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

Should you visit Taormina or Calais?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Taormina and Calais can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Taormina

Taormina is a historic, beautiful, and exclusive town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

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 nightlife, food, and beaches.

Taormina and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Taormina or Calais?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Calais. Although Taormina and Calais are popular destinations, Calais has more sights and attractions for tourists. Calais is very popular for its big city activities, while Taormina attracts visitors for its food, nightlife, resorts, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Taormina is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its long history as a seaside resort town with luxury accommodation and beautiful views. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France. It is also well known for The Town Hall.

How is Taormina different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Taormina. The main landmark in town is the Greek Theater which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Also visit Madonna della Rocca as well as Castello di Taormina, which is perched above the sea.

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 Taormina or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Taormina is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Taormina is an experience not to be missed. The local dishes draw on traditional Italian flavors such as pasta, tomato sauce, and vegetables, but they're also heavily influenced by the island's many historical invaders. You'll find a variety of ingredients in recipes including red chilies, tuna, swordfish, sardines, pine nuts, capers, and olives.

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 Taormina or Calais Better for Nightlife?

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

Taormina is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The town has a bit of an exclusive vibe and that's felt in the nightlife scene as well. There are lounges and exclusive clubs that serve fine wine and cocktails. You'll also find some late night dance clubs around town.

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 Taormina or Calais Better for Resorts?

Taormina is well known for its resorts. However, Calais is not a resort destination.

Taormina is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are a number of high end resorts and hotels in and near town that have pools and five star facilities.

Calais is not a resort destination.

Is Taormina or Calais Better for Beaches?

Both Taormina and Calais are considered to be nice beach destinations.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Taormina. The easiest beaches to access from town are Mazzaro Beach and Isola Bella Beach. The beaches are near hotels and there are restaurants as well as beach umbrellas and chairs that you can rent.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Taormina or Calais?

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

Taormina has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. It's a fashion-conscious town and you'll find boutiques and shops that carry high end Italian brands. There are also shops that sell local pottery and other items.

Calais is a great destination for shopping. 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 Taormina or Calais Better for Families?

Calais is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Taormina is not known for its family-friendly activities.

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.

Taormina is not the most family-friendly destination. Kids may not appreciate everything that the adults enjoy about this town, but they will likely have fun taking a ride on the cable car and visiting the Greek Theater. There are also wonderful desserts that kids will enjoy.

Is Taormina or Calais Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Taormina frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's a truly beautiful town with impressive views and a great atmosphere. It makes a wonderful stop off for couples or honeymooners who want to soak up the region's beauty.

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

Taormina and Calais both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Taormina offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are minibuses that travel to the more far-reaching parts of the town.

Calais has a few public transit options. 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 Taormina or Calais a more walkable city?

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

Taormina is a very walkable destination. Walking is one of the best ways to explore the town.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Taormina?

How long in Taormina or Calais?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Taormina and Calais. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Taormina than in Calais. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Taormina, and 1-3 days is enough time in Calais.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calais than Taormina 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 Calais.

One day in Taormina or Calais?

Taormina might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Calais offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Taormina or Calais?

Taormina 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.

Calais is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Calais, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Taormina or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Taormina. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

Calais is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Taormina or Calais?

Taormina is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Calais is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taormina and Calais, we can see that Calais is more expensive. And not only is Taormina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Taormina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Taormina 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 Calais would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calais than you might in Taormina.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taormina Expensive? and Is Calais Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Taormina or Calais?

Calais has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Taormina. When comparing the sizes of Taormina 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 Taormina 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 Taormina or Calais in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Taormina as well as Calais. Many travelers come to Taormina for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Taormina is much warmer than Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Taormina averages around 27°C (80°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 Taormina this time of the year. In the summer, Taormina often gets more sunshine than Calais. Taormina gets 332 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Taormina usually gets less rain in July than Calais. Taormina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Taormina or Calais in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Taormina is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Taormina in October average around 21°C (69°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Taormina usually receives more sunshine than Calais during autumn. Taormina gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Taormina. In October, Taormina usually receives more rain than Calais. Taormina gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Taormina or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Taormina during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Taormina for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Calais because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Calais can be very cold. In January, Taormina is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Taormina average around 13°C (55°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Taormina often gets more sunshine than Calais. Taormina gets 115 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Taormina usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Taormina gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Taormina or Calais in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Taormina and Calais. The spring months attract visitors to Taormina because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty. Furthermore, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

Taormina is much warmer than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Taormina averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In Taormina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Taormina usually receives more sunshine than Calais during spring. Taormina gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Taormina usually receives less rain than Calais. Taormina gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Taormina