Which city is cheaper, Carcassonne or Reims?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for France Reims vs. Carcassonne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Reims or Carcassonne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reims or Carcassonne, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Reims or Carcassonne?
Reims
Reims lies 129 km (80 mi) east-northeast of Paris. It was founded by the Gauls and became a major city during the Roman Empire. Reims played a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the kings of France. The city's economy is based largely on wine production, for which the Champagne region is famous, and a visit to Reims often includes a popular tasting of the most famous French wines at the 'Maison de Champagne'. Reims has many attractive pedestrian boulevards, Roman remains, art-deco cafes and a flourishing fine-dining scene that counts among it four Michelin-starred restaurants. Of course Reims also has all the shops and other facilities that you would expect in a major city.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayReims €104Carcassonne €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Reims is €104, while the average daily cost in Carcassonne is €85. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Reims and Carcassonne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personReims €53Carcassonne €49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomReims €106Carcassonne €98
Compare Hotels in Reims and Carcassonne
Looking for a hotel in Reims or Carcassonne? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Reims Hotel Prices and Carcassonne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Reims €31Carcassonne €5.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reims
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Reims:
- Private Transfer: Reims to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): $385
- Private Transfer from Reims City Center to Paris City Center: $198
Is it cheaper to fly into Reims or Carcassonne?
Prices for flights to both Carcassonne and Reims change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayReims €32Carcassonne €31
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Reims €15Carcassonne €11
Tours and Activities in Reims
Here are a few actual costs in Reims for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 days in Champagne - "Aromas" experience: $2,364
- An Unforgettable Experience from Reims: $411
- Champagne Half Day Private Tour with Minivan & Driver Guide at Disposal: $442
- Champagne Moët and Chandon Private Tour: $496
- Champagne Region Private Minivan Day Tour with Driver Guide at Disposal: $769
- Champagne Reims Gourmet Small Group City Tour: $63
- Champagne UNESCO Tour: $124
- Champagne expert experience: $1,319
- Champagne half-day tour: $261
- From Epernay or Dom Perignon Private Half-Day Tour: $667
- From Paris: Prestige Champagne Tour and Tastings: $1,550
- From Paris: Small-Group Moët & Chandon Champagne Tour: $225
Tours and Activities in Carcassonne
For Carcassonne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking guided tour Carcassonne medieval town. Shared tour.: $60
- 2 Hour Private Guided Tour Carcassonne Medieval: $101
- Half day tour to Lastours. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $116
- Wine day tour. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $153
- Cité de Carcassonne Guided Walking tour. Private tour.: $168
- Walking guided tour Carcassonne: $168
- Day tour : Lastours Castles & Cité de Carcassonne. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $184
- Carcassonne Sightseeing Tour: $202
- Private 2-hour Walking Tour of Carcassone with official tour guide: $236
- Day tour to Narbonne, Gruissan, Lagrasse. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $246
- Tour to Lagrasse village & Fontfroide Abbey. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $246
- Day tour to Mirepoix, Montségur, Foix. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $246
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayReims €18Carcassonne €10
Sample the Local Flavors in Carcassonne
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Carcassonne:
- Half day wine tour. Shared tour from Carcassonne.: $102
- Day to the Cité de Carcassonne and wine tasting. Shared tour from Carcassonne: $184
- Wine Tours and Vineyard Adventures In The Languedoc: $211
- Shared tour to Lastours, wine tasting, Minerve, Canal du Midi. From Carcassonne: $246
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Reims and Carcassonne, we can see that Reims is more expensive. And not only is Carcassonne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carcassonne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carcassonne 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 Reims would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reims than you might in Carcassonne.
When is the best time to visit Reims or Carcassonne?
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 Reims or Carcassonne in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Reims as well as Carcassonne.
In the summer, Reims is cooler than Carcassonne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Reims in July are around 19°C (65°F), and Carcassonne is about 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Carcassonne. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Reims this time of the year. In the summer, Reims often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Reims gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 275 hours of full sun.
Reims usually gets more rain in July than Carcassonne. Reims gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyReims 19°C (65°F)Carcassonne 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Reims or Carcassonne in the Autumn?
Both Carcassonne and Reims are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Reims is generally cooler than Carcassonne. Temperatures in Reims average around 12°C (53°F), and Carcassonne stays around 17°C (62°F).
Reims usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during autumn. Reims gets 122 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 161 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Reims usually receives less rain than Carcassonne. Reims gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberReims 12°C (53°F)Carcassonne 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Reims or Carcassonne in the Winter?
Both Carcassonne and Reims during the winter are popular places to visit.
Reims can be very cold during winter. Reims is much colder than Carcassonne in the winter. The temperature in Reims is usually 3°C (37°F) in January, and Carcassonne stays around 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Reims often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Reims gets 50 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 88 hours of full sun.
Reims usually gets less rain in January than Carcassonne. Reims gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryReims 3°C (37°F)Carcassonne 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Reims or Carcassonne in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Reims and Carcassonne.
In the spring, Reims is cooler than Carcassonne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Reims in April are around 9°C (49°F), and Carcassonne is about 14°C (56°F).
Reims usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Carcassonne during spring. Reims gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Reims usually receives less rain than Carcassonne. Reims gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilReims 9°C (49°F)Carcassonne 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Reims
| Reims | Carcassonne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 13°C (56°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (65°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
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