Giverny Touring Tips -
How to reach Giverny from Paris

Giverny Touring Tips provides travel options & directions to Claude Monet's famous garden at Giverny... a day trip from Paris.

How to get there by self drive, or train, bus or bike.





If you want to self drive, the best method is by downloading directions from Mappy.fr interactive itinerary website. This fantastic website allows you to type in your departure point (down to the street number) and destination, then maps out precisely your directions, including speeding camera locations, expected tolls and charges and major road signs. I have used this website to help budget and plan for my driving tours all over France.


Here’s how to download directions for Giverny touring by hire car:

It's so easy! Start by clicking here for Mappy.fr
On the opening page go to the top right hand corner and from the pull down box change "FR" to "EN". Now you can type in your departure and destination point in the Itinerary on the left hand side: If you know your street, type this in, otherwise go straight to Place and type in “Paris”, “Charles de Gaulle airport”, or whatever other point you are departing from. Select “France DOM” for country

Next type in “Giverny” for Place and select “France DOM” again for Country then “OK” NB. Check for correct French spelling, otherwise you will be prompted to choose from a list of possibilities. VOILA!!! You should now find a detailed guide with directions that you can print, send a copy to your external email (see TIP below) or even send to your pocket PC.

You’ll also find a summary of costs for petrol and tolls, together with distance and estimated travel duration. How great is that?!

Giverny Touring TIP: It's always good to set up an external email account (if you don’t already have one), before you travel. Send all your documentation, itineraries, emergency numbers, other contact numbers, confirmation details of accommodation, etc, lists, maps, to this account. This way you will be able to access all your information from any internet café while in France.


How to get there on a tight budget, by train, then bus, cycle or walk...

If you want to save money and also have an active day out of Paris, head to Monet's Garden at Giverny by train to Vernon, then hire a bike near the station and follow the signs. It's a great way to see the town of Vernon, crossing the Seine river and on to Monet's garden at Giverny. If you start early enough and have plenty energy, you may want to walk the distance (approx. 6 kms) to the gardens from the station instead.

Here's how by SNCF train...

From Paris you must depart from Gare St Lazare (9th arrondissement), specifically the main SNCF station lines - Grande lignes - this is important, as there is also a St Lazare Metro there, from which you should follow the signs to SNCF Grande Lignes. The SNCF trains criss-cross France and also include the TGV high speed rail network, though the trip between Paris and Vernon is by the slow commuter service only: the "banlieue". Purchase a return ticket to Vernon from the teller (guichet): billet d'aller et retour (pronounced: bee-yay d'alay é retoor).

Look out for the suburban train departures sign "departs banlieue". You need to find the train to Mantes-La-Jolie (first station stop on the way to Vernon) DIR (direction) VERNON (same direction as Rouen/le Havre), this train should get you there in 40 to 45 mins.

Giverny Touring TIP 2: If you're having problems and feel lost, there is a great little help desk/booth at the centre of the main hall ("Acceuil"), where they speak English. Let them know you are going to Vernon.

Giverny Touring TIP 3: Ask for a train timetable so you can plan your day and anticipate the return train journey.

Once there, you can catch the bus (line 240) to Giverny, only a quarter of an hours wait after your train arrives and then just a 10 min ride. It's a pretty narrow street that leads to the garden (too narrow for a bus) so you will be dropped off with a few hundred metres walk to the entrance.

Or you can cross the road and hire a bike from the bar or café, or walk via lovely Vernon, the Seine and other local scenery! For a summary of the above, click on Fondation Monet access and information.


Click here for Monet's Giverny Photo Gallery

Places of interest around Giverny - go to Vernon Touring

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