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

Should you visit Mainz or Calais?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Mainz and Calais can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Mainz

Mainz is a quaint, charming, and beautiful town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

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 nightlife, food, and beaches.

Mainz and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mainz or Calais?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Calais than Mainz. While Mainz is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is better known for its nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Mainz is more popular for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Mainz is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Mainz different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Mainz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's an old university town with a number of historical sights. Check out the Church of St. Stephan, Mainz Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Seafaring.

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 Mainz or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Dining out in Mainz is an experience not to be missed. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that serve local food. There are also wine taverns where you can sample the local wines and dine of regional specialties.

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.

Is Mainz or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Calais is a city with good options for nightlife. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Mainz. It's a sleepy little town, so even locals often head to bigger cities for better nightlife.

Is Mainz or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a city with good options for its beaches. However, Mainz is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Calais. 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.

Mainz is not a beach destination.

Is Mainz or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Mainz is well known for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Mainz. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Mainz or Calais?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Mainz and Calais.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Mainz. Head to the boulevard of Am Brand near the cathedral for some of the town's best shopping. There are shops that line the street and it's a nice area to walk around.

Calais offers some nice shopping areas. 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 Mainz or Calais Better for Families?

Calais is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Calais is a family-friendly city. 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.

Mainz doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Kids will enjoy the Gutenburg Museum and the outdoor spaces where they can run around. There's also a nice old town that everyone will have fun exploring.

Is Mainz or Calais Better for Couples?

Mainz is well known for couples. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Mainz frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Located on the Rhine River, this scenic setting is popular for river cruises. The town is nice to explore on its own, or you can hop around and take in several of the German river towns. You can also sit at outdoor cafes and sip local wine.

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 Mainz or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Mainz. The town is popular with river cruises but you'll also find a hostel or two where budget travelers can save some money and meet other backpackers.

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 Mainz or Calais Better for Students?

Mainz is well known for students. However, Calais is not popular with students.

Mainz is a very popular town for students and younger travelers. It's a university town with a pleasant atmosphere and a beautiful setting.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

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

Many visitors use the public transit system in Mainz. There are regional trains that make it easy to use Mainz as a base to explore the area, or you could visit Mainz as a day trip from another nearby town.

While Calais offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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 Mainz or Calais a more walkable city?

Mainz is a must-visit destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Mainz on foot is easy. The town is easily explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Mainz?

How long in Mainz or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mainz and Calais. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Mainz than in Calais. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Mainz, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

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

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

One day in Mainz or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Mainz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Calais, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this coastal destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Mainz or Calais?

Mainz 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.

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mainz. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Calais. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Mainz or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the peaceful destination of Mainz. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the authentic destination of Calais. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Mainz or Calais?

Mainz has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Mainz 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 Mainz 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 Mainz or Calais in the Summer?

Both Calais and Mainz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Mainz for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mainz. In the summer, Mainz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Mainz gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Mainz usually gets more rain in July than Calais. Mainz gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mainz and Calais. Many visitors come to Mainz in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

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

Mainz usually receives less sunshine than Calais during autumn. Mainz gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Mainz usually receives less rain than Calais. Mainz gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mainz or Calais in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mainz as well as Calais. Most visitors come to Mainz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Calais because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Calais can be very cold. Mainz can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Mainz is much colder than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mainz in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Mainz often gets less sunshine than Calais. Mainz gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Mainz usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Calais. Mainz gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Calais in the Spring?

Both Calais and Mainz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Mainz because of the natural beauty. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In April, Mainz is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 11°C (51°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Mainz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during spring. Mainz gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mainz usually receives more rain than Calais. Mainz gets 52 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 Mainz