In 1883, the Impressionist painter Claude Monet sought tranquility and nature in Giverny, a sleepy village in Normandy. Over the next 43 years until his death, Monet's artistic development flourished alongside the gardens he cultivated with immense care. 

Meeting your guide at the Saint Lazare train station, your Giverny tour begins as you hop on a regional train to the city of Vernon, where you will take a shuttle bus that will drop you off at Monet’s door. You may catch a few glimpses of wisteria or iris in bloom from the exterior. As you enter Monet's garden, you will be hit by the diversity of plants and flowers, the smattering of color schemes, and the charming garden features, such as the unmissable Japanese bridge. 

With a bit of luck, you may visit while the water lilies are in full bloom, though the garden is equally known for its en-masse plantings of irises, the romantic droop of weeping willows, or the intoxicating scent of roses scaling archways and walls. Your expert will contextualize Monet’s works at various vantage points, and you will have the opportunity to enter his house and admire, amongst other rooms, his perfectly quaint yellow and blue kitchen.  

After a short stroll through the village of Giverny, you will head back to Paris, having spent a moment gazing through the eyes of Monet and understanding what drew him to spend the majority of his days in these picturesque surroundings. 

We will pre-purchase your train tickets as well as your Monet Garden entry tickets. Your guide will have them on hand the day of your tour. There is also a short bus ride from the Giverny train station to Monet's Gardens. Clients are responsible for the shuttle bus fee (approx. €10.00), which must be paid in cash.

There is an option to add a car service which would pick you up at your hotel, remain in Giverny during your tour and return you to Paris afterwards. If you are interested in this option, please reach out to our client experience team for pricing. 

Where does it start? Where does it end? 

You will meet your guide in Paris and travel with them by train to Giverny. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point within the train station. The tour ends in Giverny. The guide usually takes the train back to Paris after the tour. Your train ticket is an open ticket, and you're welcome to stay in Giverny and return to Paris at your leisure or travel back at the same time as your guide. 

Is the start time flexible? 

The train schedule to Giverny changes often according to the season and planned construction on the line. We may need to change your start time in order to accommodate the train schedule. If you are concerned about the start time of your tour, please contact us so we can best advise.

For this tour, your tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to directly enter the security line at the gardens at a given time without waiting to purchase tickets. You may still have to wait in a short security line or a line to have your pre-purchased tickets scanned.

Can I meet my expert directly in Giverny?
Yes, this is possible. Please reach out directly to our client experience team to learn more. 

We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

The Monet Gardens are accessible for wheelchair users; the majority of paths are asphalt or compacted and easy to navigate. There are a few steps to enter the Monet House, and the house itself is narrow and contains several steps and staircases. We will adapt the tour to spend more time in the gardens and village for those guests who cannot enter the Monet house on foot. 

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.