tour to giverny from paris

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

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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.

Prepare your visit

• How to Get from Paris to Giverny
• See & Do
• Monet's Garden in Giverny
• Getting from Paris to Giverny

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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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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Giverny + Auvers-sur-Oise

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• Description •
• Tour Highlights •

Visit Monet & Van Gogh in One Day

Walk in the footsteps of two amazing artists: Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh on this small group day trip from Paris. Discover the unparallelled beauty in the Clos Normand and Japanese Water gardens of Claude Monet, in Giverny. You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into one of his Impressionist paintings as you walk among the willow trees and cross the little green bridge over his pond of water lilies. Then you’ll explore inside of his colorful family home.

After your visit of Claude Monet’s home and gardens you’ll stop at his tomb to pay your respects to this great man in person. Afterwards, you’ll be off to visit the town of Auvers-sur-Oise where you’ll focus on the troubled life and amazing Post Impressionist art of Vincent Van Gogh. You’ll visit the boarding house where Vincent lived the last 3 months of his life.

Then you’ll explore the little town, and surrounding area which inspired 77 of his paintings. You’ll visit the gothic “Church of Auvers” and walk in the actual “Wheat Field with Crows”. Seeing these places with your own eyes will help you to understand why Vincent Van Gogh found so much inspiration in Auvers-sur-Oise. You’ll also visit Van Gogh’s final resting place; a humble ivy covered grave site.

Monet: The Father of Impressionism

This small group tour meets up close to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The drive from Paris to Giverny will last about 45 minutes and you’ll ride in comfort in our luxury van with leather seats and fresh A/C.

Your guide will share a great introduction to the life of Claude Monet and his gorgeous estate. You’ll learn about his most famous paintings and find out why people call him the “Father of Impressionism”. Then you’ll have at least 90 minutes of free time to discover the living art in his amazing gardens and visit inside of his colorful family home where he lived with his 8 children.

Giverny was Claude Monet’s home for the last 40 years of his life. It was also his greatest source of inspiration for his paintings. You’ll see why when you explore his gardens. The Clos Normand garden is overflowing with iris’, peonies, daffodils, and nasturtiums that hang off of arched trellis’. The Water Garden is lush and green, with bamboo shoots and huge willow trees. You’ll be able to cross the little green japanese bridge and gaze at the delicate water lilies in the pond.

From Giverny to Auvers-sur-Oise

After you have finished your visit of Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny your guide will take you to the quaint little church where Monet worshipped on Sundays. There in the little parish cemetery you’ll find the final resting place of Claude Monet. You’ll be able to pay your respects to this great man and then you’ll be off on your way to Auvers-sur-Oise.

Auvers-sur-Oise is about an hour away from Giverny and you’ll be driving through the beautiful French Countryside the whole way. When you arrive in the little town of Auvers-sur-Oise you’ll be able to take at least an hour long break. There is a boulangerie with fresh baked goods as well as several little restaurants that serve good local foods at reasonable prices. You can choose to eat in whichever establishment best fits your taste and budget.

After lunch you’ll be given a fully guided visit of the Auberge Ravoux guesthouse where Vincent Van Gogh lived during the last 3 months of his life. In this museum, of sorts, you’ll learn about his final days, see the small bedroom where he died, and watch a short film about his personal life and art. The nail holes of where he nailed his wet canvases to the wall are still present in the Auberge Ravoux.

The Artists Trail and Vincent Van Gogh’s Grave

Then your guide will take you along the Artists Trail which winds its way through the charming little town and has photo panels standing in the different spots where Vincent placed his easel to paint. Along this trail you’ll be stopping to learn about what inspired Vincent Van Gogh’s final 77 paintings. You’ll even visit the “Church of Auvers” on your way to Vincent’s grave site.

Vincent Van Gogh is laid to rest in a very humble grave covered with ivy next to his brother, and best friend in the world, Theo. You’ll be able to pay your respects to this troubled genius and thank him for all of the color he brought into the world. Then you’ll have a walk through the wheat field that inspired his ominous painting “Wheatfield with Crows”.

This day trip is not just for those who are passionate art historians but for anyone who has seen a painting of Claude Monet or Vincent Van Gogh and wondered more about the man behind the colors. This tour is vibrant and full of simple honest stories of real men who lived, loved, painted and died just outside of Paris. It is an excellent way to see the french countryside and learn more about Impressionism and France in the 1900’s.

Good to Know:

• The drive back into Paris will be about 40 minutes long.
• Your lunch is not included in our tour price. We suggest bringing about 20€ per person for a good local lunch, but you could spend only 5€ on a sandwich at the bakery if that’s more your style.
• Gratuities aka "tips" are not included but welcomed by our guides.

Max. 8 pers. per tour

All day Back in Paris around 6PM

What's Included

• Transportation by luxury A/C minibus
• Knowledgeable & friendly guide
• All entrance tickets

All of our tours are commented in English

Dates & Times

April to October 8AM

Meeting point

8 Avenue de Villiers, Paris

Click here for picture Reservation required

For the Giverny + Auvers-sur-Oise Day Trip from Paris you will meet with your driver-guide outside of 8 Avenue de Villiers in Paris.

Tour Highlights

Monet’s Water Lilies

See the beautiful pond full of water lilies and cross the little green, Japanese style, bridge that are featured in thousands of Monet’s paintings.

Monet’s Flower Garden

Wander through the lovely Clos Normand flower garden where a hundred different flowers are in bloom.

Monet’s Home

Enjoy free time to visit Monet’s home of more than 40 years where he raised his 8 children and put the final touches on his paintings.

Monet’s Tomb

Visit the final resting place of Claude Monet that is hidden away in a little church’s graveyard.

Van Gogh’s room

Discover how Vincent Van Gogh’s lived and spent his last days in the boarding house: Auberge Ravoux.

Walk in Van Gogh’s footsteps

Follow the Artists trail that leads from “The Stairs in Auvers” to the “Wheat Field with Crows”, stopping along the way to see “The Church in Auvers” and many more of the sites that inspired his final paintings.

Van Gogh’s Tomb

Pay your respects to Vincent Van Gogh at his humble gravesite that is covered in ivy.

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

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.

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.

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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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Home > Side Trips from Paris > Paris to Giverny Day Trip: Visit Monet’s House and Garden

Paris to Giverny Day Trip: Visit Monet’s House and Garden

Day trip to giverny from paris.

