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

Should you visit Chartres or Girona?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Girona? 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.

Girona

Girona is a charming, beautiful, and colorful city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Chartres and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Girona?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Girona than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Girona is well known for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine. Also, Girona is famous for The Girona Cathedral.

How is Chartres different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Girona offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

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 Girona? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Girona 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.

Girona has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

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 Girona Better for Nightlife?

Girona is adequate for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Girona doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Girona Better for its Old Town?

Girona is a must-visit destination for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Girona can be explored in its historical center. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Girona?

Girona is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Girona is well-known for its shopping. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Girona Better for Families?

Neither Chartres nor Girona 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.

Girona is not the most family-friendly destination. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Chartres or Girona Better for Couples?

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

Girona is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

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 Girona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Chartres and Girona 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.

Girona is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Is Chartres or Girona Better for Students?

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

It's common for students to visit Girona. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Chartres can get you to some places 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.

Girona has some public transit options. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

Is Chartres or Girona a more walkable city?

Girona is a must-visit destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Girona is a very easy city to get around on foot. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Girona or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Chartres or Girona to fill your time. In our opinion, Girona has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Girona than Chartres. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Chartres or Girona?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Chartres. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The beautiful city of Girona offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Chartres or Girona?

Chartres is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Girona 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. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Girona, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Chartres or Girona?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chartres. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Girona 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 Girona?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the spectacular destination of Chartres. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Girona is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Girona?

Girona has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Chartres and Girona, 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 Girona?

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 Girona in the Summer?

Both Girona and Chartres during the summer are popular places to visit. 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 Girona because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

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

In Girona, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chartres. In the summer, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Girona. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets more rain in July than Girona. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Girona in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Girona. The autumn months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

In the autumn, Chartres is cooler than Girona. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Chartres in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Girona averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Girona during autumn. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Chartres usually receives less rain than Girona. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Chartres or Girona in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Girona. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Chartres this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Girona for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Chartres in the winter. In January, Chartres is generally much colder than Girona. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 5°C (40°F), and Girona fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Girona. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in January than Girona. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Girona in the Spring?

Both Girona and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Girona in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

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

Chartres usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Girona during spring. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Chartres usually receives less rain than Girona. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Girona and Chartres