If you search for the best day trips from Paris, a visit to Giverny will almost certainly be at the top of the list.
Giverny, a charming village about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Paris in Normandy, is renowned as the longtime home of Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Monet lived there for over 40 years, drawing inspiration for many of his masterpieces—most famously his Water Lilies series—from the stunning gardens he cultivated on his property.
Monet resided in Giverny until his death in 1926. Today, his vibrant house and breathtaking gardens have been preserved as a museum, welcoming visitors from around the world. A glimpse at photos of this idyllic spot reveals why Giverny remains one of the most beloved excursions from Paris.
On my recent trip to Paris, I finally had the chance to visit Giverny and want to share everything I discovered about planning your own visit. While tours from Paris are available, exploring Giverny independently offers greater freedom to immerse yourself fully in the enchanting gardens at your own pace.
Read on to learn how to do it!
Prefer not to explore Giverny alone? No problem! The information below is for those who wish to visit Giverny independently. However, if you’d rather join a tour, my top recommendation is the Giverny Small-Group Half Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens from Paris.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Planning the perfect Giverny day trip
When to visit Giverny
You can visit the village of Giverny any time of year. BUT, it’s important to know that Monet’s House and Gardens are ONLY open to visit from early April through the end of October (opening dates are often April 1-October 31 each year).
If you’re visiting Paris in the winter or early spring, I would not recommend making the day trip to Giverny. (Monet’s House and Gardens are behind a wall, too, so you can’t really see anything without going inside.)
From April to October, the house and gardens are open 7 days a week, and there are always flowers in bloom. But if you want to see specific things in Monet’s gardens, you’ll want to know these rough blooming dates:
- April: Tulips and wisteria (wisteria sometimes in late April)
- May: Wisteria (early May), irises, and rhododendrons
- June: Roses
- July: Water lilies (second half of July)
- August: Water lilies
And as far as days of the week to visit… Monet’s House and Gardens is always busy, but going early on a weekday will be the least crowded time to visit.
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Getting tickets for Monet’s House
Monet’s House and Gardens are managed by the Fondation Monet, and this is where you should purchase your tickets.
While buying tickets in advance for Monet’s House and Gardens is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended. Without a pre-purchased ticket, you may face a wait of an hour or more, especially if you don’t arrive early. Nobody wants to waste that much time!
Once you’ve decided on your visit date to Giverny, purchase your entry ticket online here. Tickets are timed and cost €12.50 for adults and €7 for children.
Monet’s House and Gardens are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Be sure to check train schedules from Paris to Vernon-Giverny before booking your time slot, as the journey from the train station to the garden entrance takes additional time (more details in the next section).
For me, the best option was the second time slot of the day at 10:30 a.m., so I booked my ticket then.
After selecting your ticket quantity, date, and time, you’ll need to register on the site before purchasing your e-ticket with a credit card. You don’t need to print your e-ticket; simply save it on your phone and show it upon arrival. (More on where to enter later — with your pre-purchased ticket, you can skip the long ticket line!)
Note: If you search “Monet’s House tickets” on Google, you’ll find many options. The best place to buy tickets is directly through the Fondation Monet website. While Giverny.org also sells tickets, they are more expensive and include extra fees.
Getting to Giverny from Paris
Since this is a self-guided day trip to Giverny, let’s explore how to get there from Paris! The trip might involve taking the metro, train, and bus – which may sound complicated, but I assure you it’s quite manageable.
Train to Vernon-Giverny
To reach Vernon-Giverny from Paris, take a regional TER train from Saint-Lazare station directly to Vernon-Giverny (located in the village of Vernon). This route requires no transfers, with multiple trains running daily from Paris. Saint-Lazare is conveniently accessible via several Metro lines (3, 12, 13, and 14), making it easy to get there from anywhere in the city.
Tickets can be purchased at the station using ticket kiosks or in advance through apps like Trainline. While tickets rarely sell out, pre-purchasing can simplify your travel experience.
Be sure to check train schedules before buying your entry ticket to Monet’s House, as trains don’t run at regular intervals. On my trip, with a 10:30 a.m. entry time, I took the 8:14 a.m. train from Saint-Lazare to arrive on time.
The journey from Paris to Vernon takes about 50 to 60 minutes, with one-way fares typically between €10 and €20. Booking in advance usually offers better prices. I booked my outbound ticket ahead but waited to purchase my return to maintain flexibility during my visit to Giverny.
Taking the Giverny shuttle
Upon arriving at the Vernon train station, be sure to use the pedestrian underpass beneath the railroad tracks to reach the station building—avoid exiting through the fence near the train. Your trip isn’t over yet, as Vernon is still a few miles from the village of Giverny.
Giverny operates shuttle buses connecting Vernon to Giverny, timed to coincide with all arriving and departing trains to and from Paris after 9 a.m. Upon arriving at the train station, follow the signs for the Giverny shuttle or simply exit the station and look for the line of buses adorned with Monet paintings.
A round-trip ticket between Vernon and Giverny costs €10, or €5 for a one-way trip. You can pay with cash or card when boarding the bus. There are usually plenty of buses to accommodate passengers, so finding a seat is rarely a problem.
The bus ride to Giverny takes less than 15 minutes, dropping you off at the village’s main public parking lot. Return bus schedules to Vernon are posted at the bus stop—it’s a good idea to take a photo of the times so you know when to catch your ride back. These schedules generally align with train departures to Paris, allowing for some extra time.
