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

Should you visit Chartres or Genoa?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Genoa? 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.

Genoa

Genoa is a energetic, historic, and vibrant port city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Genoa?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Genoa. Although Chartres and Genoa are both popular with visitors, Genoa has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Genoa is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is known for its small town charm. Genoa is more touristy than Chartres and is known for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. It is also home to The Via Garibaldi Palaces. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Chartres different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Genoa offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city has a long history and it is filled with monuments, palaces, and museums. Popular places to visit include the Via Garibaldi Palaces, the aquarium (one of the largest in Europe), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Santi Ambrogio.

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 Genoa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Genoa 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.

Genoa has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city's maritime roots have influenced its cuisine and you'll find seafood in many local dishes. Other classic Genoese flavors include pesto, anchovies, fried squid, and focaccia and cheese.

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 Genoa Better for Nightlife?

Genoa 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 Genoa has a few options to choose from. The city lights up at night and it's fun to experience the activity and energy. There's a nice evening atmosphere with many people out and about. You can grab drinks in Piazza Lavagna or see live music in Porto Antico. There are also many bars and clubs around town.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is adequate for the beache. However, Chartres is not a beach destination.

You can check out the beach in Genoa. While many people head to other nearby towns to enjoy the beach, you will also find a beach just ten minutes from the old town by bus. Boccadasse is one of the closest beaches to town. It's also possible to do a day trip to other more famous beaches in the area, but you need to be prepared to travel a bit farther.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is Chartres or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

Genoa 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 Genoa. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Genoa?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Genoa. You can pick up a number of different souvenirs around town including baskets, t-shirts, and local pesto. Popular shopping areas include Galleria Mazzini, Via Roma, and Via XX Settembr.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Genoa Better for Families?

Genoa 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, Genoa is very family-friendly. The city is home to the second biggest aquarium in Europe as well as the Galata Maritime Museum and the Nazario Sauro Submarine. In the port there's also Vascello Nettuno, which was a pirate ship that was used in the filming of the movie 'Pirates' by Roman Polanski. Other fun kid-friendly attractions include La Biosfera, The Children's Museum, and the Bigo Lift.

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 Genoa Better for Couples?

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

Genoa is a great port city if you're traveling as a couple. It's a beautiful port city with charming neighborhoods and some great restaurants. Couples will enjoy exploring this beautiful city and visiting its palaces and cathedrals.

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 Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Genoa is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Genoa. There are a number of affordable hostels in the area, and while this isn't the top backpacker destination in Italy, it is a nice place to spend some time.

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.

Is Chartres or Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

Genoa is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. It's a popular study abroad destination so you'll find a number of international students in the area. The city is also well connected for exploring the region.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres and Genoa both offer very good 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.

Genoa offers a very effecient public transportation network. There's a wide range of different public transit options that are all operated by AMT. The system includes buses, an underground (one line), funiculars (two), lifts (ten), a boat, cogwheel and narrow gauge railways.

Is Chartres or Genoa a more walkable city?

Chartres and Genoa 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.

Genoa is a very walkable destination. The old town, where most tourists spend the majority of their time, is easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Chartres or Genoa. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Genoa due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Chartres, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

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

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

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

One day in Chartres or Genoa?

In Chartres, many people enjoy the food and museums that this spectacular destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

The port city of Genoa 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 Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chartres. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

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

Five days in Chartres or Genoa?

Chartres is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Chartres. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Genoa 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 Genoa?

You'll find museums and food around the spectacular destination of Chartres. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Genoa 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 port 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Chartres and Genoa, 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 Genoa?

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 Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Chartres is cooler than Genoa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chartres in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Genoa averages at about 25°C (76°F).

It's quite sunny in Genoa. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chartres. Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during summer. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Chartres usually receives more rain than Genoa. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Chartres or Genoa in the Autumn?

Both Genoa and Chartres during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Chartres in the autumn for the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Chartres is generally cooler than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 13°C (56°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In the autumn, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in October than Genoa. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Genoa in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Genoa. Most visitors come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Genoa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Chartres can be very cold during winter. Chartres is much colder than Genoa in the winter. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Genoa fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during winter. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Chartres usually receives less rain than Genoa. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Chartres or Genoa in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Genoa. The spring months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

In the spring, Chartres is cooler than Genoa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chartres in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Genoa averages at about 15°C (58°F).

In the spring, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in April than Genoa. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Chartres