A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers The Hague vs. Caen for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit The Hague or Caen?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between The Hague and Caen can help you decide which place is right for you.

The Hague

The Hague is a international, bustling, and diverse city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Other reasons to visit include live music, food, and shopping.

Caen

Caen is a historic, park-filled, and important city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

The Hague and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in The Hague or Caen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in The Hague than Caen, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. The Hague is more popular for its nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Caen is known for its museums. Caen is more touristy than The Hague and is known for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. The Hague is popular for its large international population and its roll in international politics and diplomacy. It is also home to The Peace Palace.

How is The Hague different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in The Hague or Caen?

Caen is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, The Hague does not have museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Caen specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

The Hague does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between The Hague and Caen can be difficult as they are each high quality in their own way.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in The Hague. The city has a diverse population and the large number of ethnic restaurants reflects that.

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 The Hague or Caen Better for Nightlife?

The Hague is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

The Hague has a large number of nightlife venues. Many of the city's restaurants turn into clubs at night. Head to The Grote Markt for some of the most energetic nightlife.

Caen has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Hague or Caen Better for Music?

The Hague is a very popular place for live music. However, Caen is not a live music destination.

It's worth checking out the music scene in The Hague while you're in town. There's an active music scene here and the city actually played an active role in the development and popularity of electronic music.

Caen is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in The Hague or Caen?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting The Hague. There's a dynamic shopping scene with indoor malls, outdoor markets, and a number of neighborhoods that have shops that sell eclectic items.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is The Hague or Caen Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either The Hague or Caen.

The Hague is a family-friendly city. This city has a bit more of a family-friendly vibe than nearby Amsterdam. Kids enjoy exploring by bike or heading to the Scheveningen Beach Resort.

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.

Is The Hague or Caen Better for Couples?

Both The Hague and Caen are good destinations to visit as a couple.

The Hague is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy the diverse restaurants and the busting atmosphere that the city offers.

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 The Hague or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

The Hague and Caen are both good destinations for backpackers.

The Hague is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While most backpackers head to the more popular city of Amsterdam, The Hague has a fun atmosphere with a diversity of activities and restaurants.

It's common for backpackers to visit Caen. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

Is The Hague or Caen Better for Students?

The Hague is renowned for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

The Hague is a very popular place to visit for students. This is a very popular study abroad destination so you'll find plenty of international students living here. It's an internationally oriented city so everyone feels right at home.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find high quality public transit in both The Hague and Caen.

Public transit in The Hague is fairly effecient and thorough. There are bus and tram lines throughout the city.

Caen has some very good public transit options. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Is The Hague or Caen a more walkable city?

The Hague and Caen are good when it comes to walkability.

The Hague is somewhat walkable. There are a number of walk tours through the city center.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or The Hague?

How long in The Hague or Caen?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in The Hague 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 The Hague.

One day in The Hague or Caen?

The Hague is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find food and museums around the city of Caen. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in The Hague or Caen?

The Hague 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Caen. 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 The Hague or Caen?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the global big city of The Hague. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the park-filled city of Caen. 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 The Hague or Caen?

The global city of The Hague offers nightlife and live music. 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.

Caen 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 Luxury Tours to Netherlands, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Netherlands, 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 The Hague and Caen, we can see that The Hague 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 The Hague would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in The Hague 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 The Hague Expensive? and Is Caen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, The Hague or Caen?

The Hague has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of The Hague 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 The Hague 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 The Hague or Caen in the Summer?

Both Caen and The Hague are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to The Hague in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

The Hague is around the same temperature as Caen in the summer. The daily temperature in The Hague averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Caen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in The Hague. The Hague usually receives less sunshine than Caen during summer. The Hague gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, The Hague usually receives more rain than Caen. The Hague gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit The Hague or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and The Hague during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to The Hague for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Caen because of the city's sights and attractions.

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

In the autumn, The Hague often gets less sunshine than Caen. The Hague gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.

The Hague usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Caen. The Hague gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit The Hague or Caen in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Caen in the winter. The weather in The Hague can be very cold. In January, The Hague is generally much colder than Caen. Daily temperatures in The Hague average around 2°C (36°F), and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

The Hague usually receives less sunshine than Caen during winter. The Hague gets 47 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, The Hague usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. The Hague gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit The Hague or Caen in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to The Hague as well as Caen. The activities around the city are the main draw to The Hague this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Caen for the activities around the city.

The Hague is cooler than Caen in the spring. The daily temperature in The Hague averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the spring, The Hague often gets less sunshine than Caen. The Hague gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.

The Hague usually gets more rain in April than Caen. The Hague gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Caen and The Hague