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

Should you visit Bern or Chartres?

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

Should I visit Bern 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.

Bern

Bern is a cultural, historic, and charming city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres

Chartres is a historic, grand, and spectacular town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for food and museums.

Bern and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Chartres?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bern. Although Bern and Chartres are popular destinations, Bern has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bern is very popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres attracts visitors for its small town charm. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. It is also well known for The Zytglogge Clock Tower. Chartres is famous for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Bern different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Bern offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with architecture and charming character. While you're in town make sure you visit the Einstein Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Bern Cathedral.

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 Bern or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Bern and Chartres.

Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Chartres has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Bern or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Bern 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 Bern has a few options to choose from. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Bern or Chartres Better for its Old Town?

Bern is great for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Bern. The charming old town is filled with quaint alleys and sandstone buildings. It's a compact area that flows down a hill to the River Aare.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Chartres?

Bern is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Bern is well-known for its shopping. The old town is filled with boutique shops and unique markets. The main shopping streets are Spitalgasse and Marktgasse and popular items to buy include jewelry, art, and watches.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Bern or Chartres Better for Families?

Bern 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, Bern is very family-friendly. This charming town has riverside parks and pools, a zoo, a waterpark, and kid-friendly museums that the whole family can enjoy. You can also visit nearby Gurten, a mountain with tobogganing, concerts, and a mini ski resort.

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 Bern or Chartres Better for Couples?

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

Bern is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

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 Bern or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

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

Both Bern and Chartres offer high quality public transit options.

Visitors to Bern can move around easily with public transportation. There are trams and buses that run around town.

The public transit in Chartres can get you around easily. 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.

Is Bern or Chartres a more walkable city?

Bern and Chartres both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Bern is very walkable. It's fun to explore the old town on foot. It is compact enough to that you can see all of the highlights in a few hours.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Bern?

How long in Bern or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern than Chartres because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

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

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

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

One day in Bern or Chartres?

The beautiful city of Bern offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Chartres. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Chartres?

Bern 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. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bern, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Chartres 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.

Five days in Bern or Chartres?

Bern 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.

You'll find museums and food around the spectacular destination of Chartres. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Chartres?

Bern is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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.

The grand town of Chartres offers food and museums. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, 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 Bern and Chartres, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Chartres much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chartres would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chartres 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern than you might in Chartres.

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Chartres?

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

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Chartres. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In the summer, Bern is around the same temperature as Chartres. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Chartres averages at about 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chartres. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Chartres. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Chartres in the Autumn?

Both Chartres and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

In October, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Chartres. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives more rain than Chartres. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Chartres in the Winter?

Both Chartres and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. Bern is much colder than Chartres in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Chartres. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Chartres in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Chartres. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

In the spring, Bern is around the same temperature as Chartres. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Chartres averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Chartres. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Bern