A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. Chartres for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Santorini or Chartres?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Chartres, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Santorini

Santorini is a historic, romantic, and stunning island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Visitors also love the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the food and museums.

Santorini and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Santorini than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Santorini is better known for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Chartres is more popular for its small town charm. Santorini is more touristy than Chartres and is known for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. Also, Santorini is famous for The Caldera and Volcano of Santorini. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Santorini different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Chartres and Santorini. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santorini or Chartres?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Santorini and Chartres.

Santorini offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. One of the most impressive historical sights is Akrotiri Archaeological Site. The island has many archeological sites as well as the Archeological Museum in Fira.

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 Santorini or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Santorini and Chartres can be an enjoyable experience.

Santorini has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.

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 Santorini or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Santorini 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 Santorini has a few options to choose from. It is one of the calmer, more romantic islands in Greece. For the best nightlife, you'll want to stay near Fira.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Santorini or Chartres Better for Resorts?

Santorini is a must-visit destination for its luxury resorts. However, Chartres is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Santorini is a great choice. The resorts range from all-inclusive options to resorts with a more local feel. The island is one of the most romantic of the Greek Islands, and the resorts are no exception.

Chartres is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Chartres Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santorini is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Chartres is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santorini has a few good snorkeling spots. Some of the best snorkeling places are found at Red Beach, White Beach, and the less accessible Kambia. One of the island's best diving spots is Caldera Beach.

Chartres is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Chartres Better for Beaches?

Santorini is a popular place for the beache. However, Chartres is not a beach destination.

Santorini is a good option for a beach vacation. The island has many beaches, most of which are made of black pebbly sand that are a result of the island's volcanic history. Popular beaches include Perissa Beach, Kamari Beach, and Perivolos Beach.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is Santorini or Chartres Better for Hiking?

Santorini is a popular place for hiking. However, Chartres is not a hiking destination.

Santorini is a good destination for hiking. The best hiking trails on the island pass by quaint villages and offers stunning ocean views. You can also hike along the edge of a volcano.

Chartres is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Chartres?

Santorini is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Santorini is well-known for its shopping. Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Santorini or Chartres Better for Families?

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

Santorini offers lots of family activities. It is a calmer destination than many of the Greek Islands. While it's a great place to relax with kids, the beaches aren't as good as they are on some of the other islands. Most families hang out in Kamari and Perissa Beach.

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 Santorini or Chartres Better for Couples?

Santorini is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for couples.

Santorini makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. It is a dream honeymoon destination that is famous for its picturesque setting and luxury resorts. For many couples, this is a top pick for a romantic trip to the Greek Isles.

Chartres is a good island 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 Santorini or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Santorini and Chartres are notable places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Santorini. The island has its share of 5 star resorts, but if you head a few streets in you'll find some surprisingly affordable accommodation. Backpackers are welcomed on the island and beaches are free, so it's possible to get by on a relatively low budget.

Chartres is a good island to visit for backpackers. 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.

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

Chartres is a great town for times when you don't have a car. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its public transit.

The public transit in Chartres can get you around 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.

Santorini has a few public transit options. There is a bus system, KTEL Santorini Buses, that runs 23 buses during the summer months but only a small fraction of that operate during the winter months.

Is Santorini or Chartres a more walkable city?

Chartres is a great town for its high level of walkability. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its ease of walking around.

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

Santorini is a somewhat walkable island. Many towns on the island are walkable, including Fira, but the actual island is too large to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Santorini or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Santorini than Chartres because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Santorini, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santorini than Chartres 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 Santorini.

One day in Santorini or Chartres?

The beautiful island of Santorini offers museums and nightlife. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

You'll find food and museums around the town of Chartres. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Chartres has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Santorini or Chartres?

Santorini is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

You'll find museums and food around the spectacular destination of Chartres. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Santorini or Chartres?

Santorini is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santorini, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the grand town of Chartres. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Santorini or Chartres?

Santorini is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santorini has to offer. This island offers something for everyone.

Chartres is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Chartres, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Chartres much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chartres would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chartres 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 Santorini would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santorini than you might in Chartres.

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Chartres?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Santorini 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.