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

Should you visit Giverny or Siena?

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

Should I visit Giverny or Siena? 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 peaceful, serene, and inspiring town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for food and museums.

Siena

Siena is a beautiful, romantic, and charming city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Giverny and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Siena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Siena. Although Giverny and Siena are popular destinations, Siena has more sights and attractions for tourists. Siena is very popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Giverny attracts visitors for its small town charm. Giverny is more touristy than Siena and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Siena is famous for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. It is also well known for Piazza del Campo.

How is Giverny different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Siena specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. At the heart of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazza del Campo. Other world famous sights include Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, Torre del Mangia, and Pinacoteca Nazionale.

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

Siena 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.

Siena has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The town is all about local flavors and many restaurants use local ingredients in their dishes. Pecorino of Pienza is the local cheese, and you'll also find many cured meats. Local pasta dishes include wild boar ragu and a local spaghetti. You'll also find local meats such as lamb, rabbit, chicken and pork.

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 Siena Better for Nightlife?

Siena 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 Siena has a few options to choose from. The nightlife is laid back and relaxed. Most visitors enjoy socializing in the evening and meeting friends at Piazza del Campo. There are often live performances which you can enjoy as well as many cafes and wine bars around town.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Giverny or Siena Better for its Old Town?

Siena is an amazing city to visit for its old town. However, Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Siena offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The beautiful old town is filled with medieval brick buildings. At the heart of the city is Piazza del Campo, which is a lively square with many neighborhoods spreading out from there.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Giverny or Siena?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Siena. The main shopping street in town is Via Banchi di Sopra, which has many boutiques that sell clothing, bags, and other items. The town also has many leather goods, ceramics, and other local items available.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Giverny or Siena Better for Families?

Neither Giverny nor Siena 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.

Siena is not the most family-friendly destination. The beauty and history may be lost to the little ones but there is a great atmosphere that even the young ones will appreciate. Kids will enjoy climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia or visiting one of the many playgrounds around town.

Is Giverny or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is an amazing city to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for couples.

Siena makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With its impressive beauty and long running history, this is a truly romantic city. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plazas and neighborhoods that are great for exploring. There are also many great restaurants, superb wine, and world class sights that are not to be missed.

Giverny is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Is Giverny or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Giverny and Siena 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.

Siena is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Many backpackers visit Siena as a daytrip from nearby Florence. While there are some affordable places to stay here, the atmosphere isn't as backpacker friendly as nearby Florence.

Is Giverny or Siena Better for Students?

Siena is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Giverny is not popular with students.

Siena is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's home to one of the oldest universities in Italy, and it's a wonderful study abroad destination for any student who wants to spend some time in Italy.

Giverny is not popular with students.

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

Giverny and Siena 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.

Siena has a few public transit options. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Is Giverny or Siena a more walkable city?

Siena 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.

Siena is a very walkable city. The compact town center is best 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 Siena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Siena or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Siena?

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

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

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

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

One day in Giverny or Siena?

In Giverny, many people enjoy the food and museums that this picturesque destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Siena, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city 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 Siena?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Giverny. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

In Siena, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Siena has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Siena?

Giverny is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Giverny. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Siena is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Siena?

You'll find museums and food around the peaceful destination of Giverny. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Siena. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Siena. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 comparing the travel costs between Giverny and Siena, we can see that Siena 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 Siena Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Siena?

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

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Giverny or Siena in the Summer?

Both Siena and Giverny during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Giverny this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Siena for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Giverny is generally cooler than Siena. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 20°C (68°F), and Siena fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Siena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Giverny. In the summer, Giverny often gets less sunshine than Siena. Giverny gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets more rain in July than Siena. Giverny gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Siena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Giverny and Siena. Many travelers come to Giverny for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Siena in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Giverny is cooler than Siena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Giverny averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Siena fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Siena during autumn. Giverny gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Giverny usually receives less rain than Siena. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Giverny or Siena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Giverny as well as Siena. Many visitors come to Giverny in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Giverny can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Giverny is much colder than Siena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Giverny in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Siena averages at about 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Giverny often gets less sunshine than Siena. Giverny gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun.

Giverny usually gets less rain in January than Siena. Giverny gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Giverny or Siena in the Spring?

Both Siena and Giverny are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Giverny for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Siena because of the natural beauty.

In April, Giverny is generally around the same temperature as Siena. Daily temperatures in Giverny average around 11°C (52°F), and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Giverny usually receives less sunshine than Siena during spring. Giverny gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Giverny usually receives less rain than Siena. Giverny gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Siena and Giverny