Which city is cheaper, Carcassonne or Chartres?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for France Chartres vs. Carcassonne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Chartres or Carcassonne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chartres or Carcassonne? 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.
Where Should I go: Chartres or Carcassonne?
Chartres
Chartres is a city in north-central France southwest of Paris. It is famed for its massive Cathedrale Notre-Dame. The well-preserved Gothic cathedral, completed in 1220, features 2 towering spires, Romanesque sculptures and elaborate rose windows. The cathedral is unique in that it has two very different steeples – one Gothic, the other Romanesque. Follow them to check out the cathedral's dazzling blue stained-glass windows and its collection of relics, including the Sainte Voile (Holy Veil) said to have been worn by the Virgin Mary when she gave birth to Jesus, which have lured pilgrims since the Middle Ages. The nearby Centre International du Vitrail has workshops and exhibits on stained-glass art. Chartres also had a carefully preserved old city, which is adjacent to the cathedral with staircases and steep streets lined with half-timbered medieval houses leading downhill to the narrow western channel of the Eure River, romantically spanned by footbridges.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChartres €93Carcassonne €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Chartres is €93, while the average daily cost in Carcassonne is €85. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Chartres and Carcassonne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChartres €47Carcassonne €49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChartres €94Carcassonne €98
Compare Hotels in Chartres and Carcassonne
Looking for a hotel in Chartres or Carcassonne? 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.
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 Carcassonne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chartres €21Carcassonne €5.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chartres
Also for Chartres, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Chartres to Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG): $355
- Private Transfer from Chartres Cathedral to Paris City Center: $138
Is it cheaper to fly into Chartres or Carcassonne?
Prices for flights to both Carcassonne 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
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Food Meals for one dayChartres €31Carcassonne €31
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chartres €18Carcassonne €11
Tours and Activities in Carcassonne
For Carcassonne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Private Guided Tour Carcassonne Medieval: $101
- Carcassonne Sightseeing Tour: $202
- Carcassonne walking tour: $292
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour: $285
- Cité de Carcassonne Guided Walking tour. Private tour.: $168
- Day tour : Lastours Castles & Cité de Carcassonne. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $184
- Day tour to Albi & Cordes sur Ciel. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $299
- Day tour to Mirepoix, Montségur, Foix. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $246
- Day tour to Narbonne, Gruissan, Lagrasse. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $246
- Day tour:Cucugnan, Quéribus & Peyrepertuse castles. Shared tour from Carcassonne: $246
- From Sète: Private Tour of the Fortifications at Carcassonne: $1,021
- Half day tour to Lastours. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChartres €9.67Carcassonne €10
Sample the Local Flavors in Carcassonne
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Carcassonne:
- Half day wine tour. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $102
- Day to the Cité de Carcassonne and wine tasting. Shared tour from Carcassonne: $184
- Wine Tours and Vineyard Adventures In The Languedoc: $211
- Shared tour to Lastours, wine tasting, Minerve, Canal du Midi. From Carcassonne: $246
When comparing the travel costs between Chartres and Carcassonne, 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.
When is the best time to visit Chartres or Carcassonne?
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 Carcassonne in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Carcassonne.
In July, Chartres is generally cooler than Carcassonne. Temperatures in Chartres average around 20°C (68°F), and Carcassonne stays around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Carcassonne this time of the year. In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during summer. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 275 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Chartres usually receives more rain than Carcassonne. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyChartres 20°C (68°F)Carcassonne 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Chartres or Carcassonne in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Carcassonne.
Chartres is cooler than Carcassonne in the autumn. The temperature in Chartres is usually 13°C (56°F) in October, and Carcassonne stays around 17°C (62°F).
In the autumn, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 161 hours of full sun.
Chartres usually gets less rain in October than Carcassonne. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChartres 13°C (56°F)Carcassonne 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Chartres or Carcassonne in the Winter?
Both Carcassonne and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Chartres in the winter. In the winter, Chartres is much colder than Carcassonne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chartres in January are around 5°C (40°F), and Carcassonne is about 8°C (47°F).
Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during winter. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Chartres usually receives around the same amount of rain as Carcassonne. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChartres 5°C (40°F)Carcassonne 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Chartres or Carcassonne in the Spring?
Both Carcassonne and Chartres during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Chartres is generally cooler than Carcassonne. Temperatures in Chartres average around 11°C (52°F), and Carcassonne stays around 14°C (56°F).
In the spring, Chartres often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Carcassonne. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 178 hours of full sun.
Chartres usually gets less rain in April than Carcassonne. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilChartres 11°C (52°F)Carcassonne 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Chartres
| Chartres | Carcassonne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
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