Major city · France
Chartres
Go for one night, not a day trip: the cathedral, the old town and the 22:15 light show need an evening. Two nights if you add the stained-glass museum and a walk on the Eure.Go for one night, not a day trip: the cathedral, the old town and the 10:15 PM light show need an evening. Two nights if you add the stained-glass museum and a walk on the Eure.
Chartres is a small city of about 39,000 people, an hour by TER train from Paris Montparnasse, built around a 12th-century cathedral that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The old town, the river Eure and the evening light show sit within a 20-minute walk of the station, so a single overnight covers the core and a second night covers the rest.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and heat), mid-August (some local businesses close)
- Airports
- CDG · ORY
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Chartres112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Chartres, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyChartres is a low-risk small city; the real issues are the uphill walk with bags…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency number · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCDG Paris Charles de Gaulle (TGV or RER into Paris, then TER from Montparnasse; allow 3–4 h door to door).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable: station to cathedral is about 1 km (0.6 mi), 12–15 min uphill.The centre is walkable: station to cathedral is about 0.6 mi (1 km), 12–15 min uphill.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a café€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
- Street or quick mealCrêpe or sandwich lunch€6–12 (≈ US$7–14)
- BeerLocal Eurelienne beer, bar or shopcheck€4–7 (≈ US$5–9)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi across the centrecheck€10–15 (≈ US$12–18)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room€110 (≈ US$130)
- Mid-range bedTwo-star double room, a night, per room€85 (≈ US$100)
- High-end bedTwo-star double room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle (TGV or RER into Paris, then TER from Montparnasse; allow 3–4 h door to door) · ORY Paris Orly (Orlyval and metro to Montparnasse, then TER; allow 2.5–3.5 h)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Feb
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Apr
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
May
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jun
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jul
Avoid
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Aug
Avoid
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Sep
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Oct
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Nov
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Dec
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jan (11 rain days), driest Jul (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Chartres: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
11 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
10 rd
Mar
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
Apr
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
9 rd
May
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
Jun
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Jul
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7 rd
Aug
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7 rd
Sep
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Oct
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
10 rd
Nov
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
11 rd
Dec
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
11 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable: station to cathedral is about 1 km, 12–15 min uphill. Local buses cover the ring road and the lower town; a car is only useful for the château day trips. Trains from Paris Montparnasse run roughly hourly and continue to Nogent-le-Rotrou and Le Mans.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Maintenon
goDoor to door: About 45 min
TER from Chartres, a few stops, then a short walk
Small château and gardens; pairs well with a half-day back in Chartres.
Nogent-le-Rotrou
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
TER on the Paris–Le Mans line
Quiet town and a hilltop keep; check train times, the service is thin.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
TER from Chartres to Paris Montparnasse
Fares are the same bought in advance or on the day; peak commuter trains are full.
Orléans
skipDoor to door: 2–2.5 h
Train via a change, or drive the A10
No fast direct link; better done as its own stop, not a day return.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around the station (avenue Jehan de Beauce)
Cheapest beds and a 10–15 min uphill walk to the cathedral; best for one night with bags.
Place des Épars and the centre
Between station and cathedral, restaurants and bars on the doorstep; mid-range and up.
Lower town by the Eure
Quiet riverside streets, 15–20 min walk up to the cathedral; good for walkers and cyclists.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- €90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
- High
- €150 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Two-star double room1 × 1 night × €85 | €85 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €110 | €220 |
| TER Paris Montparnasse → Chartres, one way, 2nd class2 × €16 · check | €32 |
| Cathedral tower climb2 × €8 · check | €16 |
| Musée du Vitrail entry2 × €7 · check | €14 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €40 |
| Trip total≈ €219 per person per day, bed included | €437≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in euros; travel to Chartres excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a café | €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Crêpe or sandwich lunch | €6–12 (≈ US$7–14) |
| Starter, main, dessert and wine in a brasserieLower in the streets away from the station and cathedral square. | €30–40 (≈ US$35–50) |
| Local Eurelienne beer, bar or shopcheck | €4–7 (≈ US$5–9) |
| Taxi across the centrecheck | €10–15 (≈ US$12–18) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–20 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Cathedral tower climbs and the labyrinth are sometimes closed for services or restoration: check the cathedral site before you plan the day around them.
- The light show runs late at night in the warmer months only, and the times shift through the season: confirm the current schedule locally.
- Chartres has few hotels for its visitor numbers: book ahead, especially weekends and the early-October craft fair.
- Restaurants near the station and on the cathedral square cost more than the streets behind the town hall.
- Station toilets are open intermittently; use the cathedral or café facilities instead.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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ChartresChartres
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency number112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
No embassies in Chartres; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian, Irish and New Zealand embassies are in Paris.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Paris Montparnasse → Chartres, TER 2nd class: about €16 (≈ US$19), about 1 h 15 min (check)
- Chartres → Maintenon, TER: a few euros, about 20 min (check)
- Taxi station → cathedral square: €10–15 (≈ US$12–18) (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo pleh)
- Une table pour deux — A table for two (ewn TAH-bluh poor duh)
- Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-yay par kart)
- Où est la cathédrale ? — Where is the cathedral? (oo ay la ka-tay-DRAL)
Cathedral entry is free; the tower climb and the stained-glass museum are ticketed. Confirm current hours and light-show times locally.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chartres. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and heat), mid-August (some local businesses close) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CDG and ORY: last TER from Montparnasse, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: station and avenue Jehan de Beauce, place des Épars, cathedral square, lower town by the Eure.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (cathedral, tower climb, Musée du Vitrail, Maison Picassiette) and eat pages with last orders.
- Light-show and service-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialChartres Cathedral official site
- officialChartres tourism office
- officialVille de Chartres
- secondaryWikivoyage: Chartres, revision 5241170 (CC BY-SA 4.0)