Paris > Sightseeing > Giverny

Day Trip to Giverny by Train

Claude Monet's house and gardens are easy to reach from Paris by nonstop SNCF train and a local shuttle bus.

ABOVE: The central path in the Clos Normand, Claude Monet's flower garden, is sheltered by floral arches.

By Durant Imboden

Claude Monet, the patriarch of Impressionism, didn't just bequeath an artistic legacy to the world: He also left behind the home and gardens that he occupied from 1883 until his death in 1926. During his 43 years at Giverny, Monet produced hundreds of paintings--including more than 250 depictions of water lilies alone.

After the death of Giverny's head gardener in 1947, the estate fell into a state of disrepair. It was restored in the 1970s, and today the house and gardens--run by the Fondation Claude Monet--attracts more than 500,000 visitors per year.

One reason for Giverny's popularity may be the ease of reaching it: The house and gardens are less than an hour from Paris by train, with a shuttle bus providing transportation from the Vernon-Giverny station.

Opening times and tickets:

Claude Monet's house and gardens are normally open from April through October from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the last admission at 5:30 p.m. The Fondation Claude Monet recommend purchasing tickets online to avoid queuing at the ticket desk on busy days.

For more details, see the foundation's Web site. Another useful site is Giverny.org.

Getting to Giverny:

From the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris, frequent nonstop trains run to Vernon-Giverny. (Most of these trains continue to Rouen, the capital of Normandy.) Click here to check timetables and book rail tickets.

At Vernon-Giverny, you can catch a shuttle bus or walk 5 km to the village of Giverny, where signs will point you to Monet's house and gardens. (The linked page also has driving instructions for visitors who prefer to arrive by car.)

If you prefer group travel to independent exploring, you can book a half-day escorted tour to Giverny through Viator, our tours and activities partner.

Staying overnight:

Our hotel partner, Booking.com, has hotel listings for Giverny and towns nearby. You can check prices, view photos, and read reviews by paying guests before booking.

More photos:

ABOVE: Your journey begins at the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris, where trains depart for Giverny and Rouen almost hourly.

ABOVE: When you reach the village of Giverny, you'll enter the artist's house and gardens through the Fondation Claude Monet at 84 rue Claude Monet.

ABOVE: A map near the entrance shows the layout of the Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet. The gardens consist of two parts: The Clos Normand flower garden next to the house, and a Jardin d'Eau or Water Garden with floating water lilies. Click here for a larger map.

ABOVE: As you might surmise from this dog's sad expression, pets are not allowed into the Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet. 

ABOVE: Gardeners replant flower beds throughout the growing season, making Giverny a repeat attraction for horticulture fans.

ABOVE: We saw these flowers and berries at the Clos Normand in late September.

ABOVE: During our visit, a snail posed for this photo.

ABOVE: Benches are available for contemplation of the gardens (or for resting sore feet).

ABOVE: Chickens enjoy the good life in the gardens at Giverny.

ABOVE: You can also visit Claude Monet's house, where upstairs windows provide a view of the flower gardens.

ABOVE: Claude Monet created his Oriental Water Garden in the mid-1890s, using a marsh from a neighboring property as the site of an artificial pond.

Many local residents were opposed to the project, according to an excellent history of the gardens from Daily Art Magazine.

ABOVE: More than a century later, an acquatic gardener tends Claude Monet's pond and its water lilies. (You can see Monet's Japanese-style footbridge in the background.)

ABOVE: The house and gardens also have a restaurant and--shown here--a museum shop where you can buy art, books, gifts, and souvenirs.

ABOVE: After you've left Monet's house and gardens, take time to wander around the village of Giverny. It has a small assortment of shops, including a florist's shop where you scan satisfy your craving for floral souvenirs.

ABOVE: Even the local food cart sells flowering plants.

ABOVE: A nearby meadow with haystacks pays homage to one of Claude Monet's recurring themes.

About the author:

Durant Imboden is a professional travel writer, book author, and editor who focuses on European cities and transportation.

After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel topics for About.com, Durant and Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors (including Paris for Visitors) in 2001. The site has earned "Best of the Web" honors from Forbes and The Washington Post.

For more information, see About our site, press clippings, and reader testimonials.

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