If you are a fan of Claude Monet and Impressionism, Giverny is the place to go. True, Paris boasts some of the best museums to learn about Monet and Impressionism in general, like Orly Museum or Musée Marmottan-Monet . However, Impressionism is all about “plein air” (painting outdoors), so there’s no better place to enjoy Impressionism than where the artists set their easels to paint their masterworks.

So if you have a spare day in your Paris itinerary and the weather is good, we definitely recommend a day trip to Giverny from Paris to visit Monet’s Garden and House.

Monet’s Gardens in Giverny is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. Click here for the list of best day trips from Paris

Monet’s Garden and House in Giverny

In this small village in Normandy, Monet finds a “peasant house” for rent – the Clos Normand – bordered by a vegetable garden and an orchard. The closed set of walls covered almost one hectare. When his financial situation improved, Monet ended up buying the house and the adjoining garden in 1890.

During 40 years and until his death, Monet arranged, rearranged, and enlarged this house, where he died in 1926. Monet’s House is best known for its Water Lily Pond , where Monet painted his world-famous water lilies. Monet’s water lilies and the Japanese bridge are the most popular things to see in Giverny, but of course, there is much more to visit.

READ MORE –   Follow Monet’s steps in Paris

Best Time to Visit Giverny and Monet’s Garden

What is the best time to visit Giverny, and more specifically, the best time to visit Monet’s Garden? Monet’s House and Garden in Giverny are closed during the winter. Monet’s Estate opens its doors in the spring, every day from 29 March 2024 to 1st November 2024 .

For most visitors, the visit to Monet’s Estate is focused on the Garden, which will be more or less exuberant depending on the season.

» In spring, two of the emblematic trees in Monet’s Garden – the apple tree and the cherry tree – start to bloom

» In June , the first water lilies start to wake up to reach their full bloom in July.

» Visit Giverny Gardens in October for its amazing fall colors.

How to Get to Giverny from Paris

Giverny is located 70 km northwest of Paris. Compared to other day trips from Paris, like Versailles Palace and Gardens or the medieval town of Provins , the small town of Giverny is not that easy to reach by public transportation. By easy, we mean that there is no direct connection, and the price is not that cheap compared to other options like guided tours.

Below, are the most common ways to visit Giverny on a day trip from Paris.

Paris to Giverny Day Trip by Car

The car is the best option to visit Giverny. By car, you can go from Paris to Giverny in only 55 min and perhaps complete your Paris to Giverny day trip with other beautiful small towns near Paris like La Roche-Guyon or Les Andelys.

Another interesting option could be to extend your trip to Etretat on the Norman coast and transform your Paris Giverny trip into a weekend getaway from Paris . You can check here the best hotels to sleep in Etretat.

If you need to rent a car, try to find an agency located north of Paris, so you avoid the hassle of crossing the city by car – Click here to rent your car in Paris

Paris to Giverny Day Trip by Train + Bus

Unfortunately, there is no direct train from Paris to Giverny, but this does not mean that a trip to Giverny from Paris by public transportation is not possible.

» At Paris Saint Lazare Station , take the train to Rouen Rive Droite (46-minute ride, hourly).

» Stop at Gare de Vernon-Giverny , exit the train station, and walk around 600m to the VTNI 27 bus stop .

» Take bus #250 , direction Entrepagny (5 to 10 minutes drive). There are only three buses daily, so don’t miss your bus!

» The total cost of your Giverny trip, one way, is 15 to 27€, depending on the train fare that you get.

Book a Paris to Giverny Tour

A Paris to Giverny tour is a great idea because it avoids all the transportation hassle. Amongst all the Giverny day trips from Paris, this self-guided Giverny tour with train tickets always gets great reviews. This 5-hour tour, with or without an audio guide, includes transportation from Paris to Giverny and the Monet House and Garden tickets. Once in Giverny, the participants can visit the Estate on their own for around 2 hours.

Click here to book this tour to Giverny

Book a Giverny Bike Tour

Choose this Giverny day trip from Paris to explore a bit of the French countryside by bike. This 9-hour Giverny bike tour includes a transfer to/from Vernon, an awesome bicycle ride through the scenic wheat and sunflower fields of the French countryside, a shortstop to visit the cemetery where Monet is buried, and the entrance tickets to Monet’s House and Garden. Once the tour arrives at Monet’s Estate, visitors have around 1.5 hours to visit it on their own.

Click here to book this bike tour to Giverny

Combine Giverny + Another Destination on a Day Tour

If you want to get the most of your day out of Paris, combining Giverny with another destination nearby can be a good idea. The list of this kind of combo tour is long, with interesting proposals like Giverny + Rouen or Giverny + Auvers-sur-Oise .

We don’t recommend combining Giverny with Versailles, though. Versailles Palace and Gardens are so big, and there are so many things to see and do that a full-day tour to Versailles is your best option. Below, the list of our favorite combo tours:

» Full-day tour to Giverny and Rouen from Paris . This is a Monet all-day tour to visit his house and the cathedral in Rouen, so cherished by the artist and model of many of his paintings.

» Full-day tour to Giverny and Honfleur . Discover two of the most beautiful sights in the region of Normandy.

» Full-day tour to Giverny and Auvers-Sur-Oise . Explore the world and source of inspiration for two of the best artists of the last centuries. Auvers-Sur-Oise is where Van Gogh painted his last works.

Visit Monet’s House and Workshop in Giverny

Visitors can enter Monet’s Workshop from the living room through a short passage painted blue. The workshop is located on the ground floor, and it was originally a barn attached to the house. Monet was so obsessed with light that he made installed a glass roof for his workshop.

Years later, Monet moved his workshop to another barn not far from the house, and this place became a “fumoir” (a lounge smoker) in which he showed his paintings to his friends and potential clients. This is a very cozy place full of Monet’s paintings displayed on the walls and personal objects.

The rest of the 2-floor house is bright and cozy, with the kitchen and living spaces on the ground floor and the rooms on the first floor. Monet’s room is simple and with great views over the garden. It is interesting to notice that Monet liked to sleep surrounded by his friends’ paintings: Cézanne, Renoir, Caillebotte, but also Berthe Morizot, Boudin, and Signac.

On the ground floor, there are common rooms like the light and colorful kitchen or the dining room. These rooms look like Monet paintings, where nothing is left to chance.

Visit Monet’s Garden

Monet acquires a love of plants and gardening by frequenting the gardens of his friends and later working in his own garden at Argenteuil near Paris. In Giverny, he models his Garden to perfection to paint it better.

