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

Should you visit Chartres or Zaragoza?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Zaragoza? 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.

Zaragoza

Zaragoza is a authentic, cultural, and historical city. 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 Zaragoza: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Zaragoza?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Zaragoza. Although Chartres and Zaragoza are both popular with visitors, Zaragoza has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Zaragoza is more popular for its museums, 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. Zaragoza is popular for its grand landmarks, local cuisine, and rich cultural scene. It is also home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar.

How is Chartres different from Zaragoza?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Zaragoza offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. For such a small city, it really has a large number of cultural and historical attractions. The Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar is the most recognizable sight, but there's also the Museum of the Roman Forum of Caesaraugusta, the cathedral of Zaragoza, and the Aljafería Palace, among others.

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 Zaragoza? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Zaragoza 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.

Zaragoza has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are authentic restaurants that cater to locals and tourists alike. You'll also find some interesting food tours around town. Tapas are popular, as is chocolate and fresh, traditional recipes.

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 Zaragoza Better for Nightlife?

Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza has a few options to choose from. The nightlife is at its best on weekends, when students and young locals head out on the town. Many evenings start with tapas and wine, but there are nightclubs and dancing as well.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Zaragoza Better for its Old Town?

Zaragoza is great for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Zaragoza. The old town is small but filled with monumental buildings and an authentic atmosphere.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Zaragoza?

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

Zaragoza is well-known for its shopping. The city has many local shops selling locally produced items and interesting souvenirs. There are also boutiques, markets, and vintage shops that are fun to browse though.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Zaragoza Better for Families?

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

Zaragoza offers lots of family activities. When your kids get their fill of architecture and history, you can head to the Zaragoza Aquarium. Also worth a visit is the Emoz Museum, which is an origami museum. And if you need a break from sightseeing, take a kayak out on the Ebro River.

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 Zaragoza Better for Couples?

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

Zaragoza is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Filled with culture, beauty, and monumental buildings, this is a small and romantic city. It's particularly romantic at night when the streets are quiet and many of the buildings are lit up.

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 Zaragoza Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Chartres and Zaragoza 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.

Zaragoza is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are enough hostels around town to choose from, and while it's not the backpacker haven that some Spanish cities are, it still sees a good number of young travelers.

Is Chartres or Zaragoza Better for Students?

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

It's common for students to visit Zaragoza. International students enjoy this small city because it has a local vibe where they can practice their Spanish and enjoy an authentic experience.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres and Zaragoza both offer very good public transit to get you around.

The public transit in Chartres can get you around 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.

Zaragoza offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are buses and trams around the city.

Is Chartres or Zaragoza a more walkable city?

Chartres and Zaragoza 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.

Zaragoza is a very walkable destination. The city center is very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Zaragoza or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Zaragoza?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Chartres and Zaragoza. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Zaragoza than in Chartres. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Chartres, and 1-3 days is enough time in Zaragoza.

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

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

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

One day in Chartres or Zaragoza?

The town of Chartres offers museums and food. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The beautiful city of Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza?

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

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

Five days in Chartres or Zaragoza?

Chartres 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.

Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza?

Chartres 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.

Zaragoza 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 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain.

When comparing the travel costs between Chartres and Zaragoza, we can see that Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Zaragoza?

Zaragoza has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Chartres and Zaragoza, 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 Zaragoza?

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 Zaragoza in the Summer?

Both Zaragoza and Chartres during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Zaragoza in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Chartres is cooler than Zaragoza. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chartres in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Zaragoza averages at about 26°C (79°F).

In Zaragoza, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chartres. In the summer, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Zaragoza. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zaragoza receives 344 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets more rain in July than Zaragoza. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Zaragoza in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Zaragoza. Many visitors come to Chartres in the autumn for the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Zaragoza for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Chartres is generally cooler than Zaragoza. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 13°C (56°F), and Zaragoza fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Zaragoza during autumn. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Zaragoza receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Chartres usually receives more rain than Zaragoza. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Chartres or Zaragoza in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Zaragoza. Most visitors come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Zaragoza because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Chartres can be very cold during winter. Chartres is much colder than Zaragoza in the winter. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Zaragoza fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Zaragoza. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zaragoza receives 131 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets more rain in January than Zaragoza. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chartres or Zaragoza in the Spring?

Both Zaragoza and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Zaragoza this time of year.

In the spring, Chartres is cooler than Zaragoza. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chartres in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Zaragoza averages at about 15°C (58°F).

It's quite sunny in Zaragoza. Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Zaragoza during spring. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Zaragoza receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Chartres usually receives more rain than Zaragoza. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Zaragoza and Chartres