A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Carcassonne vs. Oslo for Families, Attractions, Food, and Backpackers

Should you visit Carcassonne or Oslo?

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 Oslo. 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 medieval, historical, and fairytale town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for food and museums.

Oslo

Oslo is a green, clean, and progressive city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

Carcassonne and Oslo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Carcassonne or Oslo?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Oslo. Although Carcassonne and Oslo are both popular with visitors, Oslo has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Oslo is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Carcassonne is known for its food, historical sights, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Carcassonne is popular for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle. Oslo is popular for its Viking history, its locally caught seafood, its maritime museums, and its access to winter sports. It is also home to The Royal Palace.

How is Carcassonne different from Oslo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the great sights and museums in either Carcassonne or Oslo.

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.

Oslo offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Famous sights around town include the Akershus Fortress, the Folk Museum of Norway, and the Munch Museum.

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

Carcassonne is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Carcassonne makes for a great culinary experience. 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.

Oslo has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city has a reputation of serving a lot of cured meats and potato dishes, but there is actually a good amount of variation available. Local favorites include smoked salmon, meatballs, and meat stews.

Is Carcassonne or Oslo Better for Nightlife?

Oslo 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 Oslo. The city's high alcohol prices mean that many locals enjoy their drinks at home during pre-parties before heading out on the town. The atmosphere is usually laid-back and chill, with a diversity of entertainment venues that you can choose between.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Carcassonne or Oslo Better for its Old Town?

Carcassonne is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Oslo does not have a historic old town.

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

Oslo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Carcassonne or Oslo?

Oslo is a decent place to visit for shopping. However, Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Oslo is a good destination for shopping. The shopping that is available includes shopping malls and local boutique shops.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Carcassonne or Oslo Better for Families?

Oslo is very popular for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Oslo is very family-friendly. The city goes out of its way to integrate kid-friendly activities into everyday life. From playgrounds and parks to interactive museums and nearby amusement parks, this city is among the most kid-friendly around.

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.

Is Carcassonne or Oslo Better for Couples?

Carcassonne and Oslo both good destinations for a couple.

Carcassonne is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Oslo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can explore castles, go on forest hikes, or enjoy a couple's massage.

Is Carcassonne or Oslo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Carcassonne is notable for backpackers. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Carcassonne. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

Oslo is a good town to visit for backpackers. Notoriously expensive, this city does have some hostels, but it can be a bit challenging for those on a budget. Because many backpackers avoid the area due to the costs, it can be challenging to meet other backpackers.

Is Carcassonne or Oslo Better for Students?

Oslo is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Carcassonne is not popular with students.

Many students visit Oslo. The University of Oslo has an excellent reputation and welcomes many foreign students every year. The school does a lot to make sure international students feel at home here.

Carcassonne is not popular with students.

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

Oslo is very popular for times when you don't have a car. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Oslo has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. The system includes buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains, and ferries.

You'll find some public transit in Carcassonne, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

Is Carcassonne or Oslo a more walkable city?

Carcassonne is an amazing town to visit for its walkability. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

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

Oslo is a very walkable town. The city has a number of traffic-free areas so it's fun to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Oslo or Carcassonne?

How long in Carcassonne or Oslo?

In either Carcassonne or Oslo, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Oslo than Carcassonne because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Carcassonne, and 1-5 days is enough time in Oslo.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Carcassonne than Oslo 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 Oslo?

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

Oslo is a park-filled city where you can fill many days. 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 Oslo?

Carcassonne 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.

Oslo is a progressive big city where you can fill many days. 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 Oslo?

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

Oslo is a progressive city where you can fill many days. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Carcassonne or Oslo?

The historical town of Carcassonne 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.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Oslo. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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 Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.

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

Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Oslo?

Oslo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne and Oslo, 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 Oslo?

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 Oslo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Carcassonne as well as Oslo. Many visitors come to Carcassonne in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Oslo for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Carcassonne is a little warmer than Oslo in the summer. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Oslo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Oslo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Carcassonne this time of the year. In the summer, Carcassonne often gets more sunshine than Oslo. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 246 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets less rain in July than Oslo. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Oslo in the Autumn?

Both Oslo and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Carcassonne for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Oslo because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Carcassonne is much warmer than Oslo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Carcassonne in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Oslo averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Carcassonne usually receives more sunshine than Oslo during autumn. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 86 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Carcassonne usually receives around the same amount of rain as Oslo. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Oslo in the Winter?

Both Oslo and Carcassonne during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the museums and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Oslo this time of year.

It's quite cold in Oslo in the winter. In January, Carcassonne is generally much warmer than Oslo. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 8°C (47°F), and Oslo fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

In the winter, Carcassonne often gets more sunshine than Oslo. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 40 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Oslo. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Oslo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Oslo. The small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Oslo for the activities around the city.

Carcassonne is much warmer than Oslo in the spring. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 14°C (56°F) in April, and Oslo fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

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

In April, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Oslo. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Oslo and Carcassonne