A Travel Price Comparison for France Chartres vs. Auxerre for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Chartres or Auxerre?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Auxerre? 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. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the food and museums.

Auxerre

Auxerre is a under-rated, undiscovered, and authentic town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the food and museums.

Chartres and Auxerre: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Auxerre?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Auxerre. Although Chartres and Auxerre are both popular with visitors, Auxerre has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Chartres is more touristy than Auxerre and is known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Auxerre is popular for its food, wine, and art history. It is also home to The Auxerre Cathedral.

The Auxerre Cathedral

How is Chartres different from Auxerre?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Chartres and Auxerre.

Chartres offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Auxerre. Although the town is often overlooked by tourists, there are many nice cathedrals and churches around town.

Is the Food Better in Chartres or Auxerre? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Chartres and Auxerre offer a number of good restaurants to choose from.

Chartres has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Auxerre area. The town is a the heart of the wine industry, so you'll find many great restaurants where you can enjoy local food and wine.

Is Chartres or Auxerre Better for Nightlife?

Auxerre is adequate for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Auxerre doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It has a quiet nightlife with some nice bars and pubs.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Auxerre Better for Families?

Auxerre is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Auxerre offers lots of family activities. There's the Zoo de La Fleche and the Aquarium de Touraine. You can also wander through Musee de l'Avallon or des Plantes.

Chartres is not the most family-friendly destination. 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.

Is Chartres or Auxerre Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Chartres and Auxerre make for a good place to visit.

Chartres makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Auxerre is a good town for couples to visit. There are many great eateries as well nice architecture and, of course, excellent wine.

Is Chartres or Auxerre Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Auxerre is not a good destination for backpackers.

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.

Auxerre is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a popular stop off on the backpacker circuit, but you will find some affordable accommodation options.

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

Chartres is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Auxerre is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

The public transit in Chartres can get you to most places easily. 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.

Auxerre has a few public transit options. There are buses around town.

Is Chartres or Auxerre a more walkable city?

Chartres is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Auxerre is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

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

Auxerre is somewhat walkable. The center is walkable but it is a bit more difficult to navigate than some nearby towns.

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

Should I spend more time in Auxerre or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Auxerre?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chartres than Auxerre 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 Chartres.

One day in Chartres or Auxerre?

In Chartres, 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.

The town of Auxerre offers museums and food. 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 Auxerre?

In Chartres, 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 Chartres has to offer.

Auxerre 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Auxerre, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Chartres or Auxerre?

Chartres 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.

Auxerre is a popular choice for travelers. 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 Auxerre?

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

Auxerre is a great place to explore. 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 comparing the travel costs between Chartres and Auxerre, we can see that Chartres is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Auxerre?

Chartres has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Auxerre. When comparing the sizes of Chartres and Auxerre, 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 Auxerre?

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 Chartres or Auxerre in the Summer?

Both Auxerre and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Auxerre for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Chartres is around the same temperature as Auxerre. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chartres in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Auxerre averages at about 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Auxerre. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chartres. Chartres usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre during summer. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Auxerre receives 255 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Chartres usually receives more rain than Auxerre. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Chartres or Auxerre in the Autumn?

Both Auxerre and Chartres during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere. Also, many visitors come to Auxerre in the autumn for the small town atmosphere.

In October, Chartres is generally around the same temperature as Auxerre. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 13°C (56°F), and Auxerre fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Chartres often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auxerre receives 126 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in October than Auxerre. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Auxerre in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Auxerre. Many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Auxerre for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Auxerre can be very cold during winter. Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Chartres is much warmer than Auxerre in the winter. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Auxerre fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Chartres usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre during winter. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Auxerre receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Chartres usually receives less rain than Auxerre. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Chartres or Auxerre in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Auxerre. Most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Auxerre because of the small town charm.

In the spring, Chartres is a little warmer than Auxerre. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chartres in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Auxerre averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In the spring, Chartres often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auxerre receives 167 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Auxerre. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Auxerre and Chartres