A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chartres vs. Cairngorms National Park for Families, Couples, Food, and Backpackers

Should you visit Chartres or Cairngorms National Park?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Cairngorms National Park? 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. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the food and museums.

Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is a tranquil, remote, and beautiful national park. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food and hiking.

Chartres and Cairngorms National Park: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Good public transit
  • Very walkable
Things to Consider
  • Less family-friendly
Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Public transit not as usable


Is there more to do in Chartres or Cairngorms National Park?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cairngorms National Park. Although Chartres and Cairngorms National Park are both popular with visitors, Cairngorms National Park has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Cairngorms National Park is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty, while Chartres is known for its museums and small town charm. Cairngorms National Park is more touristy than Chartres and is known for its impressive hikes, scenic natural beauty, and nice mountains. It is also home to The Snowroads Scenic Route. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Chartres different from Cairngorms National Park?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Cairngorms National Park 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 Cairngorms National Park?

Chartres
Cairngorms National Park

Chartres is very good for its museums and history. However, Cairngorms National Park does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Cairngorms National Park does not have museums and landmarks.


Is the Food Better in Chartres or Cairngorms National Park? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Chartres
Cairngorms National Park

Both Chartres and Cairngorms National Park 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 Cairngorms National Park area. There are a variety of cafes, pubs, and restaurants in the area that offer hearty dishes to fill a hungry hiker.

Is Chartres or Cairngorms National Park Better for Hiking?

Chartres
Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is great for hiking. However, Chartres is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Cairngorms National Park for the hiking trails. There are hikes for every skill level. You'll find waterfalls, open glens, mountains, and beautiful lakes. Some of the best hikes include the Falls of Bruar, Morrone, and the Seven Bridges Trail.

Chartres is not a hiking destination.

Is Chartres or Cairngorms National Park Better for Families?

Chartres
Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Cairngorms National Park is very family-friendly. The outdoor wilderness, natural lakes, and fun activities make for a great family holiday. Head to the beach at Loch Morlich or go for a pony trek. You can also take a ride on the Strathspey Steam Railway or if the kids are craving a bit more excitement head to Landmark Forest Adventure Park.

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 Cairngorms National Park Better for Couples?

Chartres
Cairngorms National Park

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

Cairngorms National Park is a great national park if you're traveling as a couple. The hiking, natural beauty, and stunning setting make for a wonderful couples getaway. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the serene setting and it's not uncommon for some couples to get engaged in this beautiful park.

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 Cairngorms National Park Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres
Cairngorms National Park

For backpackers, both Chartres and Cairngorms National Park are good 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.

Cairngorms National Park is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Transportation without a car is basically impossible, but camping is a great way to experience the park to its fullest without breaking the bank.

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

Chartres
Cairngorms National Park

Chartres is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Cairngorms National Park is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Chartres offers a very effecient public transportation network. 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Cairngorms National Park. To fully explore the park, you really need to have your own vehicle, but there are local buses and trains that travel to the park.


Is Chartres or Cairngorms National Park a more walkable city?

Chartres
Cairngorms National Park

Chartres is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Cairngorms National Park is not a walkable destination.

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

Cairngorms National Park is not a walkable destination.

For even more information, also check out Is Chartres Worth Visiting? and Is Cairngorms National Park Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cairngorms National Park or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Cairngorms National Park?

In either Chartres or Cairngorms National Park, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Cairngorms National Park than Chartres because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Chartres, and 3-5 days is enough time in Cairngorms National Park.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chartres than Cairngorms National Park 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.


  • How many days in Chartres or Cairngorms National Park? Ideal Length of Stay
    Chartres 1-2 
    Cairngorms National Park 3-5

One day in Chartres or Cairngorms National Park?

With museums and food around the spectacular town of Chartres, there's plenty to do. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

The beautiful national park of Cairngorms National Park offers food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Cairngorms National Park?

With food and museums around the spectacular destination of Chartres, there's plenty to do. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation.A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Cairngorms National Park is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.


Five days in Chartres or Cairngorms National Park?

You'll find museums and food around the grand town of Chartres. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Cairngorms National Park is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Cairngorms National Park, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Chartres or Cairngorms National Park?

Chartres is a great place to explore. 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. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Cairngorms National Park is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This national park 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 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 2-Week Tours from London.


Which place is cheaper, Cairngorms National Park or Chartres?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chartres is €117, while the average daily cost in Cairngorms National Park is €139. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Chartres and Cairngorms National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chartres 59
    Cairngorms National Park 65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chartres 118
    Cairngorms National Park 130
Compare Hotels in Chartres and Cairngorms National Park

Looking for a hotel in Chartres or Cairngorms National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Chartres


Hotels in Cairngorms National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Chartres Hotel Prices and Cairngorms National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chartres 26
    Cairngorms National Park 62

Is it cheaper to fly into Chartres or Cairngorms National Park?

Prices for flights to both Cairngorms National Park and Chartres change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Chartres 39
    Cairngorms National Park 35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chartres 22
    Cairngorms National Park 31

Tours and Activities in Chartres

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chartres.

  • City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41

Tours and Activities in Cairngorms National Park

For Cairngorms National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Cairn Gorm Mountain Adventure Private Hike: $168
  • Private Guided Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $177
  • Private Guided Ridge Scrambling Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Rock Climbing Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountaineering Experience in the Cairngorms: $222
  • Private Walking Tour to Ben Macdui Scotland: $114

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chartres 12
    Cairngorms National Park 9.83


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



When is the best time to visit Chartres or Cairngorms National Park?

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 Cairngorms National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Cairngorms National Park. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cairngorms National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Chartres is a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chartres in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Cairngorms National Park averages at about 14°C (58°F).

In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chartres usually receives more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park during summer. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Cairngorms National Park receives 147 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Chartres usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cairngorms National Park. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Chartres 20°C (68°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 14°C (58°F)

Should I visit Chartres or Cairngorms National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Cairngorms National Park. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere. Additionally, many visitors come to Cairngorms National Park in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Chartres is generally a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 13°C (56°F), and Cairngorms National Park fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the autumn, Chartres often gets more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairngorms National Park receives 84 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in October than Cairngorms National Park. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Chartres 13°C (56°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Chartres or Cairngorms National Park in the Winter?

Both Cairngorms National Park and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Cairngorms National Park for the cuisine during these months.

Cairngorms National Park can be very cold during winter. Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Chartres is a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Cairngorms National Park fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Chartres usually receives more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park during winter. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Cairngorms National Park receives 42 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Chartres usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cairngorms National Park. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Chartres 5°C (40°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 3°C (38°F)

Should I visit Chartres or Cairngorms National Park in the Spring?

Both Cairngorms National Park and Chartres during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Cairngorms National Park because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Chartres is much warmer than Cairngorms National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chartres in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Cairngorms National Park averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the spring, Chartres often gets more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairngorms National Park receives 136 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets more rain in April than Cairngorms National Park. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Chartres 11°C (52°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 7°C (44°F)

Typical Weather for Cairngorms National Park and Chartres

Chartres Cairngorms National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (40°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 3°C (38°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 3°C (38°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 8°C (47°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 5°C (41°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in) 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 20°C (68°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 14°C (58°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Aug 20°C (67°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 55 mm (2.1 in) 12°C (54°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Oct 13°C (56°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 9°C (49°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Nov 8°C (47°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 5°C (42°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 5°C (42°F) 51 mm (2 in) 4°C (39°F) 52 mm (2 in)


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