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

Should you visit Heidelberg or Chartres?

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 Chartres. 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 historic, quaint, and energetic 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. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and nightlife.

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.

Heidelberg and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heidelberg or Chartres?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Heidelberg. Although Heidelberg and Chartres are both popular with visitors, Heidelberg has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Heidelberg is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Chartres is known for its museums and small town charm. Heidelberg is more touristy than Chartres and is known for its picturesque beauty, romantic atmosphere, and its classic old town. It is also home to The Heidelberg Castle. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Heidelberg different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Chartres 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 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.

Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg has a huge number of terrific 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.

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 Heidelberg or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

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

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Heidelberg or Chartres Better for its Old Town?

Heidelberg is a must-visit destination for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Heidelberg can be explored in its historical center. 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.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Heidelberg or Chartres?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Heidelberg. 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.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Heidelberg or Chartres Better for Families?

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

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.

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 Heidelberg or Chartres Better for Couples?

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

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.

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 Heidelberg or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Many 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.

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 Heidelberg or Chartres Better for Students?

Heidelberg is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres 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.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Heidelberg and Chartres both offer superb public transit to get you around.

Heidelberg offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are trams and buses that connect the old town to the train station.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation 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.

Is Heidelberg or Chartres a more walkable city?

Heidelberg and Chartres are superb when it comes to walkability.

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Heidelberg?

How long in Heidelberg or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Heidelberg or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

Families should spend more time in Heidelberg than Chartres. 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 Chartres. 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 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 Heidelberg.

One day in Heidelberg or Chartres?

The beautiful town of Heidelberg offers nightlife and food. 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.

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

A weekend in Heidelberg or Chartres?

Heidelberg 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. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Heidelberg, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With food and museums around the destination of Chartres, 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 Chartres?

Heidelberg 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.

Chartres, 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 Chartres?

Heidelberg 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 town offers something for everyone.

Chartres 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heidelberg and Chartres, we can see that Heidelberg is more expensive. And not only is Chartres much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chartres would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chartres 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 Chartres.

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

Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or Chartres?

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

Both Chartres and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Heidelberg is generally around the same temperature as Chartres. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 21°C (69°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Chartres. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heidelberg. Heidelberg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during summer. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Heidelberg usually receives more rain than Chartres. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Chartres in the Autumn?

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

Heidelberg is around the same temperature as Chartres in the autumn. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Chartres fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

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

Heidelberg usually gets more rain in October than Chartres. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and Chartres. Many visitors come to Heidelberg in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Chartres can be very cold during winter. Heidelberg can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Heidelberg is much colder than Chartres. Typically, the winter temperatures in Heidelberg in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Chartres averages at about 5°C (40°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Chartres during winter. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Heidelberg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chartres. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Chartres in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as Chartres. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for the natural beauty during these months. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm.

In April, Heidelberg is generally around the same temperature as Chartres. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 11°C (52°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets more rain in April than Chartres. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Heidelberg