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

Should you visit Thessaloniki or Caen?

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

Should I visit Thessaloniki 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.

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is a high energy, bustling, and historic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Thessaloniki travel costs.

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. See Caen travel costs.

Thessaloniki and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Thessaloniki or Caen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Thessaloniki than Caen. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Thessaloniki is more touristy than Caen and is known for its many archeological sights, its large young population, and its great transportation connections. It is also well known for The Monument of Rotonda. Caen is famous for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings.

How is Thessaloniki different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Thessaloniki and Caen.

Thessaloniki offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are a huge number of historic and archeological sights in the city. These include the Rotunda of Galerius, the White Tower, the Church of Agios Dimitrios, and the Arch of Galerius.

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.

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

Foodies will find both Thessaloniki and Caen both to be superb destinations.

Thessaloniki has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a huge culinary scene in the city, and you'll find everything from fun street food options to traditional tavernas and even some great international restaurants.

Dining out in Caen is an experience not to be missed. 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 Thessaloniki or Caen Better for Nightlife?

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

Thessaloniki has a large number of nightlife venues. It's the second largest city in Greece, and it has large student and tourist populations, so the nightlife scene is among the best in Greece. There are clubs, bars, and lounges that stay busy late into the night.

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 Thessaloniki or Caen Better for Beaches?

Thessaloniki is a decent place to visit for its beaches. However, Caen is not a beach destination.

Thessaloniki is a good spot to see the beach. Although the city's not known for its beaches, there are some places where you can relax by the water, particularly if you're willing to get a bit out of town.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Thessaloniki or Caen?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Thessaloniki. There are shopping streets as well as large malls and shopping centers. You'll find everything from fashion, jewelry, and handicrafts to most European and international brands.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Thessaloniki or Caen Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Thessaloniki or Caen.

Thessaloniki is a family-friendly city. The port city has a number of museums and attractions for kids including Dinosaur Park, the Noesis Science and Technology Museum, and the water park known as Waterland. There's also the fascinating Kapani Market that is fun to explore.

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 Thessaloniki or Caen Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Thessaloniki and Caen make for a nice place to visit.

Thessaloniki makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a bustling city that is filled with history and excellent restaurants. Couples who enjoy history and fun cities will appreciate a visit here.

Caen is a good city for couples to visit. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Is Thessaloniki or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Thessaloniki is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Thessaloniki is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There's no shortage of hostels in this city, and you'll find plenty of backpackers to hang out with.

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.

Is Thessaloniki or Caen Better for Students?

Thessaloniki is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Caen is not popular with students.

Many students visit Thessaloniki. There's a large student population in the city and you'll find a vibrant nightlife scene, easy transportation options, and a reasonable cost of living.

Caen is not popular with students.

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

Caen is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Thessaloniki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

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

You'll find some public transit in Thessaloniki, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a comprehensive bus system that connects most of the city and its suburbs.

Is Thessaloniki or Caen a more walkable city?

Thessaloniki and Caen are nice when it comes to walkability.

Thessaloniki is a somewhat walkable place. You can explore much of the city center on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Thessaloniki?

How long in Thessaloniki or Caen?

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

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

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

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

One day in Thessaloniki or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Thessaloniki. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Caen, many people enjoy the food and museums that this park-filled city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Thessaloniki or Caen?

Thessaloniki 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.

Caen is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Thessaloniki or Caen?

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

You'll find nightlife and food around the important destination of Caen. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Thessaloniki or Caen?

The vibrant city of Thessaloniki 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.

Caen is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Caen?

Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki or Caen in the Summer?

Both Caen and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the beaches, the city activities, and 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, Thessaloniki is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 25°C (77°F), 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 Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Caen during summer. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Caen. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Caen in the Autumn?

Both Caen and Thessaloniki during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Thessaloniki is a little warmer than Caen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Caen. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in October than Caen. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Caen in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Caen. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. In the winter, Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Thessaloniki in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Caen averages at about 5°C (41°F).

Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Caen during winter. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Caen. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Caen in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Caen. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the beaches and the activities around the city. Additionally, many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Thessaloniki is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 13°C (56°F), and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the spring, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Caen. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in April than Caen. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Caen and Thessaloniki