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

Should you visit Chartres or Caen?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Caen? 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 historic, grand, and spectacular town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food and museums.

Caen

Caen is a park-filled, important, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, museums, and nightlife.

Chartres and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Caen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Caen. Although Chartres and Caen are popular destinations, Caen has more sights and attractions for tourists. Caen is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Chartres attracts visitors for its small town charm. Chartres is famous for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Caen is famous for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. It is also well known for Pegasus Bridge.

How is Chartres different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Caen is great for its historical sights. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

Caen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are many monuments around town commemorating the city's long history. You'll want to see Château de Caen, Pegasus Bridge, Mémorial de Caen, Musée de Normandie, and Musée des beaux-arts de Caen.

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 Caen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Caen 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.

Caen has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a market that's at its best on Sundays where you'll find fresh produce and other local ingredients. There are also Michelin starred restaurants, seafood restaurants, and other traditional dishes. Head to the Vaugueux Quarter for traditional dishes.

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 Caen Better for Nightlife?

Caen 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 Caen has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene stays active thanks to the 30,000 students living in town. Head to the Rue Ecuyère for a pub crawl or hit up any of the other bars around town.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Caen Better for Families?

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

Caen offers lots of family activities. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

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 Caen Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Chartres and Caen make for a nice 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.

Caen is a good town for couples to visit. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Is Chartres or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Chartres and Caen are nice 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.

Caen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

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

Chartres and Caen both offer superb public transit to get you around.

The public transit in Chartres can get you around 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.

Caen offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

Is Chartres or Caen a more walkable city?

Chartres is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

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

Caen is a somewhat walkable place. The city center is best explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Caen?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Caen 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 Caen.

One day in Chartres or Caen?

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

The city of Caen offers nightlife and food. 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 Caen?

Chartres 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.

Caen 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 Caen, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Chartres or Caen?

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

Caen 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 Caen?

The historic town of Chartres 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.

Caen 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in France, and The Best Luxury Tours to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Chartres and Caen, we can see that Caen 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 Caen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Caen?

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

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 Caen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Caen. Most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Caen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Chartres is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 20°C (68°F), and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chartres usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Caen during summer. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Chartres usually receives more rain than Caen. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Chartres or Caen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Caen. The autumn months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town atmosphere. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Chartres is around the same temperature as Caen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Chartres often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Caen. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in October than Caen. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Chartres this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. It's quite cold in Chartres in the winter. In the winter, Chartres is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chartres in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Caen averages at about 5°C (41°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Caen during winter. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Chartres usually receives less rain than Caen. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Chartres or Caen in the Spring?

Both Caen and Chartres during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Chartres is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 11°C (52°F), and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the spring, Chartres often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Caen. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Caen. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Caen and Chartres