During Monet’s life, there were up to six gardeners working in the artist’s Garden at Giverny under his direct supervision. This is proof of the importance that Monet gave to the Garden.

Monet arranged squares of perennial flowers, playing with their colors for his paintings. He had a passion for tulips, and you can find them everywhere, together with agapanthus, nasturtiums, dahlias, irises, wisterias, poppies, and peonies. Today, Giverny Garden is kept by ten gardeners.

Visit Monet’s Water Lily Pond in Giverny

Monet’s Water Lily Pond was created by deviating one of the small arms of the Epte River. The artist spent many hours by the pond contemplating nature and the reflection of the sky on the water.

On this Water Lily Pond, he created a surreal world that he translated into his world-famous paintings of water lilies. Come to see the water lilies from June to August.

Is Giverny Worth Visiting?

Definitely YES!, especially if you like Monet’s artwork. Giverny is a small village, and Monet’s Estate can be visited in 1 hour or 2, so even if your Parisian holidays are short, a half-day trip from Paris to Giverny is easy to fit in.

The artist’s garden at Giverny and especially the Water Lily Pond are spectacular and well worth a short break out of Paris!

Click here for more Side Trips from Paris

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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

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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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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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Monet’s Garden – visit Giverny from Paris (2024)

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Taking a trip to Monet’s Garden in Giverny is a great call if you’re around Paris and looking for something different. It’s a solid pick, especially if you’ve already checked out the Paris Art galleries showcasing Monet’s works.

• Monet, a key figure in French Impressionism , lived most of his live in Giverny. Today, his house and gardens are open for visitors.
• You don’t have to be big on art to enjoy it here. The gardens offer a peaceful and visually stunning experience that’s worth your time.

Note : The House and Gardens of Monet are closed during winter and reopen on the 29th of March 2024

I visited Giverny for the third time last summer, and as always, it was a treat. But, there’s a twist. I only made it into the garden twice. Read on to know how to avoid my rookie mistake for your Giverny trip from Paris.

Salut, I am Lena – travel planning expert and parisienne since 2006 🩷

Highlights – most popular day tours from Paris to Giverny

Save precious time when planning your trip to Giverny from Paris and check right away the most popular and best rated tours from Paris to Monet’s House and Garden:

Monet’s Garden: Things to know

Monet’s Garden in Giverny is a great spot for a day trip from Paris. The garden is beautiful, and you probably have never seen anything like it. Monet lived in Giverny for 46 years and created the Gardens as a vivid inspiration for his paintings.

Did you know that Monet actually created 2 gardens? 

He first created the “ Clos Normand ” in front of his house. The one-hectare big property is made surprisingly symmetrical, yet wild, with colorful flowerbeds, orchards, and rose bushes.

The famous water garden with its pond and waterlilies is located on the other side of the road, built on an estate that Claude Monet purchased roughly a decade after moving to Giverny.

He was a fond admirer and collector of Japanese Art, which inspired him when creating the water garden. Hence, the appearance of a Japanese bridge.

But even if you are not overly keen on exploring the marvelous real-life botanic of Monet’s masterpieces, maybe you are interested in seeing how he lived? You can visit his house with plenty of artifacts and replicas of his legacy, but also admire his collection of Japanese art that is exhibited in his home.

Also, Giverny is a lovely village in Normandy and actually – after the stunning Mont Saint Michel – the 2nd most visited place in the region. If you have a bit of time, I strongly suggest taking a walk in the pretty and Normand village.

Editors Tip : Have a look at the best walking shoes for your trip to Paris 

Where is Giverny?

Even though Giverny lays only 70 km ( 43 mi) west of Paris, it’s already in another region. In Normandy . By choosing Giverny as your day trip from Paris destination, you will not only explore the beautiful garden, you also will discover a region, that is entirely different from what you’ve seen in Paris so far. Hence, Giverny is a great choice as it allows you to discover more of France than just the capital.

To fully immerse into the Normandie region, consider taking a guided bike trip through the villages and countryside around Monet’s House. You find more information on this excursion here .

Planning your trip to Giverny

Visiting Giverny is actually not very complicated. It is so close to Paris that you could even squeeze it in a half-day train trip from Paris . It is also very accessible by various transportation methods. After reading this article, you’ll know when it’s the best time to visit Giverny, how you’ll get there and how you are making the most out of your day trip from Paris.

What’s the best time to visit Monet’s Garden?

As for all gardens and parks, the best time to visit Monet’s Garden is definitely spring , but summer is beautiful as well. However, the site is closed from November to April anyway.

If you travel to Giverny in Spring, you will find most flowers and trees in full bloom. Especially the orchard is beautiful during this time of the year. During late June and July, you’ll find the water lilies in full bloom – certainly a highlight if you are an admirer of Monet’s waterlilies series. Monet’s garden is also a good destination if you like to see fall foliage.

How to get to Giverny from Paris?

The first thing to decide on when planning your day trip to Giverny is, if you want to go there by your own means or if you feel safer in the comfort of an organized tour. Personally, I don’t see any strong selling point of one way over the other. Each travel means has its strong points, however, joining a tour is certainly the most stress-free way. You can see your tour options right here. 

But overall It really depends on how many resources (time, budget, nerves (!)) you have to organize a trip to Giverny on your own. When doing my research for this article, I was surprised though to find that in many cases joining a tour is actually the low-cost option to visit Giverny as the price for trains depends on availabilities.

How to visit Giverny by Car

Click here to find the cheapest offer to rent a car in Paris

The most independent way of traveling to Monet’s garden is certainly by renting a car in Paris and drive out to Giverny.

Due to COVID-19 and ongoing restrictions, it is absolutely recommended to purchase your entry ticket in advance. To control the visitor flow and access during these times, ticket booths at most sights are closed, and it is necessary to reserve your ticket and your time slot in advance.

You can do this either directly at the Foundation Claude Monet or book your ticket as part of a guided visit to Monet’s House and Garden. 

However, the journey by car is not complicated – just join the A13 and the Monet House is not far from the exit. The journey takes around an hour.

Note that rush hour traffic can easily double the travel time. Giverny also lies on the way to the Normand coast, a region that many Parisians head to over the weekend. You can expect heavy traffic direction Paris on Sunday afternoons.

A good page to compare different rental car companies is autoeurope. I booked with them several times already and never had an issue. When renting a car in Paris , I recommend choosing a pickup location in the east (or north) of Paris, to avoid navigating through Paris after enjoying the French countryside.

