A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Meknes vs. Carcassonne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Meknes or Carcassonne?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Meknes and Carcassonne can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Meknes or Carcassonne?

Meknes

So you love a bustling nightlife with fine restaurants and meaningful historical buildings, but you hate all the tourists. Well, it maybe time to visit Meknes, Morocco. Since most travelers head straight to Fez, that leaves Meknes relatively untouched and remains free of the usual hassles that plague other major destinations.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, and The Best Historical Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Meknes and Carcassonne, we can see that Carcassonne is more expensive. And not only is Meknes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Meknes is in Africa and Carcassonne is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Meknes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Meknes 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 Carcassonne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Carcassonne than you might in Meknes.

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

Which is Bigger, Meknes or Carcassonne?

Meknes has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Meknes and Carcassonne, 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 Meknes or Carcassonne?

Carcassonne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Meknes experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Meknes or Carcassonne in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Meknes and Carcassonne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Meknes year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Meknes is around the same temperature as Carcassonne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Meknes in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Carcassonne averages at about 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Carcassonne this time of the year. In Meknes, it's very sunny this time of the year. Meknes usually receives more sunshine than Carcassonne during summer. Meknes gets 330 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 275 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Meknes usually receives less rain than Carcassonne. Meknes gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Meknes or Carcassonne in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Meknes as well as Carcassonne. Meknes attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Carcassonne in the autumn for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Meknes is generally a little warmer than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Meknes average around 19°C (67°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Meknes this time of the year. In the autumn, Meknes often gets more sunshine than Carcassonne. Meknes gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 161 hours of full sun.

Meknes usually gets less rain in October than Carcassonne. Meknes gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Meknes or Carcassonne in the Winter?

Both Carcassonne and Meknes are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Meknes throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Carcassonne for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Meknes is a little warmer than Carcassonne in the winter. The daily temperature in Meknes averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Carcassonne fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Meknes usually receives more sunshine than Carcassonne during winter. Meknes gets 165 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Meknes usually receives more rain than Carcassonne. Meknes gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Meknes or Carcassonne in the Spring?

Both Carcassonne and Meknes during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Meknes because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Meknes is a little warmer than Carcassonne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Meknes in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Carcassonne averages at about 14°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Meknes. In the spring, Meknes often gets more sunshine than Carcassonne. Meknes gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 178 hours of full sun.

Meknes usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Carcassonne. Meknes gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Meknes