I'm planning a trip to Monet's house in Giverny during a 10 day visit to France in late June. In planning all the other things I want to see in Paris and working around the best days to see this/that, this daytrip is falling on a Saturday. I'm planning to get there early, but should I re-think planning this on a Saturday?
Posted by
Chicago
8063 posts
It is always crowded but I don't think that matters. We went on a crowded day in May and enjoyed it anyway. It would be nice to get there early and zip to the pond first, but we didn't have tickets ahead and I had to wait over an hour in line to get ours so we were unable to do that.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/not-so-secret-garden-giverny/
It was still a lovely experience. It is something that tourists do so I don't think it really matters which day; you fit your schedule. Definitely book your trip ahead; you can use the group entrance, or if that one is backed up with tour groups, I would think you could head for the head of the line for the regular entrance. (people usually get the ticket and then go in so the line is a ticket line; I bought tickets and then had to go find my husband having coffee, so we had a break between buying the ticket and entering and just went to the entrance ahead of the line with our ticket.)
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7036 posts
I agree with Janet. Since most of the visitors are tourists rather than locals, the day of the week doesn't make that much difference. Get there as early as possible before they open up in the morning and/or get tickets ahead of time so you don't have to wait long in the ticket line. I know it gets more crowded around mid-day and early afternoon, but I didn't find the crowds overpowering because you're outside, not in a building. It's nice to see the ponds without crowds if you're wanting good photos without strangers in them but, if you aren't that into photography I don't think the crowds hinder your viewing pleasure that much.