How much does the highway from Paris to Giverny cost?

I know that several websites are warning visitors of insanely expensive highways in France. One site even mentions that it can be up to €100 to go to Giverny. DO NOT WORRY!  Maybe that’s what they spent on an Uber trip but the highway toll from Paris to Giverny is certainly not that high. I have been to Giverny in the summer of 2020, and we paid around €20 for the return trip . Also, parking in Giverny is free!

How to visit Giverny by train

Click here to see available train tickets for your Giverny trip

Knowing, that driving in France, let alone Paris is intimidating for many travelers, you also can get to Giverny by train. You easily can book your train tickets for Giverny here online . The closest train station is Vernon, from where you could either walk  (it’s an hour though!), or take a shuttle to the house and garden of Monet.

Trains to Vernon are leaving almost hourly at the train station Saint-Lazare and the journey takes around 50 min. Expect to pay at least €30 for the round trip and another €10 for the shuttle.

You can directly check for prices and train availabilities by using this search form:

To help you evaluate if traveling by train is the better option for you, I put together an overview to helo you compare your options:

Organize your day in Giverny

When arriving in Giverny on your own account, you still need to make sure to have purchased your tickets in advance. As you know, I once did not follow my own advice and given the queues to the ticket booths were more than 200m long, we decided not to visit the garden after all.

In times of Covid-19, things are worse. To control visitors’ flow and guarantee that visitors can maintain their distance, only a limited number of guests are allowed to enter the site. Hence, ticket booths on site are likely to be closed and the only way to obtain a ticket is online and in advance. You can do this either directly at the Foundation Claude Monet or you book your ticket as part of a guided visit to Monet’s House and Garden. 

If you are interested in Monet’s life, the history of the place, and curious to be filled in in some secrets and insider knowledge, I recommend booking a tour . I visited Giverny last summer without booking a guided tour and was indeed a little disappointed due to the lack of information. There are close to no displays or information boards.

However, if you just want to stroll around the gardens, you are completely safe to book just a ticket at the Foundation Claude Monet and enjoy your time. It’s worth it either way.

Smart Option: Joining a tour from Paris to visit Giverny

follow this link to compare all tours from Paris to Giverny 

If you don’t want to bother with travel planning, you can easily join a tour to Giverny from Paris. It’s certainly the most hassle-free way of visiting Monet’s Garden and the most efficient as well. It’s also the option where you can profit the most, as tours always include either a live tour guide or an audio guide.

Take a half-day trip if you are short on time

If you have only a few days in Paris , Giverny is a great destination. As it’s very close to Paris, you can visit it very efficiently in only a half-day. Check out this half-day trip from Paris to Giverny . It’s the best value for money and your very best option if you are not having much time at hand.

Combine Giverny with an excursion to the Castle of Versailles

You have quite some options to choose from, but if you want to make the most out of your day trip from Paris, I suggest combining your trip to Monet’s Garden in Normandie with a visit to the world-famous Castle of Versailles . Click here to see all tours with both highlights. 

Both destinations are located west of Paris and Versailles lies actually on the way to Giverny. Visiting both on the same trip is a rather logical thing to do. The table below shows a quick overview of the two most popular tours that combine Versailles and Giverny, click the links to get additional information.

Voilà, visiting the Gardens of Monet in Giverny is a stellar day trip from Paris that you should keep on your radar. It is also a rather affordable side trip, that is easy to organize. No matter if you opt-in for a guided tour or travel to Giverny on your own account, you can be sure to have a good time. Have fun!

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FAQ Visit Giverny

The closest train station to the Gardens of Monet is in Vernon, a short shuttle ride away from Giverny. There are several direct connections between Paris and Vernon per day. You also can drive to Giverny or take a guided bus tour from Paris.

The ride takes about 50 minutes from Paris to Vernon, the closest train station. From Vernon a shuttle service connects the train station with the gardens of Monet. The shuttle ride takes roughly 10 minutes.

Yes, if you like gardens, impressionist art, and/or want to explore the French countryside and parts of the Normandy

The garden of Monet is located in Giverny, a village in the French region of Normandy.

To see the flowers in bloom, it’s best to visit in spring or early summer. The waterlilies are in full bloom from late June until July.

Giverny lays approximately 70 km west of Paris.

Yes, due to COVID-19 it is necessary to purchase times entrance tickets in advance. On-site ticket booths might be closed. Outside the health crisis it is still advisable to purchase tickets in advance to avoid long waiting times.

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Wow what a lovely garden. Wish to visit some day

I’ve only been to Paris, but I really wish I’d had the chance to explore further afield. I think Giverny might be a good place to start.

I missed this the last time I was in Paris! It looks like a beautiful garden to visit, and I’ll definitely make sure to add it to my list for my next visit.

Such a lovely and informative article of this magic place! I have been so lucky to visit it last year and it was incredible to witness the real garden that can be seen in so many of Monet’s masterpieces. Definitely worth a day trip from Paris!

thank you! I am happy to hear that you enjoyed it 🙂

I’d love to visit Giverny, it looks like such a pretty place and definitely a great day trip from Paris. I’ve been to Paris many times so I’m always looking for something new to do on my next trip, this is great

Never had a chance to visit when I lived in (the south of) France, but certainly got to enjoy a lot of his art! Hoping to see the real thing some day.

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How to Plan Your Day Trip From Paris to Giverny to See Monet’s Garden And House

Want to visit Monet’s Garden but not sure how to plan? This post will show you how to plan your day trip from Paris to Giverny with ease!

If you’re familiar with French paintings or even French artists in general, you’ve probably come across the name Claude Monet !

He is considered the father of impressionist painting and, in fact, the name for this movement was inspired by one of his famous paintings , Impression, Sunrise .

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Born in 1840 in Paris, Monet painted over 2000 pieces of work and lived in various places in France and abroad including Honfleur in Normandy, London, the Netherlands, Argenteuil, a suburb just northwest of Paris, Saint-Denis, a suburb in the North of Paris, but one place that stands out the most to date is Giverny in Normandy !

Monet moved his family to Giverny in 1883 where he rented a house and a beautiful garden (which he later purchased) that would go on to be called, Monet’s Garden hundreds of years later!

Since his wealth increased over time, he bought more land to expand his estate and hired seven gardeners to take care of the garden exactly the way he wanted it with explicit details of how everything should be.

