A Travel Price Comparison for France Le Mans vs. Avignon for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Le Mans or Avignon?

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 Le Mans and Avignon can help you decide which place is right for you.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a quaint, small, and historic town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the nightlife and museums.

Avignon

Avignon is a scenic, picturesque, and historical town. Since it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Le Mans and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Le Mans or Avignon?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Avignon than Le Mans. While Le Mans is larger than Avignon, Avignon has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Avignon is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and small town charm, while Le Mans is more popular for its nightlife. Avignon is more touristy than Le Mans and is known for its architectural beauty and historical importance. Also, Avignon is famous for Palais des Papes. Le Mans is well known for being the location of the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is one of the world's greatest sports-car races.

How is Le Mans different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Le Mans or Avignon?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its historical sights. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Avignon from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

Le Mans offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's most famous as the location of the 24 hour car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and on some days it's possible to visit the race track which has a museum with simulators and other activities. Around town you'll find museums and activities affiliated with the racing culture, and there's also a cathedral as well as several nice museums relating to the automotive industry among other things.

Is the Food Better in Le Mans or Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Le Mans is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Avignon has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Le Mans. It's not known for its food scene, but there is one dish in particular that you should try. The local specialty is les rillettes de porc, which is a pork paté.

Is Le Mans or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Le Mans is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Le Mans. You'll find bars and clubs in the city center around Saint-Nicolas Quarter, rue des Ponts-neufs, Place de la Sirène and around the Republic Square.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Le Mans or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its historic old town. However, Le Mans does not have a historic old town.

The historic old town of Avignon is revered around the world. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Le Mans does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Le Mans or Avignon?

Avignon is very good for shopping. However, Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Avignon. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Le Mans or Avignon Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Le Mans or Avignon.

Le Mans offers lots of family activities. Make sure you visit on a day when Le Mans Karting International and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum is open to visitors. Families can ride on high speed go-carts and train like professionals with special game simulators. This is a popular destination for adults and kids alike. The town also has indoor play areas, waterparks, and beautiful parks to explore.

Avignon is a family-friendly place to visit. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Le Mans or Avignon Better for Couples?

Avignon is great for romance. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its romantic activities.

Avignon is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Le Mans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a small town, but racing enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum.

Is Le Mans or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Le Mans and Avignon are notable places to visit.

Le Mans is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While there aren't many hostels specifically designed for backpackers, it is possible to find affordable accommodation at most times.

It's common for backpackers to visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Le Mans or Avignon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Le Mans and Avignon both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Le Mans offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a tram service around town that provides access to many places including the race track via the T1 line (Antarès-Stade Marie Marvingt and exit at the East Entrance).

Avignon has a few public transit options. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Le Mans or Avignon a more walkable city?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its walkability. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its high level of walkability.

Avignon is a very easy town to get around on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Le Mans is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Le Mans Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Le Mans?

How long in Le Mans or Avignon?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Avignon than Le Mans 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 Avignon.

One day in Le Mans or Avignon?

In Le Mans, you'll find nightlife and museums. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Avignon is a small town with plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Le Mans or Avignon?

In Le Mans, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Le Mans has to offer.

Avignon might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Avignon has to offer.

Five days in Le Mans or Avignon?

Le Mans is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Avignon is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Le Mans or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Le Mans. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Le Mans. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. Since Avignon is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, 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 Le Mans and Avignon, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Le Mans much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Le Mans would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Le Mans 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 Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon than you might in Le Mans.

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

Which is Bigger, Le Mans or Avignon?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Le Mans and Avignon, 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 Le Mans or Avignon?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Le Mans or Avignon in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Le Mans and Avignon. Many visitors come to Le Mans in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Avignon for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Le Mans is generally cooler than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Le Mans average around 19°C (66°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Avignon this time of the year. In Le Mans, it's very sunny this time of the year. Le Mans usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during summer. Le Mans gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Le Mans usually receives more rain than Avignon. Le Mans gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Le Mans or Avignon in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Le Mans as well as Avignon. Most visitors come to Le Mans for the small town atmosphere during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Avignon because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

Le Mans is cooler than Avignon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Le Mans averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Avignon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Le Mans often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Le Mans gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Avignon. Le Mans usually gets less rain in October than Avignon. Le Mans gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Le Mans or Avignon in the Winter?

Both Avignon and Le Mans are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the museums and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

The weather in Le Mans can be very cold. In the winter, Le Mans is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Le Mans in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Avignon averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Le Mans usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during winter. Le Mans gets 54 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Le Mans usually receives more rain than Avignon. Le Mans gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Le Mans or Avignon in the Spring?

Both Avignon and Le Mans during the spring are popular places to visit. The small town charm are the main draw to Le Mans this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Avignon for the small town charm.

In April, Le Mans is generally cooler than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Le Mans average around 10°C (50°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Le Mans often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Le Mans gets 168 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun.

Le Mans usually gets less rain in April than Avignon. Le Mans gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Le Mans