Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Chartres?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Chartres?

Most people spend one to two days in Chartres during their visit. The spectacular town offers amazing highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the small town charm, and the cuisine.

Most people visit Chartres specifically to see its grand Gothic cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The cathedral was completed in 1220 and is famous for its stained glass windows. The town is an easy day trip from Paris, and you can explore the cathedral and town in a few hours.

Do you have one or two days to visit Chartres? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Chartres?

Chartres is a fun town that is somewhat popular with tourists because of its great list of sights and attractions. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to explore the museums and famous sights, soak up the small town charm, and sample the delicious cuisine. To truly savor all that the town boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for one to two days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the town. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Chartres

Don't miss the Chartres Cathedral during your trip to Chartres, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Chartres is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It's easy to see the sights around town on foot.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Chartres?

Many visitors spend a weekend in Chartres, as this is a good amount of time to see the spectacular town's major attractions such as the famous sights and museums, the small town charm, and the cuisine. If you have a weekend here, we have a few suggestions of things to do below.

Chartres, France Chartres, France

How to spend 2 days in Chartres

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Chartres will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the town.

You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. 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.

The public transit in Chartres is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the town quite easily and affordably. 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.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Chartres, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

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