A Travel Price Comparison for France Reims vs. Carcassonne for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Backpackers

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.

Reims

Reims is a scenic, cultural, and beautiful city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a fairytale, medieval, and historical town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Reims and Carcassonne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reims or Carcassonne?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Reims than Carcassonne, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Reims is better known for its food, nightlife, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Carcassonne is more popular for its museums, historical sights, and small town charm. Reims is well known for its Champagne Houses, impressive architecture, and beautiful cathedral. Also, Reims is famous for The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims. Carcassonne is well known for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle.

How is Reims different from Carcassonne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Reims or Carcassonne?

Carcassonne is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Reims is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Carcassonne can be an interesting and educational experience. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

Reims is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Sights around town include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, Palais du Tau, Basilique Saint-Rémi, and Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Is the Food Better in Reims or Carcassonne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Reims is very popular for its restaurants. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Eat your way through Reims, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. While its famous for its Champagne, the city also has Michelin starred restaurants, local produce, and an amazing regional cuisine. The region is known for its ham, cheese, mustard, and truffles.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Carcassonne. There are a number of local restaurants that serve regional specialties such as cassoulet. You can spend a few hours exploring the castle and then grab a delicious bite to eat.

Is Reims or Carcassonne Better for Nightlife?

Reims is a good destination for nightlife. However, Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Reims. The nightlife scene is relaxing but active. Most locals hang out with friends at local bars near Place Drouet d'Erlon or the Rue Chanzy area. Bars have a combination of local beers and Champagne.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Reims or Carcassonne Better for its Old Town?

Carcassonne is a nice place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Reims does not have a historic old town.

Carcassonne offers a nice historic old town area. The medieval walled city is seeped in history and filled with atmosphere. Cars are not allowed in town.

Reims does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Reims or Carcassonne?

Reims is a very popular place for shopping. However, Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Reims. You'll find not only Champagne, but also jewellry, designer fashion, and chocolate. The best shopping is located around the Place Drouet d'Erlon which is a pedestrian area. Also check out the shopping streets of Rue de Vesle and Cours Langlet.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Reims or Carcassonne Better for Families?

Carcassonne is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Reims is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Carcassonne. Kids who love castles will enjoy wandering the maze of rooms and getting lost in the medieval atmosphere.

For families, Reims is not always the best place to visit. Kids will enjoy exploring the historical city center or visiting the Palace of Tau. For a unique activity, view the region from above with a hot air balloon ride.

Is Reims or Carcassonne Better for Couples?

Reims is very popular for romance. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Reims is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. This romantic area is perfect for couples who enjoy wine and history. There is beautiful architecture as well as wine tours and breathtaking hot air balloon rides. Visiting the Champagne Houses is a must for any couple visiting the area.

Carcassonne makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a medieval city with an impressive castle and walled fortifications. It's a uniquely European sight that is great for couples who enjoy history.

Is Reims or Carcassonne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Carcassonne is well known for backpackers. Also, Reims is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Carcassonne is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

Reims is a good city to visit for backpackers. It's located in the Champagne region, which isn't often associated with backpackers, but it's still not to be missed.

Is Reims or Carcassonne Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Reims and Carcassonne.

You'll find some public transit in Reims, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. In town there are buses and trams, but to get into the countryside you'll need your own car.

While Carcassonne offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

Is Reims or Carcassonne a more walkable city?

Carcassonne is very popular for its ease of walking around. Also, Reims is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Carcassonne on foot is easy. Cars aren't allowed in the medieval city so it's best to explore on foot.

Reims is very walkable. You can explore the city on foot and reach many local Champagne Houses. If you really want to explore everything in depth, you'll need a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Reims Worth Visiting? and Is Carcassonne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Carcassonne or Reims?

How long in Reims or Carcassonne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Reims or Carcassonne to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Reims than Carcassonne because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Reims, and 1-2 days is enough time in Carcassonne.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Carcassonne than Reims 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 Carcassonne.

One day in Reims or Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the relaxing city of Reims. Most people visit for the food. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Carcassonne, many people enjoy the food and museums that this medieval destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Reims or Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the relaxing destination of Reims. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Carcassonne. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Reims or Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the scenic city of Reims. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Carcassonne is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Carcassonne. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Reims or Carcassonne?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Reims. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the food. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find museums and food around the fairytale destination of Carcassonne. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, and The Best 2-Week Tours in France.

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.

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

Which is Bigger, Reims or Carcassonne?

Reims has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Reims 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 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. Many travelers come to Reims for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Carcassonne in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Reims is cooler than Carcassonne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Reims in July average around 19°C (65°F), and Carcassonne averages at 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.

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. Many visitors come to Reims in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Carcassonne for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Reims is generally cooler than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Reims average around 12°C (53°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates 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.

Should I visit Reims or Carcassonne in the Winter?

Both Carcassonne and Reims during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Reims for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the museums and the cuisine.

Reims can be very cold during winter. Reims is much colder than Carcassonne in the winter. The daily temperature in Reims averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Carcassonne fluctuates 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.

Should I visit Reims or Carcassonne in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Reims and Carcassonne. The spring months attract visitors to Reims because of the natural beauty. Also, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year.

In the spring, Reims is cooler than Carcassonne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Reims in April average around 9°C (49°F), and Carcassonne averages at 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.

Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Reims