A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Carcassonne vs. Girona for Old Town, Attractions, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Carcassonne or Girona?

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 Girona. 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 historical, fairytale, and medieval town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Girona

Girona is a ancient, charming, and beautiful city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Because of its quaint atmosphere, it draws plenty of visitors, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Carcassonne and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Carcassonne or Girona?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Girona. Although Carcassonne and Girona are popular destinations, Girona has more sights and attractions for tourists. Carcassonne is more touristy than Girona and is popular for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle. Girona is famous for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine. It is also well known for The Girona Cathedral.

How is Carcassonne different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the excellent sights and museums in either Carcassonne or Girona.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Carcassonne. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

Girona offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

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

Both Carcassonne and Girona offer excellent 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 Girona. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

Is Carcassonne or Girona Better for Nightlife?

Girona 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 Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Carcassonne or Girona Better for its Old Town?

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

Girona has a world-famous historical area. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

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 Girona?

Girona is a very popular place for shopping. However, Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Girona. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Carcassonne or Girona Better for Families?

Carcassonne is a good destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Girona is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

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

Girona is not always a place people visit with their families. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Carcassonne or Girona Better for Couples?

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

Girona makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

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 Girona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Carcassonne is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Carcassonne is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Girona. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Is Carcassonne or Girona Better for Students?

Girona is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Carcassonne is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Girona. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

Carcassonne is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Carcassonne and Girona.

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 Girona, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

Is Carcassonne or Girona a more walkable city?

Carcassonne and Girona 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 Girona on foot is easy. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

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

Should I spend more time in Girona or Carcassonne?

How long in Carcassonne or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Carcassonne or Girona to fill your time. In our opinion, Girona has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Girona 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 Girona. 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 Girona than Carcassonne. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Girona that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Carcassonne or Girona?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Carcassonne. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the medieval city of Girona. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Carcassonne or Girona?

Carcassonne is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Girona. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city 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 Girona?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Carcassonne. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The medieval city of Girona offers museums and food. 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 Girona?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the historical destination of Carcassonne. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Girona. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Carcassonne and Girona, we can see that Girona 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 Girona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Girona 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 Girona Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Girona?

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

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 Girona in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Girona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Carcassonne in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Girona averages at about 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Girona. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Carcassonne this time of the year. In the summer, Carcassonne often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Girona. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets less rain in July than Girona. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Girona in the Autumn?

Both Girona and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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 Girona for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Carcassonne is generally around the same temperature as Girona. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 17°C (62°F), and Girona fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Carcassonne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Girona during autumn. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Girona. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Girona in the Winter?

Both Girona and Carcassonne during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Carcassonne for the museums and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Girona in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Girona in the winter. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 8°C (47°F) in January, and Girona fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Girona. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets less rain in January than Girona. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Girona in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Girona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Carcassonne in April average around 14°C (56°F), and Girona averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Carcassonne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Girona during spring. Carcassonne gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Girona. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Girona and Carcassonne