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

Should you visit Chartres or Rijeka?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Rijeka? 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. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Rijeka

Rijeka is a diverse, slow-paced, and coastal town. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres and Rijeka: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less family-friendly
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Popular beach
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Good for students


Is there more to do in Chartres or Rijeka?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rijeka. Although Chartres and Rijeka are both popular with visitors, Rijeka has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Rijeka is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Chartres is known for its small town charm. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Rijeka is popular for being a transportation hub in Croatia with a ferry and cruise ship port. It is also home to Trsat Castle.

How is Chartres different from Rijeka?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Chartres
Rijeka

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Chartres and Rijeka.

Chartres offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Rijeka. Historical sights around town include Trsat Castle, the Petar Druzic Stairway, and Our Lady of Trsat. There are also museums such as PEEK&POKE Computer Museum and the Governor's Palace and Maritime and Historical Museum.


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

Chartres
Rijeka

Both Chartres and Rijeka offer a number of good restaurants to choose from.

Chartres has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Rijeka area. It's known for its Mediterranean cuisine which includes more than seafood. There are local vegetable specialties in the area as well including asparagus and white truffles. Codfish stew and cuttlefish risotto are also popular.

Is Chartres or Rijeka Better for Nightlife?

Chartres
Rijeka

Rijeka is great for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Rijeka for the nightlife scene. The city center has plenty of bars and clubs. Restaurants also stay open late and are popular places to hang out for locals and tourists alike.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Rijeka Better for Beaches?

Chartres
Rijeka

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

You can check out the beach in Rijeka. There are pebbly and gravelly beaches in the area, with the best beaches to the west of the city. You'll need to take a public bus to reach most of them.

Chartres is not a beach destination.


Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Rijeka?

Chartres
Rijeka

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Rijeka. There are many shopping centers, retail stores, and souvenir shops around town.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Rijeka Better for Families?

Chartres
Rijeka

Rijeka 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, Rijeka is very family-friendly. The city has a number of outdoor activities for kids like nature parks and nearby beaches. There's also a puppet theater as well as the Astronomical Center of Rijeka.

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 Rijeka Better for Couples?

Chartres
Rijeka

With fun activities for couples, both Chartres and Rijeka make for a good place to visit.

Chartres makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Rijeka is a good town for couples to visit. It's a gateway to the Croatian islands. Many couples enjoy walking down the waterfront promenade or dining at a nice local restaurant. There are also beaches, parks, and historical sights to explore.


Is Chartres or Rijeka Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres
Rijeka

For backpackers, both Chartres and Rijeka are good 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.

Rijeka is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's no shortage of affordable hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Is Chartres or Rijeka Better for Students?

Chartres
Rijeka

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

It's common for students to visit Rijeka. It's a laid back seaside city that makes a nice semester abroad destination. As a gateway to the Croatian islands, it also offers transportation connections to other points of interest.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres
Rijeka

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

Many visitors use the public transit system 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.

Rijeka has some public transit options. KD Autrolej buses provide transit throughout the city.


Is Chartres or Rijeka a more walkable city?

Chartres
Rijeka

Chartres is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

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

Rijeka is somewhat walkable. Parts of the city are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Rijeka or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Rijeka?

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

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

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

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


  • How many days in Chartres or Rijeka? Ideal Length of Stay
    Chartres 1-2 
    Rijeka 1-2

One day in Chartres or Rijeka?

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

The town of Rijeka offers food and shopping. 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 Rijeka?

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.

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


Five days in Chartres or Rijeka?

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.

Rijeka 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 Rijeka?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the historic 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.

Rijeka 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 town 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 Adventure Tours to Croatia, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Croatia.


Which place is cheaper, Rijeka or Chartres?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chartres is €117, while the average daily cost in Rijeka is €95. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Chartres and Rijeka in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chartres 59
    Rijeka 50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chartres 118
    Rijeka 100
Compare Hotels in Chartres and Rijeka

Looking for a hotel in Chartres or Rijeka? 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.

Hotels in Chartres


Hotels in Rijeka


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 Rijeka Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chartres 26
    Rijeka 16

Is it cheaper to fly into Chartres or Rijeka?

Prices for flights to both Rijeka 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Chartres 39
    Rijeka 34

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chartres 22
    Rijeka 8.89

Tours and Activities in Chartres

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chartres.

  • City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41

Tours and Activities in Rijeka

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rijeka are as follows:

  • Drava Sup Exploring Adventure: $44
  • From Golden Island of Krk Tour: $93
  • Istria Highlights Tour from Rijeka or Pula: $122
  • Private Sunset Boat Tour: $631
  • Private Walking Cultural Tour of Rijeka: $235
  • History of Military Forts Guided Tour: $64
  • Private Guided Walking Tour: $127
  • Pula, Rovinj, and Panoramic Istrian Coast Tour: $121
  • Tour the underground with no experience required: $64
  • Ucka Mountain: Guided Hiking Tour: $449

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chartres 12
    Rijeka 16


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chartres and Rijeka, we can see that Chartres is more expensive. And not only is Rijeka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rijeka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rijeka 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 Chartres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chartres than you might in Rijeka.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chartres Expensive? and Is Rijeka Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Chartres or Rijeka?

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

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 Rijeka in the Summer?

Both Rijeka and Chartres during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rijeka for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Chartres is cooler than Rijeka. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chartres in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Rijeka averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Rijeka, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chartres. In the summer, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Rijeka. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 288 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in July than Rijeka. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Chartres 20°C (68°F) 
    Rijeka 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Chartres or Rijeka in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Rijeka. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rijeka in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Chartres is generally cooler than Rijeka. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 13°C (56°F), and Rijeka fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Rijeka during autumn. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Chartres usually receives less rain than Rijeka. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Chartres 13°C (56°F) 
    Rijeka 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Chartres or Rijeka in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Rijeka. Many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Rijeka for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Chartres is cooler than Rijeka in the winter. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Rijeka fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Rijeka. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 96 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets less rain in January than Rijeka. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Chartres 5°C (40°F) 
    Rijeka 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Chartres or Rijeka in the Spring?

Both Rijeka and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Rijeka because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Chartres is cooler than Rijeka. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chartres in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Rijeka averages at about 13°C (56°F).

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

In April, Chartres usually receives less rain than Rijeka. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Chartres 11°C (52°F) 
    Rijeka 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Rijeka and Chartres

Chartres Rijeka
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (40°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 5°C (41°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 7°C (44°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Mar 8°C (47°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 9°C (49°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 13°C (56°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 18°C (64°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in) 22°C (71°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Jul 20°C (68°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 24°C (75°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 20°C (67°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 24°C (74°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 55 mm (2.1 in) 20°C (68°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Oct 13°C (56°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 16°C (60°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 8°C (47°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 10°C (51°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 5°C (42°F) 51 mm (2 in) 6°C (44°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)