A Travel Price Comparison for France Toulon vs. Chartres for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Toulon or Chartres?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Toulon and Chartres can help you decide which place is right for you.

Toulon

Toulon is a industrial, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path port city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Chartres

Chartres is a historic, grand, and spectacular town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for food and museums.

Toulon and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Toulon or Chartres?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Toulon. Although Toulon and Chartres are popular destinations, Toulon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Toulon is very popular for its nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres attracts visitors for its small town charm. Chartres is more touristy than Toulon and is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history. Toulon is famous for its old town, its coastal setting, and its popularity with local vacationers. It is also well known for The Old Town.

How is Toulon different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Toulon and Chartres have nice landmarks and museums for visitors.

Toulon is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Many of the sights are found in the old town and harbor areas. Some of the most interesting attractions include the Opera House, the Allied Landings Museum, the Naval Museum, and Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-de-la-Seds.

Chartres offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Toulon or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Toulon offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a variety of cafes and restaurants that are found along the harbor or in the old town. Whether you want waterfront views or a charming street front cafe, there are great options available. Many restaurants offer local seafood but you'll also find pastries, traditional local food, a several Italian restaurants.

Chartres has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Toulon or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

Toulon 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 Toulon has a few options to choose from. It's a relatively large city and traditionally a sailor's town, so the city has a long running tradition of partying into the night. While it doesn't have the party-hard reputation of some places, you likely won't be bored at night. Head to the harbor area or the beaches around Mourillon for the most lively bars and cafes.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Toulon or Chartres Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Toulon is adequate for its diving and snorkeling. However, Chartres is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Toulon. There are a few beaches in the area that are worth checking out with a mask and snorkel. You'll likely see some underwater life hanging out by the rocks in the quieter areas.

Chartres is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Toulon or Chartres Better for Beaches?

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

Toulon is a good option for a beach vacation. The beaches are sandy and less crowded than some of the more popular areas. The most accessible beach is Mourillon Beach which has public facilities and restaurants. If you're willing to venture a little farther from the center of town you'll find Mitre Beach which has some snorkeling. Battere Basse Beach is a bit quieter and also has snorkeling. Anse de Méjean is a popular spot with the locals.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is Toulon or Chartres Better for its Old Town?

Toulon is adequate for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic old town.

You can check out the historic old town in Toulon. The old town has plazas, terraced cafes, and plenty of outdoor shopping opportunities that visitors can enjoy.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Toulon or Chartres?

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

Toulon is well-known for its shopping. If you're looking for traditional local shopping opportunities then this is your place. There are a number of traditional Provençal markets around town but the most famous is Cours Lafayette. You can shop with the locals looking for produce or flowers. There's also a weekend farmers market, Petit Cours, that is fun to explore.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Toulon or Chartres Better for Families?

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

Toulon offers lots of family activities. The city may be known as a hub for the French navy, but there are also activities that kids and adults alike can enjoy. There are several military themed museums, a few good beaches, and local shopping. There's also the enjoyable cable car ride that you can take to the top of Mont Faron as well as several nice seaside walks in the area.

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 Toulon or Chartres Better for Couples?

Both Toulon and Chartres are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Toulon is a nice destination for couples. Couples will appreciate the walks along the coast or through the harbor. There are also nice restaurants, interesting art galleries, and a few good hotels around town that make for a nice couple's weekend.

Chartres makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Is Toulon or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Toulon and Chartres are nice destinations for backpackers.

Toulon is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It doesn't have the reputation of many nearby towns along the French Riviera, so you can still find some affordable hostels and cafes in the area. You also won't find the crowds so you can enjoy a touch of the authentic local culture.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

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

Chartres is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Toulon is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Chartres is fairly effecient and thorough. 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.

Toulon has some public transit options. There are buses as well as petits trains (little tourist trains) that you can take around town.

Is Toulon or Chartres a more walkable city?

Toulon and Chartres both are great when exploring on foot.

Toulon is very walkable. You can walk around the old town and harbor area where many of the sights are concentrated.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Toulon?

How long in Toulon or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Toulon or Chartres to fill your time. In our opinion, Toulon has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Toulon than Chartres. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Toulon or Chartres?

The port city of Toulon 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.

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

A weekend in Toulon or Chartres?

Toulon 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 Toulon, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Chartres 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.

Five days in Toulon or Chartres?

Toulon 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.

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

A week in Toulon or Chartres?

Toulon 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the spectacular destination of Chartres. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to France, The Best Budget Tours to France, The Best Tours for Seniors to France, and The Best Contiki Tours to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Toulon and Chartres, we can see that Toulon 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 Toulon Expensive? and Is Chartres Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Toulon or Chartres?

Toulon has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Toulon 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 Toulon or Chartres?

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 Toulon or Chartres in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Toulon as well as Chartres. Most visitors come to Toulon for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Chartres because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Toulon is a little warmer than Chartres. Typically, the summer temperatures in Toulon in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Chartres averages at about 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chartres. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Toulon this time of the year. In the summer, Toulon often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Toulon gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun.

Toulon usually gets less rain in July than Chartres. Toulon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Toulon or Chartres in the Autumn?

Both Chartres and Toulon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Toulon because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In October, Toulon is generally a little warmer than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Toulon average around 16°C (61°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Toulon. Toulon usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during autumn. Toulon gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Toulon usually receives more rain than Chartres. Toulon gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Toulon or Chartres in the Winter?

Both Chartres and Toulon during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Toulon this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Chartres. Toulon is a little warmer than Chartres in the winter. The daily temperature in Toulon averages around 7°C (44°F) in January, and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Toulon often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Toulon gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun.

Toulon usually gets more rain in January than Chartres. Toulon gets 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Toulon or Chartres in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Toulon and Chartres. Many travelers come to Toulon for the beaches and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Chartres in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, Toulon is a little warmer than Chartres. Typically, the spring temperatures in Toulon in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Chartres averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In Toulon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Toulon usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during spring. Toulon gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Toulon usually receives more rain than Chartres. Toulon gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Toulon