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

Should you visit Manchester 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 Manchester and Chartres can help you decide which place is right for you.

Manchester

Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, and diverse city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Chartres

Chartres is a historic, grand, and spectacular town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include food and museums.

Manchester and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Chartres?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Manchester. Although Manchester and Chartres are popular destinations, Manchester has more sights and attractions for tourists. Manchester is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Chartres attracts visitors for its small town charm. Manchester is famous for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club. It is also well known for The National Football Museum. Chartres is famous for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Manchester different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Manchester offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Head to the Science and Industry Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Cathedral, or John Rylands Library & Manchester Central Library to see some of the cities most interesting sights.

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 Manchester or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Manchester 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.

Manchester has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find a great food scene with diverse restaurant options that include international flavors, vegetarian options, and more. There are also many great places to try craft beer.

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 Manchester or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is great for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Manchester for the nightlife scene. The nightlife scene is diverse and high energy. Head to Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for some of the best nightlife venues. You'll also find a huge rave scene in town.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Manchester or Chartres Better for Music?

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

The music scene in Manchester draws a good crowd. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Chartres is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Chartres?

Manchester is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Manchester is well-known for its shopping. From jewelry to boutique clothing outlets, there are many places to shop around town. Head to Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre, or Market Street for some of the best shopping.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Manchester or Chartres Better for Families?

Manchester 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, Manchester is very family-friendly. You'll find a number of kid-friendly activities around town including the popular Legoland Discovery Center. Another fun activity is taking a behind the scenes CBBC interactive tour at MediaCityUK. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the SeaLife Aquarium or the Chester Zoo and sports enthusiasts will not want to miss a visit to the National Football Museum or doing a tour of Old Trafford where you can also visit the Manchester United Museum.

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 Manchester or Chartres Better for Couples?

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

Manchester is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy a visit to a spa, a nice meal out, or simply wandering down the canal. For a unique experience, you can hit to slopes at Chill Factore.

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 Manchester or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Manchester and Chartres are nice places to visit.

Manchester is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

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 Manchester or Chartres Better for Students?

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

Manchester is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There's a large number of students as well as a great music scene and tons of festivals that make this a great city to do your studies.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Manchester and Chartres both offer great public transit to get you around.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Manchester. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

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.

Is Manchester or Chartres a more walkable city?

Chartres is great for its walkability. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.

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

Manchester is a somewhat walkable place. Some neighborhoods are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Manchester or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Manchester than Chartres because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

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

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

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

One day in Manchester or Chartres?

Manchester is a big city with plenty to do. 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.

With museums and food around the spectacular town of Chartres, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Chartres, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Manchester or Chartres?

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

With food and museums around the destination of Chartres, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Manchester or Chartres?

Manchester 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, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Manchester or Chartres?

Manchester 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.

Chartres is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, 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 Manchester and Chartres, we can see that Manchester 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 Manchester would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manchester 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 Manchester Expensive? and Is Chartres Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Chartres?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Manchester 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 Manchester or Chartres?

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 Manchester or Chartres in the Summer?

Both Chartres and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Manchester is cooler than Chartres. Typically, the summer temperatures in Manchester in July average around 16°C (62°F), and Chartres averages at about 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Chartres. Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Chartres during summer. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Manchester usually receives more rain than Chartres. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Manchester or Chartres in the Autumn?

Both Chartres and Manchester during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In October, Manchester is generally cooler than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 11°C (52°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in October than Chartres. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Chartres. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Manchester this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Chartres. It's quite cold in Manchester in the winter. Manchester is cooler than Chartres in the winter. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Manchester usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during winter. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Manchester usually receives more rain than Chartres. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Manchester or Chartres in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Chartres. Many travelers come to Manchester for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, Manchester is cooler than Chartres. Typically, the spring temperatures in Manchester in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Chartres averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Chartres. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Manchester