A day trip to Giverny from Paris is one of my absolute favorite getaways. I’ve been visiting every year, and it never disappoints.
This small village in Normandy is home to Claude Monet’s house and gardens, where the famous Impressionist lived and painted for over 40 years.
It’s not just a peaceful retreat but a must-visit for Impresionist art lovers, offering a real-life glimpse into the landscapes that inspired Monet’s most iconic works, including the waterlilies and Japanese bridge.
If you’re looking for a break from the city, Giverny blends art, nature, and history beautifully. Whether you prefer an organized tour or traveling independently, this guide will help you find the best way to visit Giverny from Paris, tailored to your travel style and comfort level.
Paris to Giverny: Quick Guide
Here’s a quick guide to give you a first idea on planning your day trip to Giverny from Paris. The points are covered in more detail throughout this article.
Monet’s Gardens: An Artistic Oasis
Claude Monet, one of the pioneers of the Impressionist movement, lived in Giverny for over 40 years. His house and gardens were central to his life and work and today they offer visitors a glimpse into the world that inspired some of his most famous paintings.
Monet designed two gardens:
- The Clos Normand: This is a flower garden right in front of his house. While it’s beautifully symmetrical, it has a wild, natural charm. Think vibrant flower beds, apple orchards, and rose bushes, all assorted by color and spectacular through the seasons.
- The Water Garden: Just across the road, Monet bought land to create the famous waterlily pond and Japanese bridge you’ve likely seen in his paintings. His admiration for Japanese art, which was very fashionable at the time, inspired much of this garden’s design.
You can also visit Monet’s house, which is full of his personal effects, photos, paintings and his collection of Japanese art.
It’s a beautiful insight into his life beyond painting, with rooms arranged as they were when he lived there with his large family.
Tip: If you are keen in more impressionist art, visit the Musée Marmottan-Monet in Paris
Planning your Day Trip to Giverny
Visiting Giverny is one of the easiest day trips from Paris, so preparing for it won’t be too complicated. However, if it’s your first time in Paris—or even Europe—figuring out train schedules and itineraries might feel overwhelming and add to your stress.
That’s when booking a guided tour can be the perfect solution, offering a hassle-free experience.
Where is Giverny?
Giverny sits just 70 km (43 miles) west of Paris, over the border in Normandy. Visiting Giverny as a day trip means you’ll see more than Monet’s gardens; you’ll experience the charm of a different region, which feels like a breath of fresh air after the capital’s buzz.
If you’re curious about exploring more of France, Giverny is the perfect place to start.
The 3 Best Tours from Paris to Giverny
If you’re looking for a stress-free and ease-of-mind option, choosing a guided tour is your best bet. There are several highly-rated and popular offers to suit different preferences. Here are the top tours to consider for your day trip to Giverny from Paris.
Tour | Booking Info |
|---|---|
Popular: Giverny & Versailles Combo | |
Small Group: Monet’s | |
Budget: Monet’s House & Garden |
Best Time to Visit Monet’s Garden
Spring and summer are the best times to visit Monet’s gardens. In April and May, the gardens burst with vibrant blooms, especially the orchard and flower beds. For fans of Monet’s waterlily series, the lilies reach full bloom in late June and July, offering a stunning sight. If you prefer autumn colors, a visit in the fall will charm you with golden foliage.
Opening Times & Annual Closures
If you want to visit Monet’s House and Gardens you have to schedule your trip sometime between late March to November. Because they are closed during the winter month. Which well, makes sense.
Apart from this, the Gardens are open daily, public holidays and weekends included, from 9:30 to 6pm.
My Tip: Try to avoid the weekends and public holidays.
Watch my YouTube Video filmed in Giverny in April 2024
How to Visit Giverny from Paris?
➲ Get details on the most popular tour to Giverny from Paris
Getting to Giverny from Paris is straightforward, and there are options for every type of traveler. Whether you prefer the comfort of an organized tour, the flexibility of a train journey, or the independence of driving yourself, there’s a way to suit your travel style.
