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

Should you visit Kilkenny or Caen?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Kilkenny and Caen can help you decide which place is right for you.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a medieval, fascinating, and active town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, 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.

Kilkenny and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kilkenny or Caen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Caen. Although Kilkenny and Caen are popular destinations, Caen has more sights and attractions for tourists. Caen is very popular for its big city activities, while Kilkenny attracts visitors for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Kilkenny is famous for its medieval castle and long running history. 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 Kilkenny different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Kilkenny and Caen.

Many visitors head to Kilkenny specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. It's seeped in history and there are many historic landmarks in the area including Kilkenny Castle. Also make sure you check out the National Design & Craft Gallery, Saint Mary's Cathedral, and the Medieval Mile Museum.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Caen can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Kilkenny and Caen.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Kilkenny. The town has two Michelin starred restaurants as well as many Irish pubs and international restaurants to choose from.

Caen has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Is Kilkenny or Caen Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Kilkenny or Caen has a better nightlife scene.

Kilkenny has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find traditional pubs and local breweries around town. The town also hosts several local music festivals.

If you're looking for night time activities Caen has a few options to choose from. 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 Kilkenny or Caen Better for its Old Town?

Kilkenny is a very popular place for its historic old town. However, Caen does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Kilkenny. Known as the Medieval Mile, the old town dates back 1,500 years and is filled with city walls, cathedrals, and meandering lanes.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Kilkenny or Caen?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Kilkenny. There's a mix of shopping malls, shopping streets, and local markets. Make sure you check out Market Cross Shopping Centre, MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, Connolly's Red Mills, and Castleinch Sunday Market.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Kilkenny or Caen Better for Families?

Kilkenny is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Kilkenny is a very family-friendly destination. The obvious activity is visiting the Kilkenny Castle, but there are so many other adventures that your family can have. You can do the zip line and other outdoor adventures at Castlecomer Discovery Park, try out falconry, or visit the National Reptile Museum. There's also river rafting, kayaking, and many other outdoor adventures in the area.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Caen. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Kilkenny or Caen Better for Couples?

Kilkenny is a very popular place for romance. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Kilkenny makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Adventure lovers will enjoy rafting, kayaking, hiking, and cycling through the area. There are also Michelin starred restaurants and other romantic settings that make for a great couple's weekend.

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 Kilkenny or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Kilkenny and Caen are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Kilkenny is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The area has some unique hostels that offer interesting experiences while you're in town.

It's common for backpackers to visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

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

Caen is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are city buses through town.

Is Kilkenny or Caen a more walkable city?

Kilkenny 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.

Kilkenny is very walkable. The town is easy to walk around and most areas can be explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Kilkenny?

How long in Kilkenny or Caen?

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

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

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

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

One day in Kilkenny or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Kilkenny. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

The city of Caen offers nightlife and food. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Kilkenny or Caen?

Kilkenny is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Caen, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Kilkenny or Caen?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the ancient destination of Kilkenny. This town offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Caen is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Kilkenny or Caen?

The medieval town of Kilkenny offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Caen is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kilkenny and Caen, we can see that Caen is more expensive. And not only is Kilkenny much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kilkenny would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kilkenny 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 Caen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Caen than you might in Kilkenny.

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

Which is Bigger, Kilkenny or Caen?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kilkenny. When comparing the sizes of Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny or Caen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Kilkenny as well as Caen. Many visitors come to Kilkenny in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Kilkenny is generally cooler than Caen. Daily temperatures in Kilkenny average around 15°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, Kilkenny often gets less sunshine than Caen. Kilkenny gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.

Kilkenny usually gets more rain in July than Caen. Kilkenny gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kilkenny or Caen in the Autumn?

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

Kilkenny is cooler than Caen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kilkenny averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Kilkenny usually receives less sunshine than Caen during autumn. Kilkenny gets 83 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kilkenny usually receives more rain than Caen. Kilkenny gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kilkenny or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Kilkenny during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Kilkenny because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

It's quite cold in Caen in the winter. In the winter, Kilkenny is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kilkenny in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Caen averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Kilkenny often gets less sunshine than Caen. Kilkenny gets 50 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.

Kilkenny usually gets more rain in January than Caen. Kilkenny gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kilkenny or Caen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kilkenny and Caen. The natural beauty are the main draw to Kilkenny this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Caen for the activities around the city.

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

Kilkenny usually receives less sunshine than Caen during spring. Kilkenny gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kilkenny usually receives more rain than Caen. Kilkenny gets 53 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 Kilkenny