A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chartres vs. Bergamo for Food, Attractions, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Chartres or Bergamo?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Bergamo? 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 grand, spectacular, and historic town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Bergamo

Bergamo is a beautiful, under-rated, and historical city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres and Bergamo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Bergamo?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Bergamo than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Bergamo is better known for its food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is more popular for its small town charm. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Bergamo is well known for its historical buildings and beautiful squares. Also, Bergamo is famous for Piazza Vecchia.

How is Chartres different from Bergamo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Bergamo. There are historical buildings as well as fascinating museums that are worth checking out. Highlights include the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Colleoni Chapel, the Accademia Carrara, and the Cathedral of Sant'Alessandro.

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

Bergamo 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.

Bergamo has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find traditional restaurants around town that serve the local specialties, many of which have their roots in peasant dishes. The flavors are humble but high quality and the food is fresh and masterfully prepared.

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 Bergamo Better for Nightlife?

Bergamo 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 Bergamo has a few options to choose from. Despite not being high on the itinerary of many travelers, the city has a great nightlife scene that includes many local bars and clubs. You can enjoy a local brew or sip some Italian wine while you enjoy the atmosphere of the old town.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Bergamo Better for its Old Town?

Bergamo is a popular place for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Bergamo. Since the old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town has become more popular with visitors. Still, you can enjoy the authentic and less touristy vibe of this beautiful city.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Bergamo?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bergamo. There are a number of shopping areas around town including shopping malls and shopping streets. You'll find most of the major brands as well as some interesting boutique shops.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Bergamo Better for Families?

Neither Chartres nor Bergamo 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.

Bergamo is not the most family-friendly destination. It's a beautiful city that is filled with history, and for kids there are pedestrian streets to explore and great Italian food. There's also the Museo di Scienze Naturali, which is worth checking out.

Is Chartres or Bergamo Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Chartres and Bergamo make for a notable 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.

Bergamo is a good town for couples to visit. Couples will appreciate the beautiful architecture and impressive squares. There are also great restaurants and pedestrian streets that are fun to wander through.

Is Chartres or Bergamo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Chartres and Bergamo are notable places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Chartres. 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.

Bergamo is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While it's not the most popular backpacker city in Italy, it does have a couple of hostels and guesthouses that offer affordable rates and a young vibe.

Is Chartres or Bergamo Better for Students?

Bergamo is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Bergamo. The university attracts international students and the city makes a great base for learning and exploring.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres is notable for its public transit. Also, Bergamo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Chartres has some very good public transit options. 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.

Bergamo has some public transit options. There are buses around town as well as two funiculars, one connecting Città Bassa with the Città Alta and the other connecting Città Alta to San Vigilio.

Is Chartres or Bergamo a more walkable city?

Chartres and Bergamo are very good when it comes to walkability.

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

Bergamo is a very walkable destination. There are many pedestrian streets and the best way to explore the city is on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Bergamo or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Bergamo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Chartres and Bergamo. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bergamo than in Chartres. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Chartres, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bergamo.

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

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

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

One day in Chartres or Bergamo?

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 city of Bergamo offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Chartres or Bergamo?

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.

Bergamo is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bergamo, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Chartres or Bergamo?

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.

Bergamo 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 Bergamo?

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.

Bergamo 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 city 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 2-Week Tours from Rome, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Bergamo?

Bergamo has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Chartres and Bergamo, 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 Bergamo?

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 Bergamo in the Summer?

Both Bergamo and Chartres during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Bergamo in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Chartres is cooler than Bergamo in the summer. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Bergamo fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Bergamo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chartres. In the summer, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Bergamo. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bergamo receives 286 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in July than Bergamo. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Bergamo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Bergamo. Many visitors come to Chartres in the autumn for the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Bergamo for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Chartres is around the same temperature as Bergamo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Chartres in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Bergamo averages at about 14°C (57°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Bergamo during autumn. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Bergamo receives 137 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Bergamo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Chartres usually receives less rain than Bergamo. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Chartres or Bergamo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Bergamo. Most visitors come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Bergamo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bergamo can be very cold. Chartres can be very cold during winter. In January, Chartres is generally much warmer than Bergamo. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 5°C (40°F), and Bergamo fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Bergamo. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bergamo receives 98 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in January than Bergamo. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Bergamo in the Spring?

Both Bergamo and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bergamo this time of year.

Chartres is cooler than Bergamo in the spring. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Bergamo fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Chartres usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bergamo during spring. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Bergamo receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Chartres usually receives less rain than Bergamo. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bergamo receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bergamo and Chartres