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

Should you visit Chartres or Urbino?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Urbino? 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.

Urbino

Urbino is a historic, undiscovered, and authentic town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres and Urbino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Urbino?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Urbino. Although Chartres and Urbino are both popular with visitors, Urbino has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Urbino is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is known for its small town charm. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Urbino is popular for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere. It is also home to Palazzo Ducale di Urbino.

How is Chartres different from Urbino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Urbino. At the heart of the city are its historical sights. The cathedral is worth a visit, as is The Ducal Palace, but for most visitors, simply soaking up the town's atmosphere is the best experience.

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

Urbino 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.

Urbino has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city's history has influenced its cuisine. Traditional foods include cornbread, truffles, and meat sausage. While these options aren't as common today, you can still find them if you seek them out.

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 Urbino Better for Nightlife?

Urbino 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 Urbino has a few options to choose from. Because of the large student population, there are usually some fun activities going on at night. You'll find some good bars around town that are fun to hang out at.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Urbino Better for its Old Town?

Urbino 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 Urbino. The historic center feels a bit undiscovered by Italian standards. There are stone houses and the town is built on a steep hill, giving it a beautiful setting.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Urbino?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Urbino. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Urbino Better for Families?

Neither Chartres nor Urbino 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.

Urbino is not the most family-friendly destination. The city is filled with history and architecture, which may be lost on the kids. There are the classic Italian restaurants which is a favorite among kids and adults alike.

Is Chartres or Urbino Better for Couples?

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

Urbino is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. This walled city is fun to explore and can make for a great romantic stop. The city is walled and has many historical buildings which couples will enjoy learning about together.

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 Urbino Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres is a town with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Urbino is not a good destination for backpackers.

Chartres is a good town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Urbino is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not well known by backpackers and there are a very limited number of hostels in the area.

Is Chartres or Urbino Better for Students?

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

Urbino is a very popular town for students and younger travelers. The student population is a large part of this small city. University students are usually happy and enjoy many activities and outings into the surrounding area.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres is great for times when you don't have a car. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its public transit.

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.

Public transit is generally limited in Urbino. The town is accessible by bus but not by train.

Is Chartres or Urbino a more walkable city?

Chartres is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

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

Urbino is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city are easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Urbino or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Urbino?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chartres than Urbino 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 Chartres.

One day in Chartres or Urbino?

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 town of Urbino 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 Urbino?

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.

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

Five days in Chartres or Urbino?

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.

Urbino 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 Urbino?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the grand 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.

Urbino 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 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Chartres and Urbino, we can see that Urbino is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Urbino?

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

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 Urbino in the Summer?

Both Urbino 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 Urbino for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

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

In July, Chartres usually receives less rain than Urbino. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Chartres or Urbino in the Autumn?

Both Urbino 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 Urbino because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Chartres is generally cooler than Urbino. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 13°C (56°F), and Urbino fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Chartres usually gets less rain in October than Urbino. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Urbino in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Urbino. 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 Urbino this time of year.

It's quite cold in Urbino in the winter. The weather in Chartres can be very cold. Chartres is much warmer than Urbino in the winter. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Urbino fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In January, Chartres usually receives more rain than Urbino. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Chartres or Urbino in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Chartres is around the same temperature as Urbino. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chartres in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Urbino averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Chartres usually gets less rain in April than Urbino. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Urbino and Chartres