tour a giverny

Giverny Tour

Monet's gardens day trip from paris, bus or minibus guided tour, day tours to giverny from paris:,   giverny tours will be operating only from march 29th, 2024 through november 1st, 2024..

Bus and minibus day trips from Paris to Giverny are  operating from March 29th,2024 through November 1st 2024:

• everyday for half-day tours to Giverny only
• everyday except Monday, and May 1st for full day tours to Giverny and Versailles with lunch.

Monet's house at Giverny - Photo A. Cauderlier

Special Price for children

You may also visit The Palace of Versailles only.

It is open all year round everyday except monday..

An extensive list of Versailles Day Tour from Paris is provided here

By Public Transportation, by Bus or Minibus, on a full day trip or a half-day tour.

Half day tours visit the Palace in itself: the Royal Apartments (King and Queen's Apartments) , the Hall of Mirrors and the Royal Chapel.

Full day tours of Versailles also explore the park,the Grand and Petit Trianon and the Hamlet of the Queen Marie Antoinette.

Chateau de Versailles Palace - Photo A. Cauderlier

Monet and Van Gogh

Auvers sur Oise, the town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died in 1890 is not a long detour on the way between Paris and Giverny.

Vincent Van Gogh place in Auvers sur Oise : Auberge Ravoux Photo A. Cauderlier

Travelling on your own

It is also possible to go to Giverny from Paris on your own by train or by car.

It requires more time but it may be a little cheaper.

In this case it is recommended to schedule a whole day and to contact a guide by advance as there is no offer for a guided visit on the site.

Giverny Sightseeing Tour - Photo A. Cauderlier

THE 10 BEST Giverny Tours & Excursions

Giverny tours.

• Cultural Tours
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• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Scenic Railroads
• Photography Tours
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• Ports of Call Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Giverny Monet’s House and Gardens Half Day Tour from Paris

2. Giverny Small-Group Half Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens from Paris

3. Giverny Monet's House and Gardens Small-Group Tour Hotel Pick-up

4. Versailles Timed Entrance Ticket and Giverny Small Group Day Trip from Paris

5. Giverny Half-day Small-group 2 - 7 people by Mercedes from Paris

6. Versailles Palace and Giverny Monet House Guided Visit with Lunch from Paris

7. Giverny Monet House and Gardens Skip the line Walking tour

8. Giverny and Monet's House Guided Half Day Trip from Paris

9. Giverny Monet's Garden & Auvers-sur-Oise with Van Gogh House Full Day From Paris

10. Giverny's Monet House & Versailles Palace Day Trip from Paris

11. Giverny And Versailles Priority Access Guided Day Tour from Paris

12. Giverny and Monet's Garden Tour

13. Giverny Monet's House & Versailles Palace Private Day Trip from Paris

14. Giverny - Claude Monet's House & Gardens - Private Trip

15. Exclusive Musée d'Orsay Tour & Giverny Day Trip from Paris

16. Giverny & Auvers sur Oise Private Day Trip with Monet & Van Gogh Tour from Paris

17. Monet's Gardens & House with Art Historian: Private Giverny Tour from Paris

18. Versailles and Giverny Tour Hotel Pickup

19. Giverny's House & Gardens plus Versailles Palace Day Trip with Lunch from Paris

20. Giverny & Monet's House Audio Guided Half-day Tour from Paris

21. Giverny Half-Day Guided Tour from Paris

22. Giverny Versailles Private Guided Tour

23. Private day trip from Paris to Giverny with a local driver

24. Guided tour Monet's house and gardens/small group

25. Giverny and Monet's Garden Half-Day Trip from Paris

26. From Paris Private Half Day in Giverny Monet's House and Gardens

27. Versailles Palace and Giverny Private Guided Tour from Paris

28. Private Tour: Rouen and Giverny Day Trip from Bayeux

29. Giverny Auvers Van Gogh Private Guided Day Tour from Paris

30. Private day tour to Giverny Gardens and Rouen from Paris

What travelers are saying.

• Sarah G 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Exceeded our expectations We had a magical visit to Monet’s House and Gardens. Our tour guide Stephan was very knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information. It was well worth the short trip from Paris. You won’t regret doing this tour. Read more Review of: Giverny Small-Group Half Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens from Paris Written April 27, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Giverny Small-Group Half Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens from Paris
• Giverny Monet’s House and Gardens Half Day Tour from Paris
• Giverny and Monet's House Guided Half Day Trip from Paris
• Giverny Monet's House and Gardens Small-Group Tour from Paris
• Versailles Palace and Giverny Monet House Guided Visit with Lunch from Paris
• Montgolfiere du Vexin
• guide-giverny
• Giverny Tour 2cv

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Day trip in Monet’s Garden and House in Giverny

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Half day trip Giverny Monet's Gardens Excursion at your leisure from Paris

Visit Claude Monet's house and the magnificent flower gardens that inspired his impressionist art at your own pace.

Half Day Trip Giverny Monet's Gardens Audio Guided Tour from Paris with transportation

Visit Giverny, Claude Monet's garden and home with an audio commentary tracing the life and works of this master of Impressionism.

Half Day Trip Guided Tour of Giverny Monet's Gardens from Paris with transportation

Visit the gardens of Giverny. Take your time as you amble along the exquisite flower beds and inside the house of Claude Monet.

Impressionist day trip at Giverny from Paris with transportation

Immerse yourself in the impressionist world of Claude Monet.

Discovery day at Giverny : Monet foundation and shopping at McArthurGlen center, with transportation from Paris

Combine in one day a visit to the Claude Monet Foundation with shopping at Villages des marques McArthurGlen Paris-Giverny

Audio Guided Tour of Giverny Monet's Gardens and the Palace of Versailles Day Trip (lunch and transportation included)

A guided day tour with two must-see destinations close to Paris. Discover the Gardens of Giverny, with free time to visit the studio and House of Claude Monet. Then head to the Palace of Versailles, with free time to stroll through the gardens. Stop for lunch at Moulin de Fourges or Bistrot du Moulin.

All day trip guided tour Giverny Monet's Gardens and Palace of Versailles from Paris with skip-the-line access (lunch and transportation included)

A guided day tour with two must-see destinations close to Paris. Discover the Gardens of Giverny, with free time to visit the studio and House of Claude Monet. Then head to the Palace of Versailles, with free time to stroll through the gardens. Stop for lunch at Moulin de Fourges.

Guided Tour of Giverny and Versailles in small group (1-15) with Skip-the-Line Access Day Trip from Paris (Lunch and transportation included)

In a small group or private tour, go and discover Versailles and Giverny. The Monet Foundation with its magnificent gardens, his house, and the picturesque Norman village of Giverny. And the majestic Palace of Versailles.

Giverny tours from Paris : Guided tours of Claude Monet garden and house

Portrait and landscape painter Claude Monet founded the painting style known as Impressionism -- a French pictorial movement that would mark a turning point in the history of painting during the 19th century -- along with Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Alfred Sisley. With Monet, everything changed; the use of colors, light, and subjects.

Guided visit of Giverny Monet

The French region of Normandy in the Eure territory would become one of his main sources of inspiration, most notably the town of Giverny , near Vernon, situated in the Parisian region near Barbizon and Auvers-Sur-Oise. Monet lived in Giverny for 43 long years (1883-1926) in a charming home that is now a museum and a registered historical monument. In fact, Monet’s house and gardens welcome 500,000 visitors a year (we highly recommend choosing skip-the-line tickets for a free or guided tour ). Each visitor has the chance to personally discover the Impressionist master and his family in their romantic home superbly preserved and surrounded by trees and flowers, all of which appear to bathe in an impressionistic light. This house was truly one of the most faithful muses of the painter, to such an extent that one could speak of a real couple: Giverny Monet, or the story of a place and an artist who became truly inseparable.

At the Giverny residence, one can tour his workshop-living room and bedrooms as well as admire his furniture, famous collection of Japanese prints (another source of inspiration for Monet), and a plethora of colors. Outside, the water garden lures you into an aesthetic universe overflowing with different flowers  chosen by Monet -- wisteria, azalea, rose and peony to name just a few. There’s also a pond , a Japanese bridge , weeping willows and of course, the water lilies immortalized in his paintings and in the series, Water Lilies or Les Nymphéas, which became one of Claude Monet's most famous paintings (even though he was nearly blind!) and which is now housed at the Orangery Museum in Paris. Monet's works of art are at the source of Impressionism.

Monet was buried at the Giverny Cemetery in 1926. In homage to Monet, a yellow and red rose that bears his name was made. The home and gardens of Monet in Giverny are like a veritable, living painting in which one can wander at leisure, a natural masterpiece saved from destruction thanks to American patrons and donors.

Visit Giverny with Monet

Paris City Vision offers an excursion to the Claude Monet Foundation (84, rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny) that houses the home, workshop, and gardens of Monet. You can also discover the Giverny Museum of Impressionism . Order your skip-the-line tickets on our website and save time during your guided or self-guided tour of the Giverny Museum and its gardens.

The Foundation is open every day from April 1 to November 1, 9:30 am to 6 p.m. Book your Giverny skip-the-line tickets online with Paris City Vision and save time!

But if the village Giverny owes a lot to painters, it also deserves to be visited for its many other qualities. The landscapes that have conquered nineteenth and twentieth-century artists continue to amaze visitors today. The hillsides of Giverny offer striking views of the surrounding northern countryside, between woods, glades, and fields, and walk through several marked trails. You will discover sometimes, leaving the canopy of the trees, the point of view chosen formerly by Monet or one of his colleagues to testify the beauty and the light of Giverny.

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+33 188 611 149 (8AM to 8PM Paris Time)

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Monet’s Gardens in Giverny

Small Group Half-Day Tour

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• Description •
• Tour Highlights •

Monet’s Inspiration

Discover the unparalleled beauty of the home and gardens of Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, where he lived and painted for more than 40 years of his life. Visit the interior of his home and then stroll through the two distinctly unique gardens which Monet himself designed and modified throughout his life.

Join our half day trip from Paris and you’ll see a hundred different types of flowers and foliage intertwining to create the living art in Monet’s Clos Normand Flower Garden. Then you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into one of his paintings when you see the little green Japanese bridge that crosses his pond. Seeing the willow trees and lake full of water lilies you’ll understand why Monet used this garden as the inspiration for over 250 of his paintings.

Monet’s Living Masterpiece

This tour starts when you meet up in Paris with your guide near the Arc de Triomphe and board our luxury van for the 50 minute drive to Giverny. Along the way you’ll see the French countryside and the Seine River winding its way through the valley covered in lush green with small villages here and there. Once you arrive in the charming town of Giverny your guide will take you to Claude Monet's property.

