Giverny Day Trip from Paris

A Giverny day trip from Paris puts you in Claude Monet's garden about 90 minutes from the city. It's one of those trips where timing the visit makes or breaks the experience - mid morning on a weekday in spring feels completely different from peak afternoon in July. Most people take the train to Vernon and then hop a shuttle bus. The garden itself stays open roughly 9:30 to 6:00, but opening hours shift with seasons so check before heading out. If you're planning this, you want to think about crowd levels and whether you care about flowers at peak bloom or if you'd rather have space to breathe.

The primary reason people do a day trip from Paris to Giverny is to see Monet's water lily pond and the Japanese bridge - the actual bridge is smaller than you'd think from the paintings, and honestly it can feel a bit staged when 50 people are trying to photograph it at once. But the garden walks are surprisingly good. Spring gets you tulips and wisteria. Summer is when the water lilies bloom. Fall has fewer crowds but also fewer flowers. Winter? Closed.

Giverny Day Trip with Guide

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Travel time from Paris	45 min train + 20 min bus
Best station	Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon
Entry fee	11 EUR adults, 6.50 EUR kids
Best months	April-May or September
Recommended time on site	2.5 to 4 hours

Why Go to Giverny

See the actual water lily pond and bridge from Monet's paintings - it's smaller and more intimate than expected
Walk through Monet's house with original furniture and the yellow dining room
Visit the Impressionist Museum if you have extra time - small but well curated collection
Escape Paris crowds - Giverny gets packed too but the village itself stays quiet
Combine with other gardens and art day trips from Paris if you're doing a cluster

It's not a destination with layers. You go for the garden. If flowers bore you or you hate crowds, skip it. If you like Monet or you want a calm day outside Paris, it works.

How to Get to Giverny from Paris

Train from Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon-Giverny takes 45 minutes. Trains run every hour or two depending on the day. You buy tickets at the station or online through SNCF. Price floats between 15 and 25 EUR each way depending on how far in advance you book and what time you travel.

From Vernon station, there's a shuttle bus that meets most trains during garden season. The shuttle costs 10 EUR round trip and drops you right at the garden entrance. Takes about 20 minutes. Some people bike the 7 km from Vernon instead - it's flat and there are rental shops near the train station if you want that option.

Tour vs DIY: train is straightforward enough that most people go solo. Tours make sense if you're combining Giverny with Versailles or if you hate dealing with train schedules. Some day tours from Paris bundle both destinations but honestly it's a lot of rushing. If you only care about Giverny, train wins.

What to Do in Giverny

Monet's Garden

This is the whole point. Two sections - the flower garden near the house and the water garden with the pond. The flower garden has paths, rose arches, and those dense flower beds Monet painted. Colors change by season but it's always crowded near the entrance. Walk toward the back and you'll lose some of the crowd.

The water garden is where everyone goes for photos of the Japanese bridge and water lilies. Morning light is better for photos but also peak crowd time. Late afternoon sometimes thins out a bit. If you hate crowds, maybe this isn't your trip.

Monet's House

Yellow dining room, blue kitchen, bedroom upstairs. Lots of Japanese prints on the walls. You can't touch anything and it's one way flow so don't expect to linger. Takes maybe 20 minutes to walk through. It's interesting but honestly the garden is the star.

Musee des Impressionnismes

Small museum a 5 minute walk from Monet's garden. Rotating exhibits focused on Impressionist and post Impressionist painters. If you finish the garden early or you want a break from crowds, it's a decent add on. Entry around 10 EUR. Not essential but nice if you have time.

One Day Giverny Itinerary

Morning

Catch a 7:45 or 8:15 train from Saint-Lazare. You'll be in Vernon by 9:00. Shuttle to Giverny by 9:30. Garden opens at 9:30 so you're there right when doors open. This is your best shot at seeing the pond without 40 other people in the frame.

Start with the water garden while it's still calm. Then loop back to the flower garden and the house. By 11:00 tour groups start arriving and it gets thick.

Afternoon

Lunch in the village. There are a few cafes and creperies on Rue Claude Monet. Nothing fancy but decent. If you want cheaper, grab a sandwich from the small shop near the garden entrance and eat by the river.

