We would like to make a day trip from Rouen to Giverny on June 20 or 21. Can't seem to find any tours that go from Rouen (all seem to go from Paris.) Does anyone know of any tours? If not, how would we get to Giverny and then find a tour there?
Thanks!
This site gives information on how to get there from Vernon station by walking, shuttle bus, or taxi. Admission prices on your own or with English (or French or German) guided tours.
http://giverny.org/gardens/fcm/visitgb.htm
That link shows useful information about Giverny itself, but not so much for travelling from Rouen. The SNCF train system page in English will give you schedules from Rouen to Paris, stopping at Vernon. From Vernon station there is a short shuttle bus to the gardens; you can even walk if you feel energetic. To use the website, choose Antarctica as your pick-up point for tickets (yes, don't worry.) It is a regional train so you probably can buy a ticket the day of travel, allowing extra time in case of a line-up at the ticket sales window.
http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/
We're planning to go to Giverney as a day trip from Rouen this year. We plan to rent bikes across the street from the train station in Vernon. There is an off-road bike/ped path almost all the way.
Get tickets on line ahead if you do this independently (which I think you should -- there is absolutely no need for a tour to do this) That lets you enter at the group entrance instead of waiting in line or at the regular entrance also without waiting in line.
Just get the train from Rouen to Vernon and get on the shuttle bus to Giverny. You buy the tickets on board. Step lively because this bus does get full (well it does from Paris -- not sure it is as big an issue from Rouen) Or you could bike as others have suggested. I think it is a bit far to walk but with a picnic it would be a nice walk.
Once inside it really doesn't matter how crowded it is. It is beautiful and you will be able to pause and enjoy the sights you want to see. We found people very gracious about taking turns at photo ops and so forth.
