Should you visit Reims or Carcassonne?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reims or Carcassonne, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Carcassonne or Reims?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Reims and Carcassonne in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Reims is about €106 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Carcassonne, €98 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Carcassonne, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €49, such as in a hostel.
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €31 per day to get around in Reims.
To get around in Carcassonne, the average visitor spends €5.71 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reims
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Reims:
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Private Transfer: Reims to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG):
$385
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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
While meal prices in Reims can vary, the average travelers spends about €32 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Reims should cost around €13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Reims is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
While meal prices in Carcassonne can vary, the average travelers spends about €31 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Carcassonne should cost around €12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Carcassonne is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Reims €32
Carcassonne €31
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €15 per person, per day in Reims. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Carcassonne, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €11 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Reims
Here are a few actual costs in Reims for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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3 days in Champagne - "Aromas" experience:
$2,364
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An Unforgettable Experience from Reims:
$411
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Champagne Half Day Private Tour with Minivan & Driver Guide at Disposal:
$442
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Champagne Moët and Chandon Private Tour:
$496
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Champagne Region Private Minivan Day Tour with Driver Guide at Disposal:
$769
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Champagne Reims Gourmet Small Group City Tour:
$63
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Champagne UNESCO Tour:
$124
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Champagne expert experience:
$1,319
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Champagne half-day tour:
$261
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From Epernay or Dom Perignon Private Half-Day Tour:
$667
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From Paris: Prestige Champagne Tour and Tastings:
$1,550
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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:
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Walking guided tour Carcassonne medieval town. Shared tour.:
$60
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2 Hour Private Guided Tour Carcassonne Medieval:
$101
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Half day tour to Lastours. Shared tour from Carcassonne.:
$116
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Wine day tour. Shared tour from Carcassonne.:
$153
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Cité de Carcassonne Guided Walking tour. Private tour.:
$168
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Walking guided tour Carcassonne:
$168
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Day tour : Lastours Castles & Cité de Carcassonne. Shared tour from Carcassonne.:
$184
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Carcassonne Sightseeing Tour:
$202
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Private 2-hour Walking Tour of Carcassone with official tour guide:
$236
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Day tour to Narbonne, Gruissan, Lagrasse. Shared tour from Carcassonne.:
$246
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Tour to Lagrasse village & Fontfroide Abbey. Shared tour from Carcassonne.:
$246
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Day tour to Mirepoix, Montségur, Foix. Shared tour from Carcassonne.:
$246
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Reims may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Carcassonne spend on average €10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Carcassonne
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Carcassonne:
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Half day wine tour. Shared tour from Carcassonne.:
$102
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Day to the Cité de Carcassonne and wine tasting. Shared tour from Carcassonne:
$184
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Wine Tours and Vineyard Adventures In The Languedoc:
$211
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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.
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