Your guide will then give a detailed introduction to the two different types of gardens Claude Monet created: his Clos Normand flower garden and his water garden. You’ll see how he composed his multicolored flower beds in the same manner as he composed his paintings, with forethought and great care. You’ll also learn about some of his most famous paintings and see the inspiration behind them

The Clos Normand and the Water Garden

You will be given free time to wander through both gardens at your leisure. The water garden, with its pond full of water lilies is surrounded by weeping willows and a bamboo forest. There you’ll be able to see the famous little green japanese style bridge that Claude Monet used in so many of his most famous paintings. You are welcome to sit down on a bench next to the pond and admire how the light reflects in it’s mirrored surface and changes the way you perceive the water lilies.

In the Clos Normand you’ll admire thousands of multicolored tulips, bright blue, purple, and white irises, cheerful yellow daffodils, and meek little peonies. You’ll also enjoy seeing the trellaced passageway of climbing nasturtiums that leads to the pink home of Claude Monet, covered in dark green vines. Following the path you’ll be able to visit the inside of his home of more than 40 years.

Monet’s Home and Grave Site

The inside of Claude Monet’s home is just as vibrant as his gardens as it too was decorated by the artist himself. You’ll visit the artist's atelier with its walls covered in paintings that he created of his gardens and family life. Climb the tiy staircase to his private apartments and notice a painting from his good friend Renoir hanging on the wall.

Downstairs you’ll see his vibrant yellow dining room and the bright blue and white tiled kitchen as well as be able to admire his amazing collection of Japanese prints. After you have finished with his home you will be driven to the quaint little church graveyard that Monet chose as his final resting place. You’ll be able to pay your respects to this great man and thank him for adding so much beauty to this world!

Good to Know:

• If you join us for the tour starting at 8am you can plan to be back in Paris around 1pm.
• If you join us for the tour starting at 2pm you can plan to be back in Paris around 7pm.
• There is no lunch or dinner stop during this tour.
• The tour will finish very close to where it started, next to the Avenue of the Champs Elysées.
• Gratuities aka "tips" are not included but welcomed by our guides.

Max. 8 pers. per tour

What's Included

• Transportation by luxury A/C minibus
• All entrance Tickets

All of our tours are commented in English

Dates & Times

April to October Everyday at 8AM or 2PM

Meeting point

6 Avenue de Wagram, Paris

Click here for picture Reservation required

For the Monet's Gardens in Giverny Half-Day Trip from Paris you will meet with your driver-guide outside of 6 Avenue de Wagram in Paris , it's located 300ft from the Arc de Triomphe.

Tour Highlights

Visit the interior of Monet’s house and see the brightly colored rooms and admire dozens of works that were gifted to him by his famous artist friends.

The Water Lilies

See and learn all about the, once rare, colorful water lilies which Monet chose for his pond and used as his main inspiration for so many of his paintings.

Flower Garden

Planted with more than 100 different types of flowers which bloom for different seasons this garden is breathtakingly beautiful at all times of the year.

Water Garden

This is where Monet spent most of his time painting the ever changing aspects of the waterlilies in his pond.

Paris largest and most celebrated Church, built in a true Gothic fashion it has the most beautiful Rose windows and flying buttresses.

Once the Royal Palace, now the largest and most visited museum in the world. The Louvre is home to the mysterious Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the famous glass Pyramid.

The Musée d’Orsay

Home to some of the most beautiful paintings in the world, the Musée d’Orsay has several works of Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh.

Rue Cler market

Parisians have been coming to rue Cler market street since 1826! Taste some of the best of Paris here when you stop for the 30 minute break.

Seine River banks

The banks of the Seine River, in Paris, are so enchanting that they have become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll ride along them and behold the beauty of the river life.

Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde is the place where Marie-Antoinette lost her head! Today is has a 2,000 year old Egyptian Obelisk at its center.

The Grand Palais

Constructed for the 1900 World’s Fair, the Grand Palais is a magnificent architectural feat with its glass, iron and steel beautifully combined.

Champs-Elysées

Known to many as « The most beautiful avenue in the world » you'll have a wonderful view all the way up this avenue to the famous Arc de Triomphe.

Invalides (Napoleon’s Tomb)

Les Invalides was once a hospital for wounded soldiers, and is currently a military museum that is home to the tomb of Napoléon Bonaparte.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you think Giverny is only good to visit in the springtime you are mistaken. Giverny is open from the end of March to the end of October and it’s absolutely beautiful throughout this entire time. The gardeners in Giverny do an amazing job caring for and changing out the different flowers from the Springtime all the way through the fall.

So, now when we answer your question it hopefully won’t be too much of a surprise when we believe that a nice sunny day in October is the best of all! There are still plenty of flowers in bloom but there are also fall colors in the trees and a lot less visitors than during the other months. Your taste might be different than our though so we suggest that you look for #giverny pictures on Instagram to get an idea of what Monet's gardens look like at different time of the year.

We allow you to cancel, for any reason, up to 24 hours before the start of your tour. It’s easy to cancel just send us an email then we’ll give you a full refund.

If you fail to email with your cancellation at least 24 hours before the tour starts then we will not be able to provide you with a refund.

Since we only take small groups to Giverny you should book your spots on this tour at least 3 weeks before the date you want to take the tour.

Love It Or Get Your Money Back

We are committed to giving you the best experience possible, in case the tour you took with us didn’t meet your expectation we are happy to give a full refund as long as you participated in the entire tour and tell your guide at the end of the tour.

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We appreciate and reward fidelity!

Planning on booking multiple tours with us? Contact us to receive a 10% discount . Discount only apply when booking 2, 3 or 4 tours on different dates.

Free Cancellation

We understand that unexpected events can change your travel plans; for this reason Blue Fox Travel offers a full refund, for any reason, if you cancel more than 24hrs before your reserved tour is scheduled to start.

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These are the Terms & Conditions that apply to any tour run by BLUE FOX TRAVEL in France under the brands BLUE BIKE TOURS or BLUE FOX TRAVEL. In this document, BLUE BIKE TOURS might be abbreviated as BBT and BLUE FOX TRAVEL as BFT.

BLUE FOX TRAVEL is a registered SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée - Limited Liability Company) at the Paris Chamber of Commerce under the number : 534 151 576 BLUE FOX TRAVEL is a registered French Travel Operator under the licence : IM075160040 BLUE FOX TRAVEL is a registered Public Service Vehicle Operator under the Licence : 2016/11/0007784 Because BLUE FOX TRAVEL is a registered French company, and all of our tours take place in France, only the French Law will apply in the case of any conflict. Last updated : January 2019. Valid until : the end of the world.

I - Cancellation Policy

BFT offers a 100% refund if a reservation is cancelled more than 24 hours before the scheduled start of the tour. The notification must be made by email. No refunds are given for ANY reason once within the 24 hrs prior to the scheduled tour. All of our tours run Rain or Shine. We do not issue refunds if you choose to skip your tour because the weather doesn’t suit you. You can always wait until the last minute to book your tour to ensure the weather suits you that day. BFT reserves the right to cancel any of its tours last minute in case of an Act of God or crazy act from a large group of people. Flooding, hail, dangerous weather conditions, riots, etc. In such instances full refunds will be given to anyone who had their tour cancelled.

II - Satisfaction Guarantee Policy

If the tour you took with us didn’t live up to what we promised you on our website and failed to meet your expectations, we will be heartbroken. We will also give you a 100% refund so long as you do all of these things: You remember that we we are in no way responsible for the weather and that our guides actually have to give 110% of themselves to you on days when the weather is not as nice in order to help you enjoy the tour. You participate in the entire tour from: being on time at the meeting point until the “goodbyes” at the very end of the tour. You can’t leave a tour half-way and ask for your money back. At the end of the tour you tell your guide, in person, that you were not satisfied with the tour you took. You provide your tour guide with the reasons you were not satisfied with the tour itself.

III - Payment Policy

A valid credit card is required to secure your booking. All reservations must be prepaid online prior to the tour. We accept Visa, Mastercard. None of your personal credit card or billing information is stored by BFT.

IV - Privacy Policy

We are committed to protecting your privacy. Your personal informations will never be disclosed to any third parties.

V - Child Policy

All reservations made for children under the age of 18 years old must be made by an adult and we must be informed at the time of booking exactly how many children are in your party and their ages. This is vital information as it allows our guide to prepare the proper child sized equipments for the bike tours and the booster seats for all day trips/excursions that use one of our vans. All reservations made for a minor under the age of 18 years old must also include the reservation for an adult who will be 100% solely responsible for the safety and well being of the child while on the tour. Every child, under the age of 12 years old, partaking in a bicycle tour will be required to wear a helmet and a reflective vest as per French Law. The adult who accompanies the child agrees to the responsibility of choosing a properly sized helmet, adjusting the helmet, and keeping the helmet on the head of the child during the whole tour. Blue Fox Travel has helmets in multiple sizes for you to choose from at no cost. Don't forget: Children who will be riding in a baby/child seat, on a tandem attachment bike, or in a booster seat in one of our vans absolutely MUST have their seat reserved beforehand. We NEED to know exactly what your child will need before they show up. Please make it clear in the “Special Requirements” section of our booking form.

VI- Child Bike Policy

Children who will be riding on their own may be subject to a very short test run before the tour starts in which they will be expected to demonstrate: that they are well suited for their bike’s size and settings, that they know how to brake properly and that they are, in general, good cyclists who can be trusted to follow their tour guide in a safe manner. We own 20” and 24” kids bikes (size of the wheel). Adult bikes are 26”. If the guide, or manager, finds that the child is not, for any reason, a good enough cyclist then the guide, or manager, has the right to refuse to let the child follow the tour on a personal bike. This means they will either be asked to ride on one of our ‘tandem attachments’ which is attached to the back of a parents bike OR asked to ride in a child seat attached to the back of a parents bike. If the child refuses the change, then the guide or manager has the right to cancel the reservation, and not allow you and your child on the bike tour. Refunds will not be issued if your reservation is cancelled because of your child not being able to cycle and their refusal to ride attached to you. Baby seats are for kids that are between the ages of 1 and 3 years old (max weight 22 kg (48 lbs)). We also have some cool Burley™ tandem attachment bikes that are suitable for little kids who are too big for the baby seat but too small to cycle on their own (max weight 38 kg (85 lbs) - max height 137 cm (4 ft 6 in)).

VII - Damages to Blue Fox Travel Property

If you or anyone in your party damages a vehicle, a Blue Bike™, a vehicle, a child's bike, a helmet, a baby/child seat, a tandem attachment bike, any bike attachments, or a booster seat in such a way that it becomes badly disfigured, broken, or unusable, then BFT reserves the right to claim a fee of up to the cost of repair of the damaged bike/vehicle or object.

