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

Should you visit Bern or Giverny?

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

Should I visit Bern or Giverny? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Bern

Bern is a cultural, historic, and charming 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. It's also known for food and museums.

Bern and Giverny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Giverny?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Giverny. Although Bern and Giverny are popular destinations, Giverny has more sights and attractions for tourists. Giverny is very popular for its small town charm and impressive beauty, while Bern attracts visitors for its nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Giverny is more touristy than Bern and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. It is also well known for The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Bern different from Giverny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Bern and Giverny have high quality landmarks and museums for visitors.

Bern offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with architecture and charming character. While you're in town make sure you visit the Einstein Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Bern Cathedral.

Many visitors head to Giverny specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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 Bern or Giverny? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Bern and Giverny.

Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Giverny has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 Bern or Giverny Better for Nightlife?

Bern 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 Bern has a few options to choose from. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Bern or Giverny Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Bern. The charming old town is filled with quaint alleys and sandstone buildings. It's a compact area that flows down a hill to the River Aare.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Giverny?

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

Bern is well-known for its shopping. The old town is filled with boutique shops and unique markets. The main shopping streets are Spitalgasse and Marktgasse and popular items to buy include jewelry, art, and watches.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Bern or Giverny Better for Families?

Bern 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, Bern is very family-friendly. This charming town has riverside parks and pools, a zoo, a waterpark, and kid-friendly museums that the whole family can enjoy. You can also visit nearby Gurten, a mountain with tobogganing, concerts, and a mini ski resort.

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 Bern or Giverny Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Giverny make for a high quality place to visit.

Bern is a very popular place to visit for couples. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Giverny makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Is Bern or Giverny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Giverny is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Many people, backpackers included, visit the town as a day trip from Paris. It's possible to visit by train and shuttle bus.

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

Bern 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.

Bern has some very good public transit options. There are trams and buses that run 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 Bern or Giverny a more walkable city?

Bern is great for its high level of walkability. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Bern is a very walkable city. It's fun to explore the old town on foot. It is compact enough to that you can see all of the highlights in a few hours.

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 Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Giverny Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Giverny or Bern?

How long in Bern or Giverny?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or Giverny to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern 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 Bern, and 1-2 days is enough time in Giverny.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern 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 Bern.

One day in Bern or Giverny?

In Bern, 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.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Giverny. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Giverny?

In Bern, 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 Bern has to offer.

Giverny is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bern or Giverny?

Bern 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.

You'll find museums and food around the inspiring destination of Giverny. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Giverny?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bern. 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.

The picturesque town of Giverny offers food and museums. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking 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 Bern and Giverny, we can see that Bern 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern 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 Bern Expensive? and Is Giverny Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bern or Giverny?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 220 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Bern 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 Bern 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 Bern or Giverny in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Giverny. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Giverny this time of year.

In the summer, Bern is around the same temperature as Giverny. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Giverny averages at about 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 Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 241 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Giverny. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Giverny in the Autumn?

Both Giverny and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Giverny for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Giverny. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Giverny fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

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

In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Giverny. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Giverny in the Winter?

Both Giverny and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Giverny in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Giverny can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. Bern is much colder than Giverny in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Giverny fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 62 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Giverny. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Giverny in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Giverny. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Giverny for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Bern is around the same temperature as Giverny. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Giverny averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Giverny. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Giverny and Bern