After lunch either hit the Impressionist Museum or just walk the village. Giverny is tiny - you can cover it in 20 minutes. There's a church where Monet is buried if that interests you.

Evening Return

Catch the shuttle back to Vernon around 3:00 or 4:00. Train to Paris runs until evening. You'll be back in the city by 6:00 if you leave early afternoon.

Some people combine this with Auvers-sur-Oise or Rouen but that's a stretch unless you're skipping Monet's house or rushing everything.

Food and Breaks

The garden has no food inside so eat before or after. Village has maybe 5 restaurants total. Le Jardin des Plumes is the fancy option but you need a reservation. Most people do crepes or sandwiches at one of the casual spots.

Cafe tip: if you just want coffee and a break, the cafe across from the museum is quieter than the ones right by the garden entrance.

Practical Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

Buy garden tickets in advance. You can buy at the gate but sometimes there's a line. Online tickets let you skip that.

Check opening dates carefully. The garden closes November through March. Also closed some random days in shoulder season. Don't show up assuming it's open.

Expect crowds April through October. Weekdays are slightly better than weekends but it's never empty during bloom season. If you need solitude, this isn't it.

The shuttle bus sometimes fills up. If you're on an afternoon return and the shuttle is packed, you might wait 20 minutes for the next one. Budget extra time.

Giverny is not a full day if you're fast. Garden plus house takes 2 hours if you're efficient. Add lunch and museum and you're at 4 hours max. Some people get bored and wish they'd picked something with more to do. That's fine - just know what you're signing up for.

Best Season and Crowd Reality

April and May give you tulips, wisteria, and spring colors. Crowds are building but not peak yet. June and July are when the water lilies bloom but also when tour buses show up. August is packed and hot. September is a sweet spot - fewer people, fall colors starting, weather still decent. October can be nice but flowers are fading.

Crowd reality: even on a quiet day you're sharing the pond area with 20 to 30 people. On a busy day it's 100+. If that sounds awful, maybe go to Barbizon instead - similar art village vibe, way fewer tourists.

If you're looking for alternatives that feel similar but less crowded, Auvers-sur-Oise has Van Gogh history and way fewer people. Or Fontainebleau if you want a chateau with gardens and forest walks combined.

For tour options that handle transport and timing for you, check Giverny and Versailles combo tours if you're short on days in Paris. Otherwise train is simple enough to do solo.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do Giverny and Versailles in one day?

Technically yes but it's exhausting. You'd need to start at 7:00 AM and wouldn't finish either place properly. Better to pick one or do them on separate days. If you insist, some tours bundle both but you're looking at 12+ hours and a lot of bus time.

Is Giverny worth it if you're not into art?

Maybe. The garden is pretty even if you don't care about Monet. But if you're indifferent to flowers and you hate crowds, probably skip it. There are quieter garden day trips that feel less touristy.

How early should I arrive?

9:30 opening time is ideal. By 10:30 it's busy. By 11:00 it's packed. If you can't make opening time, go after 4:00 PM when groups start leaving.

Do I need to book the train in advance?

Not required but it's cheaper if you book a week or two ahead. Day of tickets cost more. Trains don't sell out usually but prices jump.

Is the shuttle bus the only option from Vernon?

No. You can bike, walk, or taxi. Bike is popular if weather is good. Walking takes 90 minutes so most people skip that. Taxi costs around 15 EUR but you might have to call ahead.

Can you visit Monet's grave?

Yes, it's in the village church cemetery. Free. Takes 5 minutes. Nothing dramatic but some people like to see it.

Are there other things to do in Giverny besides the garden?

Not really. Impressionist Museum, a few galleries, and that's it. It's a tiny village. If you finish the garden in 2 hours and you're wondering what to do next, that's normal.

Is it worth going in winter?

The garden is closed November through March. If you're in Paris during winter, pick Chartres or another destination that stays open year round.

Should I bring a picnic?

You can't eat inside the garden but you can eat by the river or in village parks. If you're on a budget, grab food in Paris or Vernon and picnic outside the garden before or after your visit.

Is Giverny good for kids?

Depends on the kid. If they like gardens and can handle 2 hours of walking without getting bored, fine. If they need playgrounds and action, skip it. There's nothing for kids to do except walk and look at flowers.