A Travel Price Comparison for France Dijon vs. Carcassonne for Food, Attractions, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Dijon or Carcassonne?

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

Should I visit Dijon or Carcassonne? 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.

Dijon

Dijon is a culinary, relaxing, and historical city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a medieval, historical, and fairytale town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for food and museums.

Dijon and Carcassonne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dijon or Carcassonne?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Dijon. Although Dijon and Carcassonne are both popular with visitors, Dijon has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Dijon is more popular for its food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Carcassonne is known for its historical sights and small town charm. Dijon is popular for its cuisine, wine, and nearby vineyards. It is also home to The Ducal Palace. Carcassonne is popular for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle.

How is Dijon different from Carcassonne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Carcassonne and Dijon. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dijon or Carcassonne?

Both Dijon and Carcassonne have superb landmarks and museums for visitors.

Dijon offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. This historic city is filled with sights worth checking. Palais des Ducs and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne, and Eglise Notre-Dame are among the favorites.

Many visitors head to Carcassonne specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

Is the Food Better in Dijon or Carcassonne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dijon is very popular for its restaurants. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Eat your way through Dijon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It is one of the top foodie destinations in France, and you'll find amazing local markets, award winning restaurants, and world class cuisine. Make sure you check out Les Halles Market to try local flavors. In addition to its famous mustard, the city is also popular for gingerbread, truffles, escargot, and, of course, wine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Carcassonne. There are a number of local restaurants that serve regional specialties such as cassoulet. You can spend a few hours exploring the castle and then grab a delicious bite to eat.

Is Dijon or Carcassonne Better for Nightlife?

Dijon is a good destination for nightlife. However, Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Dijon. While it's not a active as the larger European cities, there's still an fun nightlife scene that is driven mostly by the large student population.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Dijon or Carcassonne Better for its Old Town?

Carcassonne is a popular place for its historic old town. However, Dijon does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Carcassonne to see the historical old town. The medieval walled city is seeped in history and filled with atmosphere. Cars are not allowed in town.

Dijon does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Dijon or Carcassonne?

Dijon is a good destination for shopping. However, Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Dijon. For the best shopping in town, head to the main shopping street - Rue de la Liberté. It's lined with everything from clothing stores to wine shops and larger department stores. You'll even be able to pick up some of the famed mustard while you're in town.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Dijon or Carcassonne Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Dijon or Carcassonne.

Dijon is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the open space that the city offers. There are parks where they can run around, like The Parc de la Colombieres which has a carousel and a ropes course. There are also many museums including two favorites for young ones - Musee de la Vie Bourguignonne and Musee d'Histoire Naturelle.

Carcassonne is a family-friendly city. Kids who love castles will enjoy wandering the maze of rooms and getting lost in the medieval atmosphere.

Is Dijon or Carcassonne Better for Couples?

Dijon is a very popular place for romance. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Dijon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Art, palaces, gardens, and fine wine make it a perfect couple's getaway. There is some of the best food in France, as well as a welcoming culture and many beautiful sights to explore.

Carcassonne makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a medieval city with an impressive castle and walled fortifications. It's a uniquely European sight that is great for couples who enjoy history.

Is Dijon or Carcassonne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Carcassonne is notable for backpackers. Also, Dijon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Carcassonne. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

Dijon is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's a beautiful city with a touristy vibe, so you'll likely meet other travelers while you're in town.

Is Dijon or Carcassonne Better for Students?

Dijon is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Carcassonne is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Dijon. While it's quieter than the bigger cities, you'll find a young vibe and enough of a nightlife scene to keep it interesting.

Carcassonne is not popular with students.

Is Dijon or Carcassonne Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Dijon and Carcassonne offer good public transit options.

Dijon has a few public transit options. Tram and buses offer access to many parts of the city.

Carcassonne has some public transit options. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

Is Dijon or Carcassonne a more walkable city?

Carcassonne is terrific for its walkability. Also, Dijon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Carcassonne on foot. Cars aren't allowed in the medieval city so it's best to explore on foot.

Dijon is a somewhat walkable place. Most of the inner city is walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Dijon Worth Visiting? and Is Carcassonne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Carcassonne or Dijon?

How long in Dijon or Carcassonne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Dijon or Carcassonne to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Dijon than Carcassonne because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dijon, and 1-2 days is enough time in Carcassonne.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Carcassonne than Dijon 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 Carcassonne.

One day in Dijon or Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historical city of Dijon. Most people visit for the food. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Carcassonne, many people enjoy the food and museums that this historical 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.

A weekend in Dijon or Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the cultural destination of Dijon. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Carcassonne. 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.

Five days in Dijon or Carcassonne?

The culinary city of Dijon offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Carcassonne is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Carcassonne. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Dijon or Carcassonne?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Dijon. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the food. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find museums and food around the medieval destination of Carcassonne. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to France, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dijon or Carcassonne?

Dijon has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Dijon and Carcassonne, 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 Dijon or Carcassonne?

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 Dijon or Carcassonne in the Summer?

Both Carcassonne and Dijon during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Dijon for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Dijon is cooler than Carcassonne in the summer. The daily temperature in Dijon averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Carcassonne fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Carcassonne, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dijon. In the summer, Dijon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Carcassonne. Dijon gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 275 hours of full sun.

Dijon usually gets more rain in July than Carcassonne. Dijon gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dijon or Carcassonne in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dijon and Carcassonne. The autumn months attract visitors to Dijon because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year.

In the autumn, Dijon is cooler than Carcassonne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dijon in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Carcassonne averages at about 17°C (62°F).

Dijon usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during autumn. Dijon gets 121 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 161 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dijon usually receives less rain than Carcassonne. Dijon gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dijon or Carcassonne in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Dijon as well as Carcassonne. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dijon this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Carcassonne for the museums and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Dijon in the winter. In January, Dijon is generally much colder than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Dijon average around 3°C (38°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Dijon often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Dijon gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 88 hours of full sun.

Dijon usually gets more rain in January than Carcassonne. Dijon gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dijon or Carcassonne in the Spring?

Both Carcassonne and Dijon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Dijon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Carcassonne in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Dijon is cooler than Carcassonne in the spring. The daily temperature in Dijon averages around 11°C (53°F) in April, and Carcassonne fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

Dijon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Carcassonne during spring. Dijon gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dijon usually receives around the same amount of rain as Carcassonne. Dijon gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Dijon