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

Should you visit Southampton or Chartres?

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

Should I visit Southampton or Chartres? 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.

Southampton

Southampton is a waterfront, dynamic, and up-and-coming port city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

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.

Southampton and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Southampton than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Southampton is better known for its nightlife, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is more popular for its small town charm. Chartres is more touristy than Southampton and is known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Southampton is well known for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports. Also, Southampton is famous for the SeaCity Museum.

How is Southampton different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Southampton offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Museums are a favorite activity in town. There are a surprising number of options including SeaCity Museum, the Tudor House and Garden, and Southampton City Art Gallery.

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 Southampton or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Southampton and Chartres can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Southampton has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. While most people used to pass through Southampton on their way somewhere else, the city now offers a dynamic food scene with local restaurants mixed with international options and even fine dining.

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 Southampton or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Southampton 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 Southampton has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is filled with restaurants, pubs, and bars as well as a few nightclubs mixed in.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is the Shopping Better in Southampton or Chartres?

Southampton is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Southampton. The city has two indoor shopping centers, as well as a range of markets and several independent vendors.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Southampton or Chartres Better for Families?

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

Southampton offers lots of family activities. This cruise port city offers a handful of fascinating activities for kids including learning about the Mayflower and the Titanic. There are also many parks and gardens as well as the Mayflower Theater, which regularly has kid-family productions.

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 Southampton or Chartres Better for Couples?

Southampton is great for its romantic activities. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for couples.

Southampton is a great port city if you're traveling as a couple. Museums, parks, gardens, and chartered boats all offer a romantic experience for couples visiting the area.

Chartres is a good port city 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 Southampton or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Southampton is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Chartres. 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.

Southampton is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Southampton 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. However, Southampton is not known 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Southampton. There are buses around town that make some areas accessible even without a car.

Is Southampton or Chartres a more walkable city?

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

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

Southampton is a somewhat walkable port city. It's possible to walk in parts of Southampton but in general it's easier to take a taxi.

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Chartres?

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

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

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

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

One day in Southampton or Chartres?

The port city of Southampton 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.

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

A weekend in Southampton or Chartres?

Southampton is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this port city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Southampton, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the historic destination of Chartres. This town 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.

Five days in Southampton or Chartres?

Southampton 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.

The spectacular town of Chartres offers food 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.

A week in Southampton or Chartres?

Southampton 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 port city offers something for everyone.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, 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 Southampton and Chartres, we can see that Southampton 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 Southampton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Southampton 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 Southampton Expensive? and Is Chartres Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Chartres?

Southampton has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Southampton 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.

When is the best time to visit Southampton or Chartres?

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 Southampton or Chartres in the Summer?

Both Chartres and Southampton are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Southampton because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

Southampton is cooler than Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Chartres. Southampton usually receives less sunshine than Chartres during summer. Southampton gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Southampton usually receives less rain than Chartres. Southampton gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Southampton or Chartres in the Autumn?

Both Chartres and Southampton during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Southampton this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Southampton is cooler than Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Southampton in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Southampton often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Southampton gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets more rain in October than Chartres. Southampton gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Chartres. Many travelers come to Southampton for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Southampton. In January, Southampton is generally around the same temperature as Chartres. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 4°C (40°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Southampton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during winter. Southampton gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Southampton usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chartres. Southampton gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Southampton or Chartres in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Southampton as well as Chartres. Many visitors come to Southampton in the spring for the natural beauty. Additionally, most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

Southampton is cooler than Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Southampton often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Southampton gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Chartres. Southampton gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Southampton