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

Should you visit Kiel or Calais?

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

Should I visit Kiel or Calais? 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.

Kiel

Kiel is a authentic, off-the-beaten-path, and waterfront city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Calais

Calais is a undiscovered, coastal, and authentic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Kiel and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Calais?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kiel than Calais, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Kiel is more touristy than Calais and is known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also home to The Kiel Castle. Calais is popular for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Kiel different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Kiel and Calais.

Kiel offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calais. 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 Kiel or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Kiel and Calais offer a number of good restaurants to choose from.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Kiel. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Calais is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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 Kiel or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Kiel and Calais.

Kiel has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

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 Kiel or Calais Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Kiel and Calais are good choices.

Kiel is a good option for a beach vacation. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Calais?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Calais and Kiel.

Kiel offers some nice shopping areas. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Calais has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Kiel or Calais Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kiel or Calais.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Kiel. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

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 Kiel or Calais Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kiel and Calais make for a good place to visit.

Kiel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Calais is a good city for couples to visit. 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 Kiel or Calais Better for Students?

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

Kiel is popular with students. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Calais is a popular place for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Calais, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. 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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Kiel or Calais a more walkable city?

Kiel and Calais both are good when exploring on foot.

Kiel is a somewhat walkable place. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kiel and Calais. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

One day in Kiel or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kiel. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Calais. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Kiel or Calais?

Kiel 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 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.

Five days in Kiel or Calais?

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

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

A week in Kiel or Calais?

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

The undiscovered city of Calais 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Calais?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Kiel 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 Kiel 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 Kiel or Calais in the Summer?

Both Calais and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In the summer, Kiel is around the same temperature as Calais. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kiel in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Calais averages at about 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Calais. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kiel. Kiel usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during summer. Kiel gets 219 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Kiel usually receives more rain than Calais. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kiel or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Kiel during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kiel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Kiel is generally cooler than Calais. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 10°C (50°F), and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Calais. Kiel gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Calais. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Calais in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Calais. Many travelers come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Kiel. Kiel is much colder than Calais in the winter. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Kiel usually receives less sunshine than Calais during winter. Kiel gets 39 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Kiel usually receives more rain than Calais. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kiel or Calais in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Calais. Many visitors come to Kiel in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Kiel is cooler than Calais. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kiel in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Calais averages at about 9°C (47°F).

In the spring, Kiel often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Kiel gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in April than Calais. Kiel gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Kiel