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

Should you visit Rouen or Montpellier?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Montpellier? 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. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Montpellier

Montpellier is a bustling, beautiful, and friendly city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Rouen and Montpellier: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Montpellier?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Montpellier than Rouen, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Montpellier is more popular for its museums, beaches, historical sights, and shopping, while Rouen is known for its food. Rouen is popular for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture. Montpellier is popular for its relaxed atmosphere, grand boulevards, and authentic personality. It is also home to The Place de la Comédie.

How is Rouen different from Montpellier?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Montpellier 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.

Montpellier offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. With such a long history, the city has many landmarks and monuments. Also make sure you visit Musée Fabre and Saint-Pierre Cathedral.

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 Montpellier? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Rouen is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Montpellier is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Rouen is an experience not to be missed. 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 plenty of up and coming restaurants around Montpellier. The dishes are made with fresh ingredients produced in the agricultural areas just outside of town. The area is known for its seafood and fish stews.

Is Rouen or Montpellier Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are good in both Rouen and Montpellier.

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 Montpellier. The weather is mild, making for a nice evening out. The population is also young, so you can expect a lot of activity during the evenings, particularly in the area around Place Jean Jaurés. Make sure you enjoy local wine and champagne while you're in town.

Is Rouen or Montpellier Better for Beaches?

Montpellier is notable for the beache. However, Rouen is not a beach destination.

Montpellier is considered a top beach destination. The coastline near Montpellier feels pristine and beautiful. You can also visit Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone to the southwest of town, which is a protected area.

Rouen is not a beach destination.

Is Rouen or Montpellier Better for its Old Town?

Montpellier 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 Montpellier is revered around the world. Known as L'Écusson the town's old town dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a pedestrian area that is filled with boutiques, restaurants, and churches.

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 Montpellier?

Montpellier is notable for its shopping opportunities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

Montpellier is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Head to Rue de la Loge for some of the city's best shopping.

Rouen has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

Is Rouen or Montpellier Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Rouen or Montpellier.

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.

Montpellier is a family-friendly city. Popular activities for kids include taking a ride on the carousel in the Comedie, visiting the playground - Jardin Champs de Mars, and visiting the botanical garden - Jardin des Plantes.

Is Rouen or Montpellier Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Rouen and Montpellier 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.

Montpellier makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Rich in history and beautiful architecture, this city offers a romantic setting for a great couple's getaway.

Is Rouen or Montpellier Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Montpellier is notable for backpackers. However, Rouen is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Montpellier is a great city to visit for backpackers. With a young population and a number of hostels to choose from, Montpellier attracts its share of backpackers.

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 Montpellier Better for Students?

Montpellier is a world-class destination for students. However, Rouen is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Montpellier. Montpellier is a popular university town that is home to many trendy university students. It's also where you'll find the youngest population of any city in France.

Rouen is not popular with students.

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

Both Rouen and Montpellier offer superb 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 Montpellier can get you to most places easily. There are a number of options for getting around town including the tramway, bus, and tourist train.

Is Rouen or Montpellier a more walkable city?

Rouen and Montpellier both are superb when exploring on foot.

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

Montpellier is a very walkable destination. Many of the sights and attractions are easily accessible on foot and can be enjoyed as part of a self-guided walking tour.

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

Should I spend more time in Montpellier or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Montpellier?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Rouen and Montpellier. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Montpellier than in Rouen. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Rouen, and 1-3 days is enough time in Montpellier.

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

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

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

One day in Rouen or Montpellier?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the relaxing city of Rouen. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Montpellier, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this friendly destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This city 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 Montpellier?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the charming destination of Rouen. 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 Montpellier. 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 Montpellier?

The compact city of Rouen offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Montpellier is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Montpellier. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Rouen or Montpellier?

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

You'll find food and shopping around the friendly destination of Montpellier. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Montpellier, we can see that Montpellier 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 Montpellier Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Montpellier?

Montpellier has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Rouen. When comparing the sizes of Rouen and Montpellier, 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 Montpellier?

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 Montpellier in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Rouen is cooler than Montpellier. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rouen in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Montpellier averages at about 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montpellier this time of the year. In Rouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Montpellier during summer. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Montpellier receives 351 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Rouen usually receives more rain than Montpellier. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Rouen or Montpellier in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Montpellier. 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 natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Montpellier this time of year.

In October, Rouen is generally cooler than Montpellier. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 12°C (53°F), and Montpellier fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Rouen often gets less sunshine than Montpellier. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montpellier receives 187 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Montpellier. Rouen usually gets less rain in October than Montpellier. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Montpellier in the Winter?

Both Montpellier 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 Montpellier for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

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

Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Montpellier during winter. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Montpellier receives 147 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Rouen usually receives less rain than Montpellier. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Rouen or Montpellier in the Spring?

Both Montpellier and Rouen during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rouen for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Montpellier in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Rouen is cooler than Montpellier. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rouen in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Montpellier averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In Montpellier, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Rouen often gets less sunshine than Montpellier. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montpellier receives 230 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets less rain in April than Montpellier. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Montpellier and Rouen