When planning your day trip to Giverny, the first thing to decide is whether you want to go on your own or feel more comfortable with an organized tour.
Personally, I don’t see a strong advantage of one over the other; each option has its benefits. That said, if you’re after a stress-free experience, a tour is likely your best bet.
You can find one of the top-rated tours to Giverny here
Ultimately, it depends on your resources—time, budget, and even patience—to organize the trip on your own.
During my research, I was surprised to find that joining a tour is a more budget-friendly option in many cases, as train prices can fluctuate depending on availability. (This tour to Monet is unbeatable)
Here’s a quick overview of each travel option so you can choose the best way to reach Monet’s famous gardens from Paris.
#1 Take the Train to Giverny from Paris
➲ The closest train station to Giverny is Vernon. See train fares and ticket availability here
Taking the train from Paris to Giverny is simple and flexible, a perfect option for independent travelers.
Trains leave from Saint-Lazare station in Paris and go straight to Vernon—the closest station to Giverny.
The ride takes around 50 minutes and usually costs about €36 for a round trip, although prices can vary depending on demand, so it’s worth checking ahead. Omio is a great to compare prices.
Since Giverny doesn’t have a station, there’s a shuttle bus from Vernon station specifically for visitors headed to Monet’s gardens. It’s about 5 km (3 miles) from Vernon to Giverny. The shuttle takes 20 minutes and costs €10 round trip, runs every two hours.
Tip: Buy your tickets to the Gardens and Monet’s House in advance. The queues on site are most of the time very long and it even happened to me a few years ago, that we left, because we were not up to queue for 2 hours + to get in.
Tip from my latest visit in 2025: if you booked your ticket in advance, use the side gate that is for groups.Is is below, close to the main road.
Make sure to time your train to line up with the shuttle schedule, or you could be waiting a while (here’s the schedule).
If you’d rather walk, it’s an hour-and-a-half route along the Seine with a bit of street in between. Or, for a more scenic option, rent a bike just outside the Vernon station and cycle the easy route to Giverny. Decathlon has a nice cycling itinerary from Vernon to Giverny and back, which you can check out here.
Here’s a quick overview to help you decide if the train is your best option:
➲ Giverny by Train (from 59€)
- Train: from 36€
- Shuttle: 10€
- Admission: 13€
- Audioguide: n/a
➲ Giverny by Day Tour (from 65€)
- Train: Included
- Admission: Included
- Audioguide: Included
- 24-hour cancelation policy
#2 Join an Organized Tour to Visit Giverny
➲ Get details on the most popular tour to Giverny from Paris
If you’d rather skip the travel planning, joining a guided tour to Giverny from Paris is your easiest and most efficient option.
These tours are hassle-free, offering comfortable transport and a guide (live or audio) to add insight into Monet’s world. For a quick comparison of the best tour options, follow this link to compare all tours from Paris to Giverny.
Monet’s famous waterlily pond and gardens inspired some of his most celebrated paintings. A tour allows you to enjoy these sights without logistics to worry about.
Take a Half-Day Trip if You’re Short on Time
If you have only a few days in Paris, Giverny is perfect for a half-day trip. Being so close to Paris, it’s a quick, value-packed getaway.
This half-day tour to Giverny is among the best value options, ideal if you’re tight on time. You can even choose if you rather leave Paris in the morning or the afternoon, granting you maximal flexibility when planning the rest of your day.
Combine Giverny with a Trip to Versailles
➲ Get details on the most popular tour to Giverny & Versailles Combo Tour
To make the most of your day, consider a combined trip to Monet’s Garden in Normandy and the Château de Versailles.
Both are west of Paris, making it easy to visit both in one day. This combination gives you a rich experience of art, history, and natural beauty. For more information on tours that cover both highlights, click here to explore options.
Tour | Booking Info |
|---|---|
Popular: Giverny & Versailles Combo | |
Small Group: Monet’s | |
Budget: Monet’s House & Garden |
#3 Giverny by Car
➲ compare rental car rates here to find the cheapest offer
Driving to Giverny from Paris is one of the most independent and flexible ways to visit Monet’s garden. The drive itself is pretty straightforward on Highway A13 and takes around an hour. Remember that rush hour traffic can easily double the travel time.
