Maison et jardins de Claude Monet - Giverny

Wow. This place is honestly one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots I’ve ever been to. Walking through Monet’s gardens in Giverny feels like stepping right into one of his paintings. You hear people say that, but it really is true once you’re there. The water lilies, the little green bridge, the way the flowers are layered with so much color and texture it’s unreal. Every corner has something new that catches your eye. It’s wild and natural but clearly so thoughtfully cared for. We went early in the morning with a group ticket, and I’m so glad we did. It was calm and quiet, no crowds, and just this incredible feeling of stillness. It gave me a totally new appreciation for Monet and how he saw the world. If you’re in the area or even a few hours away, it’s worth making the trip. It’s one of those places that actually lives up to the hype.

Highly recommend visiting the beautiful garden for a lovely escape from the big city. We spent half the day visiting Giverny. Our guide recommended that we eat in a small town before Giverny, as the restaurants there can be very busy. The gardens are really special, with amazing variety. Keep an eye out for less populated side paths at the water lily pond. The house is full of interesting images, including a recreation of Monet's studio and his collection of Japanese prints. The views from the second floor are very enjoyable. A few accessibility notes: The washrooms are by the gift shop near the house. There are benches in the shade near the house if you need a break. The paths are wide enough for a wheelchair or stroller. To reach the lily pond, you go through a tunnel with stairs. Ask the staff if you need help navigating. The house is breezy but still quite hot, with lots of stairs.

I wish I could give this 10 stars this was the most beautiful and amazing place I have ever seen. The gardens are stunning! So many hundreds of different flowers and colors and the gorgeous water with lily ponds! The flowers and bamboo trees are sweetened with a gorgeous Japaneses bridge. Walkways through unending trestles and flowers. Moneys house is a joy as well, filled with paintings and prints and painted such beautiful and vivid colors. The windows look out to vistas of beautiful gardens. His biggest studio, where he painted his huge water lilies paintings, has been converted into a large gift shop. There are toilets and you can purchase all sorts of gifts. This was one of the best experiences of my life

Absolutely a must see when visiting Paris. The gardens are about 1 hr + 15 mins from Paris, we hired a private driver/guide, and purchased tickets ahead of time. Even with tickets, it was still a long line to get into the gardens BUT it was so worth it. Absolutely stunning garden with a lake and his historic house. The gardens are very well kept and I loved exploring different parts of the garden. For the house, you also need to wait in line which is always worth the wait. Don’t forget to visit the beautiful gift shop. Highly recommend visiting.

A Half-Day Dream to Monet’s House in Giverny – Absolutely Worth It! If you’re anywhere near Paris during the rare window when Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny are open (typically April to October, but check the exact calendar), don’t hesitate—go. Even if you only have half a day, it’s an unforgettable experience that feels like walking through one of his Impressionist paintings. The journey from Paris takes just over an hour and half by bus, and once you arrive, it’s as if time slows down. The gardens are nothing short of magical—brimming with seasonal blooms, vibrant colors, and the peaceful water lily pond that inspired Monet’s most iconic works. The Japanese bridge, lush willows, and mirror-like reflections are truly surreal in person. Inside the house, you’ll step into the artist’s world: his sunny yellow dining room, intimate blue kitchen, and walls covered in Japanese prints. It’s charming, personal, and full of character—not a stuffy museum but a real home. Because it’s only open a few months each year, the visit feels extra special—like you’re part of a fleeting moment in time. Crowds can be light early in the morning or late afternoon, making it even more tranquil. Tip: Go early, pack light, and wear comfortable shoes. A coffee or crepe at a local Giverny café after the visit rounds it off perfectly. Verdict: 100% worth the half-day trip—peaceful, picturesque, and packed with history. A must for art lovers, nature lovers, or anyone craving beauty and calm. Don’t miss it!

A truly beautiful and serene place to visit! The entrance fee is 12€, and it’s absolutely worth it for the amazing atmosphere and charming vibes, especially inside the house. I initially expected the garden to be a bit bigger, but it’s still a wonderful experience walking among so many kinds of flowers and plants. The variety is impressive and makes for an astonishing setting—perfect for taking photos and videos. Whether you’re a nature lover, a photography enthusiast, or simply looking for a peaceful escape, I highly recommend visiting Monet’s house and garden. A magical spot that captures the essence of beauty and creativity!

Lovely gardens and house. Mildly crowded. It was nearly impossible to get the iconic bridges over the water lily ponds without oodles of people on the bridge. We were there in early June, and only 4 waterlilies were blooming. The flower gardens were a riot of colors. Love the poppies. Town is cute.

Monet’s Garden is pure magic — walking through the water lily pond and colorful gardens feels like stepping inside his paintings. Every corner is picture-perfect. Well worth the one-hour trip from Paris. A must-visit for art lovers and nature enthusiasts! The bus that pick up from the train station is every two hours. Make sure you check the schedule if you are traveling by public transport.

