A Travel Price Comparison for France Reims vs. Caen for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Reims or Caen?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reims 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.

Reims

Reims is a scenic, cultural, and beautiful city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

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.

Reims and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reims or Caen?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Caen than Reims. While Reims is larger than Caen, Caen has more sights and attractions for tourists. Caen is better known for its museums and big city activities, while Reims is more popular for its food, shopping, and impressive beauty. Reims is more touristy than Caen and is popular for its Champagne Houses, impressive architecture, and beautiful cathedral. Caen is well known for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. Also, Caen is famous for Pegasus Bridge.

How is Reims different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Caen can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

Reims is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Sights around town include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, Palais du Tau, Basilique Saint-Rémi, and Musée des Beaux-Arts.

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

Reims is renowned for its restaurants. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Eat your way through Reims, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. While its famous for its Champagne, the city also has Michelin starred restaurants, local produce, and an amazing regional cuisine. The region is known for its ham, cheese, mustard, and truffles.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Is Reims or Caen Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Reims and Caen.

Reims has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is relaxing but active. Most locals hang out with friends at local bars near Place Drouet d'Erlon or the Rue Chanzy area. Bars have a combination of local beers and Champagne.

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 the Shopping Better in Reims or Caen?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Reims. You'll find not only Champagne, but also jewellry, designer fashion, and chocolate. The best shopping is located around the Place Drouet d'Erlon which is a pedestrian area. Also check out the shopping streets of Rue de Vesle and Cours Langlet.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Reims or Caen Better for Families?

Caen is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Reims is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

For families, Reims is not always the best place to visit. Kids will enjoy exploring the historical city center or visiting the Palace of Tau. For a unique activity, view the region from above with a hot air balloon ride.

Is Reims or Caen Better for Couples?

Reims is renowned for romance. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Reims is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. This romantic area is perfect for couples who enjoy wine and history. There is beautiful architecture as well as wine tours and breathtaking hot air balloon rides. Visiting the Champagne Houses is a must for any couple visiting the area.

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 Reims or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Reims and Caen are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Reims. It's located in the Champagne region, which isn't often associated with backpackers, but it's still not to be missed.

Caen is a good city to visit for backpackers. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

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

Caen is well known for its public transit. Also, Reims is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Caen offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

While Reims offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. In town there are buses and trams, but to get into the countryside you'll need your own car.

Is Reims or Caen a more walkable city?

Reims 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.

Reims is very walkable. You can explore the city on foot and reach many local Champagne Houses. If you really want to explore everything in depth, you'll need a car.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Reims?

How long in Reims or Caen?

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

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

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

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

One day in Reims or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Reims. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Caen, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this historic destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Reims or Caen?

Reims is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. 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.

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

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the beautiful destination of Reims. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Caen is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Caen. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Reims or Caen?

The scenic city of Reims offers nightlife and food. 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.

You'll find nightlife and food around the important destination of Caen. 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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, and The Best 2-Week Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Reims or Caen?

Reims has a larger population, and is about 78% larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Reims 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 Reims 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 Reims or Caen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Reims as well as Caen. Many travelers come to Reims for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Caen in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Reims is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Reims in July average around 19°C (65°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 Reims this time of the year. In the summer, Reims often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Caen. Reims gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.

Reims usually gets more rain in July than Caen. Reims gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Reims or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Reims are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Reims in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Caen for the city's sights and attractions during these months.

In October, Reims is generally around the same temperature as Caen. Daily temperatures in Reims average around 12°C (53°F), and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Reims usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Caen during autumn. Reims gets 122 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Reims usually receives less rain than Caen. Reims gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Reims or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Reims during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Reims 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. Reims can be very cold during winter. Reims is much colder than Caen in the winter. The daily temperature in Reims averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Reims often gets less sunshine than Caen. Reims gets 50 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.

Reims usually gets less rain in January than Caen. Reims gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Reims or Caen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Reims and Caen. The spring months attract visitors to Reims because of the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

In the spring, Reims is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Reims in April average around 9°C (49°F), and Caen averages at about 9°C (49°F).

Reims usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Caen during spring. Reims gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Reims usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Reims gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Reims