VIII - Miscellaneous

The 7 Best Giverny & Monet’s Garden Tours From Paris [2024 Reviews]

If you’re in the picturesque capital of Paris, do yourself a favor and take a trip to the magical realm of Giverny and Monet’s Garden.

Picture this: a tranquil oasis nestled in the heart of the French countryside, where vibrant colors dance upon canvas and nature weaves its brushstrokes. To truly understand the genius of the great impressionist painter Claude Monet to its fullest, you have to take a guided tour.

You’ll not only witness the very landscapes and home that stirred his soul and sparked the strokes of artistic brilliance, unveiling the world through the eyes of a genius and beauty around every corner.

Immerse yourself in the delicate balance of light, color, and nature as expert guides unveil the secrets behind Monet’s masterpieces, as well as the artist, as a person.

Be sure to see our reviews of Day Trips to Normandy , Louvre Guided Tours and Paris Catacombs Tours .

Best Giverny & Monet’s Garden Tours

Quick answer: the 7 best rated tours of giverny & monet’s garden for 2024.

• Giverny and Versailles Palace Guided Day Trip From Paris
• Small-Group Giverny and Van Gogh’s Room in Auvers from Paris
• Gardens & House with Art Historian: Private Giverny Tour from Paris
• Guided Day Trip to Monet’s Garden in Giverny From Paris
• Giverny Monet’s House & Versailles Palace Private Day Trip from Paris
• Giverny Half-Day Trip small group from Paris with Monet’s Gardens & Gravesite
• Giverny’s House & Gardens plus Versailles Palace Day Trip with Lunch from Paris

Giverny & Monet’s Garden Tour Reviews

1. giverny and versailles palace guided day trip from paris.

• Duration:  10 hours
• Departure:  Main entrance of Architecture Museum in Place du Trocadero
• Departure Time: 8:00 AM
• Includes: Guide, Round-trip transportation from Paris by comfortable air-conditioned coach,  Skip-the-line entrance to the Château de Versailles and its gardens,  Entrance ticket to Monet’s house and gardens,  Headsets 

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the French capital and experience two of the most beautiful places in the world, with one of the most comprehensive tours available.

This guided tour of Monet’s Giverny estate and the opulent Palace of Versailles is the most convenient way to see these two powerful landmarks, complete with a skip-the-line entrance to the Château and its garden.

This day tour from Paris promises to whisk you away from the city streets into a world of elegance and natural splendor, where water lilies float and gold glitters.

Our adventure starts off with a rendezvous at the entrance of the Architecture museum, where a spacious coach awaits to bring us to the first stop on our artistic pilgrimage. The Monet Foundation is the first stop, which offers a glimpse into the world that inspired the great Claude Monet.

Stroll along the lily pad pond, where water lilies gracefully float, mirroring the artist’s masterpieces. It’s pretty cool the first time you’re here if you’ve seen his work, as you’ll instantly recognize the pond, green bridge, and even get to see the interior of his home.

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After a leisurely break in town consisting of a tasty local lunch, you’ll then hop back on the coach for a short cruise over to the Palace of Versailles, which is truly impressive.

The mere sight of this majestic marvel evokes a sense of awe and thanks to the skip the line tickets, you’ll get to head right in to see it all.

Follow your knowledgeable guide through the hallowed halls where history was shaped and lavish soirées took place, traversing the private royal chambers, allowing the opulence to envelop your senses.

Seeing the meticulously manicured gardens is truly serene and honestly one of my favorite parts of the tour, offering respite from the grandeur within.

The singing fountains had a big impact on me, and seeing just how enormous these gardens were really was hard to wrap my mind around! Take in the sights during a short tour, and then savor the freedom to wander at your leisure.

It will depend on the day, but towards the end of your tour you’ll either get to witness the mesmerizing Fountain Show or revel in the enchanting Musical Gardens, where harmonies intertwine with nature’s grand spectacle.

In my opinion, you can’t go without seeing either one of these amazing places, no matter what your interests or background are. Anyone from history and art buffs to children will fall in love with these special locations.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, other experiences you may enjoy:, 2. small-group giverny and van gogh’s room in auvers from paris.

• Duration: 10 hours
• Departure:  6 Avenue de Wagram, 75008 Paris, outside the café La Flamme
• Includes:  Entrance to Monet’s Garden, tomb, Giverny, Van Gogh Room and tomb, Auvers-Sur-Oise village, transport, entrance fees

Prepare to be transported into the captivating realms of two artistic titans on this next tour: the Small-Group Giverny and Van Gogh’s Room in Auvers from Paris .

As you set off on a journey through time and emotion, you’ll get to dive into the unparalleled beauty of Claude Monet’s Clos Normand and Japanese Water gardens in Giverny. If you’re into art, history, or beautiful landscapes in any way, consider this tour a must-do!

You’ll first start off by meeting your guide and the rest of your group in central Paris, hopping on a comfortable coach and heading off to the countryside. Along the way, our guide filled us in with interesting anecdotes and facts about the environment and architecture we passed, which only added to the fun.

However, nothing compares to the ethereal landscapes you’re about to experience upon arrival to Monet’s abode!

It’s wild to step into the real-life scenes that inspired this artistic maestro, making it feel like you, yourself, have become a living brushstroke in one of his many Impressionist masterpieces!

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Check out the swaying willow trees, the iconic green bridge, the pond, and even head inside his home where you’ll get a rare glimpse into the world where the artist lived and worked.

Then, head on over to the charming town of Auvers-Sur-Oise, where you’ll learn all about the profound artistry and tormented soul that is Vincent Van Gogh.

The essence of the town and its surroundings served as a significant Van Gogh muse, inspiring a whopping 77 of his artworks! You’ll get to see the gothic splendor of the “Church of Auvers” which you may recognize from one of Van Gogh’s most famous classic post-impressionist oil paintings.

However, even if you don’t, it’s still quite the sight to see for anyone who appreciates magnificent architecture and history. See the artist’s final resting place and hear all about his life and art from your knowledgeable guide, creating a well-rounded experience that anyone is sure to appreciate.

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3. gardens & house with art historian: private giverny tour from paris.

• Duration:  5 hours
• Departure:  84 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny or hotel pickup available
• Departure Time: 8:00 AM or 1:30 PM
• Includes:  Private transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle, Skip the Line ticket to the house of Claude Monet, Licensed Professional and Passioned Art Historian Guide, VIP Services, All Fees and Taxes

Are you interested in seeing Giverny and Monet’s garden but don’t just want a run-of-the-mill experience? Perhaps you’re looking for a private, VIP experience where only you and your party are involved in the tour?

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, one of the best options out there is the Gardens & House with Art Historian: Private Giverny Tour from Paris ! Large group tours definitely aren’t for everyone, as oftentimes there are just so many people, you just become another head in the crowd.

However, with this tour you’ll really get to have an intimate tour with a personalized itinerary based around exactly what you and your party are interested in, and nothing you aren’t.

Start off by being picked up at a central meeting point with comfortable, air-conditioned transportation with plenty of comfortable seating and prime viewing. Monet’s House is the first stop on your tour, which is honestly a site to see, both inside and out.

It’s very traditionally French, and is a great opportunity to gain some insight into how the artist’s daily life happened in the blue sitting room, dining room, studio, and more.

We can’t forget his fairytale-like garden, complete with the Japanese bridge and lily ponds which inspired one of his most famous artworks: the Nymphéas.

After seeing the Clos Normand – Foundation Claude Monet, you’ll have a lot of free time to explore the incredible village of Giverny. Giverny is one of the most charming places I’ve had the pleasure of seeing, complete with flowered homes, art galleries, quaint cafes, and the famously rose-hued Hotel Baudy!

If you were an American Impressionist back in the day, these were your stomping grounds.

4. Guided Day Trip to Monet’s Garden in Giverny From Paris

• Duration:  5 hours
• Departure:  Outside La Flamme in Paris
• Departure Time: 2:00 PM
• Includes:  Entry to gardens, Monet’s House, tour guide for garden, transport by minibus

If you’d like to escape from the business of Paris into a serene world of beauty and genius, look no further than the Guided Day Trip to Monet’s Garden in Giverny from Paris !

It’s also perfect if you don’t want to commit to a full-day tour, but are still very interested in experiencing the majesty of Mnoet’s Garden and the village of Giverny! If you’re looking for inspiration in your life, this is certainly one experience you want to sign up for.

Lasting 5 hours and starting in the morning, it’s perfect if you have dinner or other plans at night as you’ll be back well before then.

Start off the tour by meeting your guide and the rest of our party outside La Flamme cafe in Paris, which is located conveniently for the vast majority of travelers. Then head off in your air-conditioned vehicle until you arrive to the magical paradise that is Monet’s Garden and home.

As you enter Monet’s garden in Giverny, you’re transported into a pool of immense beauty, seeing the Japanese water gardens complete with the famous lily ponds and bridge depicted in the artist’s famous works.

No matter where you stroll here, you’ll smell the delicate fragrance of an array of gorgeous flowers, that make the experience just that much more fairytale-like.

Inside his home, you’ll get to see the intimate spaces where the artist lived and worked, and you’ll see how the rooms’ vibrant colors and furniture reflected Monet’s artistic aesthetic.

You’ll then head over to see the artist’s tomb, which offers a moment of reflection after seeing his amazing work and the place he spent so much of his life.

Located right near his beloved gardens, this tribute is a serene and tranquil place where many pay their respects to the man who forever changed the world with his revolutionary talent and techniques. If you’re a Monet fan or even just know of his name, this is one of the most immersive opportunities to learn more.

5. Giverny Monet’s House & Versailles Palace Private Day Trip from Paris

• Duration:  9 hours
• Departure:  Hotel pickup and drop-off available
• Includes: Private Tour Exclusive services Licensed Professional Driver Guide, Transport by air-conditioned minibus Skip-the-Line access & Priority admission, Guided visit: Monet’s house and gardens & Versailles’s palace and gardens

This next tour is one of the most complete of its kind out there, offering you a fantastically immersive experience you’re sure to love!

For me, both Monet’s house and the Palace of Versailles are must-see sites that will open your eyes to the artistry and grandeur throughout French history. The Giverny Monet’s House & Versailles Palace Private Day Trip from Paris is simply magical, offering a history lesson that you’ll never be able to find in a classroom.

One of the things I love about this tour is how organized it is, making sure that there’s more than enough time for everything. You’ll start out by being picked up at your hotel at 8:00 am, which means that you don’t have to deal with heading to a meet-up point or paying for extra transportation.

Your transport for the day is a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus that allows for enough legroom and unobstructed views of the French countryside.

Upon arrival at the charming Giverny, you’ll make your way over to the house and gardens of Claude Monet, which is a pilgrimage so many Impressionism fans make every day.

