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

Should you visit Limerick 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 Limerick and Calais can help you decide which place is right for you.

Limerick

Limerick is a fun-filled, historic, and outdoorsy city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

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 shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Limerick and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Limerick or Calais?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Calais than Limerick. While Limerick is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is very popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Limerick attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Limerick is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its castle, old town, and outdoor activities. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also well known for The Town Hall.

How is Limerick different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Calais and Limerick.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Limerick. The town is famous for King John's Castle as well as St. Mary's Cathedral, and St. John's Square and Cathedral.

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 Limerick or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Limerick and Calais.

Limerick is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find a mix of traditional Irish restaurants and more modern international cuisine. Local specialties to try include Limerick Ham, Cahill's Whiskey Cheese, and Walnut Cheddar.

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 Limerick or Calais Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find nice options in both Limerick and Calais.

If you're looking for night time activities Limerick has a few options to choose from. It's a student town so much of the nightlife scene centers around the student population. There are lively pubs and clubs around town so it's not hard to have a fun night out.

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 Limerick or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is very good for the beach. However, Limerick 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.

Limerick is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Limerick or Calais?

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

Limerick has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find a mix of brand name chains and independent boutiques in the city center. There are several major shopping streets in town including O'Connell Street, and the pedestrian streets of Bedford Row and Cruises 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 Limerick or Calais Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Limerick or Calais.

Limerick offers lots of family activities. Families will enjoy visiting King John's Castle but for kids who need a break from the sightseeing, there are kid-friendly activities around town like Curraghchase Forest Park and the Peoples Park. Families should also check out the Dreamland Fun Center. Museums like Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum are also fun for the whole family.

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 Limerick or Calais Better for Couples?

Both Limerick and Calais are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Limerick is a good city for couples to visit. There are river cruises, kayaking, and nature to explore. Head to the Curraghchase Forest Park or any of the many beautiful parks around town. Couples can combine history with nature and enjoy a nice, romantic trip through Limerick.

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 Limerick or Calais Better for Students?

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

Limerick is popular with students. The city has a nice student scene with plenty of areas to explore.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Limerick and Calais both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Limerick offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a city bus service that travels around town.

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 Limerick or Calais a more walkable city?

Limerick and Calais are nice when it comes to walkability.

Limerick is a somewhat walkable city. There are compact and walkable parts to the city that 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 Limerick Worth Visiting? and Is Calais Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calais or Limerick?

How long in Limerick or Calais?

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

Families should spend more time in Calais than Limerick. 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 Limerick. 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 Limerick or Calais?

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

The city of Calais offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Limerick or Calais?

Limerick 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 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 Calais, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Limerick or Calais?

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

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

Calais 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 from Dublin, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Limerick and Calais, we can see that Calais is more expensive. And not only is Limerick much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Limerick would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Limerick 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 Limerick.

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

Which is Bigger, Limerick or Calais?

Limerick has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Limerick 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 Limerick 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 Limerick or Calais in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Limerick as well as Calais. Most visitors come to Limerick for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Limerick is around the same temperature as Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Limerick averages around 16°C (60°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, Limerick often gets less sunshine than Calais. Limerick gets 142 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Limerick usually gets more rain in July than Calais. Limerick gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Limerick or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Limerick are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Limerick because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In the autumn, Limerick is around the same temperature as Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Limerick in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Limerick usually receives less sunshine than Calais during autumn. Limerick gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Limerick usually receives more rain than Calais. Limerick gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Limerick or Calais in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Calais. In January, Limerick is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Limerick average around 6°C (42°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Limerick often gets less sunshine than Calais. Limerick gets 49 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Limerick usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Limerick gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Limerick or Calais in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Limerick and Calais. Many travelers come to Limerick for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Calais in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Limerick is around the same temperature as Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Limerick averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Limerick usually receives less sunshine than Calais during spring. Limerick gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Limerick usually receives more rain than Calais. Limerick gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Limerick