A Travel Price Comparison for France Rouen vs. Chartres for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Families

Should you visit Rouen or Chartres?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Chartres? 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 charming, compact, and impressive city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Rouen and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Rouen than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Rouen is better known for its food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is more popular for its small town charm. Rouen is well known for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture. Also, Rouen is famous for The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Rouen different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the notable sights and museums in both Rouen and Chartres.

Rouen offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Chartres. Most visitors make the trip to see the spectacular Gothic cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame. It was completed in 1220 and is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows.

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

Rouen is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Rouen has a huge number of terrific 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Chartres area. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Rouen or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Rouen is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Rouen has a few options to choose from. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Rouen or Chartres Better for its Old Town?

Rouen is a popular place for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Rouen. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Rouen or Chartres?

Rouen is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Rouen. 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.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Rouen or Chartres Better for Families?

Rouen is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Rouen offers lots of family activities. 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.

Chartres is not the most family-friendly destination. The main attraction in town is the cathedral, but the surrounding area is also filled with history. This may not keep your kids entertained for long, so you can also check out the Stained Glass Museum, La Tanière (a zoo), or one of the parks around town.

Is Rouen or Chartres Better for Couples?

Rouen is great for its romantic activities. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for couples.

Rouen is a great city if you're traveling as 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.

Chartres is a good city for couples to visit. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Is Rouen or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Chartres. It's easy enough to visit as a day trip from Paris, so backpackers and other tourists typically allow themselves a few hours to explore.

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 Chartres Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Rouen and Chartres offer high quality public transit options.

Rouen has some very good public transit options. 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.

The public transit in Chartres can get you to most places easily. There are trains that leave Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2 every half hour and travel to Chartres. The trip takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Is Rouen or Chartres a more walkable city?

Rouen and Chartres both are high quality when exploring on foot.

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

Chartres is a very walkable destination. It's easy to see the sights around town on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Chartres?

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

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

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

One day in Rouen or Chartres?

The beautiful city of Rouen offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Chartres, many people enjoy the food and museums that this spectacular 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 Rouen or Chartres?

Rouen is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Rouen, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chartres. 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 Rouen or Chartres?

Rouen is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

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

A week in Rouen or Chartres?

Rouen is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

You'll find museums and food around the historic destination of Chartres. 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 comparing the travel costs between Rouen and Chartres, we can see that Chartres is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Chartres?

Rouen has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Rouen and Chartres, 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 Chartres?

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 Chartres in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Chartres. The summer months attract visitors to Rouen because of the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

Rouen is cooler than Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chartres. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rouen this time of the year. In the summer, Rouen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Chartres. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Chartres in the Autumn?

Both Chartres and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Rouen is cooler than Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rouen in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Rouen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during autumn. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Rouen usually receives more rain than Chartres. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rouen or Chartres in the Winter?

Both Chartres and Rouen during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rouen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Rouen. In January, Rouen is generally cooler than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 4°C (39°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Rouen often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Chartres. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Chartres in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Chartres. Many visitors come to Rouen in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

Rouen is cooler than Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Rouen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during spring. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rouen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chartres. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Rouen