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

Should you visit Volos 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 Volos and Chartres can help you decide which place is right for you.

Volos

Volos is a vibrant, youthful, and authentic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Visitors also love the food and museums.

Volos and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Volos or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Volos than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Volos is better known for its food, nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Chartres is more popular for its museums and small town charm. Volos is well known for its vibrant seaside setting and its access to nearby natural beauty. Also, Volos is famous for The Archaeological Museum of Volos. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Volos different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Chartres is very good for its museums and history. However, Volos is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Volos offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in town including the Archaeological Museum of Volos.

Is the Food Better in Volos or Chartres? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Volos 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.

Volos has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Greece cuisine is very regional specific, and this area has its own dishes that are very different from elsewhere in the country. Deep fried kolitsianoi (sea anemone), boubari (local sausage), and spetzofai (sausage, tomato, and peppers) are just some of the unique dishes in the area.

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 Volos or Chartres Better for Nightlife?

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

Many people head to Volos for the nightlife scene. The universities around town keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are a number of bars and clubs that are fun throughout the year.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Volos or Chartres Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Volos is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Chartres is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Volos has a few good snorkeling spots. There are some snorkeling and dive shops in town that offer day trips.

Chartres is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Volos or Chartres Better for Beaches?

Volos is great for the beache. However, Chartres is not a beach destination.

Volos is considered a top beach destination. If you're willing to travel out of town, this region has some of the best beaches in Greece. The summers are cooler than other parts of the country and the winters are milder, so this is both a beautiful and a comfortable place to explore.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Volos or Chartres?

Volos is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Volos. There are shopping malls and shopping centers around town that have a variety of retail options including clothing, jewelry, and home goods.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Volos or Chartres Better for Families?

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

Volos offers lots of family activities. If your kids are adventurous, they'll enjoy horseback riding or exploring the area's beaches. There's also the Archaeological Museum of Volos and Agios Konstantinos Park.

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 Volos or Chartres Better for Couples?

Both Volos and Chartres are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Volos makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are gardens and outdoor activities that couples can enjoy. There are also museums and beaches.

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

Is Volos or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chartres is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Volos is lacking in good options for backpackers.

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.

Volos is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a popular backpacker destination and you won't find that many hostels in the area.

Is Volos or Chartres Better for Students?

Volos is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Volos. You'll find several universities in town. The port city also offers access to different parts of the country.

Chartres is not popular with students.

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

Chartres is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Volos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Public transit in Chartres can get you to some places easily. 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.

You'll find some public transit in Volos, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a bus system that travels around town.

Is Volos or Chartres a more walkable city?

Volos and Chartres are great when it comes to walkability.

Volos is a very walkable city. The city is flat and there's a historic district that you can explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Volos?

How long in Volos or Chartres?

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

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

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

One day in Volos or Chartres?

The city of Volos offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Chartres, many people enjoy the food and museums that this historic destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Volos or Chartres?

Volos 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. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Volos, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

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

Five days in Volos or Chartres?

Volos 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.

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

A week in Volos or Chartres?

Volos is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Athens, The Best 10-Day Tours from Athens, 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 Volos and Chartres, we can see that Chartres is more expensive. And not only is Volos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Volos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Volos 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 Chartres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chartres than you might in Volos.

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

Which is Bigger, Volos or Chartres?

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

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Volos and Chartres. Most visitors come to Volos for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, 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.

Volos is a little warmer than Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Volos averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chartres this time of the year. In Volos, it's very sunny this time of the year. Volos usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during summer. Volos gets 330 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Volos usually receives less rain than Chartres. Volos gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Volos or Chartres in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Volos as well as Chartres. The autumn months attract visitors to Volos because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In the autumn, Volos is a little warmer than Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Volos in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Volos often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Volos gets 165 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun.

Volos usually gets more rain in October than Chartres. Volos gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Volos or Chartres in the Winter?

Both Chartres and Volos are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Volos this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chartres for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Chartres. In January, Volos is generally a little warmer than Chartres. Daily temperatures in Volos average around 6°C (42°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Volos usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during winter. Volos gets 112 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Volos usually receives less rain than Chartres. Volos gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Volos or Chartres in the Spring?

Both Chartres and Volos during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Volos for the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, many visitors come to Chartres in the spring for the small town charm.

Volos is a little warmer than Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Volos averages around 14°C (56°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Volos. In the spring, Volos often gets more sunshine than Chartres. Volos gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun.

Volos usually gets less rain in April than Chartres. Volos gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Volos