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

Should you visit Rouen or Giverny?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Giverny? 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.

Rouen

Rouen is a charming, compact, and impressive city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

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. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Rouen and Giverny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Giverny?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Giverny than Rouen, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Giverny is better known for its museums, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Rouen is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Giverny is more touristy than Rouen and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Also, Giverny is famous for The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Rouen is well known for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture.

How is Rouen different from Giverny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Giverny is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Rouen. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

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

Rouen 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.

Rouen has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

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 Rouen or Giverny Better for Nightlife?

Rouen 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 Rouen has a few options to choose from. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Rouen or Giverny Better for its Old Town?

Rouen 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 Rouen. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Rouen or Giverny?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Rouen. Some of the city's best shopping is found along the Rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city center. You'll find independent boutiques and well as upscale vendors.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Rouen or Giverny Better for Families?

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

Rouen offers lots of family activities. This beautiful city is filled with nice parks, free museums, and towers that offer views over the city. Kids will enjoy climbing the clocktower, eating pastries, or riding a bike around 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 Rouen or Giverny Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Rouen and Giverny make for a high quality place to visit.

Rouen is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful city makes a great retreat for couples who enjoy good food and nice architecture. There are many hidden gems around town that make this a favorite French city for many couples.

Giverny makes for a fun place to visit for 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.

Is Rouen or Giverny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Giverny is a popular place for backpackers. However, Rouen is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Rouen is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Backpackers may struggle to find a hostel with a social setting, but for those who make it here there are many beautiful things to see.

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

Rouen is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Rouen has some very good public transit options. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque). There are also buses and rail connections to town.

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 Rouen or Giverny a more walkable city?

Rouen 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.

Rouen is a very walkable city. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored on foot.

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 Rouen Worth Visiting? and Is Giverny Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Giverny or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Giverny?

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

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

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

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

One day in Rouen or Giverny?

In Rouen, 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.

In Giverny, many people enjoy the food and museums that this peaceful 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.

A weekend in Rouen or Giverny?

In Rouen, 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 Rouen has to offer.

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.

Five days in Rouen or Giverny?

Rouen 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 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.

A week in Rouen or Giverny?

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

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.

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 comparing the travel costs between Rouen and Giverny, we can see that Giverny 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 Rouen Expensive? and Is Giverny Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Giverny?

Rouen has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Rouen 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 Rouen or Giverny?

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 Rouen or Giverny in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Giverny. The summer months attract visitors to Rouen because of the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Giverny this time of year.

Rouen is cooler than Giverny in the summer. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Giverny fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Giverny. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rouen this time of the year. In the summer, Rouen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 241 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Giverny. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Giverny in the Autumn?

Both Giverny and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Giverny for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Rouen is cooler than Giverny. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rouen in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Giverny averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Rouen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny during autumn. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Rouen usually receives more rain than Giverny. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rouen or Giverny in the Winter?

Both Giverny and Rouen during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rouen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Giverny in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Giverny can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Rouen. In January, Rouen is generally cooler than Giverny. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 4°C (39°F), and Giverny fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Rouen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 62 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Giverny. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Giverny in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Giverny. Many visitors come to Rouen in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Giverny for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

Rouen is cooler than Giverny in the spring. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Giverny fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Rouen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Giverny during spring. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rouen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Giverny. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Giverny and Rouen