A Travel Price Comparison for France Le Mans vs. Calais for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Le Mans or Calais?

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 Le Mans and Calais can help you decide which place is right for you.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a quaint, small, and historic town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include nightlife and museums.

Calais

Calais is a authentic, undiscovered, and coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Le Mans and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Le Mans or Calais?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Calais than Le Mans. While Le Mans is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is better known for its food, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Le Mans is more popular for its small town charm. Le Mans is well known for being the location of the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is one of the world's greatest sports-car races. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Le Mans different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Le Mans or Calais?

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Le Mans or Calais.

Le Mans is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's most famous as the location of the 24 hour car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and on some days it's possible to visit the race track which has a museum with simulators and other activities. Around town you'll find museums and activities affiliated with the racing culture, and there's also a cathedral as well as several nice museums relating to the automotive industry among other things.

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 Le Mans or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Calais is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Le Mans is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Calais. 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Le Mans. It's not known for its food scene, but there is one dish in particular that you should try. The local specialty is les rillettes de porc, which is a pork paté.

Is Le Mans or Calais Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is notable in both Le Mans and Calais.

If you're looking for night time activities Le Mans has a few options to choose from. You'll find bars and clubs in the city center around Saint-Nicolas Quarter, rue des Ponts-neufs, Place de la Sirène and around the Republic Square.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Calais. 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 Le Mans or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is very good for its beaches. However, Le Mans is not a beach destination.

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.

Le Mans is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Le Mans or Calais?

Calais is very good for shopping. However, Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in 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.

Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Le Mans or Calais Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Le Mans or Calais.

Le Mans offers lots of family activities. Make sure you visit on a day when Le Mans Karting International and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum is open to visitors. Families can ride on high speed go-carts and train like professionals with special game simulators. This is a popular destination for adults and kids alike. The town also has indoor play areas, waterparks, and beautiful parks to explore.

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 Le Mans or Calais Better for Couples?

Both Le Mans and Calais are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Le Mans is a nice destination for couples. It's a small town, but racing enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum.

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 Le Mans or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Le Mans. While there aren't many hostels specifically designed for backpackers, it is possible to find affordable accommodation at most times.

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

Le Mans and Calais both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Le Mans offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a tram service around town that provides access to many places including the race track via the T1 line (Antarès-Stade Marie Marvingt and exit at the East Entrance).

Calais has a few 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 Le Mans or Calais a more walkable city?

Le Mans and Calais are notable when it comes to walkability.

Le Mans is somewhat walkable. Parts of the town are walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Le Mans?

How long in Le Mans or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Le Mans and Calais. In our opinion, Calais has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Calais than Le Mans. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Calais than Le Mans. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Le Mans 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 Le Mans.

One day in Le Mans or Calais?

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

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 Le Mans or Calais?

Le Mans 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 Le Mans or Calais?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and museums when visiting the small destination of Le Mans. This town 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 Adventure Tours to France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Le Mans or Calais?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Le Mans 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 Le Mans 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 Le Mans or Calais in the Summer?

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

In July, Le Mans is generally around the same temperature as Calais. Daily temperatures in Le Mans average around 19°C (66°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Calais. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Le Mans this time of the year. In the summer, Le Mans often gets more sunshine than Calais. Le Mans gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Le Mans usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Calais. Le Mans gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Le Mans or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Le Mans are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town atmosphere. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

Le Mans is around the same temperature as Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Le Mans averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Le Mans usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during autumn. Le Mans gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Le Mans usually receives more rain than Calais. Le Mans gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Le Mans or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Le Mans during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Le Mans this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Calais. It's quite cold in Le Mans in the winter. In the winter, Le Mans is around the same temperature as Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Le Mans in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Le Mans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Le Mans gets 54 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Le Mans usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Le Mans gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Le Mans or Calais in the Spring?

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

In April, Le Mans is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Le Mans average around 10°C (50°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Le Mans usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during spring. Le Mans gets 168 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Le Mans usually receives more rain than Calais. Le Mans gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Le Mans