A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Heidelberg vs. Auxerre for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Heidelberg or Auxerre?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Heidelberg and Auxerre. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a lively, charming, and scenic town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food.

Auxerre

Auxerre is a undiscovered, authentic, and under-rated town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the food and museums.

Heidelberg and Auxerre: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heidelberg or Auxerre?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Heidelberg. Although Heidelberg and Auxerre are popular destinations, Heidelberg has more sights and attractions for tourists. Heidelberg is very popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Auxerre attracts visitors for its museums and small town charm. Heidelberg is more touristy than Auxerre and is known for its picturesque beauty, romantic atmosphere, and its classic old town. It is also well known for The Heidelberg Castle. Auxerre is famous for its food, wine, and art history.

How is Heidelberg different from Auxerre?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Heidelberg or Auxerre?

Auxerre is a good destination for its historical sights. However, Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Auxerre. Although the town is often overlooked by tourists, there are many nice cathedrals and churches around town.

Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Heidelberg or Auxerre? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Heidelberg is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Auxerre is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Heidelberg has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The old town is filled with local restaurants that offer an assortment of traditional dishes. The restaurants offer a mix of outdoor and indoor seating and classic dishes include saumagen, lewwerkneedl, and dampfnudeln.

Auxerre offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The town is a the heart of the wine industry, so you'll find many great restaurants where you can enjoy local food and wine.

Is Heidelberg or Auxerre Better for Nightlife?

Heidelberg is great for its evening party scene. However, Auxerre is not a good destination for nightlife.

Many people head to Heidelberg for the nightlife scene. As a university town, you'll find a very young population and many bars, pubs, and nightclubs where you can hang out.

Most people don't head to Auxerre specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It has a quiet nightlife with some nice bars and pubs.

Is Heidelberg or Auxerre Better for its Old Town?

Heidelberg is an amazing town to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Auxerre does not have a historic old town.

Heidelberg offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The charming old town, or Altstadt, is lined with cafes that spill out onto the street and churches with bells that chime hourly. The area is filled with activity and there are many shops, ice cream vendors, and restaurants to choose from.

Auxerre does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Heidelberg or Auxerre?

Heidelberg is very good for its shopping areas. However, Auxerre is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Heidelberg has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The pedestrian area is the best place to pass your time shopping. There are name brand stores mixed in with local independent shops which you'll mostly find on the side streets. Popular items to buy include wooden toys, Christmas decorations, and candy.

Auxerre is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Heidelberg or Auxerre Better for Families?

Both Heidelberg and Auxerre are nice family-friendly destinations.

Heidelberg offers lots of family activities. With its many ice cream shops, playgrounds, and impressive castle, this city makes a nice stop for families with kids. The restaurants usually have a kid's menu and there are a number of kid-friendly museums and activities.

Auxerre is a family-friendly place to visit. There's the Zoo de La Fleche and the Aquarium de Touraine. You can also wander through Musee de l'Avallon or des Plantes.

Is Heidelberg or Auxerre Better for Couples?

Heidelberg is great for couples. Also, Auxerre is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

Heidelberg is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. This beautiful city offers an impressive backdrop for a couple's getaway. The view from the castle looks out beautifully over the city and the old town has many excellent restaurants and activities that are great for couples.

Auxerre is a nice destination for couples. There are many great eateries as well nice architecture and, of course, excellent wine.

Is Heidelberg or Auxerre Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heidelberg is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Auxerre is not a good destination for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Heidelberg. Prices are reasonable and there are a handful of hostels around town. As a university town, you can be assured there are plenty of fun activities and cheap places to eat.

Auxerre is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a popular stop off on the backpacker circuit, but you will find some affordable accommodation options.

Is Heidelberg or Auxerre Better for Students?

Heidelberg is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Auxerre is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Heidelberg. It is a beautiful student town with a lot of activities for young visitors. This is not the most popular study abroad destination, but it does have a lot to offer for those who visit.

Auxerre is not popular with students.

Is Heidelberg or Auxerre Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Heidelberg is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Auxerre is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

The public transit in Heidelberg can get you to most places easily. There are trams and buses that connect the old town to the train station.

Auxerre has a few public transit options. There are buses around town.

Is Heidelberg or Auxerre a more walkable city?

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

Heidelberg is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable.

Auxerre is somewhat walkable. The center is walkable but it is a bit more difficult to navigate than some nearby towns.

For even more information, also check out Is Heidelberg Worth Visiting? and Is Auxerre Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Auxerre or Heidelberg?

How long in Heidelberg or Auxerre?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Heidelberg than Auxerre 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 Heidelberg.

One day in Heidelberg or Auxerre?

In Heidelberg, you'll find shopping and nightlife. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

With museums and food around the authentic town of Auxerre, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Auxerre, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Heidelberg or Auxerre?

In Heidelberg, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Heidelberg has to offer.

With food and museums around the destination of Auxerre, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Heidelberg or Auxerre?

Heidelberg is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Auxerre, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Heidelberg or Auxerre?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Heidelberg. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Heidelberg. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Auxerre is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, and The Best 2-Week Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or Auxerre?

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

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 Heidelberg or Auxerre in the Summer?

Both Auxerre and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Heidelberg for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Auxerre in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Heidelberg is around the same temperature as Auxerre in the summer. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 21°C (69°F) in July, and Auxerre fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Auxerre. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heidelberg. Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Auxerre during summer. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Auxerre receives 255 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Heidelberg usually receives more rain than Auxerre. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Auxerre in the Autumn?

Both Auxerre and Heidelberg during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Heidelberg in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Auxerre for the small town atmosphere during these months.

In the autumn, Heidelberg is around the same temperature as Auxerre. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Heidelberg in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Auxerre averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Auxerre. Heidelberg gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auxerre receives 126 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Auxerre. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Auxerre in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and Auxerre. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Auxerre because of the museums and the cuisine.

The weather in Auxerre can be very cold. Heidelberg can be very cold during winter. In January, Heidelberg is generally cooler than Auxerre. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 3°C (37°F), and Auxerre fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Auxerre during winter. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Auxerre receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Heidelberg usually receives less rain than Auxerre. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Auxerre in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as Auxerre. The spring months attract visitors to Heidelberg because of the natural beauty. Additionally, the small town charm are the main draw to Auxerre this time of year.

Heidelberg is a little warmer than Auxerre in the spring. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Auxerre fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the spring, Heidelberg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auxerre receives 167 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets more rain in April than Auxerre. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Auxerre and Heidelberg