A Travel Price Comparison for France Honfleur vs. Giverny for Food, Attractions, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Honfleur or Giverny?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Honfleur and Giverny can help you decide which place is right for you.

Honfleur

Honfleur is a picturesque, scenic, and historic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, museums, and nightlife.

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. Other reasons to visit include food and museums.

Honfleur and Giverny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Honfleur or Giverny?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Giverny. Although Honfleur and Giverny are popular destinations, Giverny has more sights and attractions for tourists. Giverny is very popular for its museums & sights, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Honfleur attracts visitors for its food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping. Giverny is more touristy than Honfleur and is known for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. It is also well known for The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Honfleur is famous for its influence over Impressionist art, its stunning harbor, and its beautiful buildings.

How is Honfleur different from Giverny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Giverny is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Honfleur is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Honfleur offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Some of the most notable sights around the town include Saint Catherine's Church, Le Vieux Bassin, Notre-Dame de Grace, and the Normandy Bridge.

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

Honfleur is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, Honfleur is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Located on the coast of Normandy along the English Channel, seafood is a defining element for most dishes here. Foodies flock to this town for its Michelin starred restaurants as well as its local cafes and quaint eateries. For land-lovers, there's a popular local cider-braised pork that you must-try. And for dessert make sure you try the Tarte Tatin.

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 Honfleur or Giverny Better for Nightlife?

Honfleur 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 Honfleur has a few options to choose from. Restaurants come to life at night when music flows out onto the streets. The town is not known for its partying, but that doesn't mean that it's a sleepy place that shuts down when the sun sets.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Honfleur or Giverny Better for Beaches?

Honfleur is adequate for the beache. However, Giverny is not a beach destination.

You can check out the beach in Honfleur. The town sits by the estuary of the Seine and there are two beaches not far from town. Butin Beach is the closest to town and the most popular, but Vasouy Beach is more relaxed and natural.

Giverny is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Honfleur or Giverny?

Honfleur is adequate for its shopping opportunities. However, Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

If you're looking to go shopping, Honfleur has some nice offerings. It's a charming town with boutique shops, chocolate shops, and the standard tourist places that sell souvenirs and t-shirts.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Honfleur or Giverny Better for Families?

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

Honfleur offers lots of family activities. Located on the coast of Normandy, the town has boat rides, quirky museums, and Vieux Bassin, which is a beautiful and lively harbor. For kids who need to stretch their legs, there are many parks and outdoor spaces to enjoy.

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 Honfleur or Giverny Better for Couples?

Both Honfleur and Giverny are great destinations to visit as a couple.

Honfleur makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It has, arguably, one of the area's most beautiful harbors. There are also many great seafood restaurants, relaxing gardens, and spas that are perfect for couples.

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 Honfleur or Giverny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Giverny is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Honfleur is lacking in options for backpackers.

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.

Honfleur is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. You'll likely have more luck looking for an apartment than a hostel, so if you're looking for a place to stay with a social setting, you may be out of luck.

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

Giverny is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Honfleur is lacking in options for its public transit.

Giverny has some public transit options. 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Honfleur. HO Buses travel from the outskirts or town into the center and are used mainly by locals. If you plan to head into Normandy to see the countryside, you'll want to have a car.

Is Honfleur or Giverny a more walkable city?

Honfleur 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.

Honfleur is a very walkable city. The city center is compact and easy to explore on foot. There are also many coastal walks leading out of town.

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 Honfleur Worth Visiting? and Is Giverny Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Giverny or Honfleur?

How long in Honfleur or Giverny?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Honfleur or Giverny to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Honfleur 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 Honfleur, and 1-2 days is enough time in Giverny.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Giverny than Honfleur 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 Giverny.

One day in Honfleur or Giverny?

In Honfleur, you'll find museums and nightlife. One reason most visitors come is for the food. 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.

The beautiful town of Giverny offers museums and food. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Honfleur or Giverny?

In Honfleur, you'll find nightlife and food. 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 food. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Honfleur has to offer.

Giverny is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Giverny, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Honfleur or Giverny?

Honfleur 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.

Giverny is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Honfleur or Giverny?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Honfleur. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Honfleur. One reason most visitors come is for the food. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Giverny is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in France, and The Best Luxury Tours to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Honfleur or Giverny?

Honfleur has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Honfleur 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.