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

Should you visit Giverny or Lillehammer?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Lillehammer? 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. It's also known for food and museums.

Lillehammer

Lillehammer is a natural, adventure-filled, and sporty city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking.

Giverny and Lillehammer: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Lillehammer?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lillehammer. Although Giverny and Lillehammer are popular destinations, Lillehammer has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lillehammer is very popular for its skiing, food, nightlife, hiking, and shopping, while Giverny attracts visitors for its museums and impressive beauty. Giverny is more touristy than Lillehammer and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Lillehammer is famous for its winter sports and role as host for the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is also well known for Lillehammer Olympic Park.

How is Giverny different from Lillehammer?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Giverny or Lillehammer Better for Skiing?

Lillehammer is great for skiing. However, Giverny is not a skiing destination.

Visitors travel far to experience snow skiing in Lillehammer. There is both downhill skiing and cross country skiing in the area. There are five alpine centers that offer skiing for everyone from beginners to the world's elite. There are also 2,300 kilometers of cross country ski trails. The region is known for its long and reliable winter with great ski conditions.

Giverny is not a skiing destination.

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

Giverny is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Lillehammer is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Giverny can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

Lillehammer offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a number of sights that are related to the city's role as host of the 1994 Olympics. Check out the Norwegian Olympic Museum, Lysgårdsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena, and the Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track. Also make sure you visit the Maihaugen Open-Air Museum.

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

Lillehammer 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.

Lillehammer has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Local food traditions date back centuries and you'll find a combination of simple recipes and elaborate menus. Dishes often include fish or local meat such as elk. There are also soups such as kål, which are made with bacon, meat, potatoes, and barley.

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 Lillehammer Better for Nightlife?

Lillehammer 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 Lillehammer has a few options to choose from. There is a lively atmosphere with many bars, clubs, and pubs around town.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Giverny or Lillehammer Better for Hiking?

Lillehammer is great for hiking. However, Giverny is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Lillehammer for the hiking trails. You'll find many hikes that take you through the alpine setting and the pristine landscapes. You can enjoy breathtaking views and strolls through nearby national parks.

Giverny is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Giverny or Lillehammer?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Lillehammer. You'll find a number of shopping centers that have retail stores selling clothing, jewelry, sporting goods, and more.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Giverny or Lillehammer Better for Families?

Lillehammer 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, Lillehammer is very family-friendly. The town has many winter and adventure sports that are great for the whole family. You can visit the Olympic Park, or spend the day at Hunderfossen Familiepark, which is one of the original amusement parks in the country. You can also visit Jorekstad Waterpark, go hiking in the summer, or skiing in the winter.

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 Lillehammer Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Giverny and Lillehammer make for a very good 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.

Lillehammer is a very popular place to visit for couples. The skiing and other winter activities are great for winter sport enthusiasts. During the summer months there's hiking and other outdoor fun.

Is Giverny or Lillehammer Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Giverny and Lillehammer 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.

Lillehammer is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's some camping and other affordable accommodation for backpackers in the area.

Is Giverny or Lillehammer Better for Students?

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

It's common for students to visit Lillehammer. The city has a number of students and offers some great entertainment activities. The cost of living can be high though.

Giverny is not popular with students.

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

Giverny and Lillehammer 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.

Lillehammer has a few public transit options. There are trains and buses throughout the region.

Is Giverny or Lillehammer a more walkable city?

Giverny and Lillehammer 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).

Lillehammer is a somewhat walkable town. There are some pedestrian streets and pedestrian-friendly areas in town.

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

Should I spend more time in Lillehammer or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Lillehammer?

It's fun to spend time in either Giverny or Lillehammer. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Lillehammer due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Giverny, and 2-4 days is enough time in Lillehammer.

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

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

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

One day in Giverny or Lillehammer?

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 Lillehammer, you'll find shopping and museums. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 Lillehammer?

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the picturesque 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 Lillehammer, you'll find museums and skiing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Lillehammer has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Lillehammer?

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.

Lillehammer is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Lillehammer?

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 Lillehammer. Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Lillehammer. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Giverny and Lillehammer, we can see that Giverny is more expensive. And not only is Lillehammer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lillehammer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lillehammer 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 Lillehammer.

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

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Lillehammer?

Lillehammer has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Giverny and Lillehammer, 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.