A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sofia vs. Giverny for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sofia or Giverny?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Sofia and Giverny. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Sofia or Giverny?

Sofia

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and also its largest city. Some people have tried to compare it to Budapest, but the cities are actually quite different. In Sofia you will find wonderful European style architecture intertwined with Communist style buildings. It's fascinating to see the two dramatically different building styles immediately next to each other. There are also many Orthodox Churches around town, with their beautiful domes and intricate details.

Giverny

Giverny (pronounced jee-vair-knee) is a commune in Northern France. It sits on the right bank of the River Seine where it meets the River Epte. This area has been a settlement since Neolithic times and the town has various monuments from many periods of its long existence. Beginning around 1887, a number of American Impressionist artists settled to work in Giverny, drawn by the landscapes, the overall atmosphere, and the presence of Monet. It has now become a place of pilgrimage for many art lovers. It was here that Claude Monet lived for 43 years, until his death at the age of 86 in 1926. Although his house is now prized by connoisseurs of 19th-century interior decoration, it's his garden, with its Japanese-inspired water-lily pond and bridge, that remains the high point for many, as it is a 5-acre, three-dimensional Impressionist painting where you can stroll around at leisure. Most make this a day trip, but Giverny has some lovely lodgings, so you could also overnight here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best Coach Bus Tours in France, and The Best Adventure Tours to France.


Which place is cheaper, Giverny or Sofia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Giverny is $134. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Sofia and Giverny in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sofia $40
    Giverny $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sofia $80
    Giverny $128
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Giverny

Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Giverny? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Sofia


Hotels in Giverny


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Sofia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sofia $8.38
    Giverny $52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $687
  • From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $448
  • Private Transfer from Sofia to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $292
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sozopol: $292
  • Private Transfer from Sofia to Varna (VAR) Airport: $273
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Kavala: $237
  • Private Transfer Bucharest to/from Sofia: $224
  • Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $195
  • Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $194
  • Transfer from Sofia to Pamporovo: $191
  • VIP Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $186
  • Bansko Transfer from/to Sofia Airport: $175

Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Giverny?

Prices for flights to both Giverny and Sofia change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sofia $18
    Giverny $37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia

For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Market Food Tour: $47
  • Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $48
  • Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $97
  • Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $106
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $108
  • Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $118
  • Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $118
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $131

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sofia $5.92
    Giverny $28

Tours and Activities in Sofia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.

  • Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa cave/Small group bigger experience: $98
  • Mount Verila Cultural Tour in Bulgaria: $93
  • Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $109
  • 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $86
  • 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $82
  • 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia: $93
  • 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $98
  • Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
  • Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $108
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
  • Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $75
  • Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59

Tours and Activities in Giverny

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Giverny.

  • Bike tour from Vernon to Giverny with local guide: $37
  • Giverny Monet House and Gardens Skip the line Walking tour: $60
  • Giverny Private Guided Walking Tour: $294
  • Monet's House & Gardens Private Guided Walking Tour: $278
  • Monet's House & Gardens Private Guided Walking Tour: $256
  • Monet's House and Gardens Guided Tour: $62
  • Monet’s House and Gardens Skip-the-Line Tour: $59
  • Guided Tour of Monet's Gardens/small group: $63
  • Guided tour Monet's house and gardens/small group: $64
  • Trip from Paris to Monet's house in Giverny Skip the Line: $96

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sofia $8.39
    Giverny $7.12

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia Pub Crawl - Party Tour of Sofia's Best Bars & Clubs: $16
  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
  • Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $20
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $75
  • From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $98
  • Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $107
  • Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $109
  • Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
  • Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $139


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

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


Which is Bigger, Sofia or Giverny?

Sofia has a larger population, and is about 2040 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Sofia 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.