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

Should you visit Rouen or Beaune?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Beaune? 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. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Beaune

Beaune is a quaint, vineyard-filled, and cultural town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Rouen and Beaune: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Beaune?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Beaune than Rouen, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Beaune is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Rouen is more popular for its impressive beauty. Beaune is more touristy than Rouen and is known for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines. Also, Beaune is famous for The Surrounding Vineyards. Rouen is well known for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture.

How is Rouen different from Beaune?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Beaune 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 Beaune?

Beaune is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Beaune offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

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 Beaune? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beaune 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, Beaune is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

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 Beaune Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are notable in both Rouen and Beaune.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Rouen. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Beaune. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

Is Rouen or Beaune Better for its Old Town?

Beaune 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 Beaune is revered around the world. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

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 Beaune?

Both Rouen and Beaune are notable 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.

Beaune has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

Is Rouen or Beaune Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Rouen or Beaune.

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.

Beaune is a family-friendly city. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

Is Rouen or Beaune Better for Couples?

Beaune is a world-class destination for its romantic activities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Beaune makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

Rouen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

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

Rouen is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Rouen can get you around 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.

While Beaune offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

Is Rouen or Beaune a more walkable city?

Beaune 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 Beaune on foot. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

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 Beaune Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Beaune or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Beaune?

It's fun to spend time in either Rouen or Beaune. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Beaune due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Rouen, and 2-4 days is enough time in Beaune.

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

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

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

One day in Rouen or Beaune?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Rouen. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Beaune, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this vineyard-filled destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the food. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Rouen or Beaune?

Rouen is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beaune. 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 Beaune?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rouen. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Beaune is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Beaune. Lots of people come for the food. 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 Beaune?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historical destination of Rouen. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the vineyard-filled destination of Beaune. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. 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 Beaune, we can see that Beaune 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 Beaune would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beaune 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 Beaune Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Beaune?

Rouen has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Beaune. When comparing the sizes of Rouen and Beaune, 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 Beaune?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Rouen or Beaune in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Beaune. Most visitors come to Rouen for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Beaune because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Rouen is cooler than Beaune in the summer. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Beaune fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beaune this time of the year. In Rouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Beaune during summer. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 266 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Rouen usually receives more rain than Beaune. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Rouen or Beaune in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Beaune. The autumn months attract visitors to Rouen because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Beaune this time of year.

In the autumn, Rouen is around the same temperature as Beaune. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rouen in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Beaune averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Rouen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 121 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets more rain in October than Beaune. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Beaune in the Winter?

Both Beaune and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Beaune for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Beaune. It's quite cold in Rouen in the winter. In January, Rouen is generally a little warmer than Beaune. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 4°C (39°F), and Beaune fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Rouen usually receives more sunshine than Beaune during winter. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Rouen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Beaune. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Rouen or Beaune in the Spring?

Both Beaune and Rouen during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rouen for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Beaune in the spring for the small town charm.

Rouen is cooler than Beaune in the spring. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Beaune fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, Rouen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 178 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets less rain in April than Beaune. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Beaune and Rouen