Looking for some "savvy travel" strategies/suggestions for a day trip from Paris to Giverny 9/20 or 9/21 prior to our RS Eastern France tour beginning 9/22. Would love some recommendations for securing train tickets, admission tickets, best times to attend etc. Have concerns of colleagues posts of crowds. We're veteran travelers, and always rely on and appreciate the RS forum. Thanks in advance for your coaching.
Posted by
Chicago
1137 posts
The official website gives useful info on transit and on-line ticketing. https://fondation-monet.com/en/useful-information/#acces
It sounds as if you've been reading recent posts on Giverny - I would go with expectation of "crowds" and if you don't experience that, so much the better!
Timing may depend on the train and shuttle schedules. If you are like me, you may prefer to go to Gare Saint-Lazare in advance of your departure and purchase tickets early. Then when time to leave, you can just climb aboard without any concerns for ticket machines or manned booths.
If you purchase tickets in advance, you should be able to use the group entrance and avoid any line of folks purchasing on-site.
Posted by
Chicago
1137 posts
If, by chance, you were considering visiting the Musee Marmottan Monet before Giverny, you can purchase a joint ticket with Giverny. I can't find that this is available on-line, just in person, perhaps. Scroll down for the "Double Ticket" info: https://www.marmottan.fr/en/prepare-your-visit/admission/
This is how I obtained an advance ticket for my last visit to Giverny. Used the group entrance.
The L'Orangerie may also have a similar in-person joint ticket.
Posted by
Paris
10187 posts
All things being equal, I would advise you to go on the 20th, which is a Friday, over the 21st. Maybe I am being naive, but I feel like the crowds might be a little less on a Friday than a Saturday (???). I.e. at least on a Friday you don’t have regular Parisians who are coming on their day off from work.
I’m probably just kidding myself because i am sure it is always busy. I’m sure there are plenty of visitors to fill up the times ! But it really is such a lovely place, I hope you can go and enjoy it.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14719 posts
I am a "go early" person....I'd get the entry for the opening time, then immediately head to the water lily garden. IF you come in the group entrance at the back, it was a turn to the right as you left the ticket booth, lol.
I'd go with Kim's suggestion of Friday instead of Saturday unless Friday is your first full day after your international flight. I don't like to book things for that day just in case there are some kind of delays.
Use the SNCF app to purchase your train tickets.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
119 posts
I was at Giverny last Friday. It never disappoints. Ours was a last minute change in travel plans that found us in Paris for 4 days. I bought our tickets 2 days prior, we booked later afternoon/330 entry and took the train from Saint Lazare at 12:15. Upon arrival in Vernon which is the train station for Giverny you can take a shuttle to the house/gardens- I believe it is 10 euros round trip and they leave regularly. This time we chose to rent bikes. It was an easy ride and we enjoyed it. Bicycle rentals are also 10 euros and there are 2 places outside of the station that rent bikes. I didn’t find the gardens to be as busy as many reviews have indicated. With an online ticket you can enter at the group entrance which is much less busy. The house was busy with a line to entry and was slow moving throughout but I have found that to be the case in previous visits too.We entered the gardens just after 2 and we arrived back in Vernon to just in time to catch a train at 5. I would suggest either an early or later on the afternoon entry to try to miss the larger tour groups. It’s easy to buy the tickets online too and with most tickets you are able to catch an earlier or later train of the same type (TER I believe). It’s a great day trip from Paris.