Wander at your leisure through the romantic water garden, where you’ll see the famous Japanese bridge, wisterias, water-lily pond, weeping willows, and irises that create a real-life work of art.

Head over to Monet’s home located right next to the garden, where you’ll get to tour through the drawing room, bedroom, study, and kitchen to see what family and art life was like for him.

Then, head over to the immense Palace of Versailles, which is an architectural marvel and one of the biggest castles in the world.

Standing as a testament to the French artistry of the 17th century, you’ll be blown away by the opulent Hall of Mirrors, Marie Antoinette’s apartments, gilded bronze sculptures, and so much more.

The grandeur isn’t contained just within the palace’s walls though, as you’ll see with the meticulously-designed gardens and the world’s largest open-air museum.

6. Giverny Half-Day Trip small group from Paris with Monet’s Gardens & Gravesite

• Duration:  4.5 hours
• Departure:  6 Av. de Wagram, 75008 Paris
• Departure Time: 8:00 AM or 2:00 PM
• Includes:  Small group tour, expert guide, chauffeur, transport by air-conditioned minivan, priority entrance to Claude Monet Estate

If you have a tight schedule but really want to see Monet’s gardens and Giverny, I can’t recommend any tour more than this one.

The Giverny Half-Day Trip Small Group from Paris with Monet’s Gardens & Gravesite  is easily one of the most breathtaking experiences one can have in France, and at an incredibly affordable cost.

Thanks to their great organization, professionalism, and vast knowledge, we were able to have an experience not many get the opportunity to.

Start out by meeting your guide in central Paris, where you and the rest of your small group will hop on an air-conditioned minivan and drive out to Giverny. Your tour will start sometime in the morning, so if you’re still feeling sleepy you can just sleep on the minivan.

The route is very smooth, so even if you don’t plan on getting some zzz’s you may drift off before arriving at the village (don’t worry, you won’t miss much).

Upon arrival to Giverny, you’ll benefit from having priority entrance so you’ll skip right past the long entrance queues and head straight to the magnificent gardens.

Here you’ll have at least 30 minutes to stroll around and explore the place that so obviously inspired hundreds of Monet’s works.

You’ll see that there are 2 different gardens at Monet’s home: the Clos Normand boasts literally hundreds of flowers, creating a symphony of beautiful colors. At Fondation Claude Monet, you’ll see the famous waterlily pond, bridge, and the home where the artist lived for over 4 decades and raised 8 children.

The gift shop is located inside the home, and is actually filled with some pretty cool, unique gifts, so don’t forget to stop here before you and your group head over to Monet’s final resting place.

I felt that this order of events was a great way to honor his life, ending with a visit to his tomb which is tucked away in a little countryside church’s graveyard. The guide did a great job of explaining facts about his art and life, offering interesting stories that I’d never heard before.

7. Giverny’s House & Gardens plus Versailles Palace Day Trip with Lunch from Paris

• Departure:  41 Av. de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris
• Departure Time:  8:15 AM
• Includes:  Guided tour in English inside Palace of Versailles, lunch with drinks, small-group tour, skip-the-line tickets

Prepare to set off on a wild journey that will start out in the enchanting gardens of the genius, Claude Monet, to the gilded palace of Versailles. If you have any interest at all in French culture, history, or art, this is a tour you simply can’t pass up.

The Giverny’s House & Gardens plus Versailles Palace Day Trip with Lunch from Paris Tour  allows you to dive headfirst into a day of artistic and historical exploration.

Start out by meeting your guide and the rest of your group at a location close to the Eiffel Tower, making it easy to find in the morning. You and your group will board an air-conditioned minibus around 8:00 am, and head out to the serene countryside.

Upon arrival in Giverny, you’ll make your way to the former home of the Impressionist maestro, Claude Monet. Take some time to explore the vibrant flowers, serene lily ponds, and take some photos on the iconic Japanese-style green bridge, feeling the spirit of Monet all around you.

 It really is as close as you could possibly get to stepping into one of Monet’s paintings.

After checking out his former home and gardens, you’ll then fuel up at the “Moulin de Fourges” restaurant, which is a 200-year-old mill tucked along the banks of the Epte River.

Then, make your way to Versailles: one of the most magnificent palaces in the world that once was home to the Sun King himself, Louis XIV.

Here, you’ll venture through a guided tour with an expert on the location, seeing King Louis XIV’s opulent suite, the Hall of Mirrors, and of course, the “A la Française” gardens!

Depending on the time of year, you’ll either get to enjoy a mesmerizing Musical Fountain Show, or have some extra time to walk around at your own leisure.

FAQs About Giverny Tours

How far is giverny from paris.

Giverny is located about 75 km (47 miles) northwest of Paris, in the Normandy region. It’s about an hour and a half drive by car or train.

How can I get to Giverny from Paris?

There are several ways to get to Giverny from Paris. You can drive, take a train or bus, or our recommended way is to take a guided tour. Driving gives you flexibility but you will need to rent a car and pay for gas, tolls and parking. Taking a train is cheaper and faster, but you will need to transfer at Vernon and take a shuttle bus or a taxi to Giverny.

Taking a bus is convenient and affordable, but it takes longer and has limited schedules. Joining a guided tour is the easiest and most comfortable option, as you will have transportation, tickets, and a guide included.

What are the opening hours of Monet’s house and gardens?

Monet’s house and gardens are open every day from March 22nd to November 1st. They are closed from November 2nd to March 21st.

How much does it cost to visit Monet’s house and gardens?

The entrance fee to Monet’s house and gardens is $13 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and free for children under 7 years old.

What is the advantage of taking a guided tour of Giverny?

By taking a guided tour of Giverny you will learn about Monet’s life and art. You will also get the history and culture of the village. You will have a professional and friendly guide who will show you around Monet’s house and gardens, as well as other attractions in Giverny, such as the Impressionism Museum, the Church of Sainte-Radegonde, or the Hotel Baudy. You will also have priority access to skip the long lines at the entrance and save time.

How can I book a Giverny France tour?

Booking a Giverny France tour is easy, there are several websites like GetYourGuide.com or Viator.com you can buy tickets.

5 Reasons You Should Go To Giverny

Visit monet’s house and gardens.

The main attraction of Giverny is Monet’s house and gardens, where you can see the places that inspired some of his most famous paintings. You can explore his colorful and cozy home, where he lived and worked for 43 years. You can also admire his stunning gardens, full of flowers, trees, ponds, and bridges. Don’t miss the water lily pond, where he painted his iconic series of water lilies.

Learn about Monet’s life and art

A tour of Giverny will not only show you Monet’s house and gardens, but also teach you about his life and art. You will have a professional and passionate guide who will tell you stories and facts about Monet’s personal and professional life, his family, his friends, his travels, and his influences.

Enjoy the scenic countryside

Giverny is located in the heart of the Normandy countryside, surrounded by green hills, fields, forests, and rivers. A tour of Giverny will let you enjoy the scenic beauty of this region, as you drive or bike along the winding roads and paths. You will also have the chance to stop at some of the picturesque villages and towns along the way, such as Vernon, La Roche-Guyon, or Les Andelys.

Taste the local cuisine

A tour of Giverny will give you the opportunity to sample some of the delicious dishes and specialties of Normandy, such as cheese, cider, apple tart, crepes, or duck. You can also visit some of the charming cafes and restaurants in Giverny, such as Le Jardin des Plumes, La Musardière, or Le Coin des Artistes.

Combine it with other attractions

A tour of Giverny can also be combined with other attractions in Normandy or nearby regions. Visit the city of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Mont Saint-Michel is an amazing cathedral that is definitely worth a visit.  And of course the beautiful Loire Valley, where you can see some stunning castles and chateaus.

Tour Guides

The Giverny and Versailles Palace Guided Day Trip is our Editors Choice for the best Giverny tour from Paris

Krysha Thayer

Related articles, the 5 best stonehenge tours from london [2024 reviews], the 5 best wine tours from florence [2024 reviews], the 7 best vatican tours ⛪ [2024 reviews], the 5 best seine river dinner cruises [2024 reviews].

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Day Trip to Giverny from Paris: How to Easily Tour Monet’s Home & Gardens

Last Updated: May 5, 2023 //  by  Ashley Smith 10 Comments

This day trip to Giverny is another example of my biggest piece of French advice: one thing I always tell people to do when visiting Paris is… leave it. Just get out. *Gasp* 

Alright, alright, calm down. Paris is what it is (magic and romantic and crawling with delicious snails that actually aren’t anymore) but the France outside of Paris is, believe it or not, EVEN BETTER.

On the second of my two trips to France last year I toured all over:

• Paris and Versailles
• the Loire Valley
• Mont-St-Michel
• the D-Day sites of Normandy
• and every sickeningly lavish chateaux in between.

I did all of this with my friend and faithful travel companion who is, of all things, an art teacher. But while she can appreciate brushwork, composition, and whatever ”diptych“ is, I’m more into snooping around in the former homes of famous people, because I’m creepy like that.

This post was originally published in 2018 but has been updated for 2023.

Table of Contents

Why take a day trip to Giverny?

One such reason to leave Paris is for a day trip to Giverny, the tiny village that was once home to impressionist mastermind Claude Monet. Now replace “home” with “resting place” and that’s just one of the reasons to visit.

Besides getting to tour Monet’s personal home, on a Giverny day trip you also get the chance to walk all through his gardens, visit his studio, and circle his water lily pond. Like, the Water Lilies water lily pond. Even for someone on the Microsoft Paint level of the artistic ability spectrum, it’s a pretty impressive experience.

Is Giverny worth visiting?

If you’re a lover of art history, fine art, or even just flowers and gardening, then Giverny is absolutely worth visiting . The property, gardens, and lily pond are meticulously well-kept and the experience of visiting is a quality one.

You get to see so much on a visit to Giverny and every month it’s open offers something different in terms of blooms. You’ll also get to learn about Monet and his paintings and see how he lived.

How long do you need at Monet’s Giverny?

Three to four hours would be a good amount of time for a visit of Monet’s Giverny. Walking around the lily pond and through the gardens will take a good chunk of time. And the rest will be spent touring his home (which tends to get crowded and therefore slow moving) and studio and checking out the gift shop.

If you like floral day trips, definitely check out my post on a day trip to Keukenhof –the world famous tulip gardens outside Amsterdam.

The history of Monet and Giverny

Claude Monet was the founder of French impressionist painting and, by all accounts, the original hipster. Impressionism was the 19 th century art movement that emphasized light, movement, visible brush strokes, and blatant rule-breaking. Boy were those fancy pants art critics pissed at him.

He also, probably, played a major part in pairing a bushy beard with a beret—a style statement you still see so often in and around craft breweries and artisanal vegan donut/bicycle shops.

