A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Versailles vs. Cairngorms National Park for Couples and Food

Should you visit Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Versailles or Cairngorms National Park, 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.

Versailles

Versailles is a beautiful, grand, and ornate palace. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It's also popular because of the museums.

Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is a beautiful, serene, and picturesque national park. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food and hiking.

Versailles and Cairngorms National Park: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good public transit
  • Very walkable
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Less family-friendly
Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Public transit not as usable


Is there more to do in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Versailles than Cairngorms National Park, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Versailles is better known for its museums and impressive beauty, while Cairngorms National Park is more popular for its food and hiking. Versailles is more touristy than Cairngorms National Park and is known for its long running history and its grand architecture. Also, Versailles is famous for The Palace of Versailles, including its famous Hall of Mirrors (Galeries des Glaces) and expansive gardens. Cairngorms National Park is well known for its impressive hikes, scenic natural beauty, and nice mountains.

How is Versailles different from Cairngorms National Park?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

Versailles
Cairngorms National Park

Versailles is renowned for its museums and history. However, Cairngorms National Park does not have museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Versailles has many famous sights for visitors. The palace is filled with history and impressive items relating to the royal family. Within and near the palace you should make sure you see the Gardens of Versailles, Grand Trianon, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Opera of Versailles.

Cairngorms National Park does not have museums and landmarks.


Is the Food Better in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Versailles
Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Versailles is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Cairngorms National Park. There are a variety of cafes, pubs, and restaurants in the area that offer hearty dishes to fill a hungry hiker.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Versailles. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the grounds.

Is Versailles or Cairngorms National Park Better for Hiking?

Versailles
Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is a great national park for hiking. However, Versailles is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Cairngorms National Park for the hiking trails. There are hikes for every skill level. You'll find waterfalls, open glens, mountains, and beautiful lakes. Some of the best hikes include the Falls of Bruar, Morrone, and the Seven Bridges Trail.

Versailles is not a hiking destination.

Is Versailles or Cairngorms National Park Better for Families?

Versailles
Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is a great national park for its kid-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Cairngorms National Park is a very family-friendly destination. The outdoor wilderness, natural lakes, and fun activities make for a great family holiday. Head to the beach at Loch Morlich or go for a pony trek. You can also take a ride on the Strathspey Steam Railway or if the kids are craving a bit more excitement head to Landmark Forest Adventure Park.

Versailles does not offer many kid-friendly activities. While there are those unicorn children who fall in love with the grand setting, for most kids, a visit to Versailles can make for make for a long and draining day.


Is Versailles or Cairngorms National Park Better for Couples?

Versailles
Cairngorms National Park

Versailles and Cairngorms National Park are both excellent to visit as a couple.

Versailles is a great palace if you're traveling as a couple. It's opulence, grandeur, and history make this a wonderful place to explore as a couple. There are gardens and other unique settings that make Versailles very romantic.

Cairngorms National Park is a very popular place to visit for couples. The hiking, natural beauty, and stunning setting make for a wonderful couples getaway. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the serene setting and it's not uncommon for some couples to get engaged in this beautiful park.

Is Versailles or Cairngorms National Park Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Versailles
Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

It's common for backpackers to visit Cairngorms National Park. Transportation without a car is basically impossible, but camping is a great way to experience the park to its fullest without breaking the bank.

Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Versailles or Cairngorms National Park Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Versailles
Cairngorms National Park

Versailles is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Cairngorms National Park is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Versailles offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are SNCF trains that travel from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers train station and additional trains that travel between Gare Saint Lazare and Versailles Rive Droite.

Public transit is generally limited in Cairngorms National Park. To fully explore the park, you really need to have your own vehicle, but there are local buses and trains that travel to the park.


Is Versailles or Cairngorms National Park a more walkable city?

Versailles
Cairngorms National Park

Versailles is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Cairngorms National Park is not a walkable destination.

Versailles is a very walkable destination. It's approximately a 20 minute walk from the Versailles Chantiers train station to the entrance to the palace. Versailles Rive Droite is slightly closer.

Cairngorms National Park is not a walkable destination.

For even more information, also check out Is Versailles Worth Visiting? and Is Cairngorms National Park Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cairngorms National Park or Versailles?

How long in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

In either Versailles or Cairngorms National Park, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Cairngorms National Park than Versailles because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Versailles, and 3-5 days is enough time in Cairngorms National Park.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cairngorms National Park than Versailles 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 Cairngorms National Park.


