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

Should you visit Stuttgart or Chartres?

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

Should I visit Stuttgart 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.

Stuttgart

Stuttgart is a dynamic, modern, and authentic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chartres

Chartres is a spectacular, historic, and grand town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the food and museums.

Stuttgart and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Stuttgart or Chartres?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Stuttgart. Although Stuttgart and Chartres are both popular with visitors, Stuttgart has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Stuttgart is more popular for its food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Chartres is known for its small town charm. Chartres is more touristy than Stuttgart and is known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Stuttgart is popular for its many automobile museums including the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum. It is also home to The Mercedes-Benz Museum.

How is Stuttgart different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of good museums and attractions in both Chartres and Stuttgart.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Stuttgart. The city's influence over the car industry is reflected in the museums in town. You can visit both the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. Also check out Schlossplatz, the Ludwigsburg Palace, and Altes Schloss and Landesmuseum while you're in town.

Chartres is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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 Stuttgart or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Stuttgart is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Stuttgart has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city blends traditional German flavors with modern twists. You'll find much more than the standard bratworsts that so many people associate with German cuisine. One favorite dish is maultaschen, which is like a ravioli. Also make sure you try spätzle, zwiebelrostbraten (roast and onions) and flädlesuppe (soup with long pasta).

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 Stuttgart or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Stuttgart is great for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Stuttgart for the nightlife scene. The nightlife scene stays active late into the evening. You'll find no shortage of clubs, bars, music venues, and beer gardens. You'll meet a combination of locals, tourists, students, and expats at many venues.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is the Shopping Better in Stuttgart or Chartres?

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

Stuttgart is well-known for its shopping. The city is filled with pedestrian shopping streets as well as flea markets and major shopping malls. The main shopping street in town is Koenigstrasse, where you'll find many upscale boutiques. For a local food market head to Markthalle Stuttgart. The flagship store of the Breuninger chain is also found in Stuttgart.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Stuttgart or Chartres Better for Families?

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

Stuttgart offers lots of family activities. Like many German city's, there's a great zoo to explore. There's also some unique museums like the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum. Kids will also enjoy taking in the view from the top of the Fernsehturm.

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 Stuttgart or Chartres Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Stuttgart and Chartres make for a good place to visit.

Stuttgart is a good city for couples to visit. The city is large enough to have some nice romantic hotels, spas, luxury restaurants, and other activities that make for a great date night.

Chartres is a nice destination for couples. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Is Stuttgart or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Stuttgart and Chartres are both good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Stuttgart. It's not on the backpacker circuit for most people but there are still plenty of hostels and affordable accommodation options. You'll also find plenty of activities and affordable restaurants to choose from.

Chartres is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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 Stuttgart or Chartres Better for Students?

Stuttgart is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

Stuttgart is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's an international city with great universities and a friendly and central location. There's also a lively nightlife and plenty of things to do.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find high quality public transit in both Stuttgart and Chartres.

The public transit in Stuttgart can get you to most places easily. The city's transit system includes buses, the U‑Bahn and the S‑Bahn. The U-Bahn is a denser train system in the city center and the S-Bahn covers more distance and reaches into the suburbs with stops that are more spread out.

Visitors to Chartres can move around easily with public transportation. 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.

Is Stuttgart or Chartres a more walkable city?

Chartres is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Stuttgart is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

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

Stuttgart is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the city that are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Stuttgart?

How long in Stuttgart or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Stuttgart or Chartres to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Stuttgart than Chartres because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Stuttgart, and 1-2 days is enough time in Chartres.

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

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

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

One day in Stuttgart or Chartres?

Stuttgart is a big city with plenty to do. 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 Stuttgart or Chartres?

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

You'll find museums and food around the grand 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 Stuttgart or Chartres?

Stuttgart 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the spectacular 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 Stuttgart or Chartres?

Stuttgart 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 city 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, 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 Stuttgart and Chartres, we can see that Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart Expensive? and Is Chartres Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Stuttgart or Chartres?

Stuttgart has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart or Chartres in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Stuttgart and Chartres. The summer months attract visitors to Stuttgart because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In July, Stuttgart is generally around the same temperature as Chartres. Daily temperatures in Stuttgart average around 22°C (71°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chartres this time of the year. In Stuttgart, it's very sunny this time of the year. Stuttgart usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during summer. Stuttgart gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Stuttgart usually receives more rain than Chartres. Stuttgart gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Stuttgart or Chartres in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Stuttgart as well as Chartres. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Stuttgart this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

Stuttgart is around the same temperature as Chartres in the autumn. The daily temperature in Stuttgart averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Chartres fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Stuttgart often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres. Stuttgart gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun.

Stuttgart usually gets more rain in October than Chartres. Stuttgart gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Stuttgart or Chartres in the Winter?

Both Chartres and Stuttgart are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Stuttgart for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, 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 Stuttgart. In the winter, Stuttgart is cooler than Chartres. Typically, the winter temperatures in Stuttgart in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Chartres averages at about 5°C (40°F).

Stuttgart usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during winter. Stuttgart gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Stuttgart usually receives less rain than Chartres. Stuttgart gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Stuttgart or Chartres in the Spring?

Both Chartres and Stuttgart during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Stuttgart in the spring for the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

In April, Stuttgart is generally around the same temperature as Chartres. Daily temperatures in Stuttgart average around 11°C (53°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Stuttgart often gets less sunshine than Chartres. Stuttgart gets 154 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun.

Stuttgart usually gets more rain in April than Chartres. Stuttgart gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Stuttgart