Private Giverny Half-Day Trip from Paris
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Monet's vibrant gardens
- Visit the iconic Japanese bridge
- See the famous water lily pond
- Tour Monet's charming house
- Pay respects at Monet's grave
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Private transportation from Paris to Giverny
- Guided tour of Claude Monet's Gardens and House
- Visit to Monet's Grave at the Church of Sainte-Radegonde
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
This half-day trip will lead you to the edge of Normandy, where you will visit the idyllic home of Claude Monet located in the small village of Giverny. Your tour, will start from Paris City Center where your guide will pick you up at your hotel or private apartment. You will be transported aboard a deluxe vehicle with one of our guides, so you can, relax and make the most of your trip. Once at destination in Giverny, you will enjoy time in the gardens which have been replanted as they once were and offer visitors the “painting from nature” which Claude Monet’s contemporaries considered to be one of his masterpieces. The rectangular Clos Normand, with archways of climbing plants entwined around brilliantly colored shrubs, lies before the house and studios, offering from Spring to Autumn the palette of varying colors to the painter-gardener who was “ecstatic about flowers”. Lastly, the Water Garden, formed by a tributary of the Epte, lies further away, shaded by weeping willows. With its famous Japanese Bridge, its wistarias, azaleas and its pond, it has once more become that casket of sky and water which inspired the pictorial universe of the water lilies. You will also have the opportunity to discover a precious collection of Japanese engravings displayed in several rooms, hung in the marmer chosen by the master of Giverny himself. Claude Monet’s property at Giverny, left by his son to the Académie des Beaux-arts in 1966, has, after completion of large scale restoration work, become the Claude Monet Foundation, inaugurated in 1980. The huge Nymphéas studio, a stone’s throw from the house, has also been restored and contains the Foundation’s Shop. Then before leaving the village of Giverny, pay a last tribute to this universally acclaimed artist, at his grave.
During this private half-day tour to Giverny, you could also enjoy free time to stroll through the village of Giverny, enjoy the view of the flowery houses, the art galleries, and have a look at the famous Rose-colored Hôtel Baudy, which was a hangout for American Impressionists.
Important information
Know before you book
- Private tour suitable for up to 8 people
- Tour operates rain or shine; plan accordingly
- Advance booking recommended to secure preferred time
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for garden paths
- Bring a camera to capture the picturesque scenery
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- All clients must make sure to be at the meeting point 10 minutes before departure.
- The guide will not guide you inside Monet's Home
Traveler reviews
Very enjoyable experience
Our private half day tour was excellent. Our driver/Guide was informative and personable. By going in the morning we missed the huge crowds and half a day was just the right amount of time. The private tour is expensive but if you can afford the splurge it is worth it. You get picked up at your hotel and everything is convenient and easy. Recommended.
5 star 1/2 day private tour from Paris to Giverny
Michelle was a fantastic guide. Extremely knowledgeable and amazing with our two young kids. We wish we would have had her for a tour guide for every trip we took. Thank you for a great day.
Not a Good Company
Our trip was canceled last minute because they couldn’t find us a driver that didn’t have Covid supposedly. And they still charged my credit card $850. I am now having to waste my time on the phone trying to prove why we didn’t go on the trip to get refunded.
Lovely escorted half-day tour to Giverny
We booked this tour online before we left the U.S. and weren't sure what to expect, so we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the office to find we were the only people on the tour! Isabelle was our driver/guide, excellent in every way. We climbed into a nice air-conditioned van and were off. En route she provided some commentary—the drive took about an hour. Once off the highway she navigated along some country lanes and, voilà, we were at Monet’s famed house and gardens. She got our tickets and escorted us inside, where she showed us around the large and impressive water-lily gardens. She then left us alone for about 1.75 hours to explore on our own. The gorgeous gardens are vast and lush, planted with seemingly endless varieties of flowers and trees. It was enchanting and we took our time wandering the paths around the iconic pond, admiring many reflections and vistas. Inside the house we passed through the atelier, bedrooms, hallways, dining room, and kitchen, decorated with period furnishings and reproductions of Monet’s paintings, plus Japanese prints by Hiroshige, Hokusai, etc. We finally wound up in the gigantic gift shop, which formerly was the master’s studio, illustrating the huge amount of space needed to paint the large-scale water-lily panels of his late career. Isabelle kindly drove us back to a Paris taxi stand so we didn't have to return to the office. This tour was well worth every cent, and we sincerely thank Isabelle and Paris Trip.