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

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

Potsdam

Potsdam is a park-filled, historic, and accessible city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Potsdam and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Potsdam or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Potsdam than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Potsdam is well known for its beautiful palaces, scenic town center, and accessibility to Berlin. Also, Potsdam is famous for The Sanssouci Palace. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Potsdam different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Potsdam offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. People visit this city for its high concentration of historic sights. The Renaissance Orangery Palace is a highlight of the visit for many travelers.

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 Potsdam or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Potsdam 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.

Potsdam has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find a diverse restaurant scene, although the city is quite small. There are international restaurants as well as local venues where you can try regional specialties.

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 Potsdam or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Potsdam is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Potsdam has a few options to choose from. The city is not far from Berlin, so head in to Germany's nightlife capital for the most famous clubs and venues. In the town of Potsdam there are cocktail bars and breweries that make for a mellow and relaxed evening.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is the Shopping Better in Potsdam or Chartres?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Potsdam. There are plazas and shopping streets that have the standard chain stores as well as antique shops and other boutiques.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Potsdam or Chartres Better for Families?

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

Potsdam offers lots of family activities. There are a number of playgrounds around town as well as several beaches by lakes that are fun for kids. Another highlight for families is a visit to Babelsberg Film Studios.

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 Potsdam or Chartres Better for Couples?

Both Potsdam and Chartres are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Potsdam makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Exploring the city and soaking up the sights is the best way for couples to enjoy their time. There are some nice hotels and restaurants in the area that make for a great date night.

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 Potsdam or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Potsdam and Chartres are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Potsdam is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a handful of hostels to choose from in town.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Potsdam and Chartres.

Potsdam has some very good public transit options. The city is well connected to Berlin by S-Bahn and bus.

The public transit in Chartres can get you to most 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 Potsdam or Chartres a more walkable city?

Potsdam and Chartres both are great when exploring on foot.

Potsdam is a very walkable city. It's a smaller, compact city that can mostly be explored 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 Potsdam Worth Visiting? and Is Chartres Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Potsdam?

How long in Potsdam or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Potsdam or Chartres to fill your time. In our opinion, Potsdam has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Potsdam than Chartres. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Potsdam or Chartres?

The city of Potsdam offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Chartres, you'll find food 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.

A weekend in Potsdam or Chartres?

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

In Chartres, you'll find museums and food. 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 Chartres has to offer.

Five days in Potsdam or Chartres?

Potsdam 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 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.

A week in Potsdam or Chartres?

Potsdam 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chartres. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Chartres. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

When comparing the travel costs between Potsdam and Chartres, we can see that Chartres is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Potsdam or Chartres?

Potsdam has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Potsdam 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 Potsdam 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 Potsdam or Chartres in the Summer?

Both Chartres and Potsdam during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Potsdam for the small town charm 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.

Potsdam is around the same temperature as Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Potsdam averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Chartres, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Potsdam. In the summer, Potsdam often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres. Potsdam gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Potsdam usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Chartres. Potsdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Potsdam or Chartres in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Potsdam and Chartres. The autumn months attract visitors to Potsdam because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In the autumn, Potsdam is cooler than Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Potsdam in October average around 10°C (51°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Potsdam usually receives less sunshine than Chartres during autumn. Potsdam gets 114 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Potsdam usually receives less rain than Chartres. Potsdam gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Potsdam or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Potsdam as well as Chartres. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Potsdam 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 Potsdam in the winter. In January, Potsdam is generally much colder than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Potsdam average around -0°C (31°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Potsdam often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Potsdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Potsdam usually gets less rain in January than Chartres. Potsdam gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Potsdam or Chartres in the Spring?

Both Chartres and Potsdam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Potsdam for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the spring for the small town charm.

Potsdam is cooler than Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Potsdam averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Potsdam usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during spring. Potsdam gets 168 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Potsdam usually receives less rain than Chartres. Potsdam gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Potsdam