A Travel Price Comparison for France Rouen vs. Avignon for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Rouen or Avignon?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Avignon? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Rouen

Rouen is a historical, charming, and compact city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Avignon

Avignon is a charming, scenic, and picturesque town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food.

Rouen and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Avignon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Avignon than Rouen. While Rouen is larger than Avignon, Avignon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Avignon is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Rouen is known for its nightlife and impressive beauty. Avignon is more touristy than Rouen and is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. It is also home to Palais des Papes. Rouen is popular for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture.

How is Rouen different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Rouen or Avignon?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its sights and museums. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Avignon are among the most recognizable in the world. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Rouen. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

Is the Food Better in Rouen or Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Avignon is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

Rouen has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

Is Rouen or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Rouen is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Rouen. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Rouen or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its old town. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

The historic old town of Avignon is revered around the world. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Rouen has an old town worth visiting. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Is the Shopping Better in Rouen or Avignon?

Both Rouen and Avignon are good shopping destinations.

Rouen offers some nice shopping areas. Some of the city's best shopping is found along the Rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city center. You'll find independent boutiques and well as upscale vendors.

Avignon has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Rouen or Avignon Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Rouen or Avignon.

Rouen is a family-friendly place to visit. This beautiful city is filled with nice parks, free museums, and towers that offer views over the city. Kids will enjoy climbing the clocktower, eating pastries, or riding a bike around town.

Avignon is a family-friendly city. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Rouen or Avignon Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Rouen and Avignon make for a superb place to visit.

Rouen is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful city makes a great retreat for couples who enjoy good food and nice architecture. There are many hidden gems around town that make this a favorite French city for many couples.

Avignon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Is Rouen or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Avignon is a popular place for backpackers. However, Rouen is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Rouen is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Backpackers may struggle to find a hostel with a social setting, but for those who make it here there are many beautiful things to see.

Is Rouen or Avignon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Rouen is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Rouen can get you to most places easily. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque). There are also buses and rail connections to town.

You'll find some public transit in Avignon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Rouen or Avignon a more walkable city?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Avignon on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Rouen is a very walkable destination. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Rouen Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Avignon?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Avignon than Rouen 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 Avignon.

One day in Rouen or Avignon?

In Rouen, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Even though Avignon is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Rouen or Avignon?

In Rouen, you'll find food and shopping. 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 Rouen has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Rouen or Avignon?

Rouen 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.

Avignon is a fun place to experience. Avignon is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Rouen or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rouen. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Rouen. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Avignon is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in France, and The Best Luxury Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rouen and Avignon, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Rouen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rouen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rouen 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 Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon than you might in Rouen.

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

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Avignon?

Rouen has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Rouen and Avignon, 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 Rouen or Avignon?

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 Rouen or Avignon in the Summer?

Both Avignon and Rouen during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rouen for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Avignon because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Rouen is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rouen in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Avignon averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rouen. In the summer, Rouen often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets more rain in July than Avignon. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Avignon in the Autumn?

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

In October, Rouen is generally cooler than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 12°C (53°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during autumn. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Avignon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Rouen usually receives less rain than Avignon. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rouen or Avignon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Avignon. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Avignon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Rouen in the winter. Rouen is much colder than Avignon in the winter. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Avignon fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Rouen often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets less rain in January than Avignon. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Avignon in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Rouen is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rouen in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Avignon averages at about 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Avignon. Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during spring. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rouen usually receives less rain than Avignon. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Rouen