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

Should you visit Chartres or Milan?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Milan? 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.

Milan

Milan is a trendy, chic, and cultural city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Chartres and Milan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Milan?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Milan. Although Chartres and Milan are both popular with visitors, Milan has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Milan is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, music, historical sights, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is known for its small town charm. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Milan is popular for its grand squares, dramatic architecture, and its leadership in the fashion world. It is also home to Piazza del Duomo.

How is Chartres different from Milan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Milan offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The Milan Cathedral is the most famous landmark in the city, but other sights include Castello Sforzesco, Pinacoteca di Brera, and Sant'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 Milan? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, Milan is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a mix of traditional dishes combined with modernized, trendy restaurants. You can try a new dish by a groundbreaking chef, or sample a long running favorite like risotto alla Milanese.

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 Milan Better for Nightlife?

Milan is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Milan is a world class party destination. The city has a huge number of students and young professionals, which make it a fun place with an active nightlife. There are cocktail bars, trendy clubs, and relaxed pubs that you can chose from.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Milan Better for Music?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its live music scene. However, Chartres is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Milan. The diversity of music ranges from classical concerts to techno raves. Popular venues include Blue Note Milan, Santeria Social Club, and Spirit de Milan.

Chartres is not a live music destination.

Is Chartres or Milan Better for its Old Town?

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

The rich history of Milan can be explored in its historical center. Known as the Centro Storic, this area is the most popular with tourists. It's where you'll find the most historic buildings and beautiful sights in the city.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Milan?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Known for shopping, Milan draws large crowds to its stores. Famous as the fashion capital of Italy, shopping is the thing to do here. There are many streets that are lined with the biggest designers in fashion. Make sure you check out Via Monte Napoleone, Via Della Spiga, and Corso Buenos Aires.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Milan Better for Families?

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

Milan offers lots of family activities. The city has a science museum and a children's museum, MuBa, that is great for the kids. There are also a number of parks to explore as well as playgrounds where the kids and get out their energy.

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 Milan Better for Couples?

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

Milan is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. There are many beautiful buildings, excellent shopping, and romantic restaurants that make for a wonderful couple's getaway.

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 Milan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Many backpackers visit Milan. While not as popular with backpackers as some Italian city's, there are a number of hostels and great activities that are fun for visitors.

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 Milan Better for Students?

Milan is a must-visit destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Milan. It is one of the more popular city's for international students in Italy. It is very livable with a lot of culture and a fun nightlife, so you're sure to have the experience of a lifetime.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Milan is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Milan has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. Options include metro, bus, tram, and train lines.

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.

Is Chartres or Milan a more walkable city?

Milan 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.

Milan is a very easy city to get around on foot. In particular, the city center is walkable.

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 Milan Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Milan or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Milan?

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

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

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

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

One day in Chartres or Milan?

In Chartres, many people enjoy the food and museums that this grand 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.

Milan is a big city with plenty to do. 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 Milan?

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.

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

Five days in Chartres or Milan?

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.

Milan is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Milan, 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 Milan?

You'll find museums and food around the grand 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.

Milan 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 Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Milan?

Milan has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Chartres and Milan, 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 Milan?

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 Milan in the Summer?

Both Milan and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Chartres in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Milan for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Chartres is cooler than Milan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chartres in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Milan averages at about 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Milan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chartres. Chartres usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Milan during summer. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Chartres usually receives less rain than Milan. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Milan receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Chartres or Milan in the Autumn?

Both Milan and Chartres during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Milan because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Chartres is generally cooler than Milan. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 13°C (56°F), and Milan fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

In the autumn, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Milan. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 152 hours of full sun.

Milan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Chartres usually gets less rain in October than Milan. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Milan receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Milan in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Milan. The winter months attract visitors to Chartres because of the museums and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Milan this time of year.

It's quite cold in Milan in the winter. The weather in Chartres can be very cold. Chartres is around the same temperature as Milan in the winter. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Milan fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Milan during winter. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 119 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Chartres usually receives less rain than Milan. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Milan receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Chartres or Milan in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Milan. The small town charm are the main draw to Chartres this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Milan for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Chartres is cooler than Milan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chartres in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Milan averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Chartres often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Milan. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 176 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in April than Milan. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Milan receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Milan and Chartres