A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rouen vs. San Remo for Food, Old Town, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Rouen or San Remo?

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

Should I visit Rouen or San Remo? 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

San Remo

San Remo is a relaxing, beautiful, and scenic coastal city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Rouen and San Remo: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers
Pros
  • Active nightlife
  • Popular beach
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Rouen or San Remo?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in San Remo than Rouen. While Rouen is larger than San Remo, San Remo has more sights and attractions for tourists. San Remo is more popular for its beaches and historical sights, while Rouen is known for its museums. Rouen is popular for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture. San Remo is popular for its olives, lemons, and flower market. It is also home to The Flower Market.

How is Rouen different from San Remo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Rouen
San Remo

Rouen is a popular place for its museums and history. However, San Remo does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

San Remo does not have museums and landmarks.


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

Rouen
San Remo

Foodies will find both Rouen and San Remo both to be high quality destinations.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Rouen. 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.

San Remo has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The local restaurants are charming and sell a number of local specialties. Many traditional dishes are made with rabbit or chicken. There are also vegetable pies and sardenaira, which is a type of pizza that's made with tomatoes, garlic, and anchovies. Also make sure you pick up Baci di Sanremo, which are soft chocolate biscuits that are available in local bakeries.

Is Rouen or San Remo Better for Nightlife?

Rouen
San Remo

Evening events are good in both Rouen and San Remo.

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 San Remo. The city has a number of clubs and bars where you can enjoy a drink or hang out late into the evening. It's a pretty mellow nightlife scene, but there's still plenty of places to go as well as a local vibe that doesn't have the influx of tourists that you find in many of other Italian cities.

Is Rouen or San Remo Better for Beaches?

Rouen
San Remo

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

San Remo is considered a top beach destination. The beautiful sandy beaches are nice to visit and it's possible to rent chairs and umbrellas in many places. The main beach in town is Spiaggia dei Porti. Other popular nearby beaches include Spiaggia dei tre ponti, which is a large public beach, and Cala degli Orsi, which is one of the most beautiful public beaches in the area.

Rouen is not a beach destination.


Is Rouen or San Remo Better for its Old Town?

Rouen
San Remo

San Remo is notable for its old town. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting San Remo. The old quarter of Pigna is a Medieval area with narrow streets that feel as if they're frozen in time. The hills offer impressive city views and the area has a unique historic character.

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 San Remo?

Rouen
San Remo

Both Rouen and San Remo 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.

San Remo has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are local and international brands as well as a shopping mall and outlets where you can enjoy shopping.

Is Rouen or San Remo Better for Families?

Rouen
San Remo

San Remo is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

San Remo is a very kid-friendly coastal city. The area offers plenty of outdoor activities that the whole family will enjoy. There's horseback riding, hiking, rowing, snorkeling, cooking classes, farm tours and more. There are also a number of hotels in the area that have kid-friendly activities.

Rouen is a family-friendly city. 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.


Is Rouen or San Remo Better for Couples?

Rouen
San Remo

With fun activities for couples, both Rouen and San Remo make for a high quality 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.

San Remo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's known as the city of flowers, and the many beautiful gardens make this a truly romantic place to visit. Couples will enjoy soaking up the city's history and enjoy the vibrant culture and outdoor activities that are available.

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

Rouen
San Remo

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

Rouen offers a very effecient public transportation network. 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 San Remo, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are local buses around town.

Is Rouen or San Remo a more walkable city?

Rouen
San Remo

Rouen and San Remo 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.

San Remo is a very walkable destination. The old quarter is fun to explore on foot and there are a number of walking tours through town.


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

Should I spend more time in San Remo or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or San Remo?

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

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


  • How many days in Rouen or San Remo? Ideal Length of Stay
    Rouen 1-2 
    San Remo 1-2

One day in Rouen or San Remo?

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 San Remo, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this beautiful destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This coastal 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 San Remo?

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 San Remo. 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 San Remo?

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.

San Remo is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of San Remo. 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 San Remo?

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 nightlife and food around the beautiful destination of San Remo. 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 Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, San Remo or Rouen?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Rouen is €109, while the average daily cost in San Remo is €152. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Rouen and San Remo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rouen 52
    San Remo 80
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rouen 104
    San Remo 160
Compare Hotels in Rouen and San Remo

Looking for a hotel in Rouen or San Remo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Rouen


Hotels in San Remo


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Rouen Hotel Prices and San Remo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rouen 34
    San Remo 46

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rouen

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rouen:

  • Round-Trip Private Transfer Rouen Airport URO to Rouen by Minivan: $164

Is it cheaper to fly into Rouen or San Remo?

Prices for flights to both San Remo and Rouen change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Rouen 35
    San Remo 44

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rouen 18
    San Remo 23

Tours and Activities in Rouen

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rouen are as follows:

  • Audio guided tour : Rouen retold - Joan of Arc retold: $16
  • From Normandy D-Day Beaches Private Full-Day Tour: $1,283
  • From Normandy’s Regional Highlights Private Tour: $933
  • Guided Tour of the Historic Center of Rouen: $26
  • Private Custom Walking Guided Tour in Rouen: $51
  • Rouen Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $52
  • Rouen audio guided tour: $13
  • American Landing Beaches Discovery Private Tour: $1,128
  • Castles and Abbeys Private Full-Day Tour: $1,283
  • Discover Rouen with a licenced tour guide: $59
  • Guided Tour of the Historic Center: $26
  • Private Guided Walking Tour: $307

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rouen 7.86
    San Remo 14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rouen and San Remo, we can see that San Remo 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 San Remo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Remo 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 San Remo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rouen or San Remo?

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

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 San Remo in the Summer?

Both San Remo and Rouen during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Rouen because of the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Remo this time of year.

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

In San Remo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rouen. In the summer, Rouen often gets less sunshine than San Remo. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Remo receives 295 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets more rain in July than San Remo. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Rouen 17°C (63°F) 
    San Remo 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Rouen or San Remo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and San Remo. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Remo for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Rouen is generally cooler than San Remo. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 12°C (53°F), and San Remo fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Rouen usually receives less sunshine than San Remo during autumn. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while San Remo receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.

San Remo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Rouen usually receives less rain than San Remo. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Rouen 12°C (53°F) 
    San Remo 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Rouen or San Remo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Rouen as well as San Remo. Many travelers come to Rouen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to San Remo in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Rouen. Rouen is much colder than San Remo in the winter. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and San Remo fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Rouen often gets less sunshine than San Remo. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Remo receives 127 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets less rain in January than San Remo. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Rouen 4°C (39°F) 
    San Remo 9°C (48°F)

Should I visit Rouen or San Remo in the Spring?

Both San Remo and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rouen in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to San Remo for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

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

Rouen usually receives less sunshine than San Remo during spring. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while San Remo receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rouen usually receives less rain than San Remo. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Rouen 9°C (48°F) 
    San Remo 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for San Remo and Rouen

Rouen San Remo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (39°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 9°C (48°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Feb 4°C (40°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 9°C (49°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 11°C (51°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Apr 9°C (48°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 13°C (56°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 16°C (62°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Jul 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Aug 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Sep 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 21°C (69°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Oct 12°C (53°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 17°C (63°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 12°C (54°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Dec 5°C (40°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 10°C (49°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)


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