A Travel Price Comparison for France Montpellier vs. Caen for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Montpellier or Caen?

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 Montpellier and Caen. 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.

Montpellier

Montpellier is a vibrant, bustling, and beautiful city. Montpellier is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping. See Montpellier travel costs.

Caen

Caen is a important, historic, and park-filled city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food. See Caen travel costs.

Montpellier and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Montpellier or Caen?

You'll generally find more things to do in Montpellier than Caen. Montpellier is bigger than Caen, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Montpellier is better known for its beaches, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Caen is more popular for its food and big city activities. Montpellier is well known for its relaxed atmosphere, grand boulevards, and authentic personality. Also, Montpellier is famous for The Place de la Comédie. Caen is well known for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings.

How is Montpellier different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Montpellier or Caen?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Montpellier or Caen.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Montpellier. With such a long history, the city has many landmarks and monuments. Also make sure you visit Musée Fabre and Saint-Pierre Cathedral.

Caen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are many monuments around town commemorating the city's long history. You'll want to see Château de Caen, Pegasus Bridge, Mémorial de Caen, Musée de Normandie, and Musée des beaux-arts de Caen.

Is the Food Better in Montpellier or Caen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Caen is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Montpellier is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Caen is an experience not to be missed. There's a market that's at its best on Sundays where you'll find fresh produce and other local ingredients. There are also Michelin starred restaurants, seafood restaurants, and other traditional dishes. Head to the Vaugueux Quarter for traditional dishes.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Montpellier. The dishes are made with fresh ingredients produced in the agricultural areas just outside of town. The area is known for its seafood and fish stews.

Is Montpellier or Caen Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Montpellier or Caen has a better nightlife scene.

Montpellier has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The weather is mild, making for a nice evening out. The population is also young, so you can expect a lot of activity during the evenings, particularly in the area around Place Jean Jaurés. Make sure you enjoy local wine and champagne while you're in town.

If you're looking for night time activities Caen has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene stays active thanks to the 30,000 students living in town. Head to the Rue Ecuyère for a pub crawl or hit up any of the other bars around town.

Is Montpellier or Caen Better for Beaches?

Montpellier is a very popular place for its beaches. However, Caen is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Montpellier for it's beautiful beaches. The coastline near Montpellier feels pristine and beautiful. You can also visit Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone to the southwest of town, which is a protected area.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is Montpellier or Caen Better for its Old Town?

Montpellier is renowned for its historic old town. However, Caen does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Montpellier is one of the most recognized in the world. Known as L'Écusson the town's old town dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a pedestrian area that is filled with boutiques, restaurants, and churches.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Montpellier or Caen?

Montpellier is a very popular place for shopping. However, Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Montpellier. Head to Rue de la Loge for some of the city's best shopping.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Montpellier or Caen More Beautiful?

Montpellier is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Caen is not a destination known for its beauty.

Montpellier is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. With it's long history and beautiful architecture, this is a beautiful town.

Caen is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Montpellier or Caen Better for Families?

Both Montpellier and Caen are notable family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Montpellier. Popular activities for kids include taking a ride on the carousel in the Comedie, visiting the playground - Jardin Champs de Mars, and visiting the botanical garden - Jardin des Plantes.

Caen offers lots of family activities. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Montpellier or Caen Better for Couples?

Montpellier is a very popular place for romance. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Montpellier makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Rich in history and beautiful architecture, this city offers a romantic setting for a great couple's getaway.

Caen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Is Montpellier or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Montpellier is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Montpellier is very popular with the backpacker crowd. With a young population and a number of hostels to choose from, Montpellier attracts its share of backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Is Montpellier or Caen Better for Students?

Montpellier is renowned for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

Montpellier is a very popular place to visit for students. Montpellier is a popular university town that is home to many trendy university students. It's also where you'll find the youngest population of any city in France.

Caen is not popular with students.

Is Montpellier or Caen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Montpellier and Caen.

The public transit in Montpellier can get you to most places easily. There are a number of options for getting around town including the tramway, bus, and tourist train.

Visitors to Caen can move around easily with public transportation. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Is Montpellier or Caen a more walkable city?

Montpellier is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Montpellier is very walkable. Many of the sights and attractions are easily accessible on foot and can be enjoyed as part of a self-guided walking tour.

Caen is a somewhat walkable place. The city center is best explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Montpellier Worth Visiting? and Is Caen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Caen or Montpellier?

How long in Montpellier or Caen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Montpellier and Caen. In our opinion, Montpellier has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Montpellier than Caen. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Montpellier, and 2-3 days is enough time in Caen.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Montpellier than Caen 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 Montpellier.

One day in Montpellier or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Montpellier. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the important city of Caen. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Montpellier or Caen?

Montpellier is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Visitors enjoy the food and museums when visiting the park-filled destination of Caen. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Montpellier or Caen?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Montpellier. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The park-filled city of Caen offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Montpellier or Caen?

The vibrant city of Montpellier offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Caen. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best 2-Week Tours in France, The Best River Cruises in France, and The Best Bicycle Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Montpellier or Caen?

Montpellier has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Montpellier and Caen, 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 Montpellier or Caen?

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 Montpellier or Caen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Montpellier as well as Caen. The summer months attract visitors to Montpellier because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

In the summer, Montpellier is a little warmer than Caen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montpellier in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Caen averages at about 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Caen. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montpellier this time of the year. In the summer, Montpellier often gets more sunshine than Caen. Montpellier gets 351 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.

Montpellier usually gets less rain in July than Caen. Montpellier gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Montpellier or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Montpellier are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Montpellier this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the city's sights and attractions.

In October, Montpellier is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Montpellier average around 15°C (60°F), and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Montpellier usually receives more sunshine than Caen during autumn. Montpellier gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Montpellier. In October, Montpellier usually receives more rain than Caen. Montpellier gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Montpellier or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Montpellier during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Montpellier for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Caen in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Caen can get quite cold in the winter. Montpellier is a little warmer than Caen in the winter. The daily temperature in Montpellier averages around 7°C (44°F) in January, and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Montpellier often gets more sunshine than Caen. Montpellier gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.

Montpellier usually gets more rain in January than Caen. Montpellier gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Montpellier or Caen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Montpellier and Caen. Many visitors come to Montpellier in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Caen for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Montpellier is a little warmer than Caen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montpellier in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Caen averages at about 9°C (49°F).

In Montpellier, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montpellier usually receives more sunshine than Caen during spring. Montpellier gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Montpellier usually receives more rain than Caen. Montpellier gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Montpellier