A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basel vs. Giverny for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Basel or Giverny?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Giverny, 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.

Basel

Basel is a vibrant, historic, and cultural city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Giverny

Giverny is a peaceful, serene, and inspiring town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Basel and Giverny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Giverny?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Giverny than Basel, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Giverny is better known for its small town charm and impressive beauty, while Basel is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Giverny is more touristy than Basel and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Also, Giverny is famous for The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Basel is well known for its many museums and its nice old town.

How is Basel different from Giverny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Basel or Giverny?

Plenty of people visit the very good sights and museums in both Basel and Giverny.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Basel can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with history. Head to Minster Hill to see the beautiful historic church and Münsterplatz. There are also several unique museums around town including Jean Tinguely Museum, the Paper Mill Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Museum of Art.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Giverny. The town is most notable as the home of Claude Monet between 1883 and 1926. Highlights of a visit include visiting Jardin d'Eau (The Water Garden), The Normandy Garden, and Monet's House.

Is the Food Better in Basel or Giverny? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Basel and Giverny both to be notable destinations.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Basel. Food around town can be expensive, but there are some outdoor markets where you can buy fruit and a bratwurst for a reasonable price. The city is known for its breads, soups, and pastries, which are all delicious.

Giverny is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are cozy cafes and charming restaurants in the town. If you visit as part of a tour, a restaurant stop may be included.

Is Basel or Giverny Better for Nightlife?

Basel is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Basel has a few options to choose from. The city's nightlife comes alive as the sun sets. There are bars, pubs, and dance clubs that stay active until the early morning hours.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Basel or Giverny Better for its Old Town?

Basel is great for its old town. However, Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Basel. The charming old town is fun to explore on foot with its quaint streets and meandering alleys. The beautiful architecture and ornate fountains give the area a unique personality. On the hottest days you may even see locals swimming in some of the fountains.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Giverny?

Basel is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Basel is well-known for its shopping. The old town is filled with shops that you can wander through as you explore. Popular shopping streets include Freie Strasse and the area around Marktplatz, where you'll find boutique shops and interesting trinkets. You can also head to the city's oldest department store - Manor.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Basel or Giverny Better for Families?

Basel is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Giverny is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Basel is very family-friendly. The city has an impressive zoo, a really unique toy museum, as well as Aquabasilea with its pools and slides. It's also compact enough that little legs can explore and enjoy everything that it has to offer. If the weather's warm, head for the river to cool off.

Giverny is not the most family-friendly destination. The gardens are stunning and the house is impressive, but it's best to prepare younger kids with some activities beforehand. Even the most art-minded children will appreciate a hands-on activity that helps bring the experience to life.

Is Basel or Giverny Better for Couples?

Giverny is notable for its romantic activities. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Giverny is a very popular place to visit for couples. The setting seeped in romance and the gardens bring art to life. On occasion you may even see a young couple get engaged during their visit.

Basel is a good city for couples to visit. Nice restaurants, interesting museums, and several great spas make this a nice place for a romantic trip.

Is Basel or Giverny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Basel and Giverny are notable destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Basel. There are a few hostels and a really useful City Pass that make this city an option for backpackers and budget travelers. It's also a major transit center so accessibility is convenient. If you're traveling around Europe by train, you'll likely pass through Basel at some point.

Giverny is a good city to visit for backpackers. Many people, backpackers included, visit the town as a day trip from Paris. It's possible to visit by train and shuttle bus.

Is Basel or Giverny Better for Students?

Basel is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Giverny is not popular with students.

Basel is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The University of Basel brings in international students from around the world. The city makes a nice base for exploring Europe, but it's also a bit expensive which can be challenging on a student income.

Giverny is not popular with students.

Is Basel or Giverny Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Basel is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Basel has some very good public transit options. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

Giverny has a few public transit options. You can reach Giverny by train from Paris. You'll leave from the Gare Saint-Lazare train station in Paris and arrive in the town of Vernon. The trip is about 45 minutes. From there you can take a bus or taxi on to Giverny.

Is Basel or Giverny a more walkable city?

Basel is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Basel is a very easy city to get around on foot. The old town and most of the major attractions are easily accessible on foot.

Giverny is a somewhat walkable city. Many people choose to walk between the town of Vernon and Giverny, both of which are worth visiting. They're separated by about 6 kilometers (3.5 miles).

For even more information, also check out Is Basel Worth Visiting? and Is Giverny Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Giverny or Basel?

How long in Basel or Giverny?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Basel or Giverny to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Basel than Giverny because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Basel, and 1-2 days is enough time in Giverny.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Basel than Giverny 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 Basel.

One day in Basel or Giverny?

In Basel, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Giverny, many people enjoy the food and museums that this inspiring 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 Basel or Giverny?

In Basel, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Basel has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Giverny. 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 Basel or Giverny?

Basel is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

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

A week in Basel or Giverny?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Basel. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Basel. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find museums and food around the picturesque destination of Giverny. 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 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, The Best Coach Bus Tours in France, and The Best Adventure Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Basel or Giverny?

Basel has a larger population, and is about 290 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Giverny, 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 Basel or Giverny?

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 Basel or Giverny in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Basel as well as Giverny. Many visitors come to Basel in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Giverny for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Basel is around the same temperature as Giverny in the summer. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Giverny fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Giverny. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basel this time of the year. In the summer, Basel often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 241 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in July than Giverny. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Giverny in the Autumn?

Both Giverny and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Basel for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Giverny because of the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Basel is around the same temperature as Giverny. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basel in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Giverny averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Basel usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny during autumn. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Basel usually receives more rain than Giverny. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Basel or Giverny in the Winter?

Both Giverny and Basel during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Basel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Giverny this time of year.

It's quite cold in Giverny in the winter. The weather in Basel can be very cold. In January, Basel is generally much colder than Giverny. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 3°C (37°F), and Giverny fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Basel often gets less sunshine than Giverny. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 62 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in January than Giverny. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Giverny in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Giverny. The natural beauty are the main draw to Basel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Giverny for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Basel is around the same temperature as Giverny in the spring. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Giverny fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Basel usually receives less sunshine than Giverny during spring. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Basel usually receives more rain than Giverny. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Giverny and Basel