There are plenty of free parking spots at Monet’s House but it fills up fast. To avoid circling forever until finding parking (which happened to me!), aim to arrive early. I typically leave Paris around 8 AM to get there before the crowds.
My Tip: I highly recommend purchasing your entry ticket to the House & Garden in advance to skip the long queues, which can get wild on-site. You can either book directly through the Foundation Claude Monet or tickets as part of a guided tour.
Giverny lies on the route to the Normandy coast, which means heavy traffic heading back to Paris on Sunday afternoons. I also suggest renting a car through a service like AutoEurope, which offers competitive rates and reliable options—I’ve used them several times without issues.
To avoid navigating Paris streets and traffic after your countryside retreat, I recommend selecting a rental pickup point in the east or north of the city.
How Much Does the Highway from Paris to Giverny Cost?
Don’t be put off by websites warning about “expensive” French highways—highway tolls to Giverny are very reasonable. I’ve seen claims that it could cost up to €100, but that’s more likely for a car rental, not for tolls.
In 2024, I paid around €25 in highway tolls for the round-trip Paris-Giverny. (You can calculate it here).
Voilà, visiting Monet’s Gardens in Giverny makes for a perfect day trip from Paris and is well worth adding to your plans.
It’s an affordable and easy-to-organize getaway, giving you a taste of Normandy’s charm and a close-up view of the landscapes that inspired Monet.
Whether you join a guided tour or head out on your own, you’re in for a memorable experience. Enjoy your trip!
Want more Paris recommendations? Here’s my free Google Map with 200+ spots 🗺️
À bientôt,
Lena
Parisienne since 2006 🇫🇷
Sharing Paris life, French culture, cafés, food & honest travel tips
Join me on Facebook for updates and news about Paris.
NEW: The Salut from Paris Travel Guide:
Must-Haves for Paris:
- eSim card to stay online while in Paris. I used Airalo for my travels.
- You likely need a travel adapter to plug your devices.
- Travel Insurance – if you don’t have one, VisitorsCoverage is a good option.
- If your flight is delayed or even canceled, use AirHelp to get compensation.
Tours & Attractions:
- I book tours & activities through Get Your Guide or Viator.
- Museum & Landmark tickets can be cheaper on the official page, but they are often sold out.
- I love the GoCity Travel Passes for easy planning
Flights & Transportation:
- I use Omio to compare flight fares & connections
- Airport transfers I book through Welcome Pickup
- For car rentals, I use AutoEurope. It’s easy to compare prices
- Train Tickets, you can book through Omio
- Here’s my Parisian Metro Guide
Accomodation:
- Hotels in Europe I mostly book through Booking.com (check reviews carefully)
- Vacation Rentals through Airbnb or VRBO
PS: Check out these posts, they will help you plan your trip to Paris
- 20 Arrondissements in Paris (Quick Guide + Map)
- 37 Hidden Gems in Paris: Secret Spots to Explore
- How to Get Around in Paris: Your Quick Guide
- Where to Stay in Paris: A Local’s Best Picks
- Your Perfect 2 Days in Paris! Itinerary & Insider Tips
- 5 ways to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris – THE complete guide!
- Scams in Paris! How to avoid the most common cons
FAQ Visit Giverny
How to get to Monet’s Garden in Giverny from Paris?
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.
How long is the train ride from Paris to Giverny?
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.
Is Giverny worth visiting?
Yes, if you like gardens, impressionist art, and/or want to explore the French countryside and parts of the Normandy
Where are the gardens of Monet?
The garden of Monet is located in Giverny, a village in the French region of Normandy.
What is the best time to visit Giverny?
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.
How far is Giverny from Paris?
Giverny lays approximately 70 km west of Paris.
Do I need to book tickets to Monet’s Garden in advance?
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.
Do you like this post? Pin it to Pinterest, so others can find it, too
