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

Should you visit Honfleur or Beaune?

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 Beaune can help you decide which place is right for you.

Honfleur

Honfleur is a serene, picturesque, and scenic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the food, museums, and nightlife.

Beaune

Beaune is a vineyard-filled, cultural, and historic town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Honfleur and Beaune: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Honfleur or Beaune?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beaune. Although Honfleur and Beaune are popular destinations, Beaune has more sights and attractions for tourists. Beaune is very popular for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and small town charm, while Honfleur attracts visitors for its beaches and impressive beauty. Beaune is more touristy than Honfleur and is popular for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines. It is also well known for The Surrounding Vineyards. Honfleur is famous for its influence over Impressionist art, its stunning harbor, and its beautiful buildings.

How is Honfleur different from Beaune?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Beaune is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Honfleur is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Beaune specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

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 Beaune? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Honfleur and Beaune can be an enjoyable experience.

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.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Beaune is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

Is Honfleur or Beaune Better for Nightlife?

Both Honfleur and Beaune have nice 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.

Beaune has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

Is Honfleur or Beaune Better for Beaches?

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

You can check out the beach in Honfleur. 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.

Beaune is not a beach destination.

Is Honfleur or Beaune Better for its Old Town?

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

With a famous historical old-town, Beaune offers plenty to see. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

Honfleur does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Honfleur or Beaune?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Beaune. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

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 Beaune Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Honfleur or Beaune.

Honfleur is a family-friendly city. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Beaune. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

Is Honfleur or Beaune Better for Couples?

Beaune is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Honfleur is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

For those traveling as a couple, Beaune has plenty to offer. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

Couples visit Honfleur frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

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

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

Beaune has some public transit options. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

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 Beaune a more walkable city?

Beaune is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Honfleur is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Beaune. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Beaune or Honfleur?

How long in Honfleur or Beaune?

It's fun to spend time in either Honfleur or Beaune. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Beaune due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Honfleur, and 2-4 days is enough time in Beaune.

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

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

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

One day in Honfleur or Beaune?

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Honfleur. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The town of Beaune offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Honfleur or Beaune?

Honfleur is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

Five days in Honfleur or Beaune?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Honfleur. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Beaune is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that food 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 Beaune?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the peaceful destination of Honfleur. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Beaune is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that food 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 Beaune, we can see that Beaune 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 Beaune Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Honfleur or Beaune?

Beaune has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Honfleur. When comparing the sizes of Honfleur and Beaune, 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.