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

Should you visit Giverny or Ravenna?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Ravenna? 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. Visitors also love the food and museums.

Ravenna

Ravenna is a authentic, historic, and off-the-beaten-path town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Giverny and Ravenna: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Ravenna?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Giverny than Ravenna, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Giverny is better known for its impressive beauty, while Ravenna is more popular for its food, nightlife, shopping, and small town charm. Giverny is more touristy than Ravenna and is known for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Also, Giverny is famous for The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Ravenna is well known for its many stunning mosaics which date back to the early Christian and Byzantine empires.

How is Giverny different from Ravenna?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Ravenna specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Most sights in town are centered around the the beautiful mosaics. Neonian Baptistery is a good place to begin your visit. Other highlights include San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.

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

Ravenna 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.

Ravenna has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The region is most known for its first course dishes, so pasta lovers will enjoy dining on homemade egg pasta dishes that are served with meat or cheese sauces. You'll also find lots of grilled meats and many great desserts.

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 Ravenna Better for Nightlife?

Ravenna 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 Ravenna has a few options to choose from. You'll find most of the pubs and clubs in town around Marina di Ravenna. There are a couple of places that attract a crowd, but many are open only during the summer months.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is the Shopping Better in Giverny or Ravenna?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Ravenna. There are some nice shopping streets in town where you can buy locally made mosaics. You'll also find art studios and artisan shops, as well as your typical souvenir shops and clothing stores. Via Cavour, via Diaz, and via Cairoli are some of the most popular shopping streets.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Giverny or Ravenna Better for Families?

Ravenna 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, Ravenna is very family-friendly. In town you'll find mosaics, museums, and a charming town, and ten kilometers outside of town you'll find Italy's largest amusement park - Mirabilandia. The city is also filled with parks where kids can explore and learn, and the food, like any Italian city, is very kid-friendly.

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 Ravenna Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Giverny and Ravenna make for a superb 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.

Ravenna is a very popular place to visit for couples. Many visitors to Italy don't add this charming town to their itinerary, but for couples who want to experience a small town setting with beautiful art and architecture, then Ravenna is a great option. There are parks to explore and great restaurants to experience as well.

Is Giverny or Ravenna Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Giverny and Ravenna 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.

Ravenna is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's a bit off-the-beaten path, so you won't find a large number of hostels or a lot of backpackers to hang out with. That doesn't mean it won't make a great addition to your itinerary though.

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

Giverny and Ravenna both offer notable 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.

Ravenna has a few public transit options. Buses in and around town are managed by START ROMAGNA and offer access to many nearby towns.

Is Giverny or Ravenna a more walkable city?

Ravenna 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.

Ravenna is a very walkable town. There are care-free areas to the town that can only be explored 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 Ravenna Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Ravenna or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Ravenna?

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

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

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

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

One day in Giverny or Ravenna?

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.

Ravenna is a small town with plenty to do. 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 Ravenna?

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.

Ravenna might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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 Ravenna has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Ravenna?

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.

Ravenna 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 Ravenna?

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 Ravenna. Since Ravenna is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Ravenna?

Ravenna has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Giverny and Ravenna, 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 Ravenna?

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 Ravenna in the Summer?

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

Giverny is cooler than Ravenna in the summer. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Ravenna fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

In July, Giverny usually receives less rain than Ravenna. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ravenna receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Giverny or Ravenna in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Giverny is around the same temperature as Ravenna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Giverny in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Ravenna averages at about 14°C (58°F).

Giverny usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Ravenna. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ravenna receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Ravenna in the Winter?

Both Ravenna 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 Ravenna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Ravenna. It's quite cold in Giverny in the winter. In January, Giverny is generally much warmer than Ravenna. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 5°C (40°F), and Ravenna fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In January, Giverny usually receives more rain than Ravenna. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ravenna receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Giverny or Ravenna in the Spring?

Both Ravenna 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 Ravenna in the spring for the small town charm.

Giverny is around the same temperature as Ravenna in the spring. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Ravenna fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

Giverny usually gets less rain in April than Ravenna. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ravenna receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Ravenna and Giverny