A Travel Price Comparison for France Giverny vs. Arles for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Giverny or Arles?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Arles? 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.

Giverny

Giverny is a inspiring, picturesque, and peaceful town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Arles

Arles is a quaint, historic, and charming town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Giverny and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Arles?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Arles. Although Giverny and Arles are both popular with visitors, Arles has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Arles is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Giverny is known for its small town charm and impressive beauty. Giverny is more touristy than Arles and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Arles is popular for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. It is also home to L'Amphithéâtre Romain.

How is Giverny different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its historical sights. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

The museums and tourist attractions in Arles are world-renowned. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

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 Giverny or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arles is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Arles has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Giverny area. 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 Giverny or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Arles 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 Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Giverny or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its old town. However, Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Arles offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Giverny or Arles?

Arles is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Giverny or Arles Better for Families?

Neither Giverny nor Arles are considered to be the most family-friendly destination.

For families, Giverny is not always the best place to visit. 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.

Arles is not the most family-friendly destination. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Giverny or Arles Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Giverny and Arles make for a great place to visit.

Giverny is a great town if you're traveling as 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.

Arles is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Giverny or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Giverny is very good for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

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

Giverny and Arles both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Giverny offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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.

Arles has a few public transit options. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Giverny or Arles a more walkable city?

Arles 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.

Arles is a very walkable town. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

Giverny is a somewhat walkable town. 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 Giverny Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Giverny or Arles to fill your time. In our opinion, Arles has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Arles than Giverny. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Giverny or Arles?

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.

In Arles, 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 museums. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Giverny or Arles?

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.

In Arles, 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 museums. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Arles has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Arles?

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.

Arles 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.

A week in Giverny or Arles?

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.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in France, The Best Adventure Tours to France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France.

When comparing the travel costs between Giverny and Arles, we can see that Arles is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Arles?

Arles has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Giverny and Arles, 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 Giverny or Arles?

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 Giverny or Arles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Giverny as well as Arles. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Giverny this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Giverny is cooler than Arles. Typically, the summer temperatures in Giverny in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Arles averages at about 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Giverny this time of the year. In the summer, Giverny often gets less sunshine than Arles. Giverny gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Arles in the Autumn?

Both Arles and Giverny are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Giverny for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Giverny is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 13°C (56°F), and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Giverny gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Arles. In October, Giverny usually receives less rain than Arles. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Giverny or Arles in the Winter?

Both Arles and Giverny during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Giverny in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Giverny can get quite cold in the winter. Giverny is cooler than Arles in the winter. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Giverny often gets less sunshine than Arles. Giverny gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets less rain in January than Arles. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Arles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Giverny and Arles. Most visitors come to Giverny for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Arles because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Giverny is cooler than Arles. Typically, the spring temperatures in Giverny in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Arles averages at about 13°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Giverny gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Giverny usually receives less rain than Arles. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Giverny