Planning on taking day trip from Paris to Giverny and considering Paris City Vision tours for guided tour which will pick-up at hotel. Looking for recent reviews. Want to make sure adequate time is allocated in village after garden tour.
Posted by
50 posts
I really don’t think a “tour” is worth the money. It is very easy and much cheaper to DIY it! The train is very easy to navigate from Paris. It drops you across the river from Giverny…but there are regular shuttle buses to take you right to the gardens parking lot! After you visit the gardens, you have time to lunch in the village or visit around before taking the shuttle back to the train station. All very civilized! BUT be SURE to get going early in the morning, to arrive in Giverny ahead of the tour buses! Once the hoards arrive, the gardens are much less enjoyable. Alternatively, go later in the day, after the buses have gone back to Paris! Pre-purchasing your entry ticket is also a good idea. BTW…just along the street near the main entrance is a lovely boulangerie, where we enjoyed an excellent lunch!
Posted by
Chicago
8815 posts
a tour adds no value. It is easy to take the train to Vernon and the shuttle train or bus to the gardens. You can buy your shuttle ticket when you buy the garden ticket on line from: https://claude-monet-giverny.tickeasy.com/en-GB/home. Ticketing begins March 4 or so.
Once on the gardens you would not want a tour guide driving your experience. This is one so very easily done on your own for much much less.
Posted by
Dallas, TX area
203 posts
My trip to Paris is during the time the trains are not running on the weekends due to construction. Because of my schedule I can’t use the train so I have signed up for a Paris City Vision tour that just provides transportation to and from Giverny. It doesn’t pick up from your hotel, only a central meeting place near the Eiffel Tower. It is about three hours for the round trip on the bus so I picked the long day trip that will give me at least 6-7 hours in Giverny. I plan to tour the gardens/house for a couple of hours, leisurely lunch,then wander around town visiting the church, museum etc. They also offer a shorter 5 hour tour that is also non guided ( just an audio guide if you choose to use it) but considering the drive time it felt rushed to me. It is all a personal choice. I’m a garden person, husband is happy just walking around outside.
Here’s the construction schedule I was given for Saint Lazare trains
* From Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 February
* from Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 March
* from Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 April
* from Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 April
* from Saturday 26 to Sunday 27 April
* from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th May
* From Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 May
* From Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 June
* from Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 November
If it wasn’t disrupted on the weekend that I can go I would have done the train option for flexibility. There are videos on YouTube showing the train station/ shuttle buses etc.