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

Should you visit Heraklion or Giverny?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Giverny can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Heraklion

Heraklion is a bustling, historic, and vibrant city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

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.

Heraklion and Giverny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heraklion or Giverny?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Heraklion than Giverny, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Heraklion is better known for its food, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Giverny is more popular for its small town charm and impressive beauty. Giverny is more touristy than Heraklion and is known for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Heraklion is well known for its archeological sights, local Cretan restaurants, and its vibrant nightlife scene. Also, Heraklion is famous for The Palace of Knossos.

How is Heraklion different from Giverny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Heraklion. The city is filled with historical sights and archeological ruins. The impressive Palace of Knossos is a must-see, but also make sure you visit the Koules Fortress, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Giverny. 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 Heraklion or Giverny? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Heraklion 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.

Heraklion has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city is home to countless Cretan restaurants that range in style and budget. There are fine dining restaurants as well as local dives with casual street food. The restaurants reflect the island's multi-cultural past with many styles and flavors available.

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 Heraklion or Giverny Better for Nightlife?

Heraklion is great for nightlife and partying. However, Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Heraklion for the nightlife scene. The city has some of the best nightlife on the island of Crete. There are many all-night clubs as well as bars that stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning. In particular, there are many British tourists hanging out at the clubs and bars.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Heraklion or Giverny Better for Beaches?

Heraklion is great for the beache. However, Giverny is not a beach destination.

Heraklion is considered a top beach destination. You'll find world-class beaches just outside of town, if you're willing to explore a little. Agia Pelagia Beach is about half an hour away and Limanakia Beach is also not a bad day trip. If you want to stay closer to town, head to nearby Amnissos Beach.

Giverny is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Heraklion or Giverny?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Heraklion. There are a number of unique shops around town that sell everything from traditional pottery to homemade jewelry.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Heraklion or Giverny Better for Families?

Heraklion is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Giverny is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Heraklion offers lots of family activities. In town you'll find many historical and educational sights such as the Palace of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Koules Venetian fortress. Kids will also enjoy walking the Venetian Walls that are in town. If you're willing to head a bit outside of town, in about half an hour you can reach the Cretaquarium, Dinosauria Park, or Acqua Plus Water Park.

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 Heraklion or Giverny Better for Couples?

Both Heraklion and Giverny are excellent destinations for a couple's getaway.

Heraklion makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Most couples head outside of town to other parts of the island, but those who linger in town for a while will enjoy world-class museums and fascinating archeological sights.

Couples visit Giverny frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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 Heraklion or Giverny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heraklion is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Heraklion. The city is filled with budget-friendly hostels that often have a social atmosphere and a fun vibe.

Giverny is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Many people, backpackers included, visit the town as a day trip from Paris. It's possible to visit by train and shuttle bus.

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

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Heraklion and Giverny.

Heraklion has some public transit options. KTEL buses travel both within town and to nearby villages.

You'll find some public transit in Giverny, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. 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 Heraklion or Giverny a more walkable city?

Heraklion 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.

Heraklion is a very walkable city. Many parts of the town are walkable and doing a walking tour is a great way to see many of the city's sights.

Giverny is a somewhat walkable city. 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 Heraklion Worth Visiting? and Is Giverny Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Giverny or Heraklion?

How long in Heraklion or Giverny?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Heraklion or Giverny to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Heraklion than Giverny because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Heraklion, and 1-2 days is enough time in Giverny.

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

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

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

One day in Heraklion or Giverny?

In Heraklion, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

You'll find food and museums around the town of Giverny. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Giverny has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Heraklion or Giverny?

In Heraklion, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Heraklion has to offer.

You'll find museums and food around the picturesque destination of Giverny. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Heraklion or Giverny?

Heraklion is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the serene town of Giverny. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Heraklion or Giverny?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Heraklion. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Heraklion. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Giverny is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Coach Bus Tours in France, and The Best Adventure Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heraklion and Giverny, we can see that Heraklion 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 Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion 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 Heraklion Expensive? and Is Giverny Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Giverny?

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

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 Heraklion or Giverny in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Giverny. Many travelers come to Heraklion for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Giverny in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Heraklion is a little warmer than Giverny in the summer. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Giverny fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Giverny this time of the year. In Heraklion, it's very sunny this time of the year. Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Giverny during summer. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Giverny. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Heraklion or Giverny in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Giverny. Many visitors come to Heraklion in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Giverny for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Heraklion is much warmer than Giverny. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Heraklion in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Giverny averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Giverny. Heraklion gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 127 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets more rain in October than Giverny. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heraklion or Giverny in the Winter?

Both Giverny and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Heraklion for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Giverny because of the museums and the cuisine.

The weather in Giverny can be very cold. In January, Heraklion is generally much warmer than Giverny. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 12°C (54°F), and Giverny fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Giverny during winter. Heraklion gets 121 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Heraklion usually receives more rain than Giverny. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Heraklion or Giverny in the Spring?

Both Giverny and Heraklion during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Giverny this time of year.

Heraklion is a little warmer than Giverny in the spring. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Giverny fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Heraklion. In the spring, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Giverny. Heraklion gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 172 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets less rain in April than Giverny. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Giverny and Heraklion