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

Should you visit Rotterdam or Calais?

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 Rotterdam and Calais. 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.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a high energy, modern, and trendy port city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. 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. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping.

Rotterdam and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rotterdam or Calais?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rotterdam than Calais. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rotterdam is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Calais attracts visitors for its beaches. Rotterdam is famous for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. It is also well known for The Cube Houses. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France.

The Cube Houses

How is Rotterdam different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Calais and Rotterdam.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Rotterdam. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

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 Rotterdam or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Rotterdam and Calais can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

Rotterdam is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Calais offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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 Rotterdam or Calais Better for Nightlife?

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

Rotterdam is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

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 Rotterdam or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a good destination for the beach. However, Rotterdam is not a beach destination.

Calais offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Rotterdam is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Rotterdam or Calais?

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

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 Rotterdam or Calais Better for Families?

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

Rotterdam is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

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 Rotterdam or Calais Better for Couples?

Rotterdam and Calais both nice destinations for a couple.

Rotterdam is a good port city for couples to visit. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

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 Rotterdam or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

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 Rotterdam or Calais Better for Students?

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

Rotterdam is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

Calais is not popular with students.

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

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

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 Rotterdam or Calais a more walkable city?

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

Rotterdam is a very walkable destination. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are pedestrian friendly.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Rotterdam?

How long in Rotterdam or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Rotterdam and Calais. In our opinion, Rotterdam has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Rotterdam than Calais. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Rotterdam or Calais?

Rotterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Calais. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Calais has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Rotterdam or Calais?

Rotterdam 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the coastal destination of Calais. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Rotterdam or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rotterdam. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the coastal city of Calais. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Rotterdam or Calais?

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

Calais is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Calais?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam or Calais in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Calais. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Calais for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Rotterdam is around the same temperature as Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, 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 Rotterdam this time of the year. In the summer, Rotterdam often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets more rain in July than Calais. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Calais in the Autumn?

Both Calais and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Rotterdam for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Rotterdam is cooler than Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rotterdam in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Calais during autumn. Rotterdam gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Rotterdam usually receives more rain than Calais. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Rotterdam during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Rotterdam in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Calais can be very cold during winter. Rotterdam can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Calais. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 2°C (36°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Calais. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Calais in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Calais. Most visitors come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Calais because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

Rotterdam is cooler than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

Rotterdam usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Calais during spring. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rotterdam usually receives more rain than Calais. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Rotterdam