A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rouen vs. Urbino for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Rouen or Urbino?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Urbino? 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 relaxing, historical, and charming city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Urbino

Urbino is a undiscovered, authentic, and laid back town. 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 shopping.

Rouen and Urbino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Urbino?

Both Urbino and Rouen have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Rouen is popular for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture. Urbino is popular for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere.

How is Rouen different from Urbino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Rouen and Urbino.

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 Urbino. At the heart of the city are its historical sights. The cathedral is worth a visit, as is The Ducal Palace, but for most visitors, simply soaking up the town's atmosphere is the best experience.

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

Foodies will find both Rouen and Urbino both to be excellent 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.

Urbino has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city's history has influenced its cuisine. Traditional foods include cornbread, truffles, and meat sausage. While these options aren't as common today, you can still find them if you seek them out.

Is Rouen or Urbino Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are good in both Rouen and Urbino.

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 Urbino. Because of the large student population, there are usually some fun activities going on at night. You'll find some good bars around town that are fun to hang out at.

Is Rouen or Urbino Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the good old towns in both Rouen and Urbino.

Many people head to Rouen to see the old town. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Urbino has an old town worth visiting. The historic center feels a bit undiscovered by Italian standards. There are stone houses and the town is built on a steep hill, giving it a beautiful setting.

Is the Shopping Better in Rouen or Urbino?

Both Rouen and Urbino 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.

Urbino has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

Is Rouen or Urbino Better for Families?

Rouen is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Urbino 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.

Urbino is not the most family-friendly destination. The city is filled with history and architecture, which may be lost on the kids. There are the classic Italian restaurants which is a favorite among kids and adults alike.

Is Rouen or Urbino Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Rouen and Urbino make for a excellent 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.

Urbino makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This walled city is fun to explore and can make for a great romantic stop. The city is walled and has many historical buildings which couples will enjoy learning about together.

Is Rouen or Urbino Better for Students?

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

Urbino is a very popular town for students and younger travelers. The student population is a large part of this small city. University students are usually happy and enjoy many activities and outings into the surrounding area.

Rouen is not popular with students.

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

Rouen is great for times when you don't have a car. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Rouen. 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Urbino. The town is accessible by bus but not by train.

Is Rouen or Urbino a more walkable city?

Rouen is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

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

Urbino is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city are easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Urbino or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Urbino?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Rouen or Urbino 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 Urbino. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Rouen than Urbino. 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 Urbino. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rouen than Urbino 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 Rouen.

One day in Rouen or Urbino?

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

In Urbino, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this historic 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 Urbino?

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 Urbino. 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 Urbino?

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.

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

A week in Rouen or Urbino?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the relaxing 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 laid back destination of Urbino. 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 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Rouen and Urbino, we can see that Urbino 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 Urbino Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Urbino?

Rouen has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Urbino. When comparing the sizes of Rouen and Urbino, 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 Urbino?

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 Urbino in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Urbino. Many visitors come to Rouen in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Urbino for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

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

Rouen usually gets less rain in July than Urbino. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Urbino in the Autumn?

Both Urbino and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Rouen for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Urbino because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Rouen is generally cooler than Urbino. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 12°C (53°F), and Urbino fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In October, Rouen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Urbino. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rouen or Urbino in the Winter?

Both Urbino and Rouen during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Rouen because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Urbino this time of year.

It's quite cold in Urbino in the winter. The weather in Rouen can be very cold. Rouen is a little warmer than Urbino in the winter. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Urbino fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Rouen usually gets more rain in January than Urbino. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Urbino in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Urbino. The natural beauty are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Urbino for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Rouen is cooler than Urbino. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rouen in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Urbino averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In April, Rouen usually receives less rain than Urbino. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Urbino and Rouen