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

Should you visit Valletta 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 Valletta 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.

Valletta

Valletta is a cultural, waterfront, and historic town. 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. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Valletta and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Valletta or Calais?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Valletta. Although Valletta and Calais are popular destinations, Valletta has more sights and attractions for tourists. Valletta is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Calais attracts visitors for its beaches and big city activities. Valletta is more touristy than Calais and is popular for its ancient fortifications, Baroque palaces, and beautiful gardens. It is also well known for The Grand Masters Palace. Calais is famous for being a gateway for travelers to France.

How is Valletta different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Valletta is a must-visit destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Valletta on the map. With its rich culture and compact old town, there are countless museums, sights, and monuments that are worth visiting. Some options include Saint John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and Armory, the National Museum of Archaeology, Manoel Theater, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

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 Valletta or Calais? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Valletta 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, Valletta is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The town's culinary scene has a long history with many traditional flavors. You really must experience a meal in one of the traditional stone cellar restaurants, which often serve local meze. Head to Republic Street for a stretch of longstanding restaurants in town. Local dishes include stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew), bragioli (rolled meat covered in sauce), and lampuki pie (fish pie).

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 Valletta or Calais Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Valletta and Calais.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Valletta. It wasn't long ago that the town went quiet in the evenings, but recent years have brought a surge in bars and clubs around town. You'll find the liveliest nightlife in areas around Strait Street and the Valletta Waterfront. If you're looking for a true clubbing scene, you'll want to head north out of town to Paceville.

Calais has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Valletta or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a city with good options for the beach. However, Valletta is lacking in good options for its beaches.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Calais. 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.

Valletta is a good spot to see the beach. There aren't any beaches in town, but if you head north to St. George’s Bay you'll find some nice beaches with a variety of resorts to choose from.

Is Valletta or Calais Better for its Old Town?

Valletta is a must-visit destination for its historic old town charm. However, Calais does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Valletta can be explored in its historical center. The old town is laid out with a uniform grid and the streets are lined with hundreds of historic buildings. At the heart of old town is Republic Street, which divides the area in half and is where you'll find a large concentration of restaurants.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Valletta or Calais?

Valletta 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 Valletta. For the best shopping head to Republic Street and Merchants Street where you'll find craft shops, boutiques, and other local souvenirs. Many visitors enjoy picking up blown glass, a locally made miniature, or cactus liquor. Lace is also a common local item that you'll find around town.

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 Valletta or Calais Better for Families?

Both Valletta and Calais are nice to visit with kids.

Valletta is a family-friendly town. This charming town has nearby beaches as well as a few museums that kids will enjoy, including a toy museum. There are also several multi-media shows that educate visitors on the area's history. Make sure you check out Malta 5D and the Malta Experience.

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.

Is Valletta or Calais Better for Couples?

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

Valletta makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The town offers beautiful walks, luxury spa experiences, and evening sunset cruises that are seeped in romance. During the evening you can enjoy a cocktail hour and then dine in one of the town's many unique restaurants.

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 Valletta or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Valletta is well known for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Valletta is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. The island has grown in popularity with backpackers, particularly those coming from Europe, as there are affordable flights and easy accessibility. You'll also find some nice hostels around town where you can stay on a budget.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Valletta and Calais.

Valletta has some public transit options. If you're not up for walking up and down the hills, there are some buses around town.

You'll find some public transit in Calais, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. 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 Valletta or Calais a more walkable city?

Valletta is a must-visit destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Valletta on foot is easy. The town is compact and easy to walk around with many sights within a short distance of each other. There's also very little street traffic.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Valletta?

How long in Valletta or Calais?

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

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

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

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

One day in Valletta or Calais?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Valletta. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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 Valletta or Calais?

Valletta 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 Valletta or Calais?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Valletta. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Valletta or Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the waterfront destination of Valletta. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Historical Tours in Malta, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Valletta and Calais, we can see that Calais is more expensive. And not only is Valletta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Valletta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valletta 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 Valletta.

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

Which is Bigger, Valletta or Calais?

Calais has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Valletta 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 Valletta or Calais?

Calais has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Valletta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or Calais in the Summer?

Both Calais and Valletta during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Valletta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Valletta is much warmer than Calais in the summer. The daily temperature in Valletta averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Valletta. In the summer, Valletta often gets more sunshine than Calais. Valletta gets 365 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun.

Valletta usually gets less rain in July than Calais. Valletta gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Valletta and Calais. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Valletta year-round. Also, most visitors come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Valletta is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Valletta in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Calais averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In Valletta, it's very sunny this time of the year. Valletta usually receives more sunshine than Calais during autumn. Valletta gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Valletta usually receives more rain than Calais. Valletta gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Valletta or Calais in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Valletta as well as Calais. Valletta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, 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, Valletta is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Valletta average around 13°C (55°F), and Calais fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In the winter, Valletta often gets more sunshine than Calais. Valletta gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun.

Valletta usually gets more rain in January than Calais. Valletta gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or Calais in the Spring?

Both Calais and Valletta are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Valletta throughout the year. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

Valletta is much warmer than Calais in the spring. The daily temperature in Valletta averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valletta. Valletta usually receives more sunshine than Calais during spring. Valletta gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Valletta usually receives less rain than Calais. Valletta gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Calais and Valletta