This new land had a water meadow where the water lilies that would go on to be his greatest legacy were planted. He even diverted part of the nearby river Epte for his garden.

The beauty of this garden inspired him to take on what is today known as his most ambitious project which occupied him for the last 20 years of his life.

From 1899, he painted a variety of paintings showcasing waterlilies in different seasons , different lightingss , the iconic green Japanese bridge , and many others. This project resulted in 250 paintings of waterlilies .

Thanks to his waterlilies paintings, this place was immortalized, and today, tourists flock there not only to see the famous gardens but also to see the house he lived in.

While some people treat this visit as a weekend trip from Paris , it’s definitely possible to do it on a day trip from Paris with careful planning.

It’s a bit tricky to get there since there is no direct train from Paris to Giverny, but that’s why I am here! To give you a complete guide to planning the perfect day trip from Paris to Giverny, France.

How To Plan a Day Trip From Paris to Giverny to See Monet’s Garden and House

From how to get to Monet’s Garden in Giverny from Paris, how far is Giverny from Paris, to what to do there and where to stay if you choose to extend your trip, this guide will give you all the details you need to plan the perfect day trip to Giverny from Paris !

How to Get From Paris to Monet’s Garden

One of the most common questions that arise when planning a Giverny day trip from Paris is how to get there! There are quite a few ways; by car, train + bus, guided tours, and I’ll be covering them in detail in this section.

How to Get to Monet’s Garden From Paris by Guided Tour

This is the best way to get to Monet’s garden from Paris if you don’t want to deal with planning!

By booking this guided tour , you’ll be transported directly from Paris to the gardens and fro and you’ll also have a knowledgeable tour guide who will share some of the interesting history not only about the house and garden but also about Monet himself.

There are quite a number of tours from Paris to Monet’s Garden, so I’ll be suggesting a few (the best ones, obviously) and you can select which one works best for you!

Small Group Guided Day Trip to Monet’s Garden in Giverny from Paris

If you want to take a guided day trip from Paris to Giverny but don’t want a big group, then I recommend booking this tour where you’ll be transported in a minivan from Paris to Giverny and back to Paris! The tour accommodates only up to 8 people so you’ll never feel like you’re left out!

The tour lasts 5 hours so you’ll have ample time to explore the gardens and Monet’s pond while your passionate and knowledgeable tour guide shares important facts and history about Monet and the garden.

You’ll also be able to visit Monet’s house independently and later head to see Monet’s tomb!

🌼 Click here to check rates and availability for this small group-guided day trip from Paris to Giverny !

Guided Giverny Day Trip From Paris

If you’re wondering what the difference is between this day trip guided tour from the one above, the difference is that this one is not a small group which means it can get a bit crowded, although it’s a bit cheaper.

This tour also lasts 5 hours and you’ll be transported on a bus from Paris to Giverny and fro. Although it’s a guided tour, if you’re on a budget, you can opt for just an audio guide.

This means that you’ll still be transported but instead of having a guided visit when you reach Giverny, you’ll just use the audio guide and go on a self-guided tour.

It’s still a good way to learn about the history of Monet and the garden and have a comfortable transfer while also saving some money.

🌼 Click here to check rates and availability for this tour !

Guided Day Trip from Paris to Monet’s Garden By Bike

If you’re up for an adventure, this one might be the best-guided visit to Giverny for you! And before you write it off thinking you’ll bike all the way from Paris to Giverny, let me explain how this tour works.

You’ll start by taking a coach from Paris to the countryside of Normandy and stop by the village of Vernon!

While in Vernon, you’ll visit a farmer’s market, buy fresh products for a picnic, and then start your biking journey to a park along the Seine where you’ll have a picnic lunch!

From there, you’ll continue your biking journey, but this time to Monet’s Garden where your tour guide will share all the information there is to know about Monet and his garden in a fun, engaging, and informative way!

The entire tour takes 8 hours and a half so be ready to enjoy Normandy’s countryside and Giverny in the most adventurous way possible!

🌼 Click here to check rates and availability for this bike tour to Giverny !

How To Travel from Paris to Giverny By Train and Shuttle

As I mentioned earlier, there is no direct train from Paris to Giverny, so if you want to travel by public transport, you’ll have to take a train and later a bus!

You’ll take the train from Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris to Rouen Rive Droite and stop at Gare de Vernon-Giverny which takes a little less than an hour!

Trains run every one to two hours depending on the day and there is no need to buy the ticket in advance!

You can easily buy it from the ticket machines in the train station on the travel day, but if you want to buy it in advance for planning purposes, then you can buy one here and even check the train timetable for your travel day!

Once you reach Gare de Vernon-Giverny , exit the station and take the shuttle to Giverny!

The shuttle’s timetable corresponds well with the arrival time of the train leaving about 20 minutes after its arrival. It costs about 10 euros for a round trip and you can pay that directly to the driver on board.

Pro tip* Don’t go looking for a bus, the shuttle is in fact a small train! If you’ve been to Montmartre , you’ve probably seen one taking tourists around!

Other options to get from Gare de Vernon-Giverny to Monet’s Gardens include; a taxi (which can be a bit pricey, so I don’t really recommend it), or by walking if you’re up for a little hike! The well-marked walking path is along the Seine, and it takes about 1 hour compared to the 5-10 minutes on the shutter.

How to Visit Monet’s Garden by Car

The easiest way to visit Monet’s Garden from Paris is definitely by car which takes a little less than one hour!

I don’t recommend solely renting a car just to visit Giverny from Paris but only if this trip is either part of a longer road trip around Normandy or if you plan to visit other nearby towns since those are hard to visit without a car.

If you have a car or rented one and don’t mind navigating French traffic, this is a good option to consider!

There is free parking at the place so that shouldn’t worry you!

What is the Best Time to Visit Giverny

Monet’s garden is beautiful almost every season since the blooming floors change with season, so regardless of when you visit, you’ll find beautiful flowers to admire in the garden.

However, since the gardens are closed in the winter season (they’re typically open from late March/early April to late October/early November), you can only visit them in spring, summer, or fall.

In spring, you’ll find various blooming flowers, but it’s in summer that the Nympheas and the annual flowers will be in full bloom, but also Fall comes alive with beautiful fall colors and blooming!

I visited at the end of July and the garden was beautiful! Most flowers were in full bloom and the weather was nice! Basically, all the photos you see in this post were taken in July!