Looking for more interesting day trips from Paris? Check out these best Normandy tours from Paris for some unforgettable WWII history.

Giverny is an hour outside Paris in 21 st century time but much longer by 1800s standards. I’m just saying, he didn’t have that beard when he left.

Monet lived in Giverny for exactly half of his life, until his death in 1926. It was while he lived here that he painted his entire Water Lilies series, the works he’s most famous for, even long after he developed cataracts. I got lightheaded from standing up too fast yesterday and couldn’t work for a good 20 minutes. Just saying.

Giverny and Water Lilies

Water Lilies —you know what it looks like—is a series of around 250 oil paintings of the water lily pond behind his house at Giverny. Monet was big into doing series work—not unlike Kelsey Grammer or Mariska Hargitay—and has done many others including Haystacks , Rouen Cathedral , and Houses of Parliament .

Throughout his life and especially after moving to Giverny, Monet was obsessed with gardening, the same way I’m obsessed with not gardening (somebody feed me).

To help inspire his work, he diverted water from a nearby source and planted his own water lilies. Monet was also obsessed with perfection. (He once destroyed 15 of his Water Lilies in a perfectionist rage.)

And he was obsessed with natural light, painting as fiercely and frantically as possible to capture an exact moment before it passes which, as science has taught us, is impossible without Instagram.

While in Normandy you should definitely check out the best of Normandy’s D-Day sites . The experience is unlike anything else you’ve ever experienced on your travels, I promise.

Day trip to Giverny from Paris: How to get there

Ahh, so you’re visiting Paris. Now get out. Leaving the city and taking a day trip to Giverny is among the most popular things to do when visiting Paris, right up there with taking selfies in front of the Eiffel Tower and taking selfies in front of the Mona Lisa .

How long does it take to get to Giverny from Paris?

Giverny is just one hour northwest of Paris by car or 14 hours if you choose to walk because automobiles are so bourgeouis.

A day trip to Giverny is a great opportunity to get some background on, like, all the paintings you’ll see in the Paris museums . (probably my favorite thing about my line of work is being able to shout, “I’ve been there!” on an annoyingly regular basis)

Visit Giverny on a day tour from Paris

My recommendation—because it’s what I did—is to take your day trip to Giverny via an organized, guided tour. For the love of lilies, let someone else handle tickets and transportation so you don’t have to.

Plus, these tours usually come with skip-the-line abilities and, visiting Paris and Giverny in the summer , this is worth its weight in goldenrod. You also get private and direct transportation and knowledgeable tour guides who probably know their Phlomis purpurea from their  Phlomis italica . Maybe?

It is possible to get from Paris to Giverny independently—check this  and/or this page for logistics—but the trip will take much more than an hour, includes the cumbersome combination of metro ⇢ train ⇢ bus ⇢ feet, and the schedules of each of those are less ideal than planting tulips in the spring! Ha! Can you imagine!? Garden snobs, you know what I mean.

The Best Day tours to Giverny from Paris

Here are a few great guided tour options for your day trip to Giverny:

Versailles & Giverny Day Trip with Lunch from Paris

This uber-popular 9.5-hour tour includes a trip to the Palace of Versailles (another Paris must) as well as a day trip to Giverny, plus lunch.

Giverny & Monet’s Gardens Small-Group Half-Day Trip

This 5-hour tour is limited to just 8 people and is super informative. It includes visual aids (!!!) and even takes you to Monet’s burial site.

Monet's House & Gardens Self Guided Tour with Transport from Paris

This tour includes transportation, admission, and an audio guide but your time to explore is all your own. (And it costs less than transportation alone if you were to do this  without  a tour.)

Giverny & Monet's Garden by Train

Perhaps you'd like to visit Giverny the same way Monet did - by riding the rails. This tour includes skip-the-line admission into Monet's House and Gardens and round-trip transportation by train.

Other Giverny day trips from Paris

There are actually many more Paris tour combinations for Giverny and you can find those all here. Find one that fits you best!

When is the best time for a day trip to Giverny?

Because of the nature (heh) of this site, a day trip to Giverny can only be taken at certain times of the year. Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny are only open seven months of the year : late March – November 1st, because, duh, flowers. Besides, visiting a garden in the winter would be about as worthwhile as having vegan bacon with a side of O’Doul’s for lunch.

As for when exactly to go during that time… well, this place is so full of beautiful, colorful growing things that visiting any time during those seven months is going to be worthwhile.

When to go to Giverny to see water lilies

But let’s be real here; you came for the water lilies, didn’t you! Water lilies as a species bloom between May and September, however , both the Giverny website and our tour guide told us the lilies at Giverny don’t typically bloom until July and we might not get to see them.

Well, well, well, the pictures in this post were taken on my early June visit and clearly the nympheas showed up to play.

When to go to Giverny to see wisteria

If July is out of the question for your day trip to Giverny, my recommended backup plan would be to visit in May when Monet’s famous Japanese bridge is drenched in flowering purple wisteria. Look at this OMG

But, hell, maybe you hate both and actually get your jollies from holly-hocks or busy-lizzies. Worry not, there’s a Giverny flowering calendar for that.

What to see on a day trip to Giverny

A day trip to Giverny is all about Claude Monet. You’ll visit his house, his garden, his famous water lily pond. You’ll see his chickens, his cows, his jealousy-inducing collection of copper cookware. Wow, I am not sounding cool today.

Monet’s house and studio

Monet lived at his house in Giverny for 43 years, the size of which defies everything I thought I knew about painting as a lucrative career path. Monet lived here with his lady-friend Alice and their combined eight children. I think the mystery of his eventual madness has solved itself.

Here at his house you can tour his bedrooms, kitchen, studio, bathroom, and many other places in which he’d be totally uncomfortable entertaining visitors. And as large as the house is, it’s still tight and you will be bumper to bumper on Fanny Pack Ave.

Monet’s gardens

There are 100 varieties of flowers and trees in the garden of the man who was quoted as saying, “Apart from painting and gardening, I’m not good at anything.” So if his success at painting is any indicator, I think you know what you can expect in his anything-but-ho-hum garden.

During your day trip to Giverny you’re free to wander throughout his garden, on strictly marked paths of course, and take it all in through your nose. I mean it; smell all of them.

Be warned that the garden is almost overwhelming as it’s so full and tightly packed, and everything is taller and more feminine than you. Monet also said, “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”

Monet’s pond

Monet’s pond is the highlight of his property and where you can find his famous water lilies—in bloom or otherwise. Now every time you see a Water Lilies painting you can shout, “I’ve been there!” but do so internally because museums.

You can circle the entire pond and walk across the Japanese bridge, see the little boat he used to paddle around in (before paddling around in little boats was cool, obvs) and, if you’re lucky, maybe even fall in because there is legit no barrier whatsoever.

What to bring on a day trip to Giverny

Allergy medicine.

Maybe your allergies are fine at home, but you probably don’t have 100 varieties of pollen-producing perennials surrounding your digs—some of them you’ve never been exposed to. Chances are you’re allergic to one of them because you are, in fact, of the human species.

Don’t forget the allergy medicine when you travel to a place literally to be surrounded by flowers. Wouldn’t sneezing and falling into a totally unbarricaded pond be the perfect allergy medicine commercial though?

Remember to opt for something that won’t put you to sleep. For me that means running as far away from Benadryl as possible and straight into the arms of Zyrtec . But damn, Benadryl certainly works. (Don’t forget to pack some tissues too.)

* I think legally I’m supposed to say here that I’m not a doctor? But you already knew that from earlier when I referred to Instagram as “science”. Wouldn’t conking out and falling into a totally unbarricaded pond be the perfect non-drowsy allergy medicine commercial though?

Guidebook(s)

I’m a stickler for two things: always eat where the line is longest, and always get the guidebook.

Guidebooks give great commentary, historical background, essential logistical, time, and cost information, and yeah, often even where to find the food source with the longest line, ergo, the best grub. I personally recommend:

• The Rough Guide to Brittany and Normandy – (Yes, Giverny is actually in Normandy.) Because what are we doing, class? Getting outta Paris! But since you will be in Paris…
• The Rough Guide to Paris – Or get one that has it all…
• Fodor’s Essential France – Covering it all (including Paris and a day trip to Giverny) and with a handy pull-out map. Wouldn’t falling into a pond while reading a handy pull-out map be just the funniest?
• Rick Steves France is a great option too.
• AND, I always recommend these pocket-sized customs and culture guides for all international trips. Check out Culture Smart France here. (And check out my full review of Culture Smart’s books if you want to learn more about them.)

Your day trip to Giverny and the water lily pond is a thing of rare beauty. A chance to photograph, blow up, frame, and brag about having a real (ehh, not real) Monet hanging up in your living room. Do not come to Giverny without a great camera.

A few more essentials

Here are a few more essentials you may want to bring on your day trip to Giverny:

• A decent pair of polarized sunglasses so you can see all the beauty
• Sunscreen since you’ll be visiting in the summer
• Perhaps a light, packable sun hat too
• Comfortable outdoor walking shoes – I swear by both Teva sandals and Chacos and that’s just about all I wear on trips like this. You can get them here on Zappos with free shipping and free returns.

Book to Read for Your Day trip to Giverny

Before I travel anywhere new, I always do my best to get my read on. This way, when I see something I’ve read about I can shout, “I just read about that!” because if the world doesn’t know how awesome you are, are you even awesome?

Along with guidebooks, this is a great way to be able to put everything you’ll see into perspective when you see it—historically, biographically, immediately. Here are my recommendations for books to read for your day trip to Giverny:

Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies by Ross King

I talk about Ross King all. the. time. when it comes to reading before a trip to Europe. He specializes in writing actually entertaining biographies of European artists and their lives. He also covers what’s happening in that place at that time to give great context and you learn so much.

Everything I’ve written in this post about Monet and Giverny I learned from this book. Does that make me sound like I’m coming to terms with my adult-ness? Because I’m not.

The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism by Ross King

Alright, I haven’t read this one yet but it’s sitting on the bookshelf in front of me as we speak. This one goes beyond the work of Monet and covers the movement of Impressionism and its most popular characters as a whole. 

Dover Masterworks: Color Your Own Monet Paintings

Okay, so there’s not a whole lot of reading required here but I’m totally buying this.

Where to find Monet’s Water Lilies

Well, let me put it this way: I don’t think I’ve been to an art museum that hasn’t had one of Monet’s Water Lilies on display. This Water Lilies Wikipedia page does an okay job of listing where many of them can be found but chances are if you visit a fine art museum or a modern art museum or a western art museum you’ll fall into a water lily pond.

…but nowhere will you find an explanation for why I take photos of these every. single. time. I’m chocking it up to: “I’ve been there!”

