A Travel Price Comparison for France Carcassonne vs. Arles for Attractions, Old Town, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Carcassonne or Arles?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Carcassonne and Arles. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a fairytale, medieval, and historical town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Arles

Arles is a charming, compact, and quaint town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Carcassonne and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Carcassonne or Arles?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Arles than Carcassonne, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Arles is better known for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Carcassonne is more popular for its small town charm. Carcassonne is more touristy than Arles and is popular for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle. Arles is well known for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. Also, Arles is famous for L'Amphithéâtre Romain.

How is Carcassonne different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Carcassonne or Arles?

Arles is very popular for its museums and history. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Arles from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

Carcassonne offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

Is the Food Better in Carcassonne or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Carcassonne and Arles offer high quality local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Carcassonne. There are a number of local restaurants that serve regional specialties such as cassoulet. You can spend a few hours exploring the castle and then grab a delicious bite to eat.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Arles. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Is Carcassonne or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Arles is a good destination for nightlife. However, Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Arles. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Carcassonne or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is very popular for its historic old town. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its old town.

Arles has a world-famous historical area. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Many people head to Carcassonne to see the old town. The medieval walled city is seeped in history and filled with atmosphere. Cars are not allowed in town.

Is the Shopping Better in Carcassonne or Arles?

Arles is a good destination for shopping. However, Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Carcassonne or Arles Better for Families?

Carcassonne is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Carcassonne. Kids who love castles will enjoy wandering the maze of rooms and getting lost in the medieval atmosphere.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Carcassonne or Arles Better for Couples?

Arles is a very popular place for romance. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Arles makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Carcassonne makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a medieval city with an impressive castle and walled fortifications. It's a uniquely European sight that is great for couples who enjoy history.

Is Carcassonne or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Carcassonne is well known for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Carcassonne is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Carcassonne or Arles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Carcassonne and Arles.

Carcassonne has some public transit options. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

You'll find some public transit in Arles, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Carcassonne or Arles a more walkable city?

Carcassonne is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Carcassonne on foot is easy. Cars aren't allowed in the medieval city so it's best to explore on foot.

Arles is very walkable. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Carcassonne Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Carcassonne?

How long in Carcassonne or Arles?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Carcassonne than Arles 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 Carcassonne.

One day in Carcassonne or Arles?

In Carcassonne, many people enjoy the food and museums that this medieval destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic town of Arles. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Most people visit for the museums. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Carcassonne or Arles?

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

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the charming destination of Arles. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Carcassonne or Arles?

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

The quaint town of Arles offers shopping and museums. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Carcassonne or Arles?

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

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Arles. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people visit for the museums. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Arles?

Arles has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne and Arles, 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 Carcassonne or Arles?

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 Carcassonne or Arles in the Summer?

Both Arles and Carcassonne during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Carcassonne is generally around the same temperature as Arles. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 24°C (75°F), and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Carcassonne. In the summer, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Arles. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets less rain in July than Arles. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Arles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Arles. Many visitors come to Carcassonne in the autumn for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Arles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Carcassonne usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Arles receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Arles. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Arles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Carcassonne as well as Arles. Most visitors come to Carcassonne for the museums and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Arles because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Carcassonne is a little warmer than Arles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Carcassonne in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Arles averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Arles. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets less rain in January than Arles. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Arles in the Spring?

Both Arles and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

In April, Carcassonne is generally around the same temperature as Arles. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 14°C (56°F), and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. Carcassonne usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Carcassonne gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Carcassonne usually receives around the same amount of rain as Arles. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Carcassonne