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

Should you visit Alicante or Rouen?

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 Rouen can help you decide which place is right for you.

Alicante

Alicante is a vibrant, cultural, and colorful city. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Rouen

Rouen is a compact, impressive, and relaxing city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Alicante and Rouen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alicante or Rouen?

You'll generally find more things to do in Alicante than Rouen. Alicante is bigger than Rouen, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Alicante is better known for its museums and beaches, while Rouen is more popular for its impressive beauty. Alicante is well known for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and authentic restaurants. Also, Alicante is famous for the Castillo de Santa Bárbara. Rouen is well known for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture.

How is Alicante different from Rouen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rouen 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 Rouen?

Alicante is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

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 Rouen. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

Is the Food Better in Alicante or Rouen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Alicante and Rouen.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Alicante. 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.

Rouen has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

Is Alicante or Rouen Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Alicante and Rouen.

Alicante has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Rouen has a few options to choose from. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Is Alicante or Rouen Better for Beaches?

Alicante is a popular place for the beache. However, Rouen 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.

Rouen is not a beach destination.

Is Alicante or Rouen Better for its Old Town?

Alicante and Rouen are both popular destinations with charming historical areas.

Many people head to Alicante to see the old town. The old district is filled with charming streets and some interesting museums. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area.

Rouen has an old town worth visiting. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Is the Shopping Better in Alicante or Rouen?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Rouen and Alicante.

Alicante offers some nice shopping areas. The city is known for its leather goods, but you'll also find international brands and shopping streets with fashion and different European names.

Rouen has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Some of the city's best shopping is found along the Rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city center. You'll find independent boutiques and well as upscale vendors.

Is Alicante or Rouen Better for Families?

Alicante is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Alicante is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Rouen is a family-friendly city. This beautiful city is filled with nice parks, free museums, and towers that offer views over the city. Kids will enjoy climbing the clocktower, eating pastries, or riding a bike around town.

Is Alicante or Rouen Better for Couples?

Both Alicante and Rouen are great destinations to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Alicante frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Rouen is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The beautiful city makes a great retreat for couples who enjoy good food and nice architecture. There are many hidden gems around town that make this a favorite French city for many couples.

Is Alicante or Rouen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alicante is a popular place for backpackers. However, Rouen is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Alicante. There are hostels around town, as well as many budget-friendly hotels, so this is an affordable oceanfront destination for the budget-minded.

Rouen is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Backpackers may struggle to find a hostel with a social setting, but for those who make it here there are many beautiful things to see.

Is Alicante or Rouen Better for Students?

Alicante is a popular place for students. However, Rouen is not popular with students.

Alicante is a good city to visit for students. 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.

Rouen is not popular with students.

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

Rouen 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.

Rouen has some very good public transit options. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque). There are also buses and rail connections to town.

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 Rouen a more walkable city?

Rouen 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.

Rouen is a very walkable city. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored 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 Rouen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rouen or Alicante?

How long in Alicante or Rouen?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Alicante or Rouen to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Alicante than Rouen 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 Rouen.

Families should spend more time in Alicante than Rouen. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Alicante than Rouen 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 Rouen?

In Alicante, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this cultural destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

The beautiful city of Rouen 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 Alicante or Rouen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Alicante. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

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

Five days in Alicante or Rouen?

Alicante is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Alicante. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Rouen 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 Rouen?

You'll find food and shopping around the authentic destination of Alicante. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Alicante or Rouen?

Alicante has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Rouen. When comparing the sizes of Alicante and Rouen, 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 Rouen?

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 Alicante or Rouen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Alicante and Rouen. Most visitors come to Alicante for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rouen because of the family-friendly experiences.

Alicante is a little warmer than Rouen in the summer. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Rouen fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rouen this time of the year. In Alicante, it's very sunny this time of the year. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Rouen during summer. Alicante gets 341 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Alicante usually receives less rain than Rouen. Alicante gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Alicante or Rouen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Alicante as well as Rouen. The autumn months attract visitors to Alicante because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rouen this time of year.

In the autumn, Alicante is much warmer than Rouen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Alicante in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Rouen averages at about 12°C (53°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Alicante this time of the year. In the autumn, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Rouen. Alicante gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 127 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in October than Rouen. Alicante gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Rouen in the Winter?

Both Rouen and Alicante are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Alicante this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Rouen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Rouen. In January, Alicante is generally much warmer than Rouen. Daily temperatures in Alicante average around 11°C (52°F), and Rouen fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Rouen during winter. Alicante gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Alicante usually receives less rain than Rouen. Alicante gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Alicante or Rouen in the Spring?

Both Rouen and Alicante during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Alicante for the beaches. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rouen in the spring for the natural beauty.

Alicante is much warmer than Rouen in the spring. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Rouen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

It's quite sunny in Alicante. In the spring, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Rouen. Alicante gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 172 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in April than Rouen. Alicante gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Rouen and Alicante