Giverny and Monet House Day Trips from Paris

Giverny is a picturesque village just 50 miles from the French capital, making it an ideal choice for an excursion from Paris. The house and garden where Monet lived are charming and well worth a visit.

The attractions of Paris are countless but after a few days between the Louvre and climbing the Eiffel Tower, every now and then you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis to recharge your batteries in the countryside. Here are the guided tours to Giverny.

Halfway between Paris and Rouen is the town of Giverny. It is located on the banks of the Seine River and is famous for having been the residence of the impressionist painter Claude Monet. The artist came to Giverny in 1883 and stayed here until 1926, the year of his death.

The bus will drop you off in front of his former house which is surrounded by splendid gardens with a pond, picturesque bridges and lush vegetation. The guide will explain the most interesting anecdotes and show you the places that inspired his paintings.

Monet's house is a little gem. Its most appreciated rooms are the small blue living room (where his wife used to spend time with the children), the coquettish kitchen decorated with Rouen tiles and the dining room with yellow walls and furniture and a collection of Japanese prints.

By the way, if you like the art of the Japanese country, I recommend you to visit the Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris.

• Duration: about 4 hours and a half
• Price: about 98 €.

The option that combines two French landmarks. The first part of this route is similar to the previous point: an air-conditioned bus will accompany you to Giverny where you will have the opportunity to visit Monet's house. The residence preserves the original furniture and decorations as well as the artist's collection of Japanese engravings.

The guided tour continues through the gardens where dahlias, water lilies, irises, weeping willows and dozens of other species thrive.

At the end of the tour you will get back on the bus to reach the Palace of Versailles, the jewel of French art of the 17th century. In 1682, King Louis XIV moved the royal court here and ordered the construction of many of the buildings that we can see today.

Its most beautiful room is the Hall of Mirrors with its crystal chandeliers and paintings by Le Brun. The route continues through the gardens that hosted the parties of monarchs and aristocrats.

If you visit Paris in April you can enjoy the spectacle of the musical fountains (every Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays between April and October).

If you want to soak up French culture with an expert historical guide, you also have the option of taking this small group tour to Giverny and Versailles from Paris.

• Duration: about 9 hours
• Price: between 250 € and 300 €.

These tours usually depart from Paris in the morning. After a short freeway ride, the bus arrives in front of Monet's house. The visit includes both the interior of the house and the garden, the main source of inspiration of the French painter.

An expert guide will be at your disposal at all times to explain the history and anecdotes of the place. Once the visit is over, the bus will head back to Paris, stopping in Rouen, the historical and cultural capital of Normandy.

Rouen is known above all for two things: for having been the place where Joan of Arc was executed and for being the city of 100 bell towers.

Indeed the churches are many and the most beautiful and famous is undoubtedly the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Although it was severely damaged by the bombings of World War II, subsequent works have restored its original figure.

Other outstanding monuments are the Church of Saint Maclou (a magnificent example of late Gothic architecture), the Gros-Horloge (a clock with allegorical figures representing the days and lunar phases) and the Church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc, where the "Maid of Orleans" was martyred.

If you visit Paris in June, a trip to Rouen is highly recommended. In the first half of the month, the Armada, a large gathering of sailboats and military ships, is held. You can enjoy the spectacle on the banks of the Seine River.

• Duration: about 9 hours
• Price: about 250 €.

France is much more than Paris. The Gallic country hides thousands of beautiful towns and natural sites of great beauty. For these reasons, it is worth to get away from the Eiffel Tower to discover some charming corners, especially if you travel to Paris in spring.

Impressionist art lovers can not miss this tour. The artist moved to Giverny in 1883 and found his inspiration here. The cycle of oil paintings "The Water Lilies" and paintings such as "The Artist's Garden at Giverny" or "The Water Lily Pond" were made here.

By the way, these famous paintings can be found in the Orangerie Museum and the Musée d'Orsay.

In my opinion, an organized tour is the best option for four reasons:

• There are no direct connections between the capital and Giverny. There is a train that connects Saint-Lazare station with the town of Vernon-Giverny. Once there, to get to Monet's house you will have to take a shuttle bus or a cab. If you feel like it, you can also walk about 5 kilometers. An organized tour avoids all this as you will be dropped off in front of every attraction in Giverny.
• The price of a guided tour is very convenient. They usually cost between 70 € and 80 € but, if you had to pay for train and cab (round trip) or a rental car (with gas) in addition to the entrance fees, you would end up spending more money.
• The highway toll is expensive. If you travel with a rental car, you should keep in mind that the price of the A13 (the fastest option) is around 30 €. You can avoid the toll roads but you will need more time.
• Excursions depart from a central location in Paris, for example, around the Louvre Museum. The French capital has a transport system and it will not be difficult to get there. For more information, I recommend you to consult the post that explains how to get around Paris.

If you don't have much free time, you can go to Les Nymphéas restaurant. It is located right in front of Monet's house and has a courtyard surrounded by plants and flowers (Square Gérald et Florence Van der Kemp).

Les Nymphéas uses fresh ingredients from nearby farms at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, it is closed during some months of the year. It is usually open from April to October, between 9:00 and 18:00. There is also a children's menu.

Normally this day tour usually pleases children. Indeed, the villa and the garden are reminiscent of fairytale landscapes. Moreover, the excursions are not too long and with a little organization everything will be fine.

In any case, I recommend you to read the post that explains what to see and do in Paris with children.

First of all, it is important to know that the Foundation opens at the end of March and remains open until the beginning of November. Therefore, if you visit Paris in winter you will have to opt for another activity. Other than that, here are a few more tips:

• Most tourists visit Giverny and Monet's house during the summer. However, the best month is May, when spring is at its peak.
• If you have the chance, you can visit nearby Vernon, a charming village on the banks of the Seine River. It is about 6 kilometers from Giverny.
• Another attraction in the surroundings is the Château Gaillard, a castle built in 1196 by the will of Richard the Lionheart.