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

Should you visit Le Mans 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 Le Mans and Giverny can help you decide which place is right for you.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a historic, quaint, and small town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the nightlife and museums.

Giverny

Giverny is a picturesque, peaceful, and serene town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include food and museums.

Le Mans and Giverny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Le Mans or Giverny?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Giverny. Although Le Mans and Giverny are popular destinations, Giverny has more sights and attractions for tourists. Giverny is very popular for its museums, food, and impressive beauty, while Le Mans attracts visitors for its nightlife. Giverny is more touristy than Le Mans 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. Le Mans is famous for being the location of the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is one of the world's greatest sports-car races.

How is Le Mans different from Giverny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Le Mans or Giverny?

Giverny is great for its historical sights. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

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.

Le Mans offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's most famous as the location of the 24 hour car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and on some days it's possible to visit the race track which has a museum with simulators and other activities. Around town you'll find museums and activities affiliated with the racing culture, and there's also a cathedral as well as several nice museums relating to the automotive industry among other things.

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

Giverny is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Le Mans is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Giverny. There are cozy cafes and charming restaurants in the town. If you visit as part of a tour, a restaurant stop may be included.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Le Mans. It's not known for its food scene, but there is one dish in particular that you should try. The local specialty is les rillettes de porc, which is a pork paté.

Is Le Mans or Giverny Better for Nightlife?

Le Mans 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 Le Mans has a few options to choose from. You'll find bars and clubs in the city center around Saint-Nicolas Quarter, rue des Ponts-neufs, Place de la Sirène and around the Republic Square.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Le Mans or Giverny Better for Families?

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

Le Mans offers lots of family activities. Make sure you visit on a day when Le Mans Karting International and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum is open to visitors. Families can ride on high speed go-carts and train like professionals with special game simulators. This is a popular destination for adults and kids alike. The town also has indoor play areas, waterparks, and beautiful parks to explore.

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 Le Mans or Giverny Better for Couples?

Giverny is great for romance. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its romantic activities.

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.

Le Mans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a small town, but racing enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum.

Is Le Mans or Giverny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Le Mans and Giverny are nice places to visit.

Le Mans is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While there aren't many hostels specifically designed for backpackers, it is possible to find affordable accommodation at most times.

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.

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

Le Mans and Giverny both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Le Mans offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a tram service around town that provides access to many places including the race track via the T1 line (Antarès-Stade Marie Marvingt and exit at the East Entrance).

Giverny has a few 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.

Is Le Mans or Giverny a more walkable city?

Le Mans and Giverny are nice when it comes to walkability.

Le Mans is somewhat walkable. Parts of the town are walkable.

Giverny is a somewhat walkable place. 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 Le Mans Worth Visiting? and Is Giverny Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Giverny or Le Mans?

How long in Le Mans or Giverny?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Giverny than Le Mans 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 Le Mans or Giverny?

In Le Mans, you'll find nightlife 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.

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.

A weekend in Le Mans or Giverny?

In Le Mans, you'll find museums and nightlife. 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 Le Mans has to offer.

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.

Five days in Le Mans or Giverny?

Le Mans 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 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 Le Mans or Giverny?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Le Mans. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Le Mans. 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 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Le Mans or Giverny?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Le Mans 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 Le Mans 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 Le Mans or Giverny in the Summer?

Both Giverny and Le Mans are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Le Mans for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Giverny because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Le Mans is around the same temperature as Giverny. Typically, the summer temperatures in Le Mans in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Giverny averages at about 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Giverny. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Le Mans. Le Mans usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny during summer. Le Mans gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Le Mans usually receives less rain than Giverny. Le Mans gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Le Mans or Giverny in the Autumn?

Both Giverny and Le Mans during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town atmosphere. Also, the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Giverny this time of year.

In October, Le Mans is generally around the same temperature as Giverny. Daily temperatures in Le Mans average around 13°C (55°F), and Giverny fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Le Mans often gets less sunshine than Giverny. Le Mans gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 127 hours of full sun.

Le Mans usually gets more rain in October than Giverny. Le Mans gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Le Mans or Giverny in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Le Mans and Giverny. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Le Mans this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Giverny for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Giverny. It's quite cold in Le Mans in the winter. Le Mans is around the same temperature as Giverny in the winter. The daily temperature in Le Mans averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Giverny fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Le Mans usually receives less sunshine than Giverny during winter. Le Mans gets 54 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Le Mans usually receives more rain than Giverny. Le Mans gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Le Mans or Giverny in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Le Mans as well as Giverny. Many travelers come to Le Mans for the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Giverny in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Le Mans is around the same temperature as Giverny. Typically, the spring temperatures in Le Mans in April average around 10°C (50°F), and Giverny averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Le Mans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny. Le Mans gets 168 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 172 hours of full sun.

Le Mans usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Giverny. Le Mans gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Giverny and Le Mans