Giverny is such a highlight of our trip to France. My family and I were staying in Versailles and drove to le jardins et maison de Claude Monet with our rental van. We actually got a rental van (4 adults and 2 toddlers) specifically for our visit to Giverny. It was worth it if you are staying in Versailles. The drive was so *impressionable* (see what I did there) that while I was looking out the window, I said to myself that I could easily live here. The gardens are so gorgeous and the house was worth the wait in line (it moves faster than it looks). We made reservations in advance. Entering the property was a breeze.

We decided last minute to take the early morning trek from Paris up to Giverny to visit the Money House and gardens. It was worth the early wake up call 100 times out of 100. We took the train to Giverny and then a 20 minute Uber from the station to the house. There's also the scenic shuttle. We didn't bother because it was 3 of us and the Uber was cheaper. The garden is a total sensory experience. Different varieties of flowers. An iconic lily pond. The Japanese bridge. The garden steals the show more than anything, but touring the house gives you some insight on how Money designed the garden. You can understand his Japanese inspirations. It's fascinating. When you're done with all of this, do take the time and venture into the local town. It's not far away and there are a few fun sights in between, including the church and Monet's graveyard.

Beautiful gardens, with layers upon layers of plants and flowers! We loved getting to see the places where Monet lived and painted. Amazing to get to walk there and enjoy. It is very popular and with some patience, you can get the pictures/experience you want. Lots of options at the gift shop! We picked up some honey from the bees here as a tasty reminder when we get home. His tomb is nearby, if you want to go and pay your respects. When you get near the church, it's to the right, up some stairs.

Gardens are exquisite as expected. You get to see a huge variety of plants and colors you may not have encountered before. When we were there, it was wall-to-wall people, so trying to get photos without others in them was very difficult. Unless you were very lucky, the chance you will get a photo on the Lily Pond bridge without others in it is practically nil. But it is great to walk through his home, and see all the paintings. Keep in mind most of the paintings are reproductions, as the real ones are hanging in museums.

Some rewards come with a journey and the trek to Monet's house and gardens are a fine example. From Paris to Vernon on the SNCF it's just under an hour. In the small town of Vernon you have an option. There's a shuttle, potentially a cab but we didn't see any or rent bikes from one of a couple of shops near the train station. We chose bikes for $10 each a day and a roughly 20-30 minute bike ride each way. This allowed us the flexibility to take our time in the gardens and not have to rush back for a train schedule. We began in the water gardens which are nicely laid out in a very natural style and not overly manicured in modern landscaping style. Good to see the materials from the garden used to support some of the structures and hard landscaping. The main body of water, approximately the size of an Olympic swimming pool, is surrounded by pathways that crisscross over a bridge and other openings affording good views of the water, lillys within and thoughtful planting on the outside. Spent a few minutes watching the abundant dragon flies - you're probably on vacation/holiday and your mind deserves this. The water garden can feel crowded at times but standing still out of the way of traffic and absorbing this inspiring place was worth it. The larger gardens are phenomenal and it's rare to see a dahlia collection this mature and voracious. By my very casual estimate I'd suggest there were more than 2500 dahlia plants amid hundreds of other species. The gardens can be walked around quickly in 20-30 mins but we spent an hour or so enjoying the natural planting style looking up plant species on phones and enjoying the aromas. We skipped the long lines to get into the house, even though we read and heard much about the bright color schemes inside, preferring instead to enjoy the garden. Word of warning; at lunchtime the small town of Giverny has a few restaurants and cafes but doesn't easily cater for the 1000s of people that can attend peek summer.

Monet Museum and Gardens was the visit and experience of a lifetime! A unique-in-world place.

I can't believe I was able to visit Monets house, it was amazing. We took the train from Paris then a bus. Afterwards husband and I followed the signs to get to the house. We got in line and paid the friendly staff members. We went on the last day it was going to be opened this year. Beautiful garden and house, It's nice and peaceful. I was excited to see the pond and the famous bridge. I have postcards of Monets paintings on my desk, so to see the place in real life felt unreal. After wondering around, you have to go through the gift shop to exit.

How else would anyone rate this experience other than 5 stars? The gardens were basically the only place open on May 1 so we'd made sure to book tickets to enjoy the day. Mind blowing horticulture awaits you! The gardens themselves were amazing and since we were visiting in May, the focus was on tulips. If you go to their site, you can see which flowers they showcase during which months & then plan your visit accordingly But we were very happy with the tulips! Tons & tons of people so bring your patience......and your mask

This experience had so many positives and so many challenges. If I had to do it over again, I think I would try and stay in the little town near the gardens and go right in the morning when they open to try and beat the crowds. However, what we actually did was take a bus from Paris to Giverny and arrived closer to 11:30 am. The gardens were beautiful- so many colored flowers and adorable cows. However, I was driven a bit crazy by all of the instagram focused people taking tons of photos and trying to push people out of their way to get more pictures. The gardens were very crowded- so I tried to find quieter areas away from the photo-focused people to enjoy the space. The line to get into the home was long, but it was cool to tour it. Overall, I am glad that I went- but I don't think I'll ever need to go back.

