I have visited Giverny twice in my life. The first time, in 2018, I arrived there by train from Paris, and the second time I did so as part of an organized tour from Paris in 2024. Each time I was left speechless by the beauty I saw, and at the same time I came away with some insights that can help you plan your visit there.
This is a “practical” article, which deals with all the logistical issues related to a visit to Giverny (how to get there, where to buy tickets, what else is worth doing in Giverny, etc.) and does not deal with the fascinating history of the house and the paintings that Monet painted when he lived there. For this purpose, allow me to refer you to the wonderful article by Dr. Orna Lieberman Giverny: Claude Monet's House and Garden.
After reading this article, it's time to provide you with all the information you need to make the most of your visit to Giverny.
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What hours is Monet's house in Giverny open?
Monet's House is open to the public every day between March 31 and November 1, from 08:30 AM to 18:00 PM (last admission is 17:00 PM). The garden is closed to the public during the winter.
How do you get to Giverny?
There are 3 main ways to get to Giverny, and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Getting to Giverny by rental car
This is undoubtedly the most convenient and fastest way to get to Giverny, but its disadvantage is both the price and the time required to rent the car and return it to the car rental agency.
If you have decided to come to Giverny by rental car, the first thing you need to do is rent a car. To help you find the car that best suits you and at the lowest price, I have compiled all the recommended car booking sites on this page. The Francophile's toolbox Under the “Car Rental” category. Now all that’s left for you is to compare prices and take what suits you best.
Already have a car? Great! Leave Paris and head northwest on the A13 motorway. Take the Vernon exit and then continue on the D5 to Giverny.
Public Transport
The advantage of taking public transportation is the price, but the disadvantage is the time it takes to get to Giverny (about two hours). Furthermore, if you decide to take the train, you will have to book return tickets (assuming you do not plan to stay overnight there). This situation can cause you stress because you will have to return to the train station in Vernon on time and thus overshadow your visit to Giverny and not allow you to fully enjoy it (at least that is how I felt when I visited Giverny for the first time and arrived by public transportation).
If you decide to get to Giverny from Paris by public transportation, you must take a train from Saint Lazare train station and get off in the town of Vernon. From there, you must take a taxi or a kind of tourist train that will take you to Giverny.
It is highly recommended to book tickets in advance, as early as possible for both the outbound and return train, because the closer the travel date gets, the higher the ticket price becomes. Here are a few train ticket booking sites that I like to use:
Guided tour to Giverny
The big advantage of such a guided tour is the comfort. You will travel on a tourist bus with comfortable seats and even a socket to charge your mobile phone. The price is not bad at all, if you deduct the cost of the trains and the entrance tickets to Mona's house, which you saved. Another advantage is the fact that you will enter together with the guide through an entrance designated for groups, so you will not have to waste time standing in line (even if you buy a ticket in advance, you will still have to stand in line to enter and you will only save yourself the line at the box office).
There are two main disadvantages to a guided tour. The first is that, in most cheap tours, the guide’s knowledge is mediocre or below. This is not such a big disadvantage because I already gave you at the beginning of the article a link to Dr. Orna Lieberman’s article, which will provide you with all the historical information you need for your visit.
The second drawback is that the time you get for the visit is limited to about two and a half hours. This should be enough for you to visit Monet’s house, walk around the village a bit (maybe even “grab” something quick to eat), but it won’t allow you to stroll around the village at your leisure, visit the Impressionist Museum, and have a leisurely lunch. If your only goal is to visit Monet’s house, this drawback is pretty negligible.
Since the advantages of the organized tour far outweigh its disadvantages, I personally, after examining both the organized tour and arriving by public transportation, I highly recommend taking an organized tour..
If you decide to take an organized tour, here are two options:
- Guided tour to Giverny (This is the tour I took)
- Tour to Giverny and the Palace of Versailles
If you are interested in more tours to Giverny from Paris, you can find them atThis page.