  • How many days in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park? Ideal Length of Stay
    Versailles 1-2 
    Cairngorms National Park 3-5

One day in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

With museums around the extensive palace of Versailles, there's plenty to do. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

With food around the remote national park of Cairngorms National Park, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

With museums around the grand destination of Versailles, there's plenty to do. If you have a weekend, this palace makes for a great vacation.A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

With food around the destination of Cairngorms National Park, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.


Five days in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

You'll find museums around the historic palace of Versailles. This palace offers a variety of activities to choose from. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Cairngorms National Park, a popular national park, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this national park. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

Versailles is a great place to explore. 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. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Cairngorms National Park is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 2-Week Tours from London.


Which place is cheaper, Cairngorms National Park or Versailles?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Versailles is €234, while the average daily cost in Cairngorms National Park is €139. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Versailles and Cairngorms National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Versailles 128
    Cairngorms National Park 65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Versailles 256
    Cairngorms National Park 130
Compare Hotels in Versailles and Cairngorms National Park

Looking for a hotel in Versailles or Cairngorms National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Versailles


Hotels in Cairngorms National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Versailles Hotel Prices and Cairngorms National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Versailles 53
    Cairngorms National Park 62

Is it cheaper to fly into Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

Prices for flights to both Cairngorms National Park and Versailles change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Versailles 67
    Cairngorms National Park 35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Versailles 45
    Cairngorms National Park 31

Tours and Activities in Versailles

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Versailles.

  • Versailles Palace Private Family Tour Designed for Kids: $261
  • Palace Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket: $67
  • Private Guided Tour of the Palace: $261

Tours and Activities in Cairngorms National Park

For Cairngorms National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Cairn Gorm Mountain Adventure Private Hike: $168
  • Private Guided Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $177
  • Private Guided Ridge Scrambling Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Rock Climbing Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountaineering Experience in the Cairngorms: $222
  • Private Walking Tour to Ben Macdui Scotland: $114

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Versailles 18
    Cairngorms National Park 9.83


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

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



When is the best time to visit Versailles or Cairngorms National Park?

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 Versailles or Cairngorms National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Versailles and Cairngorms National Park. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Cairngorms National Park because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Versailles is generally a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park. Daily temperatures in Versailles average around 20°C (68°F), and Cairngorms National Park fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

In Versailles, it's very sunny this time of the year. Versailles usually receives more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park during summer. Versailles gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Cairngorms National Park receives 147 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Versailles usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cairngorms National Park. Versailles gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Versailles 20°C (68°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 14°C (58°F)

Should I visit Versailles or Cairngorms National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Versailles as well as Cairngorms National Park. The autumn months attract visitors to Versailles because of the natural beauty of the area. Also, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cairngorms National Park this time of year.

Versailles is a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Versailles averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Cairngorms National Park fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the autumn, Versailles often gets more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park. Versailles gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairngorms National Park receives 84 hours of full sun.

Versailles usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Cairngorms National Park. Versailles gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Versailles 13°C (56°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Versailles or Cairngorms National Park in the Winter?

Both Cairngorms National Park and Versailles are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Versailles this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Cairngorms National Park for the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Cairngorms National Park. It's quite cold in Versailles in the winter. In the winter, Versailles is a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Versailles in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Cairngorms National Park averages at about 3°C (38°F).

Versailles usually receives more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park during winter. Versailles gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Cairngorms National Park receives 42 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Versailles usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cairngorms National Park. Versailles gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Versailles 5°C (40°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 3°C (38°F)

Should I visit Versailles or Cairngorms National Park in the Spring?

Both Cairngorms National Park and Versailles during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Versailles for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cairngorms National Park in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Versailles is generally much warmer than Cairngorms National Park. Daily temperatures in Versailles average around 11°C (52°F), and Cairngorms National Park fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the spring, Versailles often gets more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park. Versailles gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairngorms National Park receives 136 hours of full sun.

Versailles usually gets more rain in April than Cairngorms National Park. Versailles gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Versailles 11°C (52°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 7°C (44°F)

Typical Weather for Cairngorms National Park and Versailles

Versailles Cairngorms National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (40°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 3°C (38°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 3°C (38°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 8°C (47°F) 52 mm (2.1 in) 5°C (41°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 50 mm (1.9 in) 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 20°C (68°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 14°C (58°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Aug 20°C (67°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 12°C (54°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Oct 13°C (56°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 9°C (49°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Nov 8°C (47°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 5°C (42°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 5°C (42°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 4°C (39°F) 52 mm (2 in)


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