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

Should you visit Murren or Chartres?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Murren and Chartres 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.

Murren

Murren is a breathtaking, stunning, and serene town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the food, hiking, and skiing.

Chartres

Chartres is a historic, grand, and spectacular town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. It's also known for food and museums.

Murren and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Murren or Chartres?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Murren. Although Murren and Chartres are popular destinations, Murren has more sights and attractions for tourists. Murren is very popular for its skiing, nightlife, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Chartres attracts visitors for its museums. Murren is more touristy than Chartres and is popular for its spectacular mountain views, authentically local atmosphere, and world class hiking and skiing. It is also well known for Lauterbrunnen Valley. Chartres is famous for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Murren different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Murren or Chartres Better for Skiing?

Murren is a must-visit destination for skiing. However, Chartres is not a skiing destination.

If you're an avid snow skiier, Murren should be on your list. If you're visiting in the winter, you're in luck because the scenery and the slopes are both amazing. The top of Schilthorn is quickly accessed from the gondola and ski lifts, and heading down you'll find some difficult runs along with easier slopes. Enjoy your apres-ski in the village with cozy drinks and a dinner of fondue. And with more time, you can easily get across the valley to the Grindelwald-Wengen ski area, too.

Chartres is not a skiing destination.

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

Chartres is a town with good options for its museums and landmarks. However, Murren is not particularly known for its historical sights.

Chartres is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Murren. You don't visit this area for the museums, so if you're looking for an indoor activity on a rainy day, your options are limited.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Murren and Chartres can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

Murren offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. If you can afford the prices, you'll enjoy some great meals of fondue or local steak. There aren't many restaurants in town and some of the best are attached to the hotels. Those on a tight budget will be frustrated because cheap eats are hard to come by. You may as well pay a little more and enjoy a high quality, fine dining experience.

Chartres has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Murren or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Murren is adequate for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Murren doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet and residential town that is more about the daytime activities than the nightlife scene.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Murren or Chartres Better for Hiking?

Murren is a must-visit destination for hiking. However, Chartres is not a hiking destination.

People visit Murren specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. Hiking trails pass right through the town, connecting the many alpine towns in the area. There are hikes for all levels, and each offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks, which include Eiger, Jungfrau, and Monch.

Chartres is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Murren or Chartres?

Murren is mediocre for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping in Murren can be found for those interested. Aside from a food market or two, there aren't many shops in town and prices for everything are a bit high.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Murren or Chartres Better for Families?

Murren 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, Murren is very family-friendly. Kid-friendly activities are everywhere in this amazing town. Take the Allmendhubel Funicular Train and explore one of the coolest playgrounds ever! Family-friendly trails abound and outdoor adventures with spectacular views are fun for everyone.

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 Murren or Chartres Better for Couples?

Murren is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for couples.

Murren makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. This small town offers charming hotels, hidden viewpoints, and romantic hikes through the Alps. If you want to experience an authentic side to the Alps, then stay in this town and explore the many hiking trails in the area.

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 Murren or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres is a town with good options for backpackers. However, Murren is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Chartres is a good town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Murren is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't any hostels in town so it's a bit difficult to stay in Murren as a backpacker. There are a number of charming hostels in the surrounding area though and they each have a unique local character.

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

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

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Chartres. 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 Murren offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Train, cable car, and funicular are the only ways to reach this car-free town.

Is Murren or Chartres a more walkable city?

Murren is a must-visit destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Murren is a very easy town to get around on foot. It's a small town with a very limited number of vehicles so it's best explored on foot. There are also many walking trails in the area.

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 Murren Worth Visiting? and Is Chartres Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Murren?

How long in Murren or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Murren or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Murren 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 Murren, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chartres than Murren 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 Chartres.

One day in Murren or Chartres?

Murren is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and skiing. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Murren or Chartres?

Murren 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 spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Murren, a weekend is sufficent for most. 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 Murren or Chartres?

Murren 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.

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 Murren or Chartres?

Murren is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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.

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 Luxury Tours to Switzerland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland, 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 Murren and Chartres, we can see that Murren 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 Murren would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Murren 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 Murren Expensive? and Is Chartres Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Murren or Chartres?

Chartres has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Murren. When comparing the sizes of Murren 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.