Direct transportation Paris -Giverny with self-guided garden visit

Posted by Cynthia (Gig Harbor, Washington, USA) on 03/23/25 11:59 PM

We visited Giverny many years ago when we had a rental car. This time, we will be visiting from Paris. We would like the easiest possible transportation to get to Giverny, but don't want someone shepherding us around the gardens. We plan to skip Monet's house this time.

We are considering using the Paris City Visions "Half day trip Giverny Monet's Gardens Excursion at your leisure from Paris." If we choose the 2:30 Paris departure, would we miss most of the large tour groups? We know that the train to Vernon - shuttle to Giverny option is cheaper, but this tour seems like an easier way to get there. Have any of you used this option? Did it work OK? Thanks for any information.

Posted by slbdaisy

WestCentral MN

03/24/25 12:13 AM

383 posts

My husband and I took this tour in 2018. We opted for the earliest morning tour. When we arrived, there were only a few other people there. The guide said we could stick with her or go on our own inside. She gave us directions for where and when to meet her if we went on our own. We entered through the gate for groups, which was closer to the pond than the regular entrance. I made a beeline for the pond and was able to see it with few people around. We then made our way toward the other gardens, studio, and house. By that time, the gardens were full of people.

Overall, it worked OK. I didn't want to figure out the train/bus option myself. I appreciated being able to board a bus and being driven right to the gardens. We were first in line at PCV and got a seat in the very front on the top. It was great to watch the view and traffic on the way there and back.

I am a gardener, and I love Monet's artwork. I could have spent the entire day there. I would have liked more time, but I realize they need to get back to Paris to load the people for the afternoon tour. You should know that if traffic is very heavy and you are delayed, that will decrease your time at the gardens. Since you've been there before, the amount of time spent at the gardens would probably be sufficient for you.

Posted by Cynthia OP

Gig Harbor, Washington, USA

03/24/25 04:42 PM

1910 posts

Thank you for sharing your experience. I really appreciate the information.

Posted by Carol

Atlanta, GA, USA

03/24/25 04:55 PM

949 posts

Honestly, this is not a hard trip to do on your own. I took the first train in the morning and was at the gardens well before any of the tours wrapped which meant I had a great experience. If you go at 2:30 in the afternoon, there will be a lot of people there by the time I left it was packed with no signs of letting up and there were Boat loads of buses in that parking lot and more arriving as I was leaving.

I do not think at 2:30 tour is going to be less crowded than the first tour of the morning. If you have to do the tour, I would go first thing before the tour companies start rolling in and trust me they’re rolling in.

Posted by Cynthia OP

Gig Harbor, Washington, USA

03/24/25 06:43 PM

1910 posts

Carol - Thanks for your input. The transportation -self-guided tour we are considering leaves Paris at 2:30, so it would arrive at Giverny about 3:45-4:00. And the departure/return location near the Eiffel Tower frees up our morning for another activity and returns us in the evening to the location we prefer for dinner.