More info for your day trip to Giverny

• Heading to Paris? Find great places to stay on Booking.com and Expedia .
• Driving to Giverny? Check out the best local rental car deals here.
• Keep yourself and your belongings saf e in Paris with  these must-pack safety items . 
• What else have I covered in France? See more posts here .

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 33 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Giverny: Monet’s House, Garden & Waterlilies

By: Author Contributor

Posted on Last updated: 4th March 2024

Categories France

Last Updated on 4th March 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

Best visited during the spring and summer seasons when the flowers are in bloom and blue skies are a near daily occurrence, the small Normandy village of Giverny is a must-see while in France. Here’s your ultimate guide to visiting Monet’s Giverny , as well as travel tips, and how to visit Giverny as a day trip from Paris.

Giverny is one of the most popular day trips from Paris thanks to its impressive claim to fame: Giverny is where Monet chose to spend his later years and where he created the kind of garden which makes even the greenest of thumbs green with envy.

It’s a magical garden and, while a little crowded (particularly during when the waterlilies bloom), I would say it’s one of those Europe bucket list items you have to see while in France. I have only had the opportunity to visit the gardens once (so far) but am hoping to return in the very near future.

The best time to visit is during the spring and summer seasons when the flowers are in bloom but the real waterlily peak is typically in July! 

An introduction to Giverny

A living painting, where is giverny, when is the best time to visit giverny, getting there, booking your ticket , taking a guided tour to giverny, monet’s house, monet’s garden, where to eat at giverny, impressionists’ museum, watch the giverny video.

Just a short 45-minute train journey from Paris St Lazare is the iconic Monet Foundation Garden in Giverny. Made famous by the French impressionist artist who needs no introduction, the Monet Garden in Giverny can be seen featured as the backdrop of countless of Monet’s works.

Claude Monet made Giverny his home in 1883, when he bought the iconic house (which was once abandoned) and remodelled the gardens himself. He created a small pool of water by manipulating the course of the Epte stream to suit his garden’s aesthetic.

Monet also planted hundreds of flowers with the intention of having a garden that is full of colour all year ‘round. He called the garden his ‘greatest masterpiece’ and immortalised them in the equally famous paintings which now hang in the Orangerie museum in Paris.

The garden has a heavy Japanese influence, with the instantly recognisable green Japanese-style bridge traversing the basin of water which is the jewel in the garden’s crown. The most famous painting of this bridge is undoubtedly ‘Japanese Footbridge’ which hangs in Washington’s National Gallery of Art.

Paintings of the property started to emerge publicly in the 1890s, with a heavy focus on water, the garden’s landscaping, and the famous waterlilies (or ‘nympheas’ as they are called in French) . Monet continued to paint the gardens for 40 years, until his death in 1926. 

One of Monet’s most famous panoramic incarnations of his waterlilies can be seen as a permanent exhibition at Paris’ Orangerie museum in the Tuileries Garden , just a stone’s throw from the Louvre Museum.

Giverny is the name of a town in the region of Normandy, and is where Monet’s former home is situated. Located to the northwest of Paris, the town is around 80km away from the French capital.

The town of Giverny has a permanent population around 500, though this swells in the summer when all accommodation in town is fully booked up!

The house itself boasts a stunning façade of pink and green, adorned with vines of Virginia creeper, adding a gorgeous blanket of greenery in the Spring and Summer months and a flush of deep red leaves in the Autumn.

In Spring, the garden is peppered with lilac wisteria and the pink blush of peonies, with vibrant geraniums and roses making their grand entrance in June, and dramatic dahlias creating a crescendo of colour in the late summer and early Autumn. 

As such, it’s truly impossible to say when is the best time of year to visit the Monet Gardens in Giverny. My personal favourite, though, is probably in April-May as the garden first starts to come alive with colour.

That, or when the waterlilies reach their peak in July. Just note that the summer also happens to be the most popular time to visit Monet’s Giverny and so you won’t have as much of the place to yourself as you would if you visited in the fall.

As previously mentioned, the Monet Garden is very easily reachable from Paris and can certainly be done as part of a day trip if you simply wish to visit the gardens themselves. That said, the region has a lot to offer and there is a plethora of things to see and do in this lower part of Normandy .

Think medieval market towns , 1000-year-old ruined fortresses and breath-taking pastoral scenery, to name just a few attractions of the region. Particular highlights close to Giverny include La Roche Guyon (presided over by a crumbling fort, this town looks like it’s been plucked straight out of a storybook) and the Gothic cathedral of Évreux.

If you are indeed looking to go to Giverny for the day from Paris, I recommend taking the TER from St Lazare which is just a few stops from Vernon-Giverny station. The train journey takes less than one hour.

Tickets range from 9-16 euros and can be bought either at the station or online via sites such as Omio or SNCF connect. One big money-saver for the trip is if you have a Navigo weekly or monthly pass, you only need to book a ticket for the final leg of the train journey which is Mantes-la-Jolie until Vernon-Giverny, which will cost just 4 euros and can be bought online, in advance.

Upon arrival in the town of Vernon, where the Vernon-Giverny station is, you can then get to the Monet Garden by either taxi, shuttle bus or via the rather adorable tourist train which is just 10 euros for a return trip.

When staying in the Giverny region, you’ll be spoilt for choice for options, from hotels to ‘gite’ holiday homes to hotels of all calibres. Personally, I stayed in an Airbnb in the neighbouring village of Limetz-Villez, just a 5-minute drive from the Monet Garden.

However for those in search of a more luxurious stay, the hotel Domaine de la Corniche comes highly recommended. Built in 1908, it is highly charming and oozes Belle Epoque glamour. Check prices and availability here.

It is recommended to buy your entry tickets for the Monet Garden in advance. They are a very reasonable 11 euros 50 cents and can be bought easily via the Monet Foundation official website.

The only drawback to this is the fact that you must pick a specific arrival time, which may result in some inflexibility in your schedule. That said, truth be told I recommend being there for the opening time at 9.30am to be in with the best chance of avoiding the inevitable crowds that this landmark attracts.

Those who are looking to delve even deeper into the history of Giverny’s garden might consider booking a guided visit of the garden. This tour lasts for around an hour and a half and includes a skip-the-ticket-line entry ticket in the price of the tour. Check full details here.

Of course, if you would prefer for all of the transportation details to be taken care of for you, then there is a wide array of tours from Paris to Giverny, with an even greater selection taking place during the summer months:

Monet’s Garden Half-Day Tour from Paris: This half day tour is well-reviewed and includes 3 hours to explore Monet’s Water Garden, Monet’s House, and Claude Monet’s Tomb. Check prices and availability here.

Versailles-Giverny Day Tour with Lunch at Moulin de Fourges: If you are looking to see two of Paris’ greatest side trips as part of a single excursion, then this is the tour for you. Highlights include 3-course lunch with wine at Moulin de Fourges and a guided visit to Versailles. Check prices and availability here.

Small-Group Giverny and Van Gogh’s Room in Auvers from Paris: If you wish to discover two different artist’s homes in one day, then you can book this day trip which includes a visit to both Auvers-sur-Oise and Giverny. Check prices and availability here.

Things to see at Giverny

Of course, one of the main things to see in the Monet complex is Monet’s House, which is also a great place to shelter from the rain if there happen to be rain showers during your Giverny visit. Monet actually spied Giverny from a train window in the latter half of the 19th-century and decided he wanted to move there. He officially moved into the house in 1883.

The star of the show in Giverny is undoubtedly the garden, which was created by Monet himself. As a fan of painting en plein air (i.e. outside), he wanted to create the perfect space that would inspire the impressionist paintings that are iconic and beloved around the world today.

At La Ginguette de Giverny you will be able to find a very pleasant terrace which borders the same Epte stream which feeds the pool in Monet’s Garden. With very decent French brasserie fare and drinks at reasonable prices which can be enjoyed in the sunshine, it’s a popular spot for those also visiting Giverny in Spring and Summer. I liked it so much I have been twice!

Au Coin du Pain’tre is an adorable and familial bakery-come-restaurant, where you will be able to get coffee and tea, good quality baguette sandwiches and seasonal baked goods. I enjoyed their pear and pistachio tarte and would go back to Giverny just to have another slice.

What Giverny and its Region Has to Offer

If coming by train from Paris (and while in Paris, here’s where to see the best Monet works ) , you will arrive directly in the town of Vernon, which is definitely worth a stroll around. Perhaps a good spot to stop for a bite to eat before or after heading to the gardens, the town borders the Seine River and boasts plenty of landmarks that shouldn’t be missed.

These include the Vieux Moulin de Vernon with its neighbouring Chateau de Tourelles which looks like it belongs in the pages of a storybook, the Tour des Archives, Chateau de Bizy and the stunning Collegiale Notre Dame de Vernon.

For a deeper dive into the world of Impressionism, I would recommend a visit to the nearby Giverny Impressionists’ Museum, which will allow you to learn more about the history and significance of this movement, and how this symbiotic relationship with Giverny and artists came to be and continues to evolve to this day.

The Impressionists’ Museum is open daily during high season (May-September) between 10am and 6pm, with reduced hours in the off-season, and entry costs 10 euros.

Monet would meet with fellow art legends Cezanne, Renoir, Rodin, and others at the local establishment Hotel Brady. One could even call it the ‘ Café de Flore ’ of impressionism (the Parisian café made famous as the meeting place of literary masters such as Ernest Hemingway). 

In fact, it was the spotlight that Monet’s arrival cast upon Giverny that led the original hotel owner Madame Baudy to open this now historical address. It was the start of a new era and allowed for this new impressionists’ colony to be born.

The road where Monet’s house and garden resides was later renamed in his honour to rue Claude Monet, standing as testament to the impact that he had, not only on Impressionism but also on the quiet rural village of Giverny.

Enjoyed reading about how to visit Giverny? Pin this article now, read it again later:

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Thursday 25th of May 2023

Very interesting article about Giverny

Sophie Nadeau

Tuesday 30th of May 2023

Monday 13th of March 2023

Thank you so much for this great guide. I especially appreciate the tip that I can use my Navigo Decouverte Pass to get most of the way to Vernon, and will only need to purchase a ticket for the last little segment. I have read literally hundreds of comments on other sites and have never seen this info. Thanks again!

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Half-Day Giverny Tour from Paris: Monet's House and Garden with Skip-the-Line Tickets

• Fondation Claude Monet
• Monet's Garden
• Vernon Train Station

• Walk alongside the green pastures of Giverny that inspired Monet
• Led by an art historian

• It is your first or tenth time in Paris, Giverny changes significantly with each passing week. 
• You are in France between April and October, when the gardens are open and full of color . 
• You love impressionism , you are a fan of gardening and horticulture , or you are just looking for an interesting and charming day trip to get out of the city. 
• Money Gardens and Home
• Giverny village

Transportation

Additional trip-planning resources.

