Claude Monet spent the last 43 years of his life in Giverny, a small village about an hour from Paris by train. He transformed his estate into flourishing gardens that later inspired masterpieces like the Water Lilies series, which you can see at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris.
Wander through his characterful home, stroll the dreamy gardens he designed himself, walk across the wisteria-covered bridge in spring, and see the very scenes that inspired his artworks.
I have visited Giverny three times in the spring, summer, and fall. In this guide, I’m sharing how to get there easily by public transportation, along with helpful tips to plan the perfect day trip to Giverny from Paris.
Getting to Giverny from Paris
The journey from Paris to Giverny by public transportation takes 1.5 hours each way. It requires a train, shuttle bus, and then a short walk to reach Claude Monet’s home.
Below, I’m outlining the exact steps you need to take to easily get there from Paris.
- Train: Paris to Vernon-Giverny (1 hour)
- Depart from Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. Follow signs to Zone Bleue or Lignes Normandes to reach the train. Get off at the Vernon-Giverny train stop. The journey takes about 1 hour.
- Tickets: Purchase your tickets online at SNCF.com at least a few days in advance (a week or more is best) for better prices.
- Shuttle Bus: Vernon to Giverny (10 minutes)
- Once you arrive at the Vernon-Giverny train station, follow the signs to the shuttle bus as you exit the station.
- Tickets: Cost €5 each way and €10 round trip (“aller-retour”). Purchase round trip tickets. You can pay with cash or card.
- The shuttle buses are lined up with train times. Make sure to grab a printed timetable on board to plan your return journey, or check the timetable in advance online.
- Walk: Shuttle Stop to Monet’s House (10 minutes)
- It’s about a 5-10 minute walk from the shuttle stop to Monet’s House. Follow the signs for e-ticket entry.
How much time in Giverny?
I suggest planning 4 to 5 hours in Giverny. We arrived at the Vernon-Giverny station at 11:00 AM and took the 2:53 PM train back to Paris. I would have spent an extra hour (5 hours in total), but I was visiting on the weekend and there were fewer return trains.
Booking Tickets
Purchase your tickets well in advance. When I visited in June without tickets, I waited 30–45 minutes in line just to buy tickets.
I recommend booking at least 2-4 weeks ahead, especially in summer. In October, I purchased same-day tickets online without any issue.
- Tickets: Book on the official website
- Hours: From 9.30am to 6pm, last admission at 5.30pm
Always double check the official website for up-to-date hours and pricing.
Tours from Paris to Giverny
I know that navigating public transportation can feel stressful. If you prefer a simpler option, consider booking a half-day group tour from Paris. Here are a few suggestions:
Claude Monet’s Home
Plan on spending two hours at Monet’s house and gardens.
The interiors of Monet’s house are colorful, quirky, and the kitchen is quite literally my dream kitchen. The walls are covered in paintings by Monet’s artist friends like Cézanne and Renoir, making it feel like you’ve stepped right into his creative world.
The Gardens
The gardens include two parts: the flower garden just behind the house and the lily pond across the road. Based on my experience, they are at their best in May and June, when the spring flowers, like the wisteria and roses, are in full bloom.
If you want to see the water lilies in bloom, plan your visit for July or August. When I visited in October, there were still a few blooming, so you may be able to catch them into early fall as well.
Other Things to do in Giverny
Giverny is a small village and Monet’s home is the main attraction, so you can absolutely just visit the house and gardens and then head back to Paris.
At the very least, take a stroll along Rue Claude Monet, a charming road lined with roses and other seasonal flowers!
Here are a few additional sites to see in Giverny:
- Museum of the Impressionists
- Bust of Claude Monet
- Claude Monet’s Tomb
All of these are within a 3–10 minute walk from Monet’s home.
When is Monet’s Home Open?
Claude Monet’s home and gardens are open from April 1 to November 1, 2025. They are closed during the winter months and cannot be visited at that time.
When to Visit Giverny?
I have visited in May, late June, and late October. All were beautiful in their own ways, but I think May and June are the best months to visit.
- May: You may catch the wisteria in bloom over the Japanese bridge.
- June: Roses are in bloom, everything is green, and many spring flowers are at their peak.
- July: Water lilies start to bloom for the summer.
- Fall: Gorgeous fall colors, and flowers like dahlias are still in bloom. When I visited in late October, a few water lilies were still blooming too.