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

Should you visit Southampton or Caen?

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

Should I visit Southampton or Caen? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Southampton

Southampton is a up-and-coming, waterfront, and dynamic port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Caen

Caen is a park-filled, important, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, museums, and nightlife.

Southampton and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Caen?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Caen than Southampton. While Southampton is larger than Caen, Caen has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Caen is very popular for its museums, food, and big city activities, while Southampton attracts visitors for its shopping and impressive beauty. Caen is more touristy than Southampton and is known for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. It is also well known for Pegasus Bridge. Southampton is famous for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports.

How is Southampton different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Caen is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

Caen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Southampton. Museums are a favorite activity in town. There are a surprising number of options including SeaCity Museum, the Tudor House and Garden, and Southampton City Art Gallery.

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

Caen is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Caen has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Southampton area. While most people used to pass through Southampton on their way somewhere else, the city now offers a dynamic food scene with local restaurants mixed with international options and even fine dining.

Is Southampton or Caen Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find nice options in both Southampton and Caen.

If you're looking for night time activities Southampton has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is filled with restaurants, pubs, and bars as well as a few nightclubs mixed in.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Caen. 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 Southampton or Caen?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Southampton. The city has two indoor shopping centers, as well as a range of markets and several independent vendors.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Southampton or Caen Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Southampton or Caen.

Southampton offers lots of family activities. This cruise port city offers a handful of fascinating activities for kids including learning about the Mayflower and the Titanic. There are also many parks and gardens as well as the Mayflower Theater, which regularly has kid-family productions.

Caen is a family-friendly place to visit. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Southampton or Caen Better for Couples?

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

Southampton makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Museums, parks, gardens, and chartered boats all offer a romantic experience for couples 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 Southampton or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Caen is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Southampton is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Southampton is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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

Caen is a great city for times when you don't have a car. However, Southampton is not known for its public transit.

The public transit in Caen can get you around easily. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Public transit is generally limited in Southampton. There are buses around town that make some areas accessible even without a car.

Is Southampton or Caen a more walkable city?

Southampton and Caen are nice when it comes to walkability.

Southampton is a somewhat walkable place. It's possible to walk in parts of Southampton but in general it's easier to take a taxi.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Caen?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Caen than Southampton 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 Southampton or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Southampton. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic city of Caen. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Southampton or Caen?

Southampton 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and museums when visiting the park-filled destination of Caen. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Southampton or Caen?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the dynamic destination of Southampton. This port city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The park-filled city of Caen offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Southampton or Caen?

The dynamic port city of Southampton 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.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Caen. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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 from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, 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 Southampton and Caen, we can see that Southampton 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 Southampton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Southampton 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 Southampton Expensive? and Is Caen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Caen?

Southampton has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Southampton 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 Southampton 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 Southampton or Caen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Caen. Most visitors come to Southampton for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Caen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Southampton is generally around the same temperature as Caen. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 18°C (64°F), and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. Southampton usually receives less sunshine than Caen during summer. Southampton gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Southampton usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Southampton 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 Southampton or Caen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Southampton as well as Caen. The autumn months attract visitors to Southampton because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Southampton is around the same temperature as Caen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

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

Southampton usually gets less rain in October than Caen. Southampton 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 Southampton or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Southampton are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Southampton this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. It's quite cold in Southampton in the winter. In the winter, Southampton is cooler than Caen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Southampton in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Caen averages at about 5°C (41°F).

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

In January, Southampton usually receives less rain than Caen. Southampton 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 Southampton or Caen in the Spring?

Both Caen and Southampton during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Southampton for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Southampton is generally around the same temperature as Caen. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 9°C (48°F), and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

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

Southampton usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Caen. Southampton 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 Southampton