A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Oxford vs. Caen for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Oxford or Caen?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Oxford or Caen, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Oxford

Oxford is a collegiate, beautiful, and historic college town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Caen

Caen is a historic, park-filled, and important city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

Oxford and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Oxford or Caen?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Caen than Oxford. While Oxford is larger than Caen, Caen has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Caen is more popular for its food and big city activities, while Oxford is known for its nightlife, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Oxford is popular for being home to one of the world's most notable universities. Caen is popular for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. It is also home to Pegasus Bridge.

How is Oxford different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the great sights and museums in either Oxford or Caen.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Oxford can be an interesting and educational experience. This town is filled with culture, history, and world class museums. Check out the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, Ashmolean Museum, or the Museum of Oxford.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Caen. 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 Oxford or Caen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Caen is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Caen. 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.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Oxford. In addition to the typical British pubs and fish and chips shops, you'll find a wide diversity of ethnic food around town. Thai, sushi, Indian, and more are common dining options. Head to the Oxford Covered Market to try a traditional British breakfast or have some delicious ice cream.

Is Oxford or Caen Better for Nightlife?

Oxford is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Oxford has a large number of nightlife venues. As a college town, you'll find an active nightlife scene with trivia nights and plenty of parties. There are pubs around town where you can grab a drink or find out if there's a concert while you're in town.

Caen has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 the Shopping Better in Oxford or Caen?

Oxford is a good destination for shopping. However, Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Oxford. Shops around town offer the perfect opportunity to pick up some Oxford gear or by a few items from the Harry Potter franchise.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Oxford or Caen Better for Families?

Oxford and Caen are both good destinations for the whole family.

Oxford is a family-friendly college town. Families will enjoy taking a paddle boat out on the water and exploring the beautiful setting. There are also a number of sights that were influential in the making of Harry Potter. In particular, you'll find the inspiration for the "Great Hall" if you take a tour of Christ Church College. The tour must be booked in advance and they often sell out. Older kids will also enjoy exploring the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Caen. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Oxford or Caen Better for Couples?

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

Oxford makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The beautiful campus and striking architecture make this a great destination for romance. Hire a boat and explore the water or wander through one of the impressive gardens.

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 Oxford or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Oxford is lacking in good options for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Oxford is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town that offer affordable accommodation. As a college town, Oxford also has an active nightlife scene and a young crowd that keeps things affordable and fun.

Is Oxford or Caen Better for Students?

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

Oxford is a very popular place to visit for students. At its heart, Oxford is a college town and students are at the heart of the city and its culture.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

Caen is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Caen. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

You'll find some public transit in Oxford, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses available if your legs get tired.

Is Oxford or Caen a more walkable city?

Oxford 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.

Oxford is very walkable. The best way to explore most of the town is on foot, so you can soak up the full collegiate atmosphere.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Oxford?

How long in Oxford or Caen?

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

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

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

One day in Oxford or Caen?

Oxford is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Caen. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Oxford or Caen?

Oxford is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

Caen 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 Oxford or Caen?

Oxford is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This college town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Caen. 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 Oxford or Caen?

Because Oxford is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the park-filled destination of Caen. 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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Oxford or Caen?

Oxford has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Oxford 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 Oxford or Caen?

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 Oxford or Caen in the Summer?

Both Caen and Oxford are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Oxford for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Caen in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Oxford is around the same temperature as Caen in the summer. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Caen. Oxford usually receives less sunshine than Caen during summer. Oxford gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Oxford usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Oxford gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Oxford or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Oxford during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Oxford in the autumn for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Caen for the city's sights and attractions during these months.

In the autumn, Oxford is cooler than Caen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Oxford in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Caen averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Oxford often gets less sunshine than Caen. Oxford gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets less rain in October than Caen. Oxford gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Caen in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Oxford and Caen. Most visitors come to Oxford for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Caen because of the museums and the cuisine.

The weather in Caen can be very cold. Oxford can be very cold during winter. In January, Oxford is generally cooler than Caen. Daily temperatures in Oxford average around 3°C (38°F), and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Oxford usually receives less sunshine than Caen during winter. Oxford gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Oxford usually receives less rain than Caen. Oxford gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Oxford or Caen in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Oxford as well as Caen. The spring months attract visitors to Oxford because of the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Oxford is around the same temperature as Caen in the spring. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the spring, Oxford often gets less sunshine than Caen. Oxford gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Caen. Oxford gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Caen and Oxford