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

Should you visit Frankfurt or Chartres?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt and Chartres can help you decide which place is right for you.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a modern, connected, and energetic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres

Chartres is a spectacular, historic, and grand town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the food and museums.

Frankfurt and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Frankfurt or Chartres?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Frankfurt. Although Frankfurt and Chartres are both popular with visitors, Frankfurt has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Frankfurt is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Chartres is known for its small town charm. Frankfurt is popular for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. It is also home to The Old Town Center. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

The Old Town Center

How is Frankfurt different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Frankfurt or Chartres?

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

Frankfurt offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

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 Frankfurt or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Frankfurt 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.

Frankfurt has a huge number of terrific restaurants. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

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 Frankfurt or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

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

Many people head to Frankfurt for the nightlife scene. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Frankfurt or Chartres Better for its Old Town?

Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Frankfurt or Chartres?

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

Frankfurt is well-known for its shopping. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Frankfurt or Chartres Better for Families?

Frankfurt 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, Frankfurt is very family-friendly. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

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 Frankfurt or Chartres Better for Couples?

Both Frankfurt and Chartres are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Frankfurt is a good city for couples to visit. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Chartres is a nice destination for couples. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Is Frankfurt or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Frankfurt. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Chartres is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

Is Frankfurt or Chartres Better for Students?

Frankfurt is a must-visit destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Frankfurt. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Frankfurt is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Frankfurt has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

Chartres offers a very effecient public transportation network. 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.

Is Frankfurt or Chartres a more walkable city?

Frankfurt and Chartres are great when it comes to walkability.

Frankfurt is a very walkable destination. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Frankfurt?

How long in Frankfurt or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Frankfurt or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Frankfurt than Chartres because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Frankfurt, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

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

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

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

One day in Frankfurt or Chartres?

Frankfurt is a big city with plenty to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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.

A weekend in Frankfurt or Chartres?

Frankfurt 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Frankfurt, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

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.

Five days in Frankfurt or Chartres?

Frankfurt 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.

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.

A week in Frankfurt or Chartres?

Frankfurt 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 city offers something for everyone.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Chartres?

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

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 Frankfurt or Chartres in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Chartres. Most visitors come to Frankfurt for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Frankfurt is generally around the same temperature as Chartres. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 19°C (67°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chartres this time of the year. In Frankfurt, it's very sunny this time of the year. Frankfurt usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during summer. Frankfurt gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Frankfurt usually receives more rain than Chartres. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Chartres in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Chartres. The autumn months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

Frankfurt is cooler than Chartres in the autumn. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Chartres fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Frankfurt gets 103 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets more rain in October than Chartres. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Chartres in the Winter?

Both Chartres and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Chartres. It's quite cold in Frankfurt in the winter. In the winter, Frankfurt is much colder than Chartres. Typically, the winter temperatures in Frankfurt in January average around 1°C (34°F), and Chartres averages at about 5°C (40°F).

Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Chartres during winter. Frankfurt gets 41 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Chartres. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Chartres in the Spring?

Both Chartres and Frankfurt during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the spring for the small town charm.

In April, Frankfurt is generally cooler than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 10°C (50°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Frankfurt often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres. Frankfurt gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Chartres. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Frankfurt