So what’s the best time to visit Monet’s garden ? Since this will probably just be a day trip from Paris, I wouldn’t recommend basing your entire trip solely on the gardens but rather on the large picture of what you want to do in Paris.

I have various articles on visiting Paris in spring , Paris in Summer , and Paris in the Fall ! You can check them out and decide the best time for you to visit Paris and that will be the best time to visit Giverny, after all, every season is quite beautiful in the gardens!

However, if you live in Paris or the nearby cities and can afford to visit anytime, then the best time to visit Giverny is between May and July !

What Are The Opening Hours of Monet’s Garden

Monet’s house and gardens are open every day (except in winter) including holidays from 9.30 am to 6 pm. The last admission is 30 minutes before closing time!

What to See on Your Day Trip From Paris to Giverny

Here is what you can expect to see on a day trip to Giverny from Paris!

Visit Monet’s Gardens

The first thing to visit as soon as you arrive are definitely the gardens! If you bought your ticket online, (which I highly recommend since I didn’t queue at all since I had my ticket already), you’ll enter the gardens instantly.

If you don’t have a ticket, you’ll have to endure the queue which seemed quite long since I visited in summer! You can purchase one here from the official website .

As you’d imagine, the gardens are beautiful and there are always different flowers in bloom regardless of when you visit.

The starting point for visiting is clearly marked with where to find the famous waterlillies pond but you can leisurely walk around as you see fit!

The visit can take anywhere from 1- 2 hours depending on how slow or fast you move and how much time you spend taking pictures.

It’s easy to visit on your own but if you want to get some back story, history, and what nots about the gardens and Monet himself, then you can sign up for this guided tour with a local tour guide .

This tour takes 2 hours to visit both the gardens and the house! When the tour ends, you can still walk around the garden on your own.

Pro tip* Entrance to the Gardens is by time slot so make sure you don’t miss your booked time.

🌼 Click here to book your guided tour of Monet’s gardens and house with a local guide !

Explore Monet’s House

Although the Paris day trip to Giverny is mostly about the gardens, you can’t miss his house too! With colorful pink walls and green windows, shutters, and railings, the house is beautiful in its own right!

It is a 2-story house that you can explore to see exactly how he lived! The first level has replicas of some of Monet’s famous paintings and furniture, his living area, a colorful dining area, and a nice kitchen.

On the other hand, the second floor has bedrooms, more paintings and sketches including those of his friends and other impressionist painters. The second floor even has some windows open where you can enjoy views of the garden.

The house is quite small and it doesn’t take much to visit — something like 30 minutes — and it’s only a one-direction visit so it’s impossible to miss anything.

Check Out Monet’s Workshop

As Monet expanded his place, he needed a bigger place to work on his pieces, so he created a workshop just next to the main house!

Although today it’s a shop where you can buy souvenirs, from replicas of some of his famous paintings, Cider from Giverny (I bought this one and it was quite good), and other local goodies, it’s still worth walking through even if you don’t plan on buying anything.

It also has large replicas of his waterlily paintings covering the top wall, making the place feel like actually his studio.

Visit The Museum of Impressionism Giverny

Monet’s Gardens and house are not the only things to see in Giverny! Of course, they’re the main ones but if you have more time, you can visit the Museum of Impressionism Giverny .

The museum doesn’t house famous impressionist paintings like in Orsay Museum in Paris, but it’s worth visiting for those who want to learn about the history of this art movement.

There are also some impressionist paintings and sometimes the museum organizes temporary exhibits! You can check the official website to see what’s on before your visit.

It also has a beautiful garden which is free to visit if you don’t feel like paying for the museum itself.

The museum is open every day (except winter) from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Walk Around Giverny

The entire neighborhood near Monet’s house is quite enjoyable to walk around! There are a number of souvenir shops, food trucks selling local products, ice cream stands, and art galleries all around!

If you’re not in a rush to leave, you can explore the quiet neighborhood and take in its charm!

Psst… Want to see even more of Monet’s work when you come back to Paris? Then visit Musée Marmottan Monet where you’ll see his largest painting in the Waterlillies series. 

Where to Stay in Giverny

While this is a day trip to Monet’s garden from Paris post, you may want to extend your trip to see other nearby places after reading it. If that’s you, then these are some of the best hotels in the area!

Le Coin des Artiste s: If you want to stay near Monet’s Gardens, you won’t go wrong with this hotel since it’s located just 5 minutes away. And for something this close and cozy, it’s very well-priced.

>>> Click here to check rates and availability <<<

Le petit nid d’aigle – Giverny: If you want the entire place to yourself, this is the place to go ! It has a kitchen, a lovely garden, terrace, and the rooms are equally comfortable. Plus, you’ll be less than 10 minutes away from Monet’s garden by foot.

Where to Eat in Giverny

There are a number of eateries in Giverny, which are quite pricey if you ask me, but that is a bit expected as with all restaurants/cafes near popular attractions.

La Guinguette: Located just 6 minutes from Monet’s Garden, this restaurant serves traditional French dishes in a nice setting with beautiful views of the Normandy countryside! Address:  6 Rue de Falaise, 27620 Giverny, France.

Restaurant Baudy (Ancien Hôtel Baudy): This is the famous spot Monet used to hang with other impressionist painters like Auguste Renoir , Cézanne, Rodin, and other American painters!

Not much has changed since then, but the food is good and it has an artist’s studio in the garden that guests can visit. They also serve typical French food. Address: 81 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France.

Au Coin du Pain’tre: Also on the famous Rue Claude Monet, this spot is perfect if you’re looking for easy lunch snacks that are fairly priced. Address:  73 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France.

FAQs About Visiting Monet’s Garden from Paris

If you still have questions about your Giverny trip from Paris, I hope these FAQs answer them!

Is it Worth visiting Giverny from Paris?

Without a doubt, Giverny is worth visiting ! On top of seeing where the famous impressionist painter lived, you’ll also take in the beauty of his garden, so even if art is not your thing, you’ll still appreciate it.

From the beautiful Water lily pond he immortalized in over 200 paintings, the various blooming flowers, to the Japanese bridge, Monet’s Garden offers the perfect escape from the bustling city of Paris.

How far is Paris from Monet’s gardens?

How far is Monet’s garden from Paris? Giverny is located 80 km (50 miles) west-northwest of Paris! By train, it can take about 1 hour to get to and about 1 hour and a half by car.

How long should I spend at Monet’s Garden?

This really depends on how fast or slow you visit, but if I had to give an estimate, plan for 3-4 hours!

