Review: Giverny, guided tour of Monet’s house and gardens
My verdict: the only one of the six options I recommend without reservation to a French-speaking visitor. Two hours with a qualified local guide, in French or English, a maximum of ten people, tickets included, and a separate entrance to skip the line. Rated 4.7 out of 765 reviews. It does not include transport: you need to get to Giverny on your own, by train and shuttle or by car.
How the visit works
The meeting point is at Les Nymphéas restaurant, right opposite the Fondation Monet Giverny entrance. The guide takes the group in through a separate entrance, which makes all the difference between mid-May and late August when the queue at the ticket office gets long. The tour starts with the water garden: the pond, the water lilies, the Japanese bridge and its wisteria, the willows. Then we head up to the Clos Normand, the flower garden in front of the house, where the guide stops to talk about the current blooms and their place in Monet’s paintings. The visit ends inside the house: the blue sitting room, the yellow dining room, the kitchen with its blue tiles, the Japanese prints, and the bedrooms upstairs. The gift shop, in the former first studio, is optional at the end.
Two hours is slightly longer than the Fondation’s recommended time for a self-guided visit, and it’s the perfect length: with ten people, the group fits comfortably inside the house, which a coach tour group can’t do. You exit through the same door as everyone else, and the exit is final.
Transport is not included. From Paris, allow for the Saint-Lazare – Vernon-Giverny train, about 45 minutes, then the shuttle to the village. Food, drinks, and tips are not included either.
What works well
- Guide in French—the only one of the six options that offers it
- Maximum of ten people—we fit inside the house
- Separate entrance—no queue at the ticket office
- Tickets for gardens + house included
- Two hours on-site, no coach journey to endure
- Can be combined with an early opening or late afternoon visit
Things to know
- No transport—you need to come by train + shuttle or by car
- Fixed two-hour slot; to linger afterwards, you must stay inside the grounds, as the exit is final
- Meals not included
- French-language slots fill up quickly in high season
Book the first time slot of the day and take the train that gets you to Vernon before 9:30 AM: the shuttle is timed to match arrivals, and you’ll enter the water garden before the coaches.
What travellers say
The word that keeps coming up is Jessica’s: you get so much more out of the visit than if you go alone. The guides are named, and Bridget and Brigitte are often mentioned. No complaints about the timing, which clearly sets this option apart from coach excursions.
“We got so much more out of the visit than if we’d gone alone” — Jessica, New Zealand
“Everything explained about Monet, his life, the house, and the garden, with a smile” — Deborah, Italy
“Bridget, a wonderful guide” — Karin, Australia
“Very pleasant and knowledgeable guide” — Yvette, USA
Who it’s for
First and foremost, for French speakers. For those arriving by train and shuttle or by car who want to choose their time: opening at 10 AM, or after 4 PM when the coaches have left. For those who want to understand what they’re seeing—the connection between the flowerbeds and the paintings, the Hoschedé-Monet family, and the house. It’s not suitable for those who want everything arranged from Paris without changing transport; in that case, the half-day excursion remains the simple solution. How to combine train, shuttle, and guided tour is detailed on the guided tour page.
Alternatives
Most bookedFrom Paris: Giverny, Monet’s house and gardens (half-day)
Small groupFrom Paris: guided minibus tour to Monet’s gardens
PrivateFrom Paris: private tour of Giverny with chauffeur
Frequently asked questions
Is the guided tour in French?
Yes, available in French or English with a qualified local guide. It’s the only one of the six options compared on this site to offer a French-speaking guide. Excursions from Paris have an English-speaking guide, sometimes supplemented with an audio guide. Details are on All tours.
How do I get to Giverny for this tour?
By train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon-Giverny, about 45 minutes, then the shuttle to the village, or bike rental at the station. The Navigo pass is not valid—Vernon is in Normandy. Everything is explained on How to get to Giverny.
Is the entrance ticket included?
Yes, for both the gardens and the house, with a separate entrance to skip the ticket line. The tour lasts two hours. Once you leave, you cannot re-enter—the exit is final, as with all tickets. See Tickets and skip-the-line.
Can I stay in the gardens after the tour?
Yes, as long as you don’t go through the exit. The guide will leave you at the end of the tour, and you can revisit the water garden. The gardens close at 6 p.m., last admission at 5:30 p.m. See opening dates and hours.