• For more information on planning your travels to Paris, take a read through our Context Stories .
• If you are looking to learn more about impressionism before your visit, check out our online lecture on Impressionism in Normandy . 

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ .

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• Sarah G 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Exceeded our expectations We had a magical visit to Monet’s House and Gardens. Our tour guide Stephan was very knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information. It was well worth the short trip from Paris. You won’t regret doing this tour. Read more Review of: Giverny Small-Group Half Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens from Paris Written 27 April 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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How to Get to Giverny from Paris to Visit Claude Monet's Garden

Planning visit Claude Monet's gardens in Giverny?  If so, you may be wondering: "What's the best way to get there from Paris?"

Ready to Book Your Trip to Giverny from Paris Now?

These are our 3 top choices for Giverny tours with transportation from Paris:

• Giverny: Monet's Garden Half-Day Tour - Highly-rated small-group guided tour
• Monet's Garden Bike Tour - Explore Giverny by bike, picnic by the Seine, and soak up the beauty of Monet's home and gardens
• Giverny & Versailles Day Tour with Lunch - Make the most of your time by visiting both sites in one day, plus a tasty French lunch by a picturesque windmill

If you love Monet's famous water lily paintings, a visit to his home in the small village of Giverny located in the Normandy countryside northwest of Paris may be one the top things to do during your time in the City of Light.

From the moment Monet's estate opens to the public in late March/early April  until it closes at the end of October or early November, the densely-planted gardens surrounding Monet's home and large lily pond produce a dazzling display of flowers. 

With around 100,000 perennials, another 100,000 or so annuals, and rhododendrons, roses, and other flowering bushes and trees, you'll see an incredible display of flowers whenever you visit.  And touring the house where Monet lived with his second wife and their eight children gives you fascinating glimpses of his comfortable furnishings, favorite art, and gorgeous French country kitchen.

Although Giverny lies 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Paris, you can travel there quickly and easily, making Monet's garden a perfect destination for a day trip - or longer.

We describe 6 different ways for you to get to Monet's garden in Giverny from Paris .  We point out the pros and cons of each option so that you can decide which one works best for you.

Here's what you'll find in this article:

• How to get to Giverny from Paris with a tour group
• How to get Giverny tickets & local guides on your own
• How to go from Paris to Giverny by train
• Can you bike to Giverny from Paris?
• How to get to Giverny from Paris with a ride share
• When to consider going to Giverny by car
• Should you go from Paris to Giverny by bus, Uber, or taxi?

Top photo: Monet's home and garden in Giverny, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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1.  How to Get from Paris to Giverny with a Tour Group

The easiest, most convenient, and by far the most popular way to get to Giverny is to join a group tour that includes air-conditioned minivan or coach transportation from Paris.

All you have to do is show up at a designated meeting spot in Paris.  For the ultimate convenience, you can even choose a private tour where you'll be picked up at your Paris hotel or apartment.

Your tour organizer handles everything else, including transportation, your ticket to the house and gardens, and priority entry through a gate available only to tour groups.  The drive to and from Giverny typically takes a little more than an hour each way.

Although most tours of Giverny from Paris include information and insights from an expert guide, you'll typically explore Monet's house, gardens, and lily pond on your own, which allows you to decide how much time to spend in each area based on your interests.

If you want to make the most of your visit to Giverny while not spending (and perhaps wasting) time figuring out all the details, these transportation-included tours are the way to go.

Popular Half-Day Giverny Tours from Paris

Here are three of the most popular choices:

• Giverny: Monet's Garden Half-Day Tour - Small guided group tour (up to 8 participants) - You'll visit Monet's house, gardens, and pond, Giverny village, and a graveyard with Monet's tomb and a moving memorial to seven British RAF airmen after the D-Day landings.
• Half-Day Trip to Giverny from Paris - Large group tour to Monet's house, gardens, and pond.  After a brief overview of what you can see at the estate, you'll explore on your own.
• Private Tour of Monet's Gardens & House with an Art Historian - Private tour for 2-8 participants with pickup/dropoff at your Paris hotel with a professional licensed guide who is also a historian; per-person cost drops as group size increases.  You'll also explore the village of Giverny.

Top Tours to Giverny from Paris:

Best full-day giverny & versailles tours.

These tours combine a half-day visit to Monet's estate and gardens in Giverny with a half-day at the Palace of Versailles, where you'll see the Hall of Mirrors and the Royal Apartments.  Depending on which tour you choose, you'll also get to spend time in Versailles' gardens and perhaps see a Musical Fountains or Musical Gardens show.

Here are several popular choices:

• Giverny & Versailles Full-Day Trip - Medium-sized guided group tour (up to 8 participants) - You'll visit Monet's house, gardens, and pond in Giverny, and Versailles Palace and gardens which special Musical Fountains/Gardens show included if you choose a date when it's available.  Your guide will give you an interesting overview of both places during the drive, but you'll explore on your own.  You'll have time to get lunch on your own.  For a similar experience but with guided tours at both attractions included, take a look at the Giverny & Versailles Palace Guided Day Trip.
• Giverny & Versailles Day Tour with Lunch - Guided tour group (up to 14 participants) - You'll visit Monet's house and gardens in Giverny, and Versailles Palace and gardens which special Musical Fountains/Gardens show when available on your chosen date.  Includes a 3-course lunch with wine in a scenic mill house restaurant near Giverny.  For a similar experience with
• Giverny & Versailles Private Full-Day Trip - Private VIP tour of Giverny and Versailles (including the gardens, Grand and Petit Trianons, and Queen's Hamlet) for your family or friends group of up to 7 people, with pickup/dropoff at your Paris hotel or apartment. 

A Fun Giverny Tour by Bike

• Monet's Garden Bike Tour - This full-day excursion combines a 3 mile (5k) bike ride from the town of Vernon with a visit to Monet's estate.  Along the way, you'll stop at an outdoor market for food and enjoy a picnic in a park.  Later, you can explore the village of Giverny.  Includes transportation from Paris to Giverny and back to Paris.

Find more Giverny & Giverny-Versailles tours from Paris

Pros & Cons for Getting to Giverny With a Tour Group

Pros: 

• Easy & Convenient - The tour operator takes care of transportation, your tickets to Monet's estate and Versailles, if you choose a combo tour, any other tour inclusions (bikes, lunch, separate Versailles garden tickets, audioguides, etc.), and fast entry through the tour-only gate available only to tour groups.  All you have to do is show up at the meeting location - and if you choose one of the VIP tours with pickup/dropoff included, you don't even have to do that.
• Saves Time - One of the quickest ways to get to Giverny, plus the Giverny-Versailles full-day tours are ideal when you want to visit both but don't have much time in Paris.
• Cost - Wide range, which lets you find a tour to fit your budget.  The cheapest tour, which is the Half-Day Trip to Giverny from Paris tour's audioguide/tour-on-your-own option, costs only a little more than going on your own by train and taxi.

Cons: 

• Time Constraints - You will have only a specific amount of time at Giverny (and other activities, depending on which tour you choose).
• Cost - Higher (in most cases) than going by train or a rideshare.

Prefer to Go to Giverny on Your Own?

The rest of this article describes how to get from Paris to Giverny on your own by train (the most popular choice), bike, car, and a few other options.  Here are a couple of things you might want to know:

How to Get Admission Tickets for Monet's House & Gardens

The Monet Foundation, which operates Monet's estate, offers two options:

• At the entrance (you may have to wait in line for awhile): 11€
• Online in advance (dated, timed tickets - they cost 1€ more, but you'll usually save time by not having to wait in the ticket line) on the Foundation's website (in the "Practical Information" section - click the Admission link): 12€

Reduced rates are available for students, children under 7 (free), and people with disabilities.

Local Tour Guides for Monet's House & Gardens

Even though Giverny is easy to visit on your own, an experienced tour guide can provide information and insights to give you a deeper appreciation of what you're seeing.  Here are some local options:

Private Giverny Guides

In the Practical Information: Admission section on the Foundation's website , you'll find a link to a list of private guides based in Giverny.  The list indicates languages spoken and contact information so that you can get more details.

Group Tours 

Meet up with these local guides in Giverny village near Monet's estate:

• Monet's House & Gardens Guided Tour - Small group tour (up to 9 people), 1.5 hours, includes your priority entrance ticket.  What makes this tour unique is that it starts with Monet's water lily pond garden, where your guide will point out the different features of the garden and the flower species blooming in it.  You'll also visit Monet's house.  At the end, you can stay as long as you want to explore more on your own.
• Monet's House & Garden Skip-the-Line Tour - 2 hours, includes your priority entrance ticket.  Your guide will show you a bit of Giverny village, tell you about Monet's role in leading the Impressionist movement, and describe the other artists such as John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, and Paul Cezanne who he inspired to form an artists' colony in Giverny.  You'll explore the gardens and pond, as well as his house.

2.  How to Get from Paris to Giverny by Train

The second most popular option for getting to Giverny from Paris is take a train in the SNCF network, the French national railway company (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français) for providing rail service across France. 

Giverny , a tiny village with barely more than 500 residents, does not have direct train service from Paris, but you can take a train from Paris's Gare Saint-Lazare (memorialized by Monet in his "Gare Saint-Lazare" series of a dozen oil paintings) to Vernon, a somewhat larger town located only 3 miles (5 km) from Giverny.  

To get to Giverny from the Vernon station, Gare de Vernon-Giverny, you have several options: a seasonal shuttle bus ( navette, in French), taxi, biking, or walking. 

The total time to get from Paris to Monet's estate at Giverny is about 1.5 hours, assuming you take the shuttle bus.

How to Get Your Train Tickets from Paris to Vernon

Here's how to get Vernon by train from Paris, and then to get to Giverny by shuttle bus, taxi, biking, or walking.

Trains to northwestern France including Normandy, where Vernon is located, depart from Gare Saint-Lazare (this is also where you can catch trains to Versailles and the Normandy D-Day beaches). 

Although Saint-Lazare is the second-busiest of Paris's seven big rail stations serving long-distance trains to other parts of France, commuters from nearby suburbs account for the vast majority of the station's almost half-million daily passengers.

You can either buy your train tickets from a ticket machine in Gare Saint-Lazare on the day you travel or in advance, or get them online in advance. 

Transit time varies based on time of day and type of train (several types serve this route), but typically is less than one hour.  Trains run every hour or two throughout much of the day.

How to Buy Your Giverny Tickets at the Station

Navigating around Gare Saint-Lazare can seem a little tricky at first because of the 3-level shopping center stretching across one side of the building - very convenient for the suburban commuters, but a bit confusing if you're familiar with the station.