When I visited, I spent about 3 and a half hours, but that’s because I like to take my time and I take a lot of photos. If you’re a fast visitor, you can plan for 2 and a half hours and then add the 2 hours of transit!

Can you do Versailles and Giverny in one day?

I personally wouldn’t do it because I like to spend as much time as possible in a place and really savor it, but I know some people do it!

If you’re short on time and just have one day to visit both, it’s definitely possible, although you’ll have to rush through stuff.

The best way to make the most of your time in both places is to book this combined Giverny and Versailles tour . You’ll visit both places, but keep in mind that you won’t see everything!

Final Thoughts on How to Plan a Day Trip to Giverny from Paris

I hope this guide to visiting Monet’s house from Paris was helpful!

Whether you’re an impressionist fan or you just want to admire the beautiful flowers and water lily pond Monet’s garden has, this is the perfect escape from the buzzing city of Paris.

Regardless of whether you choose to spend just a morning or an afternoon or extend your trip overnight, a trip to Giverny from Paris is one that you’ll always remember.

Check out these posts to help you plan your trip to Paris

• Fun things to do in Paris on a Rainy day
• Famous Paintings in Paris
• Where to Find the Best Macarons in Paris
• Famous Paintings at the Louvre Museum
• Best Covered Passages of Paris
• Most beautiful neighborhoods of Paris
• Fun free things to do in Paris
• Famous Churches to Visit in Paris
• Best Museums in Paris
• Tips for Visiting the Eiffel Tower
• How to spend One day In Paris

Was this post on planning a day trip from Paris to Giverny helpful? Then please consider sharing it with others.

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Esther is the face and voice behind Dreams in Paris! She has always been obsessed with Paris even before she moved there. She has lived in Paris for a couple of years, and that obsession has not changed! That love for Paris, plus her passion for writing led to the birth of Dreams in Paris! She now shares all the practical tips and guides she’s picked along the way to help you plan a memorable trip to the city of love! You can learn more about her here !

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GIVERNY & AUVERS-SUR-OISE TOUR

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 9 hours (including transportation)
• Checkmark Group type: Private tour

Enjoy a day trip from Paris to Giverny and Auvers-sur-Oise

Join an exclusive experience to walk in the footsteps of two of the world’s most iconic painters, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh, in two beautiful villages, Giverny and Auvers-sur-Oise.

On this small-group day trip from Paris, discover two of the most colorful sites in Normandy. Your guide meets you at your hotel in Paris. Climb aboard a luxury vehicle for a one-hour ride to Giverny.

The House and Gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny Uncover the secrets of one of the pillars of Impressionism, Claude Monet. Leader of the pictorial movement of the 19th century, he brought a wind of change to academic representative art, introducing heightened perception, emotions and light. The painter devoted more than forty years of his life to one of his finest masterpieces: his garden in Giverny.

With skip-the-line access, the guide shares the calm and almost otherworldly beauty of Claude Monet’s Home and Gardens. Learn about the famous Impressionist and enjoy exploring inside his colorful home, stroll along the charming paths of his flower garden, and admire the water garden with the little green bridge and lake full of his famous water lilies.

The Clos Normand The artist and gardener sought to transform a simple orchard into a magnificent, colorful garden: Japanese cherry trees, flowerbeds of nasturtiums, tulips and roses, an explosion of colors for each season.

The Water Garden Wander through the romantic water garden, with its famous Japanese bridge, the wisterias, the water-lilies pond, the weeping willows and irises… Behold this living picture with its profusion of reflected light and colors.

The House Visit the master’s charming pink house where a family atmosphere reigned. Discover the painter’s everyday life surrounded by eight children: the drawing room, the pantry, the bedroom, the study, the dining room and the beautiful kitchen… Admire his collection of Japanese prints, another source of inspiration.

The Studio End your visit with the big studio where the famous water-lilies paintings saw the light of day. These paintings are exhibited at the Orangerie Museum in Paris. Enjoy the souvenir shop.

Your guide then suggests several different options for a nice lunch in the charming village of Giverny.

Vincent Van Gogh Tour Visit the village and the region of Auvers-sur-Oise. Follow in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh. Discover an open-air museum: the wheat fields, the famous church, his gloomy bedroom int the Ravoux Inn, and the twin graves of the Van Gogh brothers.

After the visit, transfer to Paris. Your guide drops you off at your accommodation in Paris.

• Chevron down Highlights
• Monet’s Home: Visit the painter’s house, the yellow dining room, his first workshop and the kitchen
• ​The Flower Garden: Find the flower landscapes dear to the impressionist master
• Spend time there and observe the variations of light in the Water Garden
• See the famous little green Japanese bridge
• Discover the wheat fields that Vincent Van Gogh painted
• Visit his room at Auberge Ravoux
• Chevron down Inclusions
• Small-group guided day trip
• Private Tour: Pick up and drop off at the hotel
• Small Group: Meeting at Champs Elysées District 69 Avenue Marceau, 75116 PARIS
• Licensed professional driver/guide
• Skip-the-line & priority admission tickets
• Transport by luxury A/C minibus
• Chevron down Conditions
• Please bring a photo ID. Passengers of all ages are accepted in the tour, but at least one adult of age 18+ is required per reservation.
• During transportation, children below the age of 10 must be seated in a child chair by French law.

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On this day trip from Paris, discover two of the most colorful sites in Normandy, Giverny and Rouen.

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Monet's House & Garden Morning Tour

Discover one of the most beautiful gardens in France in the morning light. This incredible place was rich in inspiration for the artist Claude Monet.

Monet House & Impressionism Museum

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Versailles vs. Givenry with 9 year old - Paris Forum

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Versailles vs. Givenry with 9 year old

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4 replies to this topic

Pirate 🏴‍☠️

I guess you could ask the child if you have no preference yourself. I'd vote for Giverny since maybe you'll have seen enough of ornate palaces in the other places.

I just visited Versailles, with family, same ages. Be prepared for masses of people, so packed, we essentially just rushed through the rooms without seeing much.

- we did book a guided tour (Kings Apartment). It meant no like to get in. We were in a group of ~15 people. It was the best part of the visit (although it seemed too long and too slow, but at least we learned something, could see everything and were able to ask questions)

- gardens are gorgeous and so vast you will never feel the crowds.

- great trianon is less crowded And therefore we enjoyed it

- the coaches exhibit (free) was fantastic

I have not been to Givenry so I can’t compare.

