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

Should you visit Malaga or Chartres?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Malaga and Chartres. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Malaga

Malaga is a beautiful, friendly, and welcoming port city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the live music, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Malaga and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Malaga or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Malaga than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Malaga is better known for its food, nightlife, music, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is more popular for its museums and small town charm. Malaga is more touristy than Chartres and is popular for its perfect blend of sandy beaches, beautiful culture, fascinating history, and a lively nightlife scene. Also, Malaga is famous for The Alcazaba. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Malaga different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Chartres is a good destination for its sights and museums. However, Malaga does not have museums and landmarks.

Chartres offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

Malaga does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Malaga 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.

Malaga has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Head to any of the local food markets and seafood shops to try local cuisine. Also make sure you try tapas and a filling Andalusian breakfast.

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 Malaga or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Malaga is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Malaga is a world class party destination. The city has some of the most active nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of opportunities to party in Malaga and you'll find the most vibrant nightlife in the Centro Historico.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Malaga or Chartres Better for Music?

Malaga is great for its live music scene. However, Chartres is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Malaga draws a good crowd. The city has venues that offer pop, rock, blues, soulful, and more. Some of the most popular include ZZ club, Clarence Jazz Club, and Velvet Club.

Chartres is not a live music destination.

Is Malaga or Chartres Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Malaga is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Chartres is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Malaga has a few good snorkeling spots. Water temperatures are mild enough for diving or snorkeling near Malaga. For the best diving, head to Cala del Canuelo Beach. Closer by, Penon del Cuervo Beach offers diving and snorkeling as well.

Chartres is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Malaga or Chartres Better for Beaches?

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

Malaga is a good option for a beach vacation. There are some nice beaches around Malaga, but for the best options you'll have to travel further outside of the city.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is Malaga or Chartres Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Malaga. The city's old town is compact and small, making it a fun place to walk. There are historic buildings, museums, churches, and squares, as well as many restaurants and shops.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Malaga or Chartres?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Malaga. There are a number of shopping areas in the city with both local boutiques and name brands.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Malaga or Chartres Better for Families?

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

Malaga offers lots of family activities. The city has castles that you can explore as well as a waterpark.

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 Malaga or Chartres Better for Couples?

Malaga and Chartres both notable destinations for a couple.

Malaga makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It has a beautiful coastline and a rich history that makes it unique.

Chartres is a good port 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 Malaga or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Malaga is a must-visit destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Malaga is extremely popular for backpackers. From an endless supply of hostels to plenty of opportunities to meet other backpackers, this is a very backpacker friendly area.

Chartres is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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 Malaga or Chartres Better for Students?

Malaga is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

Malaga is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. The city has many opportunities to learn Spanish. It's also an affordable city with a young population and a lively atmosphere that appeals to international students.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Malaga is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit 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.

Malaga has some public transit options. There is an efficient bus system as well as a light metro system.

Is Malaga or Chartres a more walkable city?

Malaga and Chartres both are superb when exploring on foot.

Malaga is a very walkable port city. It has a very compact and walkable historic center with most of the tourist attractions easily accessible 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 Malaga Worth Visiting? and Is Chartres Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Malaga?

How long in Malaga or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Malaga or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Malaga than Chartres because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Malaga, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

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

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

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

One day in Malaga or Chartres?

The beautiful port city of Malaga offers shopping and nightlife. 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.

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

A weekend in Malaga or Chartres?

Malaga is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Chartres is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Malaga or Chartres?

Malaga is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Malaga, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

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

A week in Malaga or Chartres?

Malaga is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. It is common to spend one week here. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Malaga has to offer. This port city offers something for everyone.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Spain, The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain, 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 Malaga and Chartres, we can see that Malaga 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 Malaga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malaga 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 Malaga Expensive? and Is Chartres Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Malaga or Chartres?

Malaga has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Malaga 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 Malaga 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 Malaga or Chartres in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Malaga as well as Chartres. The beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Malaga this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Malaga is a little warmer than Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Malaga averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chartres. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Malaga this time of the year. In the summer, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Malaga gets 348 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Malaga usually gets less rain in July than Chartres. Malaga gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Malaga or Chartres in the Autumn?

Both Chartres and Malaga are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Malaga for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the autumn for the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Malaga is a little warmer than Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Malaga in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Malaga. Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during autumn. Malaga gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Malaga usually receives more rain than Chartres. Malaga gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Malaga or Chartres in the Winter?

Both Chartres and Malaga during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Malaga in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Chartres can be very cold during winter. In January, Malaga is generally much warmer than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Malaga average around 12°C (54°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Malaga gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Malaga usually gets more rain in January than Chartres. Malaga gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Malaga or Chartres in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Malaga and Chartres. Most visitors come to Malaga for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm.

Malaga is a little warmer than Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Malaga averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In Malaga, it's very sunny this time of the year. Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during spring. Malaga gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Malaga usually receives less rain than Chartres. Malaga gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Malaga