Tour Giverny in July

I would skip the tour guide, wandering around the gardens on your own is a wonderful experience. I went in June and the line to get in was very long-we got there about 10 minutes before they opened, and waited about 30 minutes to buy a ticket (they only had one person selling tickets...). I would try to go during the week, and get there as early as possible. When we left, in the afternoon, the line was still long. Getting there is easy-train, then catch a bus, which is timed to coincide with train arrivals. When you buy your ticket at the train station, tell them you are going to Giverny and they will give you a little brochure with all the train and bus times going to/from Paris.

Read first, skip the guide, so you can poke as much as you want. The train runs from G. St Lazare to Vernon. It's three miles or so from the station to Monet's place. Walk, bike, taxi, all are easy. Tours from Paris exist, but probably cost like the dickens. Shoot for as early as possible since most folks take forever to get their tails in gear. I think they close around five or six, so there won't be much chance of getting the late sunlight at that time of year.

Thanks for your responses ... a great help. I certainly want to take my time. We will be going on a Tues or Wed and I guess we will just arrive as early as possible & wait in line. Were you impressed with the flowers in summertime? We hope to catch the water lilies in bloom (the primary reason we are going this time of year). Also hoping to catch some lavender fields while staying in Avignon. Maybe flax will be blooming too? Any ideas?

Actually, to avoid standing in line as much as possible, arrive about 15 minutes AFTER it opens. By then, all the over-anxious people who have been standing there trying to beat the crowds will be through the line. That's likely when the line will be shortest. You can linger as long as you want to in the gardens, but unless you want to simply sit and daydream, it's unlikely to take more than two hours. For amusement, stand near the bridge over the water lilies and offer to take everyone's photo for them...

Randy, that is a consideration too! I appreciate your input ... and because my husband may not want to "sit and daydream" I am sure 2 hours will be sufficient. Thanks again.

Doris, although the gardens may only take two hours, there are a few nice things to do besides. Wander along the street, if you pass( so not the one BEFORE the gardens) the gardens and walk about 5 minutes you come to a cute hotel /restaurant that I had a lovely lunch on , and before you get to the gardens there are a few little shops to poke in, and the graveyard( just above main drag)is great to explore also. Its such a nice daytrip.

Great suggestions Victoria. I was hoping we could make a day of it ... sounds like a perfect day trip for us. Thanks.

Doris - I think the restaurant Pat is referring to is the Hotel Baudy which I love. Great to sit outside, enjoy the view, people watch, and have the duck omelet. You can also walk to the end of that street and see other nice gardens along the way and Monet's grave in the graveyard. To me, the village is almost as wonderful as Monet's house/garden. And I agree, you don't need a tour guide. Also someone on the helpline mentioned that Mondays may not be as crowded as other days as it used to be closed on Mondays. Not sure that it true anymore.

Thanks Grier. I believe Giverny is open every day through the summer. We will only be leaving Avignon on Monday morning, so I doubt we would be able to take advantage of the less crowded day. We will certainly want to "explore" as you have outlined. Thanks so much for your comments.
I will have to begin a new post that backtracks to Nice/Avignon. I won't have nearly enough time in Provence, and I'm anxious to start planning the trip from Nice to Avignon (public trans).

We did a day trip from Paris last May and followed Rick's tip and the day before we went we bought our tickets to Monet's house and garden at one of the FNAC department stores in Paris (across the street from Gare St. Lazare). When we arrived there was a thirty minute line to get in, but we just went to the front and showed our tickets. They waved us right in.

That's what I'm talking about! Thanks Janelle. I was wondering if it really did work to get tickets in advance. Thanks!

There is a bus you can take from the train station in Vernon to Giverny. Same bus also takes you back. A schedule for the bus can be obtained at the train station in Paris or from the Bus driver in Vernon. The bus departs about 5 minutes after the train arrives in Vernon and is just outside the train station and to the right down the sidewalk. Can't recall the price but it is minimal and well worth it. Edwin