A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aegina vs. Chartres for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Aegina or Chartres?

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

Should I visit Aegina or Chartres? 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.

Aegina

Aegina is a active, relaxing, and vibrant island. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Chartres

Chartres is a spectacular, historic, and grand town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Aegina and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aegina or Chartres?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Aegina. Although Aegina and Chartres are both popular with visitors, Aegina has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Aegina is more touristy than Chartres and is popular for its local pistachio nuts, its nice seaside setting, and its easy access from Athens. It is also home to the Temple of Athena Aphaia. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Aegina different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aegina or Chartres?

Aegina is great for its historical sights. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

Aegina offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are several temples on the island such as the Temple of Athena Aphaia and the Temple of Apollo. There's also and Archeological Museum that is nice to visit.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Chartres. Most visitors make the trip to see the spectacular Gothic cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame. It was completed in 1220 and is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows.

Is the Food Better in Aegina or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Aegina and Chartres can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Aegina area. There's a vibrant restaurant scene that includes traditional eateries serving seafood and refreshing ice cream shops where you can cool off with a scoop of your favorite flavor.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Chartres. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Aegina or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Aegina is great for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Aegina for the nightlife scene. There's a great nightlife scene on the island. Most of the dance clubs are found in Agia Marina and you'll find more relaxing lounges around Aegina Town and other villages on the island.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Aegina or Chartres Better for Beaches?

Aegina is a popular place for the beache. However, Chartres is not a beach destination.

Aegina is a good option for a beach vacation. While most of the beaches are small and crowded, they do offer a number of tourist facilities such as nearby bars and restaurants, as well as hotels. The most popular beaches on the island are Souvala and Agia Marina.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Aegina or Chartres?

Aegina is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Aegina. You'll find the standard souvenir shops around town where you can buy trinkets or other items you may have forgotten.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Aegina or Chartres Better for Families?

Aegina is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Aegina offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the ferry ride from Athens as well as the pirate stories they'll hear throughout their trip. There are places that the whole family can swim and great restaurants with kid-friendly food.

Chartres is not the most family-friendly destination. The main attraction in town is the cathedral, but the surrounding area is also filled with history. This may not keep your kids entertained for long, so you can also check out the Stained Glass Museum, La Tanière (a zoo), or one of the parks around town.

Is Aegina or Chartres Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Aegina and Chartres make for a good place to visit.

Aegina is a good island for couples to visit. Couples will appreciate the beauty and great restaurants that this beautiful island offers. It's a charming day trip from Athens that is filled with impressive historical sights and a nice atmosphere.

Chartres is a nice destination for couples. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Is Aegina or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Aegina and Chartres are good places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Aegina. Like most visitors, backpackers can hop on a ferry in Athens and visit the island as a day trip. It makes a nice excursion with many affordable restaurants and fun activities.

Chartres is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's easy enough to visit as a day trip from Paris, so backpackers and other tourists typically allow themselves a few hours to explore.

Is Aegina or Chartres Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Chartres is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Chartres offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are trains that leave Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2 every half hour and travel to Chartres. The trip takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

While Aegina offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. You'll find the central bus station in Aegina Town and there you can catch buses that travel around the island.

Is Aegina or Chartres a more walkable city?

Chartres is a great destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Chartres is a very walkable destination. It's easy to see the sights around town on foot.

Aegina is somewhat walkable. The town is walkable, but to explore elsewhere on the island, it's easiest to have your own vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Aegina Worth Visiting? and Is Chartres Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Aegina?

How long in Aegina or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Aegina or Chartres to fill your time. In our opinion, Aegina has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Aegina than Chartres. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Aegina than Chartres 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 Aegina.

One day in Aegina or Chartres?

The island of Aegina 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.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Chartres. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Aegina or Chartres?

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

Chartres 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.

Five days in Aegina or Chartres?

Aegina 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chartres. 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.

A week in Aegina or Chartres?

Aegina 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 island offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the spectacular destination of Chartres. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Honeymoon Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Aegina or Chartres?

Chartres has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Aegina. When comparing the sizes of Aegina and Chartres, 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 Aegina or Chartres?

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 Aegina or Chartres in the Summer?

Both Chartres and Aegina during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Aegina because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In July, Aegina is generally a little warmer than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Aegina average around 27°C (81°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Aegina. In the summer, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Aegina gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in July than Chartres. Aegina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Chartres in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Aegina and Chartres. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Aegina this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

Aegina is a little warmer than Chartres in the autumn. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Chartres fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In Aegina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during autumn. Aegina gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Aegina usually receives more rain than Chartres. Aegina gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Aegina or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Aegina as well as Chartres. Many travelers come to Aegina for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Aegina is much warmer than Chartres. Typically, the winter temperatures in Aegina in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Chartres averages at about 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Aegina gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in January than Chartres. Aegina gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Chartres in the Spring?

Both Chartres and Aegina are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Aegina in the spring for the beaches and the small town charm. Also, most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

In April, Aegina is generally a little warmer than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Aegina average around 16°C (60°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aegina. Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during spring. Aegina gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Aegina usually receives less rain than Chartres. Aegina gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Aegina