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

Should you visit Giverny or Carcassonne?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Carcassonne? 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.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a historical, fairytale, and medieval town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the food and museums.

Giverny and Carcassonne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Carcassonne?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Giverny. Although Giverny and Carcassonne are popular destinations, Giverny has more sights and attractions for tourists. Giverny is very popular for its impressive beauty, while Carcassonne attracts visitors for its food and historical sights. Giverny is more touristy than Carcassonne and is known for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. It is also well known for The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Carcassonne is famous for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle.

How is Giverny different from Carcassonne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Carcassonne specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

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

Carcassonne 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.

Carcassonne has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are a number of local restaurants that serve regional specialties such as cassoulet. You can spend a few hours exploring the castle and then grab a delicious bite to eat.

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 Carcassonne Better for its Old Town?

Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne. The medieval walled city is seeped in history and filled with atmosphere. Cars are not allowed in town.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is Giverny or Carcassonne Better for Families?

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

Carcassonne offers lots of family activities. Kids who love castles will enjoy wandering the maze of rooms and getting lost in the medieval atmosphere.

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 Carcassonne Better for Couples?

Giverny is a very popular place for romance. Also, Carcassonne 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.

Carcassonne makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a medieval city with an impressive castle and walled fortifications. It's a uniquely European sight that is great for couples who enjoy history.

Is Giverny or Carcassonne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Many backpackers visit Carcassonne. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

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

Giverny and Carcassonne both offer nice 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.

Carcassonne has a few public transit options. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

Is Giverny or Carcassonne a more walkable city?

Carcassonne is an amazing town to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Carcassonne is a very easy town to get around on foot. Cars aren't allowed in the medieval city so it's best 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 Carcassonne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Carcassonne or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Carcassonne?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Giverny than Carcassonne. 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 Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne.

One day in Giverny or Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the food and museums when visiting the peaceful town of Giverny. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Carcassonne, you'll find food and 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 Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the inspiring destination of Giverny. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Carcassonne, you'll find museums 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 Carcassonne has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Carcassonne?

The peaceful town of Giverny offers food and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne?

Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Giverny. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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 Carcassonne. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Carcassonne. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Giverny and Carcassonne, we can see that Giverny is more expensive. And not only is Carcassonne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carcassonne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne.

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

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Carcassonne?

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

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 Carcassonne in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Giverny and Carcassonne. 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 Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Giverny is generally cooler than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 20°C (68°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Carcassonne this time of the year. In Giverny, it's very sunny this time of the year. Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during summer. Giverny gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 275 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Giverny usually receives more rain than Carcassonne. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Giverny or Carcassonne in the Autumn?

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

Giverny is cooler than Carcassonne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Carcassonne fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Giverny often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Giverny gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 161 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets less rain in October than Carcassonne. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Carcassonne in the Winter?

Both Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne for the museums and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Giverny in the winter. In the winter, Giverny is much colder than Carcassonne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Giverny in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Carcassonne averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during winter. Giverny gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Giverny usually receives more rain than Carcassonne. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Giverny or Carcassonne in the Spring?

Both Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Giverny is generally cooler than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 11°C (52°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

In the spring, Giverny often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Carcassonne. Giverny gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 178 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets less rain in April than Carcassonne. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Giverny