Giverny day trip

I did the trip in 2013. Yes, get to the station early or even buy the tickets ahead of time, at least for the train trip to Vernon! I wish I had. I got to St Lazare thinking I could buy train tickets at the last minute at a machine with my fancy new chip and PIN credit card - but the machines were all down when I arrived, and there was a long line to buy tickets from an agent. I got there really late (like 15 minutes before train departure) and there was no way I would ever make it waiting in that line. I asked a conductor waiting at the head of the train if I could buy tickets on the train, and she said, "Yes - for a surcharge." (Forget how much - 20 euros extra? - it was steep but doable.) So I just hopped on. By the time we got to Vernon, the conductor hadn't even come around, so I didn't have to buy a ticket at all. Lucky.

I don't think the train was reserved but I don't remember - maybe some of them are. It's been a few hours since I was there. In any case, it might be a good idea to buy tickets for the 8:19 the day before (maybe online or from another station, if possible, if you aren't staying near St Lazare). Or get to the station really early. 30 minutes is probably enough but don't cut it too close. But if you buy ahead, obviously you don't have to stress about early arrival that morning.

I continued from Vernon on to Rouen (same train line) and spent a few hours there before coming back to Paris. I knew the rough train schedule for trains between Paris, Vernon, and Rouen ahead of time so I was able to spend time at Giverny at my leisure and take the shuttle bus back to Vernon with enough time built in to buy a ticket from an agent to Rouen. Maybe today I'd use the SNCF app on my phone...

I was there the end of September. We drove there from Etretat, but took the train back to Paris. We just bought tickets at the counter when we wanted to leave. I believe there were several trains every hour. Unless you need to get back to Paris by some specific time, I wouldn't worry about prepurchasing the return ticket. I would say that if its not inconvenient, buy the morning tickets ahead of time, just saves on stress. You know you need some kind of transportation between Vernon and Givery, correct?

Isn't there still a shuttle bus between Vernon station and Giverny? This is so touristy, I'm guessing the busses will be timed to the train schedules and waiting for you (as was the case for me) when you step off the train at Vernon.

The Shuttle Buses are waiting when the train arrives,very easy.
Mike

Tickets cannot sell out because there are no assigned seats but be sure to leave allow for plenty of lead time if you are buying same day tickets. I have been several times (I love the gardens and Vernon itself). Last time (last month), I was not paying attention and instead of getting on the coach bus I got on the little goofy tour bus that looks like a train. That “bus” gives you a circuit/tour of Vernon before you get to the gardens. It was cute and fun but the guy sold us round trip tickets and then we found out later that there was no return service and we ended up missing our train to a Paris. Oh well, we made lemonade out of those lemons by spending the afternoon in Vernon in a cafe. As to returning, please note that that there is about a 2-hour gap in train service beginning roughly at around 2. The 5ish train is usually very crowded or I should say it has been the two times that I have taken it.

Thank you everyone! Great information. I like the idea of getting tickets the day before, I think we are staying close to the train station so that should be easy. I'm so excited to see the gardens and I hope we can beat at least some of the crowds :)

You can buy that ticket at any train station or at an SNCF boutique.

Thanks for letting me know!

My friend and I bought tickets at Montparnasse Station the same day but there was a line and we missed the first train that we might have taken. As I recall, we purchased round trip tickets which were timed but the agent told us that we could board any train we wanted coming back from Vernon, that the times on the tickets were really just a formality. She also gave us a list of all the times that there would be a train back into Paris so that we could plan our time accordingly. She was very helpful.
I love Giverny -- have a wonderful time!

Good to know about the bus rather than the train! I appreciate the help :) Now I'm just watching the weather report and hoping there won't be thunderstorms on the day we are going.

Catherine, the day I visited Giverney, it was raining in Paris the morning I woke up. I didn't see any point in even going to Giverny in the rain. But I got on the train anyway (it was headed on to Rouen after Vernon so I thought I might just skip Giverny and keep going). But as the train headed for Vernon, the weather improved, so I just got off there, and the weather was clear at Giverny. The weather can change quickly even in one day!