyms and skate parks.

Calais is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Glasgow or Calais Better for Couples?

Glasgow and Calais are both nice to visit as a couple.

Glasgow is a good city for couples to visit. Couples can enjoy a museum or one of the parks around town. There are also river cruises and spas. For a more locally specific activity, check out the Bothwell Castle.

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 Glasgow or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Glasgow. There are a good number of hostels around town as well as a good social scene, making this a decent option for backpackers.

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 Glasgow or Calais Better for Students?

Glasgow is well known for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Glasgow is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has the second largest student population in the UK, so you'll find plenty of students to hang out with.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Glasgow is well known for its public transit. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Glasgow. The subway is convenient in the city center, west end, and southside. There are also buses throughout the city.

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 Glasgow or Calais a more walkable city?

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

Glasgow is a very walkable destination. The city center is generally walkable and can be explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Glasgow?

How long in Glasgow or Calais?

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

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

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

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

One day in Glasgow or Calais?

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

In Calais, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Glasgow or Calais?

Glasgow 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.

In Calais, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Calais has to offer.

Five days in Glasgow or Calais?

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

Calais is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Glasgow or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the historic destination of Glasgow. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calais. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Calais. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Glasgow and Calais, we can see that Glasgow is more expensive. And not only is Calais much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Calais would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Calais and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Glasgow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Glasgow than you might in Calais.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Glasgow Expensive? and Is Calais Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Glasgow or Calais?

Glasgow has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Glasgow 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 Glasgow 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 Glasgow or Calais in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Glasgow as well as Calais. Many visitors come to Glasgow in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, 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.

Glasgow is cooler than Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Glasgow averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Calais. In the summer, Glasgow often gets less sunshine than Calais. Glasgow gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Glasgow usually gets more rain in July than Calais. Glasgow gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Glasgow or Calais in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Glasgow is cooler than Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Glasgow in October average around 10°C (49°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Glasgow usually receives less sunshine than Calais during autumn. Glasgow gets 69 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Glasgow. In October, Glasgow usually receives more rain than Calais. Glasgow gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Glasgow or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Glasgow during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Glasgow because of the museums, 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. The weather in Glasgow can be very cold. In January, Glasgow is generally cooler than Calais. Daily temperatures in Glasgow average around 3°C (38°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Glasgow often gets less sunshine than Calais. Glasgow gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Glasgow. Glasgow usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Glasgow gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Glasgow or Calais in the Spring?

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

Glasgow is cooler than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Glasgow averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Glasgow usually receives less sunshine than Calais during spring. Glasgow gets 134 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Glasgow usually receives more rain than Calais. Glasgow gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Glasgow