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

Should you visit Rouen or Siena?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Siena? 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 compact, impressive, and relaxing city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Siena

Siena is a beautiful, romantic, and charming city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Rouen and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Siena?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Siena than Rouen. While Rouen is larger than Siena, Siena has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Siena is more touristy than Rouen and is known for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. It is also well known for Piazza del Campo. Rouen is famous for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture.

How is Rouen different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Siena 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.

Siena offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. At the heart of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazza del Campo. Other world famous sights include Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, Torre del Mangia, and Pinacoteca Nazionale.

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 Siena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Rouen and Siena both to be great 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.

Siena has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town is all about local flavors and many restaurants use local ingredients in their dishes. Pecorino of Pienza is the local cheese, and you'll also find many cured meats. Local pasta dishes include wild boar ragu and a local spaghetti. You'll also find local meats such as lamb, rabbit, chicken and pork.

Is Rouen or Siena Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are nice in both Rouen and Siena.

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 Siena. The nightlife is laid back and relaxed. Most visitors enjoy socializing in the evening and meeting friends at Piazza del Campo. There are often live performances which you can enjoy as well as many cafes and wine bars around town.

Is Rouen or Siena Better for its Old Town?

Siena 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 Siena is revered around the world. The beautiful old town is filled with medieval brick buildings. At the heart of the city is Piazza del Campo, which is a lively square with many neighborhoods spreading out from there.

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 Siena?

Both Rouen and Siena are nice 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.

Siena has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The main shopping street in town is Via Banchi di Sopra, which has many boutiques that sell clothing, bags, and other items. The town also has many leather goods, ceramics, and other local items available.

Is Rouen or Siena Better for Families?

Rouen is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Siena is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

Siena is not always a place people visit with their families. The beauty and history may be lost to the little ones but there is a great atmosphere that even the young ones will appreciate. Kids will enjoy climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia or visiting one of the many playgrounds around town.

Is Rouen or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena 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.

Siena makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With its impressive beauty and long running history, this is a truly romantic city. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plazas and neighborhoods that are great for exploring. There are also many great restaurants, superb wine, and world class sights that are not to be missed.

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 Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Siena. Many backpackers visit Siena as a daytrip from nearby Florence. While there are some affordable places to stay here, the atmosphere isn't as backpacker friendly as nearby Florence.

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 Siena Better for Students?

Siena is notable for students. However, Rouen is not popular with students.

Siena is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's home to one of the oldest universities in Italy, and it's a wonderful study abroad destination for any student who wants to spend some time in Italy.

Rouen is not popular with students.

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

Rouen is notable for its public transit. Also, Siena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Rouen is fairly effecient and thorough. 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.

Siena has some public transit options. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Is Rouen or Siena a more walkable city?

Rouen and Siena both are great when exploring on foot.

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

Siena is a very walkable destination. The compact town center is best explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Siena or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Siena?

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

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

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

One day in Rouen or Siena?

In Rouen, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this relaxing destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Siena, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this beautiful destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Siena?

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

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

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

Siena is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Siena. 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 Siena?

You'll find food and shopping around the relaxing destination of Rouen. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find food and shopping around the medieval destination of Siena. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Siena?

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

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 Siena in the Summer?

Both Siena and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Siena for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Rouen is generally cooler than Siena. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 17°C (63°F), and Siena fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Siena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rouen. Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Siena during summer. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Rouen usually receives more rain than Siena. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Rouen or Siena in the Autumn?

Both Siena and Rouen during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rouen for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Siena in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Rouen is cooler than Siena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Siena fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Rouen often gets less sunshine than Siena. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets less rain in October than Siena. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Siena in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Siena. Many visitors come to Rouen in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Rouen can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Rouen is much colder than Siena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rouen in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Siena averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Siena during winter. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Rouen usually receives less rain than Siena. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Rouen or Siena in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Siena. Most visitors come to Rouen for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Siena because of the natural beauty.

In April, Rouen is generally cooler than Siena. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 9°C (48°F), and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Rouen often gets less sunshine than Siena. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets less rain in April than Siena. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Siena and Rouen