A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ghent vs. Avignon for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Old Town

Should you visit Ghent or Avignon?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Ghent and Avignon. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Ghent

Ghent is a under-rated, youthful, and high energy city. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Avignon

Avignon is a quaint, charming, and scenic town. This is also a fantastic small town with plenty of charm and local activities. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Ghent and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ghent or Avignon?

Both Avignon and Ghent have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Ghent is better known for its nightlife, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Avignon is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm. Avignon is more touristy than Ghent and is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. Ghent is well known for its medieval buildings, large squares, and weekly markets

How is Ghent different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ghent or Avignon?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its sights and museums. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Avignon that are not to be missed. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

Ghent offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city has many different sights that are concentrated in a compact area. Make sure you check out the Cathedral of St. Bavo, The Fortress of Gravensteen, and The Belfry. The audio tour at Gravensteen really brings the history to life and makes for an enjoyable activity.

Is the Food Better in Ghent or Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Eat your way through Avignon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

Ghent has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The food scene is diverse and international, but there are also many local dishes and flavors that you should try. Pas de Rouge is a local cheese and mastel is a local bread. Ganda ham is also a popular meat that is dried and salted. In additional to traditional restaurants, you'll find almost any international cuisine that you could want.

Is Ghent or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Ghent is renowned for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Ghent is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. With its young student population, you'll find plenty of lively bars and clubs around town. There are many places where you can party or dance into the early hours of the morning and some of the best places are around Oude Beestenmarkt, De Overpoort, and De Vlasmarkt. There's also the famous Ghent Festival every July.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Ghent or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its historic old town. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its old town.

The historic old town of Avignon is revered around the world. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Ghent. The medieval old town follows along the canal and offers great architecture and a unique atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Ghent or Avignon?

Ghent is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Ghent. The city has the largest pedestrian shopping area in Belgium, making it a great place to explore on foot. The city has several different shopping areas which each have their own style and personality. You'll find everything from major European brands to local boutiques and street markets.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Ghent or Avignon Better for Families?

Both Ghent and Avignon are notable family-friendly destinations.

Ghent is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has a fun atmosphere with kid-friendly restaurants and a number of attractions that appeal to all ages. Kids and adults alike will enjoy exploring Gravensteen, which is the "Castle of Counts". You can also take a boat tour, rent bikes, or head to one of the town's playgrounds so the kids can burn off some energy.

Avignon is a family-friendly city. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Ghent or Avignon Better for Couples?

Ghent and Avignon both excellent destinations for a couple.

Ghent is a very popular place to visit for couples. It makes a great weekend getaway with a diverse restaurant scene, nice hotels, and plenty of historic attractions that you can explore.

Avignon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Is Ghent or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Ghent and Avignon are notable destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Ghent. The city has a number of hostels to choose from as well as a young vibe with a large student population. Many people overlook Ghent, but it feels more genuine than nearby Bruges, which attracts the larger tourist crowds.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Ghent or Avignon Better for Students?

Ghent is renowned for its student-friendly activities. However, Avignon is not popular with students.

Ghent is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is very popular with international students so it has a young and energetic vibe with plenty to do throughout the year.

Avignon is not popular with students.

Is Ghent or Avignon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Ghent is renowned for times when you don't have a car. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Ghent has a great public transit system. Buses and trams travel to most parts of the city and are convenient and efficient.

You'll find some public transit in Avignon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Ghent or Avignon a more walkable city?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its walkability. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Avignon on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Ghent is a very walkable city. The area's with the most tourist attractions are generally walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Ghent Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Ghent?

How long in Ghent or Avignon?

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

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

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

One day in Ghent or Avignon?

In Ghent, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. 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.

Even though Avignon is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Ghent or Avignon?

In Ghent, 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. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ghent has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Ghent or Avignon?

Ghent 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.

Avignon is a fun place to experience. Avignon is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Ghent or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ghent. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Ghent. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. 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.

Avignon is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Cultural Tours in Belgium, The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Ghent or Avignon?

Ghent has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Ghent and Avignon, 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 Ghent or Avignon?

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 Ghent or Avignon in the Summer?

Both Avignon and Ghent during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Ghent because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

In July, Ghent is generally cooler than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Ghent average around 17°C (63°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ghent. In the summer, Ghent often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Ghent gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun.

Ghent usually gets more rain in July than Avignon. Ghent gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ghent or Avignon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ghent and Avignon. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Ghent this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Avignon for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

Ghent is cooler than Avignon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ghent averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Avignon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Ghent usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during autumn. Ghent gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Avignon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Ghent usually receives less rain than Avignon. Ghent gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Ghent or Avignon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ghent as well as Avignon. Many travelers come to Ghent for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Avignon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Ghent. In the winter, Ghent is much colder than Avignon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ghent in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Avignon averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Ghent often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Ghent gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun.

Ghent usually gets less rain in January than Avignon. Ghent gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ghent or Avignon in the Spring?

Both Avignon and Ghent are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Ghent in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Avignon for the small town charm during these months.

In April, Ghent is generally much colder than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Ghent average around 8°C (47°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Avignon. Ghent usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during spring. Ghent gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Ghent usually receives less rain than Avignon. Ghent gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Ghent