But actually, all you need to do when buying your tickets to Vernon , whether you enter at street level or take the subway or RER to the station is to look for and then follow the "Grande Lignes" (long-distance trains). 

Once you reach the Grandes Lignes part of the departure concourse, you'll easily spot the ticket machines.  Ignore the ones labeled "Ile de France" and look for a machine for "Grandes Lignes."

Find details about getting your Vernon train tickets at Gare Saint-Lazare

Why to Keep Your Train Tickets Until After You Arrive

Important Tip:  Keep your ticket once you board the train at Gare Saint-Lazare because you'll need to show it to the conductor during your trip, and possibly insert it into a turnstile in order to exit the Vernon station.  

If you don't have your ticket when you exit, you'll most likely be fined.

How to Get from Vernon to Giverny

Once you get off the train at the Vernon station, Gare de Vernon-Giverny, you have four choices for traveling the 3 miles (8 km) to Giverny: a seasonal shuttle bus ( navette, in French), taxi, biking, or walking. 

Here's what you need to know about each option:

Shuttle Bus from Vernon to Giverny

A shuttle bus designed to look like a small train runs to and from Giverny during the months when Monet's house and gardens are open for touring - late March/early April through late October/early November.  The shuttle drops you off in the Giverny parking lot.  Currently, the fare is 5€ each way, and 10€ for a round-trip ticket.  You pay the driver directly, in cash, or with credit card inside the station (look for shuttle or Agence SNgo! signs).

The shuttle bus departs across from Gare de Vernon-Giverny about 20 minutes after the arrival of each train from Paris during hours when Monet's estate is open, and departs Giverny in time to arrive at the Vernon station about 20 minutes before trains depart for Paris.  The ride each way takes about 10-15 minutes.

Here are the current schedules to give you a sense of availability - but always confirm times with the Normandy transportation network in case of updates (on the home page, click Giverny Shuttle).

Taxi to Giverny

As you exit Gare de Vernon-Giverny, you'll probably see a couple of taxis waiting for passengers by the station.  One-way fares to Monet's estate are about 15€ - 20€ for up to 3 people.

The biggest advantage of taking a taxi to Giverny is that you can grab one as soon as you exit the station, rather than wait 15-20 minutes for the shuttle to depart.

If you're traveling with one or more other people, the taxi will cost you the same or less per person than the shuttle. 

However, getting back to the station by taxi is trickier.  Your best bet is to ask the driver for a phone number to call for pickup.  If that doesn't work out, you can always take the shuttle bus back to Vernon.

Walking to and from Giverny

The 3-mile (5 km) walk to Giverny will take you about an hour or a little less, depending on how fast you walk, and you'll most likely enjoy the scenery along the way - especially since much of the walk is along the Seine River.  You'll see plenty of signs from the station, so just follow the walking path. 

Walking can be a wonderful choice if you arrive on an early train, the weather is lovely, and you like to walk.  Plus, you'll save a few euros.  And you can always take the shuttle bus back if you don't want to walk both ways.

Biking to and from Giverny

When you get off the train from Paris and come out of the station, look for bike rental signs. 

One of best full-service places, with is highly rated, is the Givernon Rental Station at 39 Rue Emile Steiner, located about half a block from the train station.  The long row of bikes parked in front of the shop is easy to spot.  Your rental includes a helmet, lock, and, if you rent an electric bike (or scooter) for more than a day, a charger.  Rates are very reasonable, and you can reserve on their website.  

After your visit to Monet's house and gardens, you can explore Giverny, Vernon (which has some interesting attractions), and the surrounding areas using the good bike paths and enjoying the fairly flat terrain.

Pros & Cons for Getting to Giverny by Train

• Flexibility - You can spend as long as you exploring Monet's home and gardens, Giverny village (full of nice cafes, boutiques, artist studios), and even Vernon (attractions include a medieval castle, a 10th century romanesque/gothic church depicted in several of Monet's paintings, a small museum with some Impressionist paintings, including a couple by Monet, and picturesque half-timbered dwellings dating back to the Middle Ages).  With so much to do and see in the area, you may even want to stay overnight in one of the many small inns and B&Bs - which are much cheaper than most Paris hotels. 
• Cost - May be cheaper than a transportation-and-ticket-only tour, depending on when and where you buy your train tickets, and how you get to Giverny (more about that in a moment).
• Somewhat More Complicated than Going on a Tour from Paris - Although getting to Giverny from Paris and back is not particularly complicated, there are more steps involved than just joining a tour, particularly since you should book tickets to Monet's estate in advance during the busiest season (mid-May - early September).

3.  How to Get to Giverny from Paris with a Ride Share

A ride share - b asically, a car-pooling service where you catch a ride from Paris to Giverny in exchange for a few euros with someone who is driving on the same day/time you want to go - is an option you may not have considered.  

France's ride-share app, BlaBlaCar (which also operates in other European countries and UK) makes this easy. 

You simply go to the app, enter your departure point, your destination, and travel date.  A list pops up showing available offers from drivers who have room in their car one or more passengers.  If buses are available for your route (which they are not from Paris to Giverny), you'll see them too.  Click on the offer you like, and you'll see additional details, such as the meet-up location.

Paris to Giverny (or Vernon) is not a particularly popular route for non-tourists, but if the stars align and you see an offer, a ride share can be an interesting experience and will save you a few euros in transportation costs compared with going by train.  Unless you get very lucky, though, you'll probably need to take the train back to Paris.

And of course, similar to going by train, you'll need to get your own admission ticket to Monet's estate.

4.  Can You Go to Giverny from Paris by Bike?

Yes,  although not for a day trip. 

According to France Velo Tourism  (velo means "bicycle" in French), the go-to resource for traveling by bike in France, and whose excellent website you'll certainly want to consult, the fastest route (55 miles/88.5 km over mostly roads vs bike paths) will take you almost 7 hours each way. 

If you ride on bike paths 97% of the time, the route extends to 90 miles (145 km), which France Velo suggests staging over the course of 3 days. 

Probably neither option will appeal to you if you're the average Paris visitor who just wants to spend a few hours strolling around Giverny - but if you love long-distance biking and have time to make this trip, you'll certainly have some memorable experiences.

5.  When to Consider Going to Giverny by Car

Normally, as a Paris visitor, there's no point in being burdened with a car in Paris because a) driving in the city can be a nightmare if you're not used to it, and b) parking can cost more than dinner, and c) paying for petrol in Europe can quickly flatten your wallet.  Getting around Paris on the metro or walking or even the occasional taxi or Uber is much faster, cheaper, and easier. 

Even renting a car just to get from Paris to Giverny and back doesn't makes sense in terms of saving time or money, especially since the process of picking up/returning your rental car can be a hassle.  If your goal is private car transport, ask the concierge at your hotel to recommend a reliable chauffeured car service.

But if you are planning to make a trip outside the city to multiple destinations including Giverny, then renting a car can make a lot of sense. 

If you are considering doing this, here are a couple of tips:

First, instead of renting a car in Paris and having to battle city traffic on congested roads, consider picking up your rental in the nearby business district of La Défense, easily reached on Line 1 of the metro.  You'll find European, British, and even American car rental agencies such as Avis and Budget.  From La Défense, you'll have an easy drive to Giverny and beyond.

Second, consider spending the night at one of the wonderful hotels or apartments in Giverny (make sure you choose one with onsite parking) where both hotel rates and parking fees are significantly cheaper than in Paris.  This also gives you more time to explore Monet's charming home and magnificent gardens at your own pace.

6.  Why Getting to Giverny by Bus, Uber, or Taxi Is Not a Good Idea

Public bus service from Paris to Giverny (or Vernon) is not available.

Should you consider using a ride-share service such as Uber or a taxi for getting to Giverny from Paris?

No, not unless you don't mind paying as much as 200€ or even more Euros each way, finding an Uber or taxi willing to take you (at 50 miles/80 km, most will not), and risking getting stuck there if you can't find a ride service willing to take you back to Paris.

If you want to travel to Giverny by car, you're much better off finding a chauffeured car service to take you.   Ask your hotel concierge to make arrangements for you.  Most hotels have trusted car services that they're happy to recommend. 

You'll still have to pay a lot, but you'll be assured of not getting stuck in Giverny and scrambling to find overnight accommodations.

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Au musée des impressionnismes à Giverny, la mer dans tous ses états

Dans ce nouvel épisode, marie sorbier nous fait visiter "l'impressionnisme et la mer", la nouvelle exposition du musée des impressionnismes à giverny (eure) qui offre aux visiteurs un voyage poétique autour de 80 oeuvres du xixe siècle..

Après nous avoir fait découvrir  l'Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Rire  qui ouvrira ses portes à la rentrée prochaine, Marie Sorbier continue son Grand Tour en nous emmenant visiter  "Les Impressionnismes et la mer", la nouvelle exposition du musée des impressionnismes à Giverny  dans l'Eure. Cette dernière permet d'admirer près de 80 peintures sur le thème de la mer, parmi lesquelles on retrouve seize oeuvres prêtées par le musée d'Orsay dans le cadre des 150 ans du mouvement impressionniste.

L'exposition s'ouvre par une citation de Charles Baudelaire tirée de ses journaux intimes et qui accueille le visiteur en l'invitant à voyager aux travers des oeuvres présentées : "Ces beaux et grands navires, imperceptiblement balancés (dandinés) sur les eaux tranquilles, ces robustes navires, à l’air désœuvré et nostalgique, ne nous disent-ils pas dans une langue muette : Quand partons-nous pour le bonheur ?" Et comme le rappelle Cyrille Sciama, le directeur du musée, ce thème de la mer qui est certes banal, n'a été que très rarement choisi comme fil rouge d'une exposition sur l'impressionnisme, ce qui semble presque paradoxal quand on sait que le mouvement est né autour de la célèbre toile de Claude Monet Impression, soleil levant , une marine peinte au Havre.

"L'impressionnisme et la mer", visible jusqu'au 30 juin prochain, est l'occasion de découvrir à la fois des chefs-d'oeuvre de grands peintres, mais aussi des oeuvres d'artistes moins connus, ainsi que des toiles très originales dans leur traitement de la mer, comme par exemple deux peintures de Gustave Courbet représentant des vagues lors d'une tempête : "Celle du centre est une vague crépusculaire, mousseuse, peinte sur un petit format au couteau. Un tableau qui est très impressionnant, qui dégage quelque chose avec une force incroyable. (...) On peut le voir aussi comme un portrait de lui même, assez angoissé, avec cette vague énorme qui s'abat vers le spectateur dans un déferlement d'écume" détaille le directeur du musée.

Musique de l'épisode :

• Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un faune et Clair de lune  de Claude Debussy
• Alexandre Fougeron Réalisation
• Marceau Vassy Collaboration
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