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

Should you visit Southampton or Rouen?

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

Should I visit Southampton or Rouen? 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. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Rouen

Rouen is a charming, compact, and impressive city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Southampton and Rouen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Rouen?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Rouen than Southampton. While Southampton is larger than Rouen, Rouen has more sights and attractions for tourists. Rouen is more touristy than Southampton and is popular for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture. Also, Rouen is famous for The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen. Southampton is well known for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports.

How is Southampton different from Rouen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 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 Southampton or Rouen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Rouen is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Rouen has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Southampton area. 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.

Is Southampton or Rouen Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Southampton and Rouen.

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.

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.

Is Southampton or Rouen Better for its Old Town?

Rouen is a popular place for its old town. However, Southampton does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Rouen. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Southampton does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Southampton or Rouen?

If you're looking to go shopping, Southampton and Rouen both offer plenty of notable spots.

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.

Many visitors go to Rouen to go shopping. 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.

Is Southampton or Rouen Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Southampton or Rouen.

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.

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.

Is Southampton or Rouen Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Southampton and Rouen make for a high quality place to visit.

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.

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.

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

Rouen is a great city for times when you don't have a car. However, Southampton is not known for its public transit.

The public transit in Rouen can get you around easily. 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 Southampton. There are buses around town that make some areas accessible even without a car.

Is Southampton or Rouen a more walkable city?

Rouen is a great city 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.

Rouen is a very walkable city. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored 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 Rouen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rouen or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Rouen?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Southampton or Rouen to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Southampton than Rouen 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 Rouen.

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

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

One day in Southampton or Rouen?

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

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

A weekend in Southampton or Rouen?

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

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the impressive destination of Rouen. This city 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 Rouen?

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

The impressive city of Rouen offers shopping 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 Rouen?

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

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Rouen. 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 Rouen, we can see that Southampton 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 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 Rouen.

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

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Rouen?

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

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 Southampton or Rouen in the Summer?

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

Southampton is around the same temperature as Rouen in the summer. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Rouen fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In Rouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Southampton often gets less sunshine than Rouen. Southampton gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 241 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets less rain in July than Rouen. Southampton gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Rouen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Rouen. 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 Rouen for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Southampton is around the same temperature as Rouen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Southampton in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Rouen averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Southampton usually receives less sunshine than Rouen during autumn. Southampton gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Southampton usually receives less rain than Rouen. Southampton gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Southampton or Rouen in the Winter?

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

Rouen can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Southampton. In January, Southampton is generally a little warmer than Rouen. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 4°C (40°F), and Rouen fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Southampton often gets less sunshine than Rouen. Southampton gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 62 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets less rain in January than Rouen. Southampton gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Rouen in the Spring?

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

Southampton is around the same temperature as Rouen in the spring. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Rouen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Southampton usually receives less sunshine than Rouen during spring. Southampton gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Southampton usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rouen. Southampton gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rouen and Southampton