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

Should you visit Alicante or Chartres?

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 Alicante and Chartres can help you decide which place is right for you.

Alicante

Alicante is a authentic, vibrant, and cultural city. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Alicante and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alicante or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Alicante than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Alicante is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, and shopping, while Chartres is more popular for its small town charm. Alicante is well known for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and authentic restaurants. Also, Alicante is famous for the Castillo de Santa Bárbara. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Alicante different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Alicante offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. This port city has a number of cultural and historical sights that are worth checking out. Castillo de Santa Bárbara, Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Alicante, and Basilica de Santa María are among the most well known.

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 Alicante or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Alicante is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Alicante has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's by the sea, so you'll find plenty of seafood. Rice is the main staple for many dishes in town. This is also a vegetable growing region, so many recipes incorporate fresh vegetables. Popular dishes include arroz a banda, arroz con costra, and olleta alicantina.

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

Is Alicante or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Alicante is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Alicante has a few options to choose from. For the city's best nightlife, head to El Barrio Antiguo, which is the old district. This is where you'll find the highest concentration of bars and clubs, many of them having live music.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Alicante or Chartres Better for Beaches?

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

Alicante is a good option for a beach vacation. If you step away from the touristy areas, you'll find some nice sandy beaches with blue water. Playa la Fustera is northeast of the city and popular with families and couples. If you have a car you can drive to the town of Moraira, which is near several nice beaches as well.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is Alicante or Chartres Better for its Old Town?

Alicante is a popular place for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Alicante. The old district is filled with charming streets and some interesting museums. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Alicante or Chartres?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Alicante. The city is known for its leather goods, but you'll also find international brands and shopping streets with fashion and different European names.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Alicante or Chartres Better for Families?

Alicante is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Alicante is very family-friendly. This seaside city has many kid-friendly resorts, long sandy beaches, and adrenaline-filled theme parks. There's the Terra Mitica Park as well as a waterpark - Aqua Natura. Tabarca Island is also well worth a visit.

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 Alicante or Chartres Better for Couples?

Alicante is great for its romantic activities. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for couples.

Alicante is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Nice resorts, long sandy beaches, and nearby vineyard tours make this a wonderful place for a couple's getaway. There are good restaurants and nice places where couples can take a stroll, hand in hand.

Chartres is a good city for couples to visit. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Is Alicante or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alicante and Chartres are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Alicante is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels around town, as well as many budget-friendly hotels, so this is an affordable oceanfront destination for the budget-minded.

It's common for backpackers to visit Chartres. 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 Alicante or Chartres Better for Students?

Alicante is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Alicante. It's by the water and it's an affordable city, making it a good option for students. The beaches and active nightlife will keep you entertained when you take a break from your studies.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

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

Chartres has some very good public transit options. 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 Alicante offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a comprehensive bus system through the city and region.

Is Alicante or Chartres a more walkable city?

Chartres is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Alicante is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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

Alicante is a somewhat walkable city. There are many parts of the city that can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Alicante?

How long in Alicante or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Alicante or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Alicante than Chartres because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Alicante, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

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

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

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

One day in Alicante or Chartres?

The city of Alicante offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The town of Chartres offers museums and food. 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 Alicante or Chartres?

Alicante 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 Alicante, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

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

Five days in Alicante or Chartres?

Alicante 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.

Chartres 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 Alicante or Chartres?

Alicante 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.

Chartres 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 town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Alicante or Chartres?

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

Both Chartres and Alicante during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Alicante for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Alicante is a little warmer than Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Alicante. In the summer, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Alicante gets 341 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in July than Chartres. Alicante gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Chartres in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Alicante and Chartres. The autumn months attract visitors to Alicante because of the shopping scene. Also, the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In the autumn, Alicante is much warmer than Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Alicante in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In Alicante, it's very sunny this time of the year. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during autumn. Alicante gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Alicante usually receives more rain than Chartres. Alicante gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Alicante or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Alicante as well as Chartres. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Alicante this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Chartres. In January, Alicante is generally much warmer than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Alicante average around 11°C (52°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Alicante gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in January than Chartres. Alicante gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Chartres in the Spring?

Both Chartres and Alicante are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Alicante for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the spring for the small town charm.

Alicante is a little warmer than Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Alicante. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during spring. Alicante gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Alicante usually receives less rain than Chartres. Alicante gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Alicante