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

Should you visit Reims or Calais?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reims or Calais, 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 cultural, beautiful, and relaxing city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais

Calais is a coastal, authentic, and undiscovered 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 Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reims or Calais?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Calais than Reims. While Reims is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Calais is very popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Reims attracts visitors for its food, shopping, and impressive beauty. Reims is more touristy than Calais and is known for its Champagne Houses, impressive architecture, and beautiful cathedral. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also well known for The Town Hall.

How is Reims different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Calais 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 Calais?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Reims or Calais.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Reims. Sights around town include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, Palais du Tau, Basilique Saint-Rémi, and Musée des Beaux-Arts.

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 Reims or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Reims 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, Reims is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. 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.

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 Reims or Calais Better for Nightlife?

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

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 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 Reims or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Reims is not a beach destination.

Calais has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Reims is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Reims or Calais?

Reims 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 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.

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 Reims or Calais Better for Families?

Calais 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 Calais. 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.

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 Calais Better for Couples?

Reims is a must-visit destination for couples. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Reims makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

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 Reims or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

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

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Reims and Calais.

You'll find some public transit in Reims, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. In town there are buses and trams, but to get into the countryside you'll need your own car.

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 Reims or Calais a more walkable city?

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

Reims is a very walkable destination. 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.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Reims?

How long in Reims or Calais?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Reims than Calais. 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 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 Reims.

One day in Reims or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Reims. 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 Reims or Calais?

Reims 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 Reims or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Reims. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. 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 Reims or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the relaxing destination of Reims. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the coastal 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 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 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 Reims Expensive? and Is Calais Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Reims or Calais?

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

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 Reims or Calais in the Summer?

Both Calais and Reims are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Reims in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Reims is around the same temperature as Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Reims averages around 19°C (65°F) in July, and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Calais. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Reims. Reims usually receives more sunshine than Calais during summer. Reims gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Reims usually receives more rain than Calais. Reims gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Reims or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Reims during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Reims for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Calais because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Reims is around the same temperature as Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Reims in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Reims often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Reims gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Reims usually gets less rain in October than Calais. Reims gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Reims or Calais in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Reims and Calais. The winter months attract visitors to Reims because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

It's quite cold in Calais in the winter. The weather in Reims can be very cold. In January, Reims is generally much colder than Calais. Daily temperatures in Reims average around 3°C (37°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Reims usually receives less sunshine than Calais during winter. Reims gets 50 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Reims usually receives around the same amount of rain as Calais. Reims gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Reims or Calais in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Reims as well as Calais. The natural beauty are the main draw to Reims this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Reims is a little warmer than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Reims averages around 9°C (49°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the spring, Reims often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Reims gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Reims usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Calais. Reims gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Reims