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

Should you visit Lausanne or Giverny?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lausanne or Giverny, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Lausanne

Lausanne is a vibrant, cultural, and international city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Giverny

Giverny is a inspiring, picturesque, and peaceful town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Lausanne and Giverny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lausanne or Giverny?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Giverny. Although Lausanne and Giverny are both popular with visitors, Giverny has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Giverny is more popular for its small town charm and impressive beauty, while Lausanne is known for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Giverny is more touristy than Lausanne and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. It is also home to The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Lausanne is popular for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters.

How is Lausanne different from Giverny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Lausanne or Giverny.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Lausanne can be an interesting and educational experience. You'll find many great museums around town that cover a range of topics. The Olympic Museum is very interesting. You should also check out the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and the Hermitage Foundation.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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 Lausanne or Giverny? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lausanne 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.

Lausanne has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city is filled with delicious chocolate, cheese, and wine. Fondue is a favorite, but you'll also find cured meats on most menus. While food can be expensive, it's also high quality and usually locally produced.

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 Lausanne or Giverny Better for Nightlife?

Lausanne 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 Lausanne has a few options to choose from. There are a surprising number of clubs around town and it's not hard to find somewhere to party. The large student population and the international vibe make this a fascinating place for nightlife.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Lausanne or Giverny Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne is a popular place for its old town. However, Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Lausanne. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Lausanne or Giverny?

Lausanne is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Lausanne is well-known for its shopping. You'll find luxury Swiss watch brands, jewelry, chocolate, and many other interesting things to buy. Prices can be high, but so is the quality. It's fun to look, even if you're not planning to purchase.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Lausanne or Giverny Better for Families?

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

Lausanne offers lots of family activities. There are kid-friendly museums, petting zoos, and other fun activities in town. You can also take a boat ride or let the kids run around one of the parks in town.

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 Lausanne or Giverny Better for Couples?

Giverny is well known for couples. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

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.

Lausanne is a nice destination for couples. The medieval old city is fun to explore. The lakefront setting also offers fun activities like boating. There are also a number of museums in town to explore.

Is Lausanne or Giverny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Giverny is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Lausanne is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

Lausanne is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular town for backpackers but there are some affordable hotels. It's also more reasonably priced than many Swiss cities.

Is Lausanne or Giverny Better for Students?

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

Lausanne is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are 11 institutes for higher learning in town, so students make up a significant percentage of the population. The city is also full of culture, making it a very livable city.

Giverny is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Lausanne and Giverny.

You'll find some public transit in Lausanne, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

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.

Is Lausanne or Giverny a more walkable city?

Lausanne and Giverny both are good when exploring on foot.

Lausanne is a somewhat walkable city. Many parts of the city, including the historic sections, and relatively easy to explore on foot.

Giverny is somewhat walkable. 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 Lausanne Worth Visiting? and Is Giverny Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Giverny or Lausanne?

How long in Lausanne or Giverny?

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

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

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

One day in Lausanne or Giverny?

In Lausanne, you'll find nightlife and 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 Lausanne or Giverny?

In Lausanne, you'll find food and shopping. 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 Lausanne 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 Lausanne or Giverny?

Lausanne 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 Lausanne or Giverny?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lausanne. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Lausanne. 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 Luxury Tours to Switzerland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland, The Best Coach Bus Tours in France, and The Best Adventure Tours to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Giverny?

Lausanne has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Lausanne 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.