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

Should you visit Howth or Caen?

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

Should I visit Howth or Caen? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Howth

Howth is a scenic, peaceful, and coastal fishing village. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and museums.

Caen

Caen is a park-filled, important, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, museums, and nightlife.

Howth and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Howth or Caen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Caen. Although Howth and Caen are popular destinations, Caen has more sights and attractions for tourists. Caen is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Howth attracts visitors for its beaches, hiking, and small town charm. Howth is more touristy than Caen and is popular for its scenic coastline, charming character, and its accessibility to Dublin. Caen is famous for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. It is also well known for Pegasus Bridge.

How is Howth different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Caen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Howth. The surrounding coastline is the main draw to this picturesque town but there is also a nice harbor, pier, and lighthouse that you can visit.

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

Caen is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Howth is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Caen. 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.

Howth is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are seafood restaurants and a few pubs where you can enjoy some fresh food and the local ambiance.

Is Howth or Caen Better for Nightlife?

Caen is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Howth is not particularly known for its evening party scene.

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.

Howth doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a few pubs around town but if you're looking for a real nightlife scene then your best bet is to head into Dublin.

Is Howth or Caen Better for Beaches?

Howth is a very popular place for its beaches. However, Caen is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Howth for it's beautiful beaches. Many people head to this coastal town specifically to hang out on the beach. There's also the Howth Cliff Path which is fun to explore. Some of the top beaches in the area include Red Rock Beach, Claremont Beach, and Balscadden Bay Beach. The beaches can be rocky and rough so make sure you understand the water conditions before heading to the beach.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is Howth or Caen Better for Hiking?

Howth is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Caen is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Howth. The best way to experience Howth is to explore the The Howth Cliff Walk. There are several versions of the hike that cater to different experience and skill levels.

Caen is not a hiking destination.

Is Howth or Caen Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Howth or Caen.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Howth. It has a beach where kids can run around. There are also playgrounds, a lighthouse, and a pier to explore.

Caen offers lots of family activities. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Howth or Caen Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Howth and Caen make for a nice place to visit.

Howth makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The small fishing village has some great seafood restaurants and a beach where couples can pass the time.

Caen is a good fishing village for couples to visit. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Is Howth or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen is a popular place for backpackers. However, Howth is not particularly known for backpackers and budget 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.

Howth is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It a small village outside of Dublin so most backpackers don't make it this way.

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

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

Public transit in Caen can get you to some places easily. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

While Howth offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. It's easy to reach the town from Dublin by DART.

Is Howth or Caen a more walkable city?

Howth 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.

Howth is very walkable. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot. There are also many walks through the cliffs.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Howth?

How long in Howth or Caen?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Caen than Howth 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 Caen.

One day in Howth or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Howth. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Caen, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this park-filled destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Howth or Caen?

Howth is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Caen. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Howth or Caen?

You'll find museums and food around the coastal destination of Howth. This fishing village offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Caen is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Caen. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Howth or Caen?

The peaceful fishing village of Howth offers food and museums. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

You'll find nightlife and food around the historic destination of Caen. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Ireland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Ireland, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

When is the best time to visit Howth 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 Howth or Caen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Howth as well as Caen. Most visitors come to Howth for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Caen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Howth is generally cooler than Caen. Daily temperatures in Howth average around 16°C (60°F), and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Caen. In the summer, Howth often gets less sunshine than Caen. Howth gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.

Howth usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Caen. Howth gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Howth or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Howth are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Howth because of the hiking trails and the small town atmosphere. Also, the city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Howth is cooler than Caen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Howth averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Howth usually receives less sunshine than Caen during autumn. Howth gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Howth usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Howth gets 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Howth or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Howth during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Howth this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. In the winter, Howth is a little warmer than Caen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Howth in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Caen averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Howth often gets less sunshine than Caen. Howth gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.

Howth usually gets more rain in January than Caen. Howth gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Howth or Caen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Howth and Caen. Many travelers come to Howth for the beaches and the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Howth is generally cooler than Caen. Daily temperatures in Howth average around 8°C (47°F), and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

Howth usually receives less sunshine than Caen during spring. Howth gets 157 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Howth usually receives more rain than Caen. Howth gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Howth