A Travel Price Comparison for France Giverny vs. Caen for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Giverny or Caen?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Caen? 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 serene, inspiring, and picturesque town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food and museums.

Caen

Caen is a park-filled, important, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, museums, and nightlife.

Giverny and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Caen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Caen. Although Giverny and Caen are popular destinations, Caen has more sights and attractions for tourists. Caen is very popular for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Giverny attracts visitors for its small town charm and impressive beauty. Giverny is more touristy than Caen and is known for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Caen is famous for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings. It is also well known for Pegasus Bridge.

How is Giverny different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Giverny and Caen.

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.

Many visitors head to Caen specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are many monuments around town commemorating the city's long history. You'll want to see Château de Caen, Pegasus Bridge, Mémorial de Caen, Musée de Normandie, and Musée des beaux-arts de Caen.

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

Caen 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.

Caen has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a market that's at its best on Sundays where you'll find fresh produce and other local ingredients. There are also Michelin starred restaurants, seafood restaurants, and other traditional dishes. Head to the Vaugueux Quarter for traditional dishes.

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 Caen Better for Nightlife?

Caen 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 Caen has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene stays active thanks to the 30,000 students living in town. Head to the Rue Ecuyère for a pub crawl or hit up any of the other bars around town.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Giverny or Caen Better for Families?

Caen is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Giverny is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Caen offers lots of family activities. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

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 Caen Better for Couples?

Giverny is a very popular place for romance. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

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.

Caen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Is Giverny or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Giverny and Caen are nice 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.

Caen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

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

Caen 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.

Caen has some very good public transit options. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

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 Caen a more walkable city?

Giverny and Caen are nice when it comes to walkability.

Giverny is a somewhat walkable place. 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).

Caen is a somewhat walkable town. The city center is best explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Caen?

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

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

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

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

One day in Giverny or Caen?

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.

In Caen, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Giverny or Caen?

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.

In Caen, you'll find nightlife and food. 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 Caen has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Caen?

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

Caen 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 Caen?

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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Caen. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Caen. 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 Caen, we can see that Giverny 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 Caen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Caen?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Giverny and Caen, 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 Caen?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Giverny or Caen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Giverny and Caen. Most visitors come to Giverny for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Caen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Giverny is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 20°C (68°F), and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. In Giverny, it's very sunny this time of the year. Giverny usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Caen during summer. Giverny gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Giverny usually receives more rain than Caen. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Giverny or Caen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Giverny as well as Caen. The autumn months attract visitors to Giverny because of the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year.

Giverny is around the same temperature as Caen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Giverny often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Caen. Giverny gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets less rain in October than Caen. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Caen in the Winter?

Both Caen and Giverny are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Giverny this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. It's quite cold in Giverny in the winter. In the winter, Giverny is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Giverny in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Caen averages at about 5°C (41°F).

Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Caen during winter. Giverny gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Giverny usually receives less rain than Caen. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Giverny or Caen in the Spring?

Both Caen and Giverny during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Giverny for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Giverny is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 11°C (52°F), and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the spring, Giverny often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Caen. Giverny gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Caen. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Caen and Giverny