Your Guide to A Day Trip to Giverny: Is It Worth It?
After several years of living in Paris, I finally caved and took a day trip to Giverny during shoulder season – curious to finally see a place that’s talked about by locals and tourists alike.
Visiting the Water Lily Pond in Giverny, France; April 2026
Unsurprisingly as it’s small, Giverny has a soft feel to it, as it’s isolated from big city chaos – embodying tranquility and quiet for inward reflection. In turn, Giverny truly emanates why artists like Monet were able to find such inspiration for their world-renowned works of art.
Having taken a day trip to Giverny myself, I’m going to break down the best things to do in Giverny, how to get there, and if it’s truly worth taking a day trip from Paris.
Monet’s House and Gardens in Giverny, France; April 2026
Is Giverny Worth Visiting?
I think that Giverny is worth a day trip at least once, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it.
This is because while I think it’s a cute, quaint little town with rich history and real-life examples of paintings come to life – it’s very small and doesn’t have much to do to warrant a full day trip from Paris.
If you’ve been to Paris many times and are looking for something new to do or see, a day trip to Giverny is probably worthwhile – but I wouldn’t say that first-time visitors in Paris have to see Giverny before they leave.
Water Colors at the Lily Pond in Giverny, France; April 2026
How do I Get to Giverny from Paris?
Depsite Monet’s world renowned reputation for his paintings and life story, Paris hasn’t made it the easiest journey to get all the way to Giverny.
The overview cards below will explain the three main steps required to get to Giverny:
🚆 How to Get to Giverny from Paris
1. Get to Saint-Lazare Station: To get to Giverny, you need to first get to Paris’s Saint-Lazare station – which is located in central Paris. Luckily, as this is a well-connected metro station – this usually takes around 20 minutes depending on where you’re staying in Paris.
2. TER Train to Giverny: Once you’re at Saint Lazare Station, you’ll need to take the TER 13159 to Vernon-Giverny. This takes around 50 minutes, with a few stops at the end. I highly recommend booking your train tickets in advance on the SNCF website, as the trains only run every couple of hours or so – meaning it’s better to plan accordingly with your ticket time for Monet’s House and Gardens.
3. Shuttle from SNCF Train Station to Giverny: Lastly, you’ll need to take a short shuttle bus from the train station to Giverny. This will cost €10 roundtrip and takes around 10 minutes.
In the end, the total travel time door-to-door via public transportation from my apartment near the Eiffel Tower to standing in Giverny’s little village was 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Alternatively, you can also rent a car to Giverny from Paris – which would take a little over an hour to get to. There is a major parking lot for all visitors who come by car.
Courtyard View of Monet’s House in Giverny, France; April 2026
11 Best Things to Do in Giverny
1. Go Inside Monet’s House
An absolute must while in Giverny, you’ll have to make sure you make the time to go inside Monet’s house – where inside, you’ll discover recognizable rooms (whether it be from paintings or having caught Emily inside the yellow kitchen on Emily in Paris).
Outside Monet’s House in Giverny, France; April 2026
Pro Tip: If you’re planning to visit Monet’s House, Gardens, and Water Lily Pond – I recommend going inside his house first, as the line gets longer as the day goes on.
2. Wander Around Monet’s Gardens
Colorful and photogenic, Monet’s Gardens should be another non-negotiable while visiting Giverny on a day trip.
It’s very fun to wander the path with your camera, touch the different flowers, and marvel in the rainbow parade – especially if you visit in the spring while everything is blooming.
Flowers in bloom at Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France; April 2026
Pro Tip: As I said earlier, while it may be tempting to sit on a bench under the sun surrounded by the watercolor flowers come to life – I really recommend seeing Monet’s house before settling in the gardens.
3. Explore the Museum of Impressionism Giverny
If you love museums in Paris such as Musée de l'Orangerie, you won’t want to miss out on seeing the Museum of Impressionism while in Giverny.
Single tickets for adults start at €12, but you can often find package deals for all three (Monet’s House, Gardens, and the Museum of Impressionism) when looking on Giverny’s official website for tourism.
Outside the Museum of Impressionism in Giverny, France; April 2026
Pro Tip: You can stay inside the private gardens when you buy a ticket to the Impressionist Museum in Giverny, making it a great spot to have lunch or let kids frolic in the flowers.
4. Marvel in the Watercolors at Water Lilly Pond
Perhaps the main reason that I myself traveled all the way from Paris to Giverny for the day, you can’t leave without walking around the famous water lily pond – which is known to have inspired many of Monet’s paintings.
