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

Should you visit Kilkenny or Chartres?

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 Kilkenny and Chartres can help you decide which place is right for you.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a active, ancient, and medieval town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

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.

Kilkenny and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kilkenny or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Kilkenny than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Kilkenny is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is more popular for its small town charm. Kilkenny is well known for its medieval castle and long running history. Also, Kilkenny is famous for The Kilkenny Castle. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

The Kilkenny Castle

How is Kilkenny different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Kilkenny is great for its historical sights. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

Kilkenny offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. It's seeped in history and there are many historic landmarks in the area including Kilkenny Castle. Also make sure you check out the National Design & Craft Gallery, Saint Mary's Cathedral, and the Medieval Mile Museum.

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 Kilkenny or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Kilkenny 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.

Kilkenny has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The town has two Michelin starred restaurants as well as many Irish pubs and international restaurants to choose from.

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 Kilkenny or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny has a few options to choose from. You'll find traditional pubs and local breweries around town. The town also hosts several local music festivals.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Kilkenny or Chartres Better for its Old Town?

Kilkenny is great for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Kilkenny. Known as the Medieval Mile, the old town dates back 1,500 years and is filled with city walls, cathedrals, and meandering lanes.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Kilkenny or Chartres?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Kilkenny. There's a mix of shopping malls, shopping streets, and local markets. Make sure you check out Market Cross Shopping Centre, MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, Connolly's Red Mills, and Castleinch Sunday Market.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Kilkenny or Chartres Better for Families?

Kilkenny is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Kilkenny is very family-friendly. The obvious activity is visiting the Kilkenny Castle, but there are so many other adventures that your family can have. You can do the zip line and other outdoor adventures at Castlecomer Discovery Park, try out falconry, or visit the National Reptile Museum. There's also river rafting, kayaking, and many other outdoor adventures in the area.

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 Kilkenny or Chartres Better for Couples?

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

Kilkenny is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Adventure lovers will enjoy rafting, kayaking, hiking, and cycling through the area. There are also Michelin starred restaurants and other romantic settings that make for a great couple's weekend.

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 Kilkenny or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Kilkenny and Chartres are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Kilkenny is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The area has some unique hostels that offer interesting experiences while you're in town.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

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

Chartres is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Kilkenny is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Chartres can get you to some places easily. 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.

While Kilkenny offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are city buses through town.

Is Kilkenny or Chartres a more walkable city?

Kilkenny and Chartres both are great when exploring on foot.

Kilkenny is a very walkable town. The town is easy to walk around and most areas can be explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Kilkenny?

How long in Kilkenny or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kilkenny or Chartres to fill your time. In our opinion, Kilkenny has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Kilkenny than Chartres. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Kilkenny or Chartres?

The town of Kilkenny 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.

The town of Chartres offers museums and food. 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 Kilkenny or Chartres?

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

Chartres 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Chartres, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Kilkenny or Chartres?

Kilkenny 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 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.

A week in Kilkenny or Chartres?

Kilkenny 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 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 town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Ireland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Ireland, 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 Kilkenny and Chartres, we can see that Chartres is more expensive. And not only is Kilkenny much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kilkenny would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kilkenny 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 Chartres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chartres than you might in Kilkenny.

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

Which is Bigger, Kilkenny or Chartres?

Chartres has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kilkenny. When comparing the sizes of Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny or Chartres in the Summer?

Both Chartres and Kilkenny during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Kilkenny for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Kilkenny is cooler than Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Kilkenny averages around 15°C (60°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Kilkenny often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Kilkenny gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Kilkenny usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Chartres. Kilkenny gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kilkenny or Chartres in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kilkenny and Chartres. The autumn months attract visitors to Kilkenny because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In the autumn, Kilkenny is cooler than Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kilkenny in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Kilkenny usually receives less sunshine than Chartres during autumn. Kilkenny gets 83 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kilkenny usually receives more rain than Chartres. Kilkenny gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kilkenny or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kilkenny as well as Chartres. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Kilkenny this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Chartres. In January, Kilkenny is generally a little warmer than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Kilkenny average around 5°C (41°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Kilkenny often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Kilkenny gets 50 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Kilkenny usually gets more rain in January than Chartres. Kilkenny gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kilkenny or Chartres in the Spring?

Both Chartres and Kilkenny are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kilkenny for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the spring for the small town charm.

Kilkenny is cooler than Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Kilkenny averages around 8°C (47°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Kilkenny usually receives less sunshine than Chartres during spring. Kilkenny gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kilkenny usually receives more rain than Chartres. Kilkenny gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Kilkenny