All Giverny tours: the six options compared
How I rank these six options
I’ve been guiding groups to Giverny for fifteen years, and the question I’m asked most isn’t “which is the best?” but “which is right for me?” The six products sold on GetYourGuide barely overlap. Three leave from Paris by vehicle (coach, minibus, sedan), one leaves from Paris but ends by bike, one adds Versailles, and only one takes place entirely on-site for those arriving on their own. So the choice comes down to three things: where you’re starting from, how much time you have, and whether you want someone to explain the gardens or just reliable transport.
One thing they all have in common: admission to the house and both gardens is included. That means you don’t need to buy anything extra on-site, and you skip the ticket line. Details on what a ticket covers are on the skip-the-line tickets page.
From Paris without a car: coach, minibus, or bike
The half-day excursion (air-conditioned coach, English-speaking guide on board, audio guide app in ten languages) takes about six hours door-to-door, with 75 minutes of travel each way. Once there, you’re on your own: roughly half an hour for the house, forty-five minutes for the water garden, then free time in the village. It’s the most efficient option for someone who wants to see Giverny without dedicating a full day to it. The downside is unavoidable: a coach of fifty people arrives at the same time as the others, between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM, when the house is already crowded.
The small-group minibus partly fixes this issue: fewer people on board, hotel pickup and drop-off, five hours total, and nearly two hours dedicated to the water garden. Note, though, that skip-the-line access to the house isn’t included. The bike day trip is the highest-rated of the six (4.8) and the longest of the excursions without Versailles: Vernon market, five kilometers of flat path along the Seine, picnic outside the grounds. I compare all three in detail on the day trips from Paris page.
Already in Giverny or arriving by train: the on-site guided tour
This is the option I recommend to French-speaking readers who know how to take a train. From Saint-Lazare, 45 minutes to Vernon-Giverny, then the shuttle, and a meeting point at the Les Nymphéas restaurant, right across from the entrance. Two hours with a certified local guide, in French or English, a maximum of ten people, tickets included, and a separate entrance to skip the line. What you lose: the convenience of being dropped off and picked up. What you gain: the freedom to arrive at opening time and stay until closing. The full itinerary is on the guided tour of Giverny page.
One day for both Giverny and Versailles
The combo tour lasts 11.5 hours and covers both sites in a single day, with a guided tour of the palace and skip-the-line access at Versailles. Every review mentions the same thing: too little time in Giverny, more than enough in Versailles. If Giverny is your priority, this isn’t the right option. If you only have one day outside Paris and want to see both, it’s the only one that lets you do so without the logistics. I break down the schedule hour by hour on the Giverny and Versailles page.
Families, seniors, flexible schedules: the private tour
The private tour with driver is the most expensive of the six and has the fewest reviews (27, all very positive). Sedan or minivan, pickup at any address in Paris, departure around 8 AM to be in the gardens before the coaches arrive. Minimum of two participants, not recommended for children under six, and free cancellation only up to three days before, not 24 hours. See the private tour of Giverny page.
Three options side by side
The three I recommend most often, depending on whether you’re leaving from Paris or already in Normandy.
| From Paris: guided minibus tour to Monet’s gardens | Our pickFrom Paris: Giverny, Monet’s House & Gardens (half-day) | Giverny: guided tour of Monet’s house and gardens | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departure | Paris, hotel | Paris 17th | Giverny, on-site |
| Duration | 5 h | Approx. 6 h | 2 hours |
| Group | Minibus | 50-seat coach | Maximum 10 people |
| Guide | English-speaking | English-speaking + audio guide in 10 languages | French or English |
| Skip-the-line for the house | No | Yes | Yes, separate entrance |
| Who it’s for | Small group, hotel pickup | Most visitors | Train or car |
| Rating | 4.7 (844 reviews) | 4.5 (3,393 reviews) | 4.7 (765 reviews) |
| See → | Book → | See → |
Whatever the option, check the month before booking. The water lilies bloom from late June to September; in April, you’ll see tulips and wisteria, but no water lilies. The calendar is on the best time to visit page.
The six options
Most bookedFrom Paris: Giverny, Monet’s house and gardens (half-day)
Small groupFrom Paris: guided minibus tour to Monet’s gardens
On-siteGiverny: guided tour of Monet’s house and gardens
CombinedFrom Paris: Giverny and Palace of Versailles, full-day guided tour
By bikeFrom Paris: Monet’s gardens by bike and picnic break
PrivateFrom Paris: private tour of Giverny with chauffeur
Book the most popular excursion
The module below shows the dates and remaining spots for the half-day excursion. It can be canceled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.
Read the reviews before choosing
I’ve reread the reviews for all six products and written a summary for each. The most useful one to start with is for the half-day excursion; all six are gathered on the reviews page.
These dates don’t work for you?
Browse other visits to Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny and find one that fits your schedule—immediate confirmation and free cancellation on most options.
Frequently asked questions
Which Giverny tour to choose from Paris?
Without a car, the half-day coach excursion is the simplest and most booked. For a smaller group and hotel pickup, the minibus. For an active day, the bike. The details are on the excursions from Paris page.
Do all tours include admission?
Yes. All six options include the ticket for the house and both gardens. Only the minibus doesn’t include skip-the-line access to the house. Details on what a ticket covers are on the tickets and skip-the-line page.
Is there a guided tour in French?
The on-site guided tour (2 hours, maximum 10 people) is available in French or English. The coach excursions from Paris have an English-speaking guide, with the half-day coach also offering an audio guide app in ten languages. See the guided tour of Giverny page.
Is Giverny worth it?
Yes, from late April to mid-October, provided you arrive at opening time or after 4 PM. In April, there are no water lilies yet. I explain the cases where I don’t recommend it on the Is Giverny worth it? page.
Can I cancel a booking?
Five of the six options can be canceled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. The private tour requires three days’ notice. Tickets purchased directly from the Fondation Monet Giverny are neither changeable nor refundable.