Water Lily Pond in Giverny, France; April 2026
Plus, I just had to be able to say that I’ve now seen where Emily and Camille fell into the water and got scorned at by a tour guide with my own eyes.
Pro Tip: The famous water lily pond in Giverny will look different depending on the time of year you visit. If you’re interested in vibrant colors, visiting during spring is best – but if you want fall foliage, and autumn day trip to Giverny may be more suited to your style.
5. Listen to Piano Players at Église Sainte-Radegonde
At the end of the main strip of road in Giverny’s little village is a Church, better known as Église Sainte-Radegonde.
Outside Église Sainte-Radegonde in Giverny, France; April 2026
You can walk inside to listen to the talented piano players or just take a seat and enjoy the small church’s indoor scenery.
Pro Tip: You can walk up the steps behind the church to get a view of the rolling hills and surrounding area, which makes for beautiful pictures that really capture Giverny’s peaceful personality
6. Learn About Monet’s Tomb
Off to the corner of the church and up a few stairs in Monet’s Tomb, which was recently redesigned – paying homage to both Claude Monet and the rest of his family buried there.
Visiting Monet’s Tomb in Giverny, France; April 2026
Pro Tip: This is a great moment to learn about some of Monet’s family history and some of the inspiration behind his art. For instance, his wife and even one of his children passed before him – resulting in a devastated Monet.
7. Visit Claude Monet’s Bust
Hidden to the side of the parking lot is a black, but understated statue of Monet – perfect for sitting next to while having a break from wandering the rest of the village.
Claude Monet’s Bust in Giverny, France; April 2026
Pro Tip: I recommend seeing this at the very start or very end of your day in Giverny, as it’s right next to the parking lot where you’ll either go back to your car or take the shuttle back to the train station.
8. Rent a Bike
If you want a more adventurous, sporty way of seeing Giverny – you can rent a bike for €15 from the city.
Picnic Spot in Giverny, France; April 2026
Pro Tip: There is a place to lock up your bikes just near the public restrooms as you walk towards the village. You’ll see this when you’re walking toward the main street coming in from the parking lot.
9. Take a Painting Class
Something I discovered while walking to the church is that Giverny offers local painting classes!
It’s a shame because the poster is in French, so not many tourists would even notice this – but it appears to be open to everyone (though bear in mind, the classes might be in French).
Painting class description in French in Giverny, France; April 2026
This is great for people who aren’t only interested in Monet’s work, but to learn the exact skills and techniques he implemented into his paintings.
Pro Tip: This is could be great for families with older kids who want a more interactive activity while traveling abroad, as walking and museum going can prove tedious for children.
10. Wander Down Rue de Claude Monet
A wonderful thing about Giverny is it isn’t just Monet’s House in a secluded area, but a small village you can take the time to explore.
Exploring the village in Giverny, France; April 2026
There are several gift shops to discover while walking alongside the street, in addition to local restaurants, the town hall, and small school.
Pro Tip: I recommend first visiting Monet’s House and Gardens, and then walking all the way down the street towards the church. This allows you to be both efficient (as Monet’s House and Gardens are the most crowded) and to see everything in a straight line walk.
11. Enjoy a Coffee or Meal in a Quiet Café
One my favorite parts of Giverny was just how perfect the outdoor cafés and local terraces looked.
Like a snapshot of something you’d find out of a summer brochure, you’ll want to take the time to spend an hour or two enjoying a slow meal or drink in one of these coffee shops.
Outdoor coffee shop in Giverny, France; April 2026
Pro Tip: I found the prices for eating out in Giverny to be extremely expensive given how small the town is. If you want to save a little money on your day trip to Giverny, there are several food trucks to choose from just past the Museum of Impressionism – which offered crepes, sandwiches, coffee, tea, and more.
🌸 FAQs on Visiting Giverny from Paris
Want to see my day trip to Giverny in action?
Check out my vlog below exploring Monet’s house, gardens, and water lily ponds for the first time below!
Looking for more information and Paris and France as you plan your trip?
Click here to discover more, as I have several articles like this to help you plan the perfect trip to Paris and the rest of France.
Additional articles you may find helpful include:
10 Best Neighborhoods in Paris: Where to Stay (A Local’s Guide)
Your Guide to a First Trip to Paris: A Local-Approved 5-Day Itinerary
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Last updated: April 6, 2026