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

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

Manchester

Manchester is a cultural, vibrant, and dynamic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, 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.

Manchester and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Calais?

You'll generally find more things to do in Manchester than Calais. Manchester is bigger than Calais, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Manchester is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Calais is more popular for its beaches. Manchester is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club. Also, Manchester is famous for The National Football Museum. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Manchester different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Manchester is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Manchester offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Head to the Science and Industry Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Cathedral, or John Rylands Library & Manchester Central Library to see some of the cities most interesting sights.

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 Manchester or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Manchester 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 Manchester is an experience not to be missed. You'll find a great food scene with diverse restaurant options that include international flavors, vegetarian options, and more. There are also many great places to try craft beer.

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 Manchester or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Manchester is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The nightlife scene is diverse and high energy. Head to Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for some of the best nightlife venues. You'll also find a huge rave scene in town.

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 Manchester or Calais Better for Music?

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

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Manchester. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Calais is not a live music destination.

Is Manchester or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is very good for its beaches. However, Manchester 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.

Manchester is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Calais?

Manchester is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Manchester. From jewelry to boutique clothing outlets, there are many places to shop around town. Head to Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre, or Market Street for some of the best shopping.

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.

Is Manchester or Calais Better for Families?

Manchester is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Manchester is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. You'll find a number of kid-friendly activities around town including the popular Legoland Discovery Center. Another fun activity is taking a behind the scenes CBBC interactive tour at MediaCityUK. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the SeaLife Aquarium or the Chester Zoo and sports enthusiasts will not want to miss a visit to the National Football Museum or doing a tour of Old Trafford where you can also visit the Manchester United Museum.

Calais offers lots of family activities. 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 Manchester or Calais Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Manchester frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples can enjoy a visit to a spa, a nice meal out, or simply wandering down the canal. For a unique experience, you can hit to slopes at Chill Factore.

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 Manchester or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Manchester. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

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 Manchester or Calais Better for Students?

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

Manchester is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There's a large number of students as well as a great music scene and tons of festivals that make this a great city to do your studies.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Manchester 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 Manchester. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

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 Manchester or Calais a more walkable city?

Manchester and Calais are notable when it comes to walkability.

Manchester is somewhat walkable. Some neighborhoods are more walkable than others.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Calais?

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

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

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

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

One day in Manchester or Calais?

Manchester is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and nightlife around the undiscovered city of Calais, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Calais, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Manchester or Calais?

Manchester 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Calais, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Manchester or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Manchester. 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, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Manchester or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the diverse big city of Manchester. 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 popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Calais?

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

The summer brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Calais. Most visitors come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, 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, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as Calais. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 16°C (62°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Calais. In the summer, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Calais. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in July than Calais. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Calais in the Autumn?

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

Manchester is around the same temperature as Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Calais during autumn. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Manchester usually receives more rain than Calais. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Manchester during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Manchester 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 Manchester in the winter. In the winter, Manchester is cooler than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manchester in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Manchester often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Calais in the Spring?

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

In April, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as Calais. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 8°C (46°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Calais during spring. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Manchester usually receives more rain than Calais. Manchester gets 51 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 Manchester