A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Heidelberg vs. Rouen for Old Town, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Heidelberg or Rouen?

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 Rouen. 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 scenic, character-filled, and historic town. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. And you can't forget about the food, shopping, and nightlife.

Rouen

Rouen is a historical, charming, and compact city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Heidelberg and Rouen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heidelberg or Rouen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Heidelberg than Rouen, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Heidelberg is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Rouen is known for its museums. Heidelberg is more touristy than Rouen and is popular for its picturesque beauty, romantic atmosphere, and its classic old town. It is also home to The Heidelberg Castle. Rouen is popular for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture.

How is Heidelberg different from Rouen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Rouen 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 Rouen. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Heidelberg and Rouen can be difficult as they are each superb in their own way.

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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Rouen makes for a great culinary experience. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

Is Heidelberg or Rouen Better for Nightlife?

Heidelberg is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Heidelberg has plenty to do after the sun goes down. As a university town, you'll find a very young population and many bars, pubs, and nightclubs where you can hang out.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Rouen. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Is Heidelberg or Rouen Better for its Old Town?

Heidelberg is a world-class destination for its old town. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

The historic old town of Heidelberg is revered around the world. 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.

Rouen has an old town worth visiting. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Is the Shopping Better in Heidelberg or Rouen?

If you're looking to go shopping, Heidelberg and Rouen both offer plenty of good spots.

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.

Rouen is a great destination for shopping. Some of the city's best shopping is found along the Rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city center. You'll find independent boutiques and well as upscale vendors.

Is Heidelberg or Rouen Better for Families?

Both Heidelberg and Rouen are good 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.

Rouen is a family-friendly place to visit. This beautiful city is filled with nice parks, free museums, and towers that offer views over the city. Kids will enjoy climbing the clocktower, eating pastries, or riding a bike around town.

Is Heidelberg or Rouen Better for Couples?

Heidelberg and Rouen both superb destinations for a couple.

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.

Rouen is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful city makes a great retreat for couples who enjoy good food and nice architecture. There are many hidden gems around town that make this a favorite French city for many couples.

Is Heidelberg or Rouen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heidelberg is notable for backpackers. However, Rouen is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Heidelberg is a great town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Rouen is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Backpackers may struggle to find a hostel with a social setting, but for those who make it here there are many beautiful things to see.

Is Heidelberg or Rouen Better for Students?

Heidelberg is a popular place for students. However, Rouen is not popular with students.

Heidelberg is a good town to visit for students. 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.

Rouen is not popular with students.

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

Heidelberg and Rouen 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 Rouen. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque). There are also buses and rail connections to town.

Is Heidelberg or Rouen a more walkable city?

Heidelberg and Rouen are superb when it comes to walkability.

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

Rouen is very walkable. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Rouen or Heidelberg?

How long in Heidelberg or Rouen?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Heidelberg or Rouen to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Heidelberg than Rouen 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 Rouen.

Couples should spend more time in Heidelberg than Rouen. 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 Rouen 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 Rouen?

In Heidelberg, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this lively destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

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

A weekend in Heidelberg or Rouen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Heidelberg. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Rouen, 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 city.

Five days in Heidelberg or Rouen?

Heidelberg is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the quaint destination of Heidelberg. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Rouen, a popular city, 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 Rouen?

You'll find nightlife and food around the character-filled destination of Heidelberg. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Rouen 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 Rouen, we can see that Heidelberg is more expensive. And not only is Rouen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rouen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rouen 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 Rouen.

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

Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or Rouen?

Heidelberg has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Rouen. When comparing the sizes of Heidelberg and Rouen, 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 Rouen?

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 Heidelberg or Rouen in the Summer?

Both Rouen and Heidelberg during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rouen for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Heidelberg is generally a little warmer than Rouen. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 21°C (69°F), and Rouen fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In Rouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Heidelberg. In the summer, Heidelberg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rouen. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 241 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets more rain in July than Rouen. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Rouen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and Rouen. Many travelers come to Heidelberg for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rouen in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Heidelberg is around the same temperature as Rouen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Rouen fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Rouen during autumn. Heidelberg gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Heidelberg usually receives less rain than Rouen. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Rouen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as Rouen. Many visitors come to Heidelberg in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Rouen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Rouen can be very cold during winter. Heidelberg can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Heidelberg is cooler than Rouen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Heidelberg in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Rouen averages at about 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Rouen. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 62 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets less rain in January than Rouen. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Rouen in the Spring?

Both Rouen and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Rouen because of the natural beauty.

In April, Heidelberg is generally a little warmer than Rouen. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 11°C (52°F), and Rouen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Rouen during spring. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Heidelberg usually receives more rain than Rouen. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rouen and Heidelberg