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

Should you visit Giverny or Pompeii?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Pompeii? 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. It's also popular because of the food and museums.

Pompeii

Pompeii is a one-of-a-kind, ancient, and famous archeological site. Visitors also love the museums.

Giverny and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Pompeii?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Pompeii. Although Giverny and Pompeii are both popular with visitors, Pompeii has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Pompeii is more popular for its museums, nightlife, and shopping, while Giverny is known for its food, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Giverny is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Pompeii is popular for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It is also home to the Pompeii Archaeological Ruins.

The Pompeii Archaeological Ruins

How is Giverny different from Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Pompeii is an amazing archeological site to visit for its historical sights. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

The museums and tourist attractions in Pompeii are world-renowned. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

Many visitors head to Giverny specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

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

Giverny is very good for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Giverny is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are cozy cafes and charming restaurants in the town. If you visit as part of a tour, a restaurant stop may be included.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Giverny or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Pompeii is mediocre for nightlife and partying. However, Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Pompeii As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is the Shopping Better in Giverny or Pompeii?

Pompeii is mediocre for its shopping opportunities. However, Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping in Pompeii can be found for those interested. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Giverny or Pompeii Better for Families?

Pompeii 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, Pompeii is very family-friendly. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

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 Pompeii Better for Couples?

Giverny is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

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.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

Is Giverny or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Giverny and Pompeii 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.

Pompeii is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

Is Giverny or Pompeii Better for Students?

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

It's common for students to visit Pompeii. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

Giverny is not popular with students.

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

Giverny and Pompeii both offer good 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.

Pompeii has a few public transit options. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Giverny or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii is an amazing archeological site 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.

Pompeii is a very easy archeological site to get around on foot. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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 Pompeii Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Pompeii?

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

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

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

One day in Giverny or Pompeii?

In Giverny, 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.

In Pompeii, you'll find museums. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. This archeological site 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 Pompeii?

In Giverny, 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 Giverny has to offer.

In Pompeii, you'll find museums. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Pompeii has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Pompeii?

Giverny 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.

Pompeii 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 Pompeii?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Giverny. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Giverny. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pompeii. Many people enjoy the museums when visiting Pompeii. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Giverny or Pompeii?

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 Pompeii in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Giverny and Pompeii. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Giverny this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Pompeii for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Giverny is cooler than Pompeii. Typically, the summer temperatures in Giverny in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Pompeii averages at about 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pompeii this time of the year. In Giverny, it's very sunny this time of the year. Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during summer. Giverny gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Giverny usually receives more rain than Pompeii. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Giverny or Pompeii in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Giverny as well as Pompeii. Many travelers come to Giverny for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Giverny is generally cooler than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 13°C (56°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Giverny often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Giverny gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pompeii. Giverny usually gets less rain in October than Pompeii. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Pompeii in the Winter?

Both Pompeii and Giverny are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Giverny in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Pompeii for the museums during these months.

Giverny can get quite cold in the winter. Giverny is much colder than Pompeii in the winter. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during winter. Giverny gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. In January, Giverny usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Giverny or Pompeii in the Spring?

Both Pompeii and Giverny during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Giverny for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Giverny is cooler than Pompeii. Typically, the spring temperatures in Giverny in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Pompeii averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Giverny often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Giverny gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets less rain in April than Pompeii. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Giverny