Tickets to Monet's House in Giverny
If you decide to get to Giverny by private or public transportation, you will need to buy a ticket to Monet's House in Giverny in advance (if you don't do this, you risk standing in a long line, at best, or finding that tickets are sold out, at worst).
You can pre-order a ticket via This link.
What else is worth seeing in Giverny?
After you've finished visiting Mona's house, I highly recommend going out and strolling along the village's main street, through which you can reach the following attractions:
Impressionism Museum
This is a museum dedicated entirely to Impressionist art and is located in a modern building in the heart of Giverny. It features changing exhibitions dedicated to the Impressionist school. There is a magical garden and a brasserie.
For information about the museum's exhibitions and to book tickets, click here.
Ancien Hôtel Baudy
In the former Bodie Hotel, where painters, especially Americans, lived and came to enjoy the maestro's company, you can see the original dining room where they ate and the studio where they worked. Today it is a good restaurant (if you live in Giverny, you will also get to eat there).
Link to the restaurant website
The village church
The village church of Sainte-Radegonde is a Romanesque church built between the 11th and 15th centuries.
Inside the church you will find a wooden statue of John the Baptist from the 16th century (what you see in the picture) and a series of other works of art from the 17th and 18th centuries.
However, the great attraction of this church is actually outside it. I am referring, of course, to the graves of Claude Monet and his second wife Alice, which are located in the cemetery adjacent to the church and are a focal point of pilgrimage.
By the way, not far from the grave of Monet and his family there is a monument to the memory of a British bomber, which crashed in Giverny in 1944. The crew of the plane perished, but this monument reminded me of a film about the crew of another bomber, who had better luck. I am of course referring to La Grande Vadrouille, known to us as “The English Are Coming, The English Are Coming”, one of the best comedies he made. לואי דה פינסHere is his “coming soon” video:
A train like it used to be – EURE VALLEY RAILWAY
A 19th-century train that you can also ride and enjoy the view of the valley along the old Rouen-Chartres-Orléans railway. The length of the ride varies, from an hour and a quarter to two and a half hours. There are also trains decorated according to special themes, such as Halloween, Santa Claus' train and more.
Accommodation in Giverny
If you want to visit Monet's house before the tourist crowds arrive, it is highly recommended to spend the night in Giverny itself or in the surrounding area and visit Monet's house as early as possible in the morning. Also, staying in Giverny will allow you to visit the village itself at your leisure and even enjoy one of the restaurants there. Therefore, if you decide to do A trip to NormandyI definitely highly recommend renting a car in Paris, arriving in Giverny in the afternoon, strolling through the village, and then, the next day, after a good night's sleep, visiting Monet's house, and from there you can continue to other places in Normandy.
Here are some recommended places to stay in Giverny:
The Rain of Roses
The hotel is located in a 19th century building with a stunning view of the lake. You will receive spacious and well-designed rooms and an excellent breakfast. The place will also provide you with free parking.
The place is not right in the heart of the village, but about a 15-minute walk from Mona's house, which isn't bad at all in my opinion.
In the Shadow of the Tilleul
A charming and well-equipped garden apartment located in the heart of Giverny and a short walk from Monet's house. The owners are very nice and even provide you with breakfast (although you can certainly prepare such a meal in the apartment).
The Dime of Giverny
A Bed & Breakfast, located in a 13th century building, in the heart of Giverny and offering you a range of decorated rooms. The place offers you a magical and private garden, WIFI (not something you can do without these days), and if you wish, they can arrange for you cycling or horse riding tours.
More places to stay in Giverny
If none of these places are available or do not suit your needs, you are welcome Click on this link And find several dozen more places to stay.
Very interesting article.
The question is whether I can get to Giverny on my own because I want to stay overnight in the town and join a good and in-depth tour of Monet's garden and house.
How to organize it.
As the article says, you can get to Giverny by train+tourist train.