A Travel Price Comparison for France Versailles vs. Rouen for Attractions, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Versailles or Rouen?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Versailles or Rouen, 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 extensive, beautiful, and grand palace. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the museums.

Rouen

Rouen is a impressive, relaxing, and historical city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Versailles and Rouen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Versailles or Rouen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rouen than Versailles. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rouen is very popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Versailles attracts visitors for its museums and impressive beauty. Versailles is more touristy than Rouen and is popular for its long running history and its grand architecture. Rouen is famous for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture. It is also well known for The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen.

How is Versailles different from Rouen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Versailles is a world-class destination for its sights and museums. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Versailles are among the most recognizable in the world. 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.

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 Versailles or Rouen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Rouen is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Versailles is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Rouen. 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.

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 Rouen Better for Nightlife?

Rouen is a nice place to visit for nightlife. However, Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Rouen has a few options to choose from. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Versailles or Rouen Better for its Old Town?

Rouen is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Rouen is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Versailles or Rouen?

Rouen is a nice place to visit for shopping. However, Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Rouen. 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.

Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Versailles or Rouen Better for Families?

Rouen is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Rouen offers lots of family activities. 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.

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 Rouen Better for Couples?

Versailles and Rouen are both very good 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.

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

Versailles and Rouen both offer very good public transit to get you around.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Versailles. 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 in Rouen can get you to some places 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.

Is Versailles or Rouen a more walkable city?

Versailles and Rouen are very good when it comes to walkability.

Versailles is very walkable. 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.

Rouen is a very walkable palace. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Versailles Worth Visiting? and Is Rouen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rouen or Versailles?

How long in Versailles or Rouen?

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

Families should spend more time in Rouen than Versailles. 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 Versailles. 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 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 Rouen.

One day in Versailles or Rouen?

In Versailles, many people enjoy the museums that this extensive destination offers. Lots of people come for the museums. This palace offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

With museums and nightlife around the impressive city of Rouen, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Rouen, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Versailles or Rouen?

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

With nightlife and food around the destination of Rouen, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Versailles or Rouen?

Versailles is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the destination of Versailles. Lots of people come for the museums. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Rouen, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Versailles or Rouen?

You'll find museums around the ornate destination of Versailles. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the museums. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Rouen 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 Food and Culinary Tours in France, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Versailles and Rouen, we can see that Versailles 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 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 Rouen.

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

Which is Bigger, Versailles or Rouen?

Rouen has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Versailles. When comparing the sizes of Versailles 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 Versailles 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 Versailles or Rouen in the Summer?

Both Rouen and Versailles during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Rouen for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Versailles is a little warmer than Rouen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Versailles in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Rouen averages at about 17°C (63°F).

In Rouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Versailles. In the summer, Versailles often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rouen. Versailles gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 241 hours of full sun.

Versailles usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Rouen. Versailles gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Versailles or Rouen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Versailles and Rouen. Most visitors come to Versailles for the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Rouen because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Versailles is generally a little warmer than Rouen. Daily temperatures in Versailles average around 13°C (56°F), and Rouen fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Versailles usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rouen during autumn. Versailles gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Versailles usually receives less rain than Rouen. Versailles gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Versailles or Rouen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Versailles as well as Rouen. The winter months attract visitors to Versailles because of the museums and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rouen this time of year.

It's quite cold in Rouen in the winter. The weather in Versailles can be very cold. Versailles is a little warmer than Rouen in the winter. The daily temperature in Versailles averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Rouen fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Versailles often gets less sunshine than Rouen. Versailles gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 62 hours of full sun.

Versailles usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Rouen. Versailles gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Versailles or Rouen in the Spring?

Both Rouen and Versailles are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Versailles this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Rouen for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Versailles is a little warmer than Rouen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Versailles in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Rouen averages at about 9°C (48°F).

Versailles usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rouen during spring. Versailles gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Versailles usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rouen. Versailles gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rouen and Versailles