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

Should you visit Kiel or Chartres?

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

Should I visit Kiel or Chartres? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Kiel

Kiel is a off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Kiel and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Kiel than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Kiel is better known for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Chartres is more popular for its small town charm. Kiel is well known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. Also, Kiel is famous for The Kiel Castle. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Kiel different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kiel or Chartres?

Plenty of people visit the notable sights and museums in both Kiel and Chartres.

Kiel offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

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.

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

Both Kiel and Chartres offer a number of notable restaurants to choose from.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Kiel. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Chartres is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Kiel or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Kiel is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Kiel has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Kiel or Chartres Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a popular place for the beache. However, Chartres is not a beach destination.

Kiel is a good option for a beach vacation. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Chartres?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Kiel. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Kiel or Chartres Better for Families?

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

Kiel offers lots of family activities. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

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 Kiel or Chartres Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kiel and Chartres make for a notable place to visit.

Kiel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Chartres is a good city 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 Kiel or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres is a popular place for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Chartres. 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.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Kiel or Chartres Better for Students?

Kiel is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres is well known for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Chartres has some very good public transit options. 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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Kiel or Chartres a more walkable city?

Chartres is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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

Kiel is a somewhat walkable city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Chartres?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chartres than Kiel 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 Chartres.

One day in Kiel or Chartres?

The city of Kiel offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Chartres. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Kiel or Chartres?

Kiel is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kiel, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Chartres is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Kiel or Chartres?

Kiel 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.

You'll find museums and food around the grand destination of Chartres. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Kiel or Chartres?

Kiel is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

The historic town of Chartres offers food and museums. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, 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 Kiel and Chartres, we can see that Kiel 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 Kiel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kiel 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 Kiel Expensive? and Is Chartres Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Chartres?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Kiel 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 Kiel or Chartres?

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 Kiel or Chartres in the Summer?

Both Chartres and Kiel during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

Kiel is cooler than Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kiel. In the summer, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Kiel gets 219 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in July than Chartres. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Chartres in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Chartres. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kiel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Kiel is cooler than Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kiel in October average around 10°C (50°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Kiel usually receives less sunshine than Chartres during autumn. Kiel gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kiel usually receives more rain than Chartres. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kiel or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Chartres. Many travelers come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Kiel. In January, Kiel is generally much colder than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 0°C (33°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Kiel gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in January than Chartres. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Chartres in the Spring?

Both Chartres and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Kiel in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

Kiel is much colder than Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Kiel usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during spring. Kiel gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kiel usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chartres. Kiel gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Kiel