A Travel Price Comparison for France Honfleur vs. Arles for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Honfleur or Arles?

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 Honfleur and Arles can help you decide which place is right for you.

Honfleur

Honfleur is a scenic, historic, and peaceful city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Arles

Arles is a charming, compact, and quaint town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Honfleur and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Honfleur or Arles?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Arles than Honfleur, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Arles is better known for its museums, historical sights, and shopping, while Honfleur is more popular for its food and beaches. Honfleur is well known for its influence over Impressionist art, its stunning harbor, and its beautiful buildings. Arles is well known for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. Also, Arles is famous for L'Amphithéâtre Romain.

How is Honfleur different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Honfleur or Arles?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its museums and history. Also, Honfleur is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Arles from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

Honfleur offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Some of the most notable sights around the town include Saint Catherine's Church, Le Vieux Bassin, Notre-Dame de Grace, and the Normandy Bridge.

Is the Food Better in Honfleur or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Honfleur is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Honfleur has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Located on the coast of Normandy along the English Channel, seafood is a defining element for most dishes here. Foodies flock to this town for its Michelin starred restaurants as well as its local cafes and quaint eateries. For land-lovers, there's a popular local cider-braised pork that you must-try. And for dessert make sure you try the Tarte Tatin.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Arles. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Is Honfleur or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Both Honfleur and Arles have notable vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Honfleur. Restaurants come to life at night when music flows out onto the streets. The town is not known for its partying, but that doesn't mean that it's a sleepy place that shuts down when the sun sets.

Arles has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Honfleur or Arles Better for Beaches?

Honfleur is a city with a few options for the beach. However, Arles is not a beach destination.

The beach in Honfleur is worth checking out. The town sits by the estuary of the Seine and there are two beaches not far from town. Butin Beach is the closest to town and the most popular, but Vasouy Beach is more relaxed and natural.

Arles is not a beach destination.

Is Honfleur or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. However, Honfleur does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Arles offers plenty to see. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Honfleur does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Honfleur or Arles?

Arles is very good for shopping. However, Honfleur is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

If you're looking to go shopping, Honfleur has some nice offerings. It's a charming town with boutique shops, chocolate shops, and the standard tourist places that sell souvenirs and t-shirts.

Is Honfleur or Arles Better for Families?

Honfleur is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Honfleur. Located on the coast of Normandy, the town has boat rides, quirky museums, and Vieux Bassin, which is a beautiful and lively harbor. For kids who need to stretch their legs, there are many parks and outdoor spaces to enjoy.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Honfleur or Arles Better for Couples?

Both Honfleur and Arles are very good destinations to visit as a couple.

Honfleur makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It has, arguably, one of the area's most beautiful harbors. There are also many great seafood restaurants, relaxing gardens, and spas that are perfect for couples.

Couples visit Arles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Honfleur or Arles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Arles is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Honfleur is lacking in options for its public transit.

Arles has some public transit options. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Public transit is generally limited in Honfleur. HO Buses travel from the outskirts or town into the center and are used mainly by locals. If you plan to head into Normandy to see the countryside, you'll want to have a car.

Is Honfleur or Arles a more walkable city?

Honfleur and Arles are very good when it comes to walkability.

Honfleur is very walkable. The city center is compact and easy to explore on foot. There are also many coastal walks leading out of town.

Arles is a very walkable city. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Honfleur Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Honfleur?

How long in Honfleur or Arles?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arles than Honfleur 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 Arles.

One day in Honfleur or Arles?

In Honfleur, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this historic destination offers. Lots of people come for the food. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

The beautiful town of Arles offers food and shopping. 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.

A weekend in Honfleur or Arles?

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

Arles 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 Arles, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Honfleur or Arles?

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

Arles is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. 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.

A week in Honfleur or Arles?

You'll find nightlife and food around the serene destination of Honfleur. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Arles is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in France, and The Best Luxury Tours to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Honfleur or Arles?

Arles has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Honfleur. When comparing the sizes of Honfleur and Arles, 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.