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

Should you visit Giverny or Bergen?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Bergen? 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 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. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Bergen

Bergen is a laid back, nostalgic, and friendly city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Giverny and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Bergen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Giverny. Although Giverny and Bergen are both popular with visitors, Giverny has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Giverny is more popular for its museums and impressive beauty, while Bergen is known for its nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Giverny is more touristy than Bergen and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. It is also home to The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Bergen is popular for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Giverny different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bergen 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 Bergen?

Giverny is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Giverny offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Bergen is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting local museums such as the Hanseatic Museum, the Edvard Grieg Museum, and the KODE Museums.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Giverny and Bergen can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Bergen area. The city's economy has long been centered around the fish trade and even today you'll find cod, shellfish, trout, and salmon on most menus. Sheep and mutton are also popular. Desserts and coffee are also a big part of the local culture.

Is Giverny or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

Bergen 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 Bergen has a few options to choose from. It's a small city without a huge nightlife district, but there are bars and clubs in Bryggen and Old Bulls Plass. The city has enough students to keep things lively and fun.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Giverny or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Bergen is a popular place for its old town. However, Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Bergen. The wooden buildings and compact streets have a quaint and nostalgic atmosphere.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Giverny or Bergen?

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

Bergen is well-known for its shopping. The city center is filled with specialty boutiques as well as larger department stores. Shopping has long been a large part of the economy and you'll enjoy exploring the diversity of retail options.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Giverny or Bergen Better for Families?

Bergen 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, Bergen is very family-friendly. There are some interesting educational opportunities for kids including the Bergen Aquarium, VilVite Science Centre, and Experience Bryggen. Other fun activities include Vannkanten Waterworld and the Fløibanen Funicular.

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 Giverny or Bergen Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Giverny and Bergen make for a high quality 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.

Bergen is a very popular place to visit for couples. There are many romantic activities near town like swimming in the fjords and walking through the parks. There are also spas and music concerts to enjoy.

Is Giverny or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Giverny and Bergen are good places to visit.

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

Bergen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few hostels and guesthouses around town where backpackers can meet other travelers.

Is Giverny or Bergen Better for Students?

Bergen is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Giverny is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Bergen. It's a very student-friendly city with many activities and a laid back atmosphere. The university facilities are spread out around town and the locals are welcoming and helpful.

Giverny is not popular with students.

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

Bergen 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.

Bergen has some very good public transit options. For the areas that are outside of the city center, you can take a local bus or the light rail to access them. These services are operated by Skyss.

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 Giverny or Bergen a more walkable city?

Bergen 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.

Bergen is a very walkable city. The city center is flat and compact enough that it's fun to explore on foot.

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 Bergen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Bergen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Giverny and Bergen. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bergen than in Giverny. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Giverny, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bergen.

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

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

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

One day in Giverny or Bergen?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Giverny. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Bergen, you'll find nightlife and food. 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.

A weekend in Giverny or Bergen?

Giverny is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

Five days in Giverny or Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Giverny. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bergen is a great place to explore. 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 Bergen?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the serene destination of Giverny. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bergen. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bergen. 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 10-Day Tours in Norway, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Bergen?

Bergen has a larger population, and is about 380 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Giverny and Bergen, 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 Bergen?

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 Bergen in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Giverny is a little warmer than Bergen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Giverny in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Bergen averages at about 15°C (58°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Giverny usually gets less rain in July than Bergen. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Bergen in the Autumn?

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

In October, Giverny is generally a little warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 13°C (56°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Giverny usually receives less rain than Bergen. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Giverny or Bergen in the Winter?

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

Bergen can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Giverny. Giverny is much warmer than Bergen in the winter. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Bergen fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Giverny usually gets less rain in January than Bergen. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Bergen in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Giverny is much warmer than Bergen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Giverny in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Bergen averages at about 6°C (43°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. In April, Giverny usually receives less rain than Bergen. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bergen and Giverny