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

Should you visit Giverny or Chartres?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Chartres? 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 picturesque, peaceful, and serene town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the food and museums.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the food and museums.

Giverny and Chartres: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Chartres?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Giverny than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Giverny is more touristy than Chartres and is known for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Also, Giverny is famous for The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Giverny different from Chartres?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Giverny is great for its historical sights. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Chartres. Most visitors make the trip to see the spectacular Gothic cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame. It was completed in 1220 and is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Giverny and Chartres can be difficult as they are each notable 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 Chartres area. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Giverny or Chartres Better for Families?

Neither Giverny nor Chartres 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.

Chartres is not the most family-friendly destination. The main attraction in town is the cathedral, but the surrounding area is also filled with history. This may not keep your kids entertained for long, so you can also check out the Stained Glass Museum, La Tanière (a zoo), or one of the parks around town.

Is Giverny or Chartres Better for Couples?

Giverny is great for its romantic activities. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for couples.

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.

Chartres is a good town for couples to visit. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Is Giverny or Chartres Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Giverny and Chartres are notable 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.

Chartres is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's easy enough to visit as a day trip from Paris, so backpackers and other tourists typically allow themselves a few hours to explore.

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

Chartres 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.

Chartres has some very good public transit options. There are trains that leave Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2 every half hour and travel to Chartres. The trip takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

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 Chartres a more walkable city?

Chartres 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.

Chartres is a very walkable town. It's easy to see the sights around town 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 Chartres Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chartres or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Chartres?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Giverny or Chartres to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

One day in Giverny or Chartres?

The beautiful town of Giverny offers museums and food. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Chartres, 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 Chartres?

Giverny is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Giverny, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Chartres, 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 Chartres has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Chartres?

Giverny is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Chartres 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 Chartres?

Giverny is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chartres. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Chartres. 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 Chartres, 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 Chartres Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Chartres?

Chartres has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Giverny and Chartres, 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 Chartres?

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 Chartres in the Summer?

Both Chartres and Giverny are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. 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 Chartres this time of year.

Giverny is around the same temperature as Chartres in the summer. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Chartres fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Chartres. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Giverny. Giverny usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres during summer. Giverny gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 239 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Giverny usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chartres. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Giverny or Chartres in the Autumn?

Both Chartres and Giverny during the autumn are popular places to visit. 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 Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Giverny is around the same temperature as Chartres. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Giverny in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Chartres averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Giverny often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres. Giverny gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 126 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets more rain in October than Chartres. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Chartres in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Giverny and Chartres. Many travelers come to Giverny for the museums and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Giverny. In January, Giverny is generally around the same temperature as Chartres. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 5°C (40°F), and Chartres fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Giverny usually receives more sunshine than Chartres during winter. Giverny gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Chartres receives 56 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Giverny usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chartres. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Giverny or Chartres in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Giverny as well as Chartres. Many visitors come to Giverny in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

Giverny is around the same temperature as Chartres in the spring. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Chartres fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Giverny often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chartres. Giverny gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chartres receives 173 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Chartres. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Chartres receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chartres and Giverny