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History, culture, haute couture and haute cuisine aren’t all that France is famous for this year. The country’s iconic capital, Paris, may be warming up for the world’s largest sporting event this summer, but beyond the bustling boulevards, there are plenty of hidden gems for travelers to explore. With the enchanting regions of Champagne, Normandy, the Loire Valley and Burgundy, within easy reach, travelers can escape the crowds, enjoy the countryside and sample a different side of French life.  

POP THE CORKS 

Approximately an hour and 45 minutes by car, travelers can escape the busy city life and gently roll into the Champagne region to immerse themselves in the art of champagne-making. Reims, the capital of the region famous for the world’s favorite fizz, is home to the city’s cathedral Notre-Dame, a UNESCO World Heritage site where French Kings were crowned.  

Zip off on e-bike and take to the lush, rolling hills and explore one of the many Champagne vineyards on offer. From the historic cellars of the renowned champagne houses to the smaller family-owned producers, most offer tours and tastings, washed down with the region’s famous pink cookie that complements the delicious bubbles.  

LIVING HISTORY 

Home to the famous Bayeux Tapestry, 70 meters of intricate stitching that depicts the 1066 Norman conquest of Britain, Normandy holds special significance this year. June 6 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that changed the course of the Second World War. Visitors can pay their respects at the hallowed beaches of Omaha and Utah, where Allied forces made their historic landings, or at the moving American Cemetery.   

Virginie Durr, Enterprise Sales Manager at Delta, was born and raised in Normandy and visits every year for the D-Day commemorations. 

“Normandy offers the perfect blend of scenery, history, culture and gastronomy,” said Durr. “What makes Normandy so special is the legacy of William the Conqueror, the historic scars left by WWII, the settings immortalized by the Impressionist artists, its distinctive local cuisine and its world-famous sites such as the Mont-Saint-Michel, Monet’s gardens in Giverny, the D-Day Landing Beaches or the dramatic cliffs of Etretat.” 

For those wanting to visit Mont-Saint-Michel, which is the second most-visited monument in France after the Eiffel Tower, Durr has valuable tips for getting the most out of your experience: “Visit on weekdays rather than weekends, outside of holiday periods and long weekends, in autumn or winter.” 

Travelers looking to further their exploration of Normandy should visit Honfleur, which is known for attracting artists over many centuries and features colorful half-timbered houses that line the picturesque harbor, providing the perfect backdrop for leisurely strolls along the waterfront.  

Sylvie Poidevin, a Delta Red Coat stationed at CDG, says her favorite place in the city is "Les Maisons de Léa,” a charming hotel in the heart of Honfleur with a majestic view of Église Sainte Catherine – one of the oldest and largest wooden churches in France. 

“If visiting, I would also recommend doing a boat tour led by a captain and having a coffee and croissant in front of the Vieux Bassin – one of the most frequently painted harbors in the world,” said Poidevin. 

Deauville is around two hours and 45 minutes from central Paris.  

CHATEAU LIFE 

Around two and a half hours’ drive from Paris lies the Loire Valley. This UNESCO area of great cultural beauty is peppered with hundreds of castles – or chateaux – and produces some of France’s most delicious white wines, including Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé and Crémant – the region’s sparkling wine.  

The area is perfect to explore by bike, especially as it’s mostly flat, and the 900km Loire à Vélo route is enjoyable for cycle pros and novices alike. In the summer months, pop up restaurants known as guignettes offer local specialties, while nights can be comfortably spent in four-poster beds in the many chateaux that offer accommodation along the route.  

Famous Loire Valley towns not to miss include Samur, where an imposing castle towers over the flowing river and hundreds of underground caves, including an underground cathedral, lie under your feet. Tours, which was once a bustling Roman town, still boasts the ruins of an amphitheater.  

MEDIEVAL MASTERPIECE 

With its half-timbered buildings, gothic cathedrals and cobbled streets, the medieval city of Dijon casts visitors back in time. This laid-back university city offers a mix of history and delicious cuisine and is too often overlooked by American visitors.  

Small in size, Dijon is packed with sites of interest that visitors can easily discover on a self-guided walking tour following the Parcours de la Chouette, or Owl Trail. Marked by little owls, the tour includes every historical monument with explanations at every stop.  

Foodies will be in food heaven in Dijon. Aside from the eponymous mustard (Dijon had exclusive mustard-making rights in France during the 17th century), the region is known for Burgundy wines and Boeuf Bourguignon, a rich beef casserole. It is also home to several Michelin-starred restaurants, for travelers wanting to splash out.  

Dijon is located between Paris and Lyon (another city famous for cuisine), around four hours from the French capital.  

GETTING THERE WITH DELTA 

Delta is the No. 1 U.S. airline serving France, leading with more than 20% of capacity between the two countries during peak-summer.  

This provides customers with ample choices to travel to CDG through Delta’s extensive network, offering 16 daily flights from various U.S. cities including Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG), Detroit (DTW), New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis St. Paul (MSP), Seattle (SEA), and Salt Lake City (SLC). 

Customers looking to venture beyond Paris can also enjoy flights to Nice from Atlanta and New York-JFK.    

Additionally, Delta’s partners Air France and KLM offer nearly 650 peak-day departures to over 150 cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. 

As part of Delta’s $12 billion airport terminal investments, Delta will be opening its first-ever Delta One Lounge at New York’s JFK airport in late June. The expansive 38,000-square-foot Lounge will feature both a full-service brasserie and a casual, chef-assisted market with open kitchens, dedicated wellness areas and more. Connecting customers will also benefit from the upgrades at Delta’s JFK Terminal 4, enabling easier transfer to over 60 onward connections. 

Customers will have a choice of four product experiences including Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin. Delta One customers can stretch out in a lie-flat seat and enjoy premium amenities like plush bedding made from recycled plastic bottles, more beverage options and a regularly refreshed and seasonally inspired onboard menu. Customers flying in Delta Premium Select will have more space to relax and stretch out, with a wider seat, deeper recline, an adjustable footrest and leg rest.  

And before you touch down in the romantic landscapes of France, you can immerse yourself in the language and artistry of French culture. With more than 161,000 seatback screens across more than 850 aircraft—the most seatback screens of any U.S.-based carrier—Delta’s in-house curation team takes pride in hand-picking the best content to bring onboard each month, including a curated selection of French titles and audio collections. So bid bon voyage with Delta, where your journey is just as important as your destination. 

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