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

Should you visit Utrecht or Giverny?

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

Should I visit Utrecht 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.

Utrecht

The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. 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. It's also known for food and museums.

Utrecht and Giverny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Utrecht or Giverny?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Utrecht. Although Utrecht and Giverny are popular destinations, Utrecht has more sights and attractions for tourists. Utrecht is very popular for its nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Giverny attracts visitors for its museums, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Giverny is more touristy than Utrecht and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Utrecht is famous for its beautiful canals, huge number of bikes, and charming old town. It is also well known for the Dom Tower.

How is Utrecht different from Giverny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Giverny is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Utrecht is not as famous, but is still a good 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.

Utrecht offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The Dom Tower and St. Martin's Cathedral is a highlight of the city, but you'll also find smaller, more local museums and several beautiful churches. If you're up for heading out of town, you can visit De Haar Castle, which is most accessible if you have a private vehicle.

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

Foodies will find both Utrecht and Giverny both to be nice destinations.

Utrecht offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a number of interesting international restaurants around town including Greek, Italian, and Spanish tapas. It's particularly fun to dine canal-side and sip wine as the boats pass by.

Giverny has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 Utrecht or Giverny Better for Nightlife?

Utrecht is great for nightlife and partying. However, Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Utrecht for the nightlife scene. The student population keeps the nightlife scene fun and lively. There are plenty of bars in the old town and you'll find tourists and locals hanging out at the same spots.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Utrecht or Giverny Better for its Old Town?

Utrecht is an amazing to visit for its old town. However, Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Utrecht offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The old town is large, charming, and filled with locals. There are canals that that see a frequent stream of boats and kayakers. There are also historic buildings and cobblestone streets. The city is unique because many cafes offer seating directly next to the canals.

Giverny does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Utrecht or Giverny?

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

Utrecht is well-known for its shopping. You'll find both local shops and European chains throughout the old town. There's also a large mall right next to the main tourist area.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Utrecht or Giverny Better for Families?

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

Utrecht offers lots of family activities. There are a few museums around town that are fun for kids. Make sure you check out the Miffy Museum, which is great for younger kids. The Museum Speelklok is fun for kids and adults alike. Families will also enjoy renting bikes for the day or taking a canal boat tour. Also make sure you try some local pancakes.

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 Utrecht or Giverny Better for Couples?

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

Utrecht is a very popular place to visit for couples. The charming old town and cozy cafes make for a wonderful date day. You can take a canal boat tour, sip coffee at a cafe by a canal, or explore the city as it lights up at night.

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 Utrecht or Giverny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Utrecht is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Utrecht. It's a university city with a young population and plenty to do in the evening. There are also a decent number of hostels to choose from and a lively atmosphere with fun activities and festivals.

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.

Is Utrecht or Giverny Better for Students?

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

Utrecht is a very popular for students and younger travelers. This is a great university city. The population is young, but housing can be challenging to find and very expensive.

Giverny is not popular with students.

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

Utrecht 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.

Utrecht has some very good public transit options. There are buses around town and two tram lines that travel to the suburbs.

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 Utrecht or Giverny a more walkable city?

Utrecht is an amazing to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Giverny is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Utrecht is a very easy to get around on foot. The old town is easy to explore on foot, but don't walk in a bike lane or you'll likely receive a firm scolding from a local. Utrecht is regularly ranked as one of the world's most bike-friendly cities.

Giverny is a 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 Utrecht Worth Visiting? and Is Giverny Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Giverny or Utrecht?

How long in Utrecht or Giverny?

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

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

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

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

One day in Utrecht or Giverny?

In Utrecht, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This 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 Utrecht or Giverny?

In Utrecht, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Utrecht 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 Utrecht or Giverny?

Utrecht is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Utrecht or Giverny?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Utrecht. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Utrecht. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Netherlands, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Netherlands, The Best Coach Bus Tours in France, and The Best Adventure Tours to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Utrecht or Giverny?

Utrecht has a larger population, and is about 520 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Utrecht 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 Utrecht 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 Utrecht or Giverny in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Utrecht is cooler than Giverny. Typically, the summer temperatures in Utrecht in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Giverny averages at about 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Giverny. In the summer, Utrecht often gets less sunshine than Giverny. Utrecht gets 194 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 241 hours of full sun.

Utrecht usually gets more rain in July than Giverny. Utrecht gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Utrecht or Giverny in the Autumn?

Both Giverny and Utrecht 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 Utrecht this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Giverny for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Utrecht is generally cooler than Giverny. Daily temperatures in Utrecht average around 11°C (51°F), and Giverny fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Utrecht usually receives less sunshine than Giverny during autumn. Utrecht gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Utrecht usually receives more rain than Giverny. Utrecht 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 Utrecht or Giverny in the Winter?

Both Giverny and Utrecht during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Utrecht for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, 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 Utrecht. Utrecht is much colder than Giverny in the winter. The daily temperature in Utrecht averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Giverny fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Utrecht often gets less sunshine than Giverny. Utrecht gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Giverny receives 62 hours of full sun.

Utrecht usually gets more rain in January than Giverny. Utrecht gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Utrecht or Giverny in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Utrecht is cooler than Giverny. Typically, the spring temperatures in Utrecht in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Giverny averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Utrecht usually receives less sunshine than Giverny during spring. Utrecht gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Giverny receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Utrecht usually receives around the same amount of rain as Giverny. Utrecht gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Giverny receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Giverny and Utrecht