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

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

Porto

Porto is a cosmopolitan, dynamic, and historic port city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

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.

Porto and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Porto or Calais?

You'll generally find more things to do in Porto than Calais. Porto is bigger than Calais, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Porto is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Calais is more popular for its beaches. Porto is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its authentic old town and the local port wine. Also, Porto is famous for Cais da Ribeira. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Porto different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Porto offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. With such a long history, there are many landmarks and sights in the city. Popular attractions include the Clérigos Tower, Palácio da Bolsa, and Igreja de São Francisco.

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 Porto or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Porto is a must-visit destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

For foodies, Porto is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The area's cuisine combines the ocean setting with the agriculture of the surrounding area, so you'll enjoy both seafood dishes as well as fresh meats and vegetables. The area is also famous for its Port wines and red wines. There are plenty of cellar tours as well was waterfront seafood restaurants to choose from.

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 Porto or Calais Better for Nightlife?

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

Porto is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. This city comes to life in the evening, particularly on weekends when locals and tourists alike flock to the many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

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 Porto or Calais Better for Beaches?

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

Porto is not a beach destination.

Is Porto or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Porto 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 Porto. Known as Porto Ribeira, the city's historic district is the most visited part of the town. It begins on the banks of the River Douro and climbs into the hills behind it.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Porto or Calais?

If you're looking to go shopping, Porto and Calais both offer plenty of notable spots.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Porto. The city has both your standard shopping mall stores as well as local vendors and boutique shops.

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 Porto or Calais Better for Families?

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

Porto is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has several cool museums including the interactive museum - The World of Discoveries. There are also parks, playgrounds, zoos, and aquariums that you can explore. For families that enjoy being outside, this is a great city. Kids will enjoy spotting street art, riding the funicular, and taking a cellar tour. If the kids need a break from the city, head to the beach for the day.

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 Porto or Calais Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Porto frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. You can visit the palaces, enjoy shopping, or dine in a nice Portuguese restaurant. Take a cellar tour and sample port then catch a ride on the funicular. This city has plenty for couples to do on a romantic getaway.

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 Porto or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Porto is a very popular port city to visit for backpackers. By combining world-class activities with affordability, this city has become a popular stop off for backpackers in the 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 Porto or Calais Better for Students?

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

Porto is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. The city has a number of good research programs and study abroad opportunities that attract international students from around the world.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Porto 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 Porto. There is a metro system as well as a bus system. While the metro system does have six lines, most stations aren't close to the tourist attractions, so it likely won't be that helpful to visitors.

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 Porto or Calais a more walkable city?

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

Porto is a very walkable destination. The city center is very compact with most of the sights within a short walk of each other. The area is also very hilly, so getting from place to place can require a bit of effort.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Porto?

How long in Porto or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Porto and Calais. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Porto than in Calais. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Porto, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

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

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

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

One day in Porto or Calais?

Porto is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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 undiscovered 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 Porto or Calais?

Porto is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Porto or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Porto. Don't miss the food, 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.

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 Porto or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural big city of Porto. This port city 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 Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Porto or Calais?

Porto has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Porto 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 Porto 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 Porto or Calais in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Porto as well as Calais. Most visitors come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Porto is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 21°C (69°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Calais. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Porto this time of the year. In the summer, Porto often gets more sunshine than Calais. Porto gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Porto usually gets less rain in July than Calais. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porto or Calais in the Autumn?

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

Porto is a little warmer than Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Porto usually receives more sunshine than Calais during autumn. Porto gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Porto. In October, Porto usually receives more rain than Calais. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Porto or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Porto during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Porto this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Calais. In the winter, Porto is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Porto in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Porto often gets more sunshine than Calais. Porto gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porto or Calais in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Calais. Many travelers come to Porto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Calais in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, Porto is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 14°C (56°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In Porto, it's very sunny this time of the year. Porto usually receives more sunshine than Calais during spring. Porto gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Porto usually receives more rain than Calais. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Porto