A Travel Price Comparison for France Chartres vs. Arles for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Chartres or Arles?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Arles? 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.

Chartres

Chartres is a spectacular, historic, and grand town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Arles

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

Chartres and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Arles?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Arles. Although Chartres and Arles are both popular with visitors, Arles has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Arles is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is known for its small town charm. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Arles is popular for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. It is also home to L'Amphithéâtre Romain.

How is Chartres different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Arles is a must-visit destination for its historical sights. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

The museums and tourist attractions in Arles are world-renowned. 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.

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 Chartres or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arles is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Arles has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Chartres area. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Chartres or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Arles 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 Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is a must-visit destination for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Arles can be explored in its historical center. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Arles?

Arles is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Arles Better for Families?

Neither Chartres nor Arles are considered to be the most family-friendly destination.

For families, Chartres is not always the best place to visit. 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.

Arles is not the most family-friendly destination. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Chartres or Arles Better for Couples?

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

Arles is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Chartres is a good town 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 Chartres or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres is very good for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

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

Chartres is well known for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Chartres. 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.

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Chartres or Arles a more walkable city?

Chartres and Arles are great when it comes to walkability.

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Arles or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Chartres 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 Chartres. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Arles than Chartres. 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.

One day in Chartres or Arles?

In Chartres, many people enjoy the food and museums that this grand 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.

The beautiful town of Arles 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.

A weekend in Chartres or Arles?

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

Arles is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town 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 Arles, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Chartres or Arles?

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

Arles is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. 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.

A week in Chartres or Arles?

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

Arles is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. 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 town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in France, and The Best Luxury Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chartres and Arles, we can see that Arles 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 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 Chartres.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Arles?

Arles has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Chartres 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 Chartres 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 Chartres or Arles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Arles. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Chartres is cooler than Arles. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chartres in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Arles averages at about 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chartres this time of the year. In the summer, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Arles. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Arles in the Autumn?

Both Arles and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Chartres is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 13°C (56°F), and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Arles. In October, Chartres usually receives less rain than Arles. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Chartres or Arles in the Winter?

Both Arles and Chartres during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Chartres is cooler than Arles in the winter. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Arles. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in January than Arles. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Arles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Arles. Most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Arles because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Chartres is cooler than Arles. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chartres in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Arles averages at about 13°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Chartres usually receives less rain than Arles. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Chartres