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

Should you visit Chartres or Reykjavik?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Reykjavik? 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 historic, grand, and spectacular town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food and museums.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a friendly, clean, and green city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the hiking, shopping, and nightlife.

Chartres and Reykjavik: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Reykjavik?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Reykjavik. Although Chartres and Reykjavik are popular destinations, Reykjavik has more sights and attractions for tourists. Reykjavik is very popular for its nightlife, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres attracts visitors for its museums, food, and small town charm. Reykjavik is more touristy than Chartres and is known for its proximity to natural beauty and many thermal pools, as well as its active nightlife scene and many festivals. It is also well known for The Thermal Pools. Chartres is famous for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Chartres different from Reykjavik?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Chartres is a nice place to visit for its museums and history. However, Reykjavik does not have museums and landmarks.

Chartres is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Reykjavik does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Chartres or Reykjavik? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Chartres is a nice place to visit for its restaurants. However, Reykjavik is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Chartres. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Reykjavik. Traditional Icelandic food may not have the best reputation, but restaurants these days are pretty good with a variety of dishes to choose from. Popular foods in the area include fish, lamb, and Icelandic skyr (a type of yogurt).

Is Chartres or Reykjavik Better for Nightlife?

Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik has a few options to choose from. The city offers the best nightlife in Iceland and you'll be surprised at the number of clubs, bars, and craft breweries that you can choose from. Almost all of the popular nightlife spots are around Laugavegur, a major shopping street in town.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Reykjavik Better for Hiking?

Reykjavik is a must-visit destination for hiking. However, Chartres is not a hiking destination.

People visit Reykjavik specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The city offers easy access to some of the world's most spectacular scenery. There are many hikes that you can easily reach from town. They pass through diverse landscapes that include waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, and beaches.

Chartres is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Reykjavik?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Reykjavik. The city's main shopping street is Laugavegur, which is where you'll find the most activity around town as well as a bustling atmosphere.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Reykjavik Better for Families?

Reykjavik 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, Reykjavik is very family-friendly. With its many outdoor activities and hands on museums, the city is great for kids. The cafes and restaurants are family-friendly and their are plenty of entertainment options for the whole family.

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 Reykjavik Better for Couples?

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

Reykjavik is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. There are museums, outdoor activities, and even the northern lights that make this city very romantic. The cafes are laid-back and the atmosphere is friendly.

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 Reykjavik Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Chartres and Reykjavik are nice 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.

Reykjavik is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of hostels around town, but they can be pretty expensive. Transportation can also be pretty challenging for backpackers.

Is Chartres or Reykjavik Better for Students?

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

It's common for students to visit Reykjavik. Students will enjoy a unique experience in this city. There are good academic programs as well as beautiful outdoor settings that you can explore.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Reykjavik is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Chartres. 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.

You'll find some public transit in Reykjavik, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a fairly comprehensive bus system around town.

Is Chartres or Reykjavik a more walkable city?

Chartres and Reykjavik 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.

Reykjavik is a very walkable destination. The city is small and compact, so it's easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Reykjavik or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Reykjavik?

In either Chartres or Reykjavik, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik.

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

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

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

One day in Chartres or Reykjavik?

You'll find food and museums around the town of Chartres. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Chartres has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The beautiful city of Reykjavik offers shopping and nightlife. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Reykjavik?

You'll find museums and food around the grand destination of Chartres. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Reykjavik 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 spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Reykjavik, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Chartres or Reykjavik?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the historic town of Chartres. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Reykjavik is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Reykjavik, 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 Reykjavik?

Chartres is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Reykjavik is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. 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 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 Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Reykjavik?

Reykjavik has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Chartres and Reykjavik, 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 Reykjavik?

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 Reykjavik in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Reykjavik. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Reykjavik in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Chartres is generally much warmer than Reykjavik. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 20°C (68°F), and Reykjavik fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chartres usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during summer. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 171 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Chartres usually receives around the same amount of rain as Reykjavik. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Chartres or Reykjavik in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Reykjavik. Many visitors come to Chartres in the autumn for the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Reykjavik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Reykjavik can be very cold during autumn. Chartres is much warmer than Reykjavik in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Reykjavik fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the autumn, Chartres often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 83 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in October than Reykjavik. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Reykjavik in the Winter?

Both Reykjavik and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Reykjavik because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

The weather in Reykjavik can be very cold. Chartres can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Chartres is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chartres in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Reykjavik averages at about -0°C (32°F).

Chartres usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during winter. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 27 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Chartres usually receives less rain than Reykjavik. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Chartres or Reykjavik in the Spring?

Both Reykjavik and Chartres during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Reykjavik this time of year.

It's quite cold in Reykjavik in the spring. In April, Chartres is generally much warmer than Reykjavik. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 11°C (52°F), and Reykjavik fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the spring, Chartres often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 140 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in April than Reykjavik. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Reykjavik and Chartres