Giverney

There is a train that goes to Vernon which is approximately 2 miles from Giverny. Options for getting from the train station would be cab, walk, bike or rent a car. I believe it is possible to rent a bike, and I know there is at least one rental car company in Vernon.

Giverny is closed from November 1 to some time in April. When it is open there is a bus or mini train from the Vernon train station to Monet's house and gardens. Vernon is the closest train.

Train from Paris to Vernon is about an hour, bus to Giverny from Vernon takes about 10 min. During the main season the bus meets all the trains so not much of a wait. So the round trip is about 3 hrs.

I also recommend downloading the Bolt app. When I went in October the train was very late due to a signaling issue. I think because of this there was only one of the shuttle buses waiting which filled rapidly and left probably 75 people waiting. The friend I was with got on her Bolt app and secured a ride well before the 2nd bus (which had by then arrived) had loaded. We did the same coming back. The Bolt fare was about 20E each way. The Round trip bus fare was I think 10E.

Be sure to look carefully at the train schedule as some departures have a change of trains outbound. My direct train left (or was supposed to!) at 10:11 and I caught the 16:51 back to Paris. I’d bought a 1:30 entry to Monet’s house and garden which gave me enough time for lunch beforehand.

We saw a number of people with bike rentals from the bar/cafe across from the train station. Some appeared to be having difficulty with tires and one i saw broken down on the path. I’d say use caution.

Fyi, the departure station in Paris for the trains to Vernon is Gare St Lazare.

I took a Bolt from Giverny back to the train station in Vernon last fall, and it was only €13. I had two other friends with me, so that was the total cost for 3 people.

To clarify: the different prices above: during a surge Bolt is 20€ but normally it’s 13€ for the station -Giverny ride. The bus is 5€ each way. If there are three or four of you, the shared ride is more economical.

Listen to Kim and Elizabeth, lol!! They are correct about the charges, lol!!

Great advice, all. I'd like to go to Giverney in April/May of 2026. Does anyone know what will be blooming then, or if that's the best time for maximum bloom viewing.

@Catherine: Here is a link to the flowering calendar for Giverny.

https://giverny.org/gardens/fcm/calendar.htm

BTW, there is always something blooming so don't worry too much about "best" time. I went at the very end of the season in October and it was still wonderful. I'd been before so had some comparisons to previous Fall and Spring visits. I'd still go again anytime it is open.

kelfeind,
We went in late April 2017, and there was an abundance of beautiful tulips, and many other flowers. You will see a beautiful garden at that time!

We have visited Paris eight times, but always in the colder months, so never made it to Giverney until our last trip, which was October 2023.

We did a day trip by train and it was so, so easy.

Train and bus was very simple and very cheap. I highly recommend going and the best thing about being out of season is the lack of crowds. We have photos of us on the bridges on the lake with no-one else there.