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

Should you visit Carcassonne or Avignon?

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 Avignon. 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. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food and museums.

Avignon

Avignon is a quaint, charming, and scenic town. Since it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Carcassonne and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Carcassonne or Avignon?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Avignon than Carcassonne, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Avignon is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and small town charm, while Carcassonne is more popular for its impressive beauty. Carcassonne is well known for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle. Avignon is well known for its architectural beauty and historical importance. Also, Avignon is famous for Palais des Papes.

How is Carcassonne different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Avignon 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 Avignon from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

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 Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is very popular for its restaurants. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Eat your way through Avignon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Is Carcassonne or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Avignon is a decent place to visit for nightlife. However, Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Avignon. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Carcassonne or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

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

Avignon has a world-famous historical area. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

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 Avignon?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Avignon. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Carcassonne or Avignon Better for Families?

Both Carcassonne and Avignon are notable family-friendly destinations.

Carcassonne is a family-friendly town. Kids who love castles will enjoy wandering the maze of rooms and getting lost in the medieval atmosphere.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Avignon. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Carcassonne or Avignon Better for Couples?

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

Avignon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

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 Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Carcassonne is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Carcassonne. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

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

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

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 Avignon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Carcassonne or Avignon a more walkable city?

Carcassonne and Avignon are terrific when it comes to walkability.

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

Getting around Avignon on foot is easy. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Carcassonne?

How long in Carcassonne or Avignon?

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

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

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

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

One day in Carcassonne or Avignon?

In Carcassonne, you'll find food and museums. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Avignon is a small town with plenty to do. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Avignon?

In Carcassonne, you'll find museums and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Carcassonne has to offer.

Avignon might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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 Avignon?

Carcassonne is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Because Avignon is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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 Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Carcassonne. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Carcassonne. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Since Avignon is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Avignon, we can see that Avignon 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 Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon 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 Avignon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Avignon?

Avignon has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne and Avignon, 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 Avignon?

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 Carcassonne or Avignon in the Summer?

Both Avignon and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

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

It's quite sunny in Avignon. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Carcassonne. Carcassonne usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during summer. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Avignon. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Avignon in the Autumn?

Both Avignon and Carcassonne during the autumn are popular places to visit. The small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Avignon for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

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

In the autumn, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun.

Avignon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Carcassonne usually gets less rain in October than Avignon. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Avignon in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Avignon. Many travelers come to Carcassonne for the museums and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Avignon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

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

Carcassonne usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during winter. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Avignon. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Avignon in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Carcassonne as well as Avignon. Many visitors come to Carcassonne in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Avignon for the small town charm during these months.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Avignon. In the spring, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Carcassonne gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Avignon. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Carcassonne