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How to get to Monet’s House
From the bus parking area, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the village of Giverny. A helpful map with estimated walking times is located right next to the bus stop. It’s easy to follow the flow of people through the parking area into town, as most visitors are heading to the same destination.
When you arrive at Monet’s House, pay close attention. You do NOT need to join the long ticket line at the main entrance if you’ve already purchased your ticket online. (If you haven’t pre-booked your ticket, you will need to wait in the ticket line.)
Look for signs labeled “Porte 1” and “Porte 1bis,” with arrows directing you down a small lane before the main ticket line. Porte 1 is for group entrance, while Porte 1bis is for “Entrée Coupe File” or “Entry With Pass”—which applies to you! Near the end of this lane, you’ll find an entry gate through a stone wall where your ticket will be scanned.
(The signs are small and easy to miss, so these photos should help guide you!)
You’ll enter into the back corner of the main flower garden, or Clos Normand, at Monet’s House. And from there, you can explore however you’d like!
Things to do at Monet’s House and Gardens
Inside, there are three key areas to explore: Monet’s House, the Clos Normand flower garden, and the water garden. You can visit them in any order you choose, and since there’s no guided tour with time limits, you’re free to take as much time as you wish to fully enjoy each space.
Clos Normand flower garden
You’ll step into the main flower garden, vibrant with colorful blooms throughout the year, regardless of the season. When Monet bought the property in 1883, this space was originally an apple orchard and kitchen garden.
Over time, Monet transformed it into his dream garden, filled with a stunning variety of plants and flowers. (Indeed, Monet was as passionate about gardening as he was about painting!)
Not all paths in this garden are open to visitors, so please respect any closed or chained-off sections. Of course, be sure to avoid stepping on or damaging any flowers!
Monet’s House
The long pink and green house at the entrance of the Clos Normand garden was Monet’s home with his second wife, Alice, and their combined eight children. While there is often a line to enter, it moves quickly and the visit is well worth it.
Inside, the house is bright and inviting, largely designed by Monet himself. You can explore rooms on both floors, including restored spaces such as Monet’s studio and bedroom, the sunny yellow dining room, and the cool blue kitchen.
Throughout the house, you’ll find an array of art prints, featuring Monet’s masterpieces alongside works by other artists.
Water Garden
The most renowned feature of Monet’s estate is undoubtedly the water garden, also known as the Japanese garden, home to the iconic water lily pond. Monet created this garden in the 1890s by redirecting a small stream to form the pond.
In addition to the water lily pond—which blooms with lilies only in July and August—the garden features bamboo, a charming Japanese-style bridge adorned with cascading wisteria in spring, graceful willows, and several peaceful walking paths. Although often crowded with visitors and photographers, its beauty is undeniable.
It was here, beginning in 1897, that Monet began painting his famous Water Lilies series.
Please note painting or sketching in the gardens is not allowed. Though you may feel inspired like Monet, please leave your art supplies at home. Taking plenty of photos is always encouraged!
How much time to spend at Monet’s House and Gardens
You can spend as much time here as you like, though a few hours is usually sufficient. I spent about two hours exploring the house and gardens, leisurely walking through each garden twice. Most guided tours offer less time to explore, so visiting on your own gives you the advantage of a more relaxed experience.
Other things to do in Giverny
Once you’re done in the gardens, take a browse around the gift shop before leaving Monet’s House and Gardens. Then wander back into the village of Giverny. Some other things you can do include:
Visit the Museum of Impressionisms, which is an art museum dedicated to the Impressionist movement with rotating art exhibits and another lovely garden.
Grab lunch in the village – I got a great sandwich from Gourmandises de Giverny.
Train back to Paris
After exploring all that Giverny has to offer, you can take the train back to Paris. Be sure to check the train schedule in advance, as there are some gaps in service during the afternoon.
To return, retrace your steps by walking back to the parking lot and catching the shuttle bus to Vernon. From there, you can buy a train ticket at the ticket counter or conveniently purchase one through the Trainline app. The train ride back to Paris’s Saint-Lazare station takes about an hour.
And that completes your day trip to Giverny!
A perfect Giverny day trip itinerary
Here’s a detailed account of my weekday day trip to Giverny (weekend train and shuttle schedules may vary slightly):
- 8:14 a.m. – Train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon-Giverny
- 9:04 a.m. – Arrive in Vernon
- 9:25 a.m. – Shuttle bus to Giverny
- 10:30 a.m. – Entry to Monet’s House and Gardens
- 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Explore Monet’s House and Gardens
- 12:30 p.m. – Lunch and exploring in Giverny
- 3:10 p.m.* – Shuttle bus back to Vernon train station
- 3:40 p.m.* – Train back to Paris
If you want to return to Paris earlier, there is usually a train departing at 1:50 p.m. on weekdays as well.
Giverny tours from Paris
If you’ve read this far and reconsidered doing the trip solo, that’s perfectly fine! Numerous guided tours from Paris are available, many of which combine a visit to Giverny with other nearby sites and attractions.
Here are some good Giverny tours to consider:
- Giverny Small-Group Half Day Trip with Monet’s Gardens from Paris – A small group tour that allows plenty of time in the gardens.
- From Orsay to Giverny: Skip-the-Line Museum Tour & Exclusive Monet House Day Trip – This full day tour starts at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris where you can see some Monet works up close, and then takes you to Monet’s House in Giverny.
- From Paris: Giverny and Versailles Palace Guided Day Trip – See Giverny and the Palace of Versailles all in one day.
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