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

Should you visit Malaga or Calais?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Malaga and Calais. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Malaga

Malaga is a historic, beautiful, and friendly port city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

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 food, beaches, and shopping.

Malaga and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Malaga or Calais?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Malaga than Calais, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Malaga is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, scuba diving & snorkeling, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Calais is known for its museums and big city activities. Malaga is more touristy than Calais and is known for its perfect blend of sandy beaches, beautiful culture, fascinating history, and a lively nightlife scene. It is also home to The Alcazaba. Calais is popular for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Malaga different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Calais is a good destination for its sights and museums. However, Malaga does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Malaga does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Malaga or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Malaga 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 Malaga is an experience not to be missed. Head to any of the local food markets and seafood shops to try local cuisine. Also make sure you try tapas and a filling Andalusian breakfast.

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 Malaga or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Malaga is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Malaga is a world class party destination. The city has some of the most active nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of opportunities to party in Malaga and you'll find the most vibrant nightlife in the Centro Historico.

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 Malaga or Calais Better for Music?

Malaga is well known for its music scene. However, Calais is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Malaga. The city has venues that offer pop, rock, blues, soulful, and more. Some of the most popular include ZZ club, Clarence Jazz Club, and Velvet Club.

Calais is not a live music destination.

Is Malaga or Calais Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Malaga is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Calais is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Malaga has a few good snorkeling spots. Water temperatures are mild enough for diving or snorkeling near Malaga. For the best diving, head to Cala del Canuelo Beach. Closer by, Penon del Cuervo Beach offers diving and snorkeling as well.

Calais is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Malaga or Calais Better for Beaches?

Malaga and Calais both offer good beaches.

Malaga offers a nice beach destination. There are some nice beaches around Malaga, but for the best options you'll have to travel further outside of the city.

Calais is a good option for a beach vacation. 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 Malaga or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Malaga 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 Malaga. The city's old town is compact and small, making it a fun place to walk. There are historic buildings, museums, churches, and squares, as well as many restaurants and shops.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Malaga or Calais?

Both Malaga and Calais are good shopping destinations.

Malaga offers some nice shopping areas. There are a number of shopping areas in the city with both local boutiques and name brands.

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 Malaga or Calais Better for Families?

Both Malaga and Calais are good family-friendly destinations.

Malaga is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has castles that you can explore as well as a waterpark.

Calais is a family-friendly port 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.

Is Malaga or Calais Better for Couples?

Malaga and Calais both good destinations for a couple.

Malaga makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It has a beautiful coastline and a rich history that makes it unique.

Calais is a good port 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 Malaga or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Malaga is a must-visit destination for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Malaga is a very popular port city to visit for backpackers. From an endless supply of hostels to plenty of opportunities to meet other backpackers, this is a very backpacker friendly area.

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 Malaga or Calais Better for Students?

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

Malaga is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. The city has many opportunities to learn Spanish. It's also an affordable city with a young population and a lively atmosphere that appeals to international students.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Both Malaga and Calais offer good public transit options.

Malaga has a few public transit options. There is an efficient bus system as well as a light metro system.

Calais has some 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 Malaga or Calais a more walkable city?

Malaga is well known for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Malaga is a very walkable destination. It has a very compact and walkable historic center with most of the tourist attractions easily accessible on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Malaga?

How long in Malaga or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Malaga and Calais. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Malaga than in Calais. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Malaga, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

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

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

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

One day in Malaga or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Malaga. 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.

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

A weekend in Malaga or Calais?

Malaga is a great place to explore. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Calais 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.

Five days in Malaga or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Malaga. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A week in Malaga or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the beautiful destination of Malaga. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Spain, The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Malaga or Calais?

Malaga has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Malaga 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 Malaga 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 Malaga or Calais in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Malaga and Calais. The beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Malaga this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Malaga is a little warmer than Calais. Typically, the summer temperatures in Malaga in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Calais averages at about 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. In Malaga, it's very sunny this time of the year. Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Calais during summer. Malaga gets 348 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Malaga usually receives less rain than Calais. Malaga gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Malaga or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Malaga as well as Calais. Many travelers come to Malaga for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Malaga is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Malaga average around 19°C (67°F), and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Malaga this time of the year. In the autumn, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Calais. Malaga gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Malaga usually gets less rain in October than Calais. Malaga gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Malaga or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Malaga are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Malaga in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Calais can be very cold during winter. Malaga is much warmer than Calais in the winter. The daily temperature in Malaga averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Calais during winter. Malaga gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Malaga usually receives more rain than Calais. Malaga gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Malaga or Calais in the Spring?

Both Calais and Malaga during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Malaga for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Malaga is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the spring temperatures in Malaga in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Calais averages at about 9°C (47°F).

It's quite sunny in Malaga. In the spring, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Calais. Malaga gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Malaga usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Calais. Malaga gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Malaga