We will be taking the train from Paris to Vernon then on to Monet’s home and garden. How much time would any of you suggest for that visit? We do like to linger and savor wherever we go and whatever we see. Also suggestions for sites in Giverny itself?
Thank you ahead of time
I usually wind up spending 3 hours or so in the gardens, the house and the gift shop, lol.
Last time I went I caught the 10:11 direct train to Giverny. The train was late out of the station due to some kind of signaling issue so got to Giverny about 1200. The shuttles were out of sync and wound up in Giverny about 1220-30. Ate lunch at the nearby Nympheas Restaurant and entered the garden with a timed entry for 1330. Left about 415 to catch the 1651 train from Vernon back to Paris. It was late October so was dark by then anyway.
IN Giverny I suggest you also walk down the Main Street to the church where Monet and family are buried. There is a touching memorial to a Lancaster bomber crew that was shot down on the night of June 7/8 with all crew killed.
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/18681
Giverny is beautiful in good weather. The house/museum was developed well after his death and does not display originals by the great man. The surrounding gardens which the artist cultivated to inspire his artwork make for a splendid stroll and an artistic lesson. especially if you can avoid the contingent of day-trippers. But the place itself is not much more than a hamlet; even the village train station is a shuttle ride away (or just walk).
sfsusieq
I would give the whole complex 2-3 hours...1 1/2-2 hours for the garden, 1/2-1 hour for the (small) house and tempting gift shop. The garden always have a nice display which changes with the season, and I have spent 2 1/2 hours there, but it is small enough to spend less time, depending on your wishes. I have never spent time in the town itself. And we have always driven ourselves, so I don't know about your shuttle bus and train connections.
Choose the earliest entry time best before 10 am. I got there for a 9:45 entry and there was no crowd but it started to grow after 10.
If you going there by the train and then the bus familiarize yourself with the schedule of both going back. I caught the bus back to the train station scheduled around noon. So my visit solo lasted about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Thank you all. Very helpful
I read that Rick suggests getting there later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.
Any feedback regarding that? Maybe times when day trip buses begin to leave?