It was a great stop on our way to Normandy from Paris. A little crowded on a Friday AM during early July but still a welcomed change after 5 days in Paris. Lots of picture spots all along the gardens and lily pond. Loved seeing his kitchen and dining area. He needed a big seating area for his 8 kids! (6 were step kids from his second wife). We stopped at the museum down the street and the restaurant. 3 hours well s

Claude Monet selected the flowers in his garden for their colors and beauty, and they are really quite lovely! My big issue was that at the time we visited, the famous Lilly pond had no Lillie's and was quite frankly very unkempt- the water looked stagnant and no flowers... the location is really lovely, and the rest of the large garden is beautiful although also- rather wild as compared to other beautiful gardens everywhere... so given the high cost of admission... I was mildly dissappointed. We made it a great day anyway and I'm Not saying you should not go... go, but lower your expectations. The location is lovely, the parking is free ! One of the advantages! , and : buy the postcard with the flower seeds !! (On the souvenir shop) ( one of my regrets as it would've been an awesome souvenir to send to friends and family - and not carry around!- !!!) because: they sell the stamps down the inside road on your way back towards the parking lot! The French postal service had a table set up where you would buy stamps and drop off postcards!! Brilliant idea! We had a good time touring- get your tickets online to avoid the long line on-site.

Beautiful garden and house. It's nice to see how Monet lived and what he was inspired by.

If you love Impressionism, you have to be a big fan of Monet. His work is incredible and he focused a lot on things in his vast garden: - water lilies - his Japanese bridge - flowers, trees and reflections in the water Of course, he has other memorable paintings of women in their traditional French clothing and haystacks and he'd paint the same scene but at different times of the day or season. Coming here was breathtaking and a big must for art, wine and baguette lovers. If you love the countryside, you will love the vibe of Giverny. You'll definitely feel inspired - being in Monet's garden, house and presence. I wish I could have stayed longer, so I'll make it a point to come back.

Wow!!! What an exciting experience to able to see Monet's home and gardens. Almost surreal to be standing in his house and gardens. We hired a personal guide and car . This is a not to miss experience.

This is a must visit if you're anywhere near it. We were able to book a half day tour from Paris . Took about an hour and a half to get there. It is so stunningly beautiful.

Of course it is gorgeous! The garden, the water, the bridges. All lovely and well loved and maintained. The man would be proud, I think. The house is lovely and seems the home owner is only out and could walk in and catch us all intruding into his space. This really bothered me. I am sure the man entertained friends and guests here. But I imagine he'd be horrified at the large number of people that were crawling all over his house and garden this day. Especially horrified at the rudeness of some. People wanting to get that selfie were telling others to back off, as crowded as it was, how? Just get along and share the space, smile and get your photo with others in it. If the Monet Foundation can share the place with the people, the people ought to share the space with each other. And then there is the gift shop. It's set up in what he used as a large studio with great height for the largest canvases. The community surrounding is a tourist spot with cafes and shops. Would be nice to visit again on a much less crowded day do we could take more time to stop and smell the roses. And maybe take our own selfies without getting elbowed out of it.

If you love monet's paintings, you want to know where he gets his inspirations don't you?? Well I do. So of course the thing to do is to see his home outside of Paris. No wonder he paints so well...lol. Just wonder around his garden and home made lake...wow. It's almost like mine....hahaha. Anyways, yes he lived lavishly and that's where he got his inspirations. This place is certainly a beaut!! A must to visit if you are a fan of monet's paintings!!

We had just spent a bit of time enjoying Monet's lilies stretched out in the Musée de l'Orangerie near the Tuileries Gardens in Paris the day before and really just stumbled upon Giverny. It was not originally part of our plan but we were headed to Colleville-sur-Mer and I spotted the sign from the freeway and recalled a good friend visiting many years ago. I immediately asked my boyfriend if we could detour just a little bit for a short while since we'd arrive right after they opened, and that's just what we did! It was such a magical morning, strolling the Jardins et Maison de Claude Monet, seeing what inspired Claude - it was so beautiful. I'd highly recommend if it's not already on your itinerary. Personally, I loved the Giverny area, it felt more my speed and hope to return to spend a majority of my visit here sometime very soon.

Beautiful but simply too busy and overcrowded to be enjoyable. They need to sell less tickets and let people experience the house and gardens more fully.

The house and gardens of Claude Monet were very lovely. I think the gardens would be nicer in warmer weather when there's a better variety of flowers blooming and the water lilies would also be in bloom. I took a day trip that was half to Giverny and half to Versailles. This was the first stop. Walking around the gardens was quite nice and there were parts of the house--the studio and the kitchen--that were very interesting. I walked along the river that has been diverted into several channels and it was probably the most enjoyable part of the visit. Knowing all the paintings were not originals was OK. I had extra time and I wandered some of the streets in Giverny near the house but then I spent time taking photos of a horse in a pasture near the parking lot. I'm glad I made the visit here but it would not be on my to do list if I knew what it was like in advance.

This was on my bucket list! So glad to have come. We had arranged a tour guide beforehand. Toured Versailles and were driven here ( about an hour long trip ) were able to get right in with our guide instead of waiting in the line which seemed quite long. There are two separate gardens. Flowers and the water garden. Both are beautiful and well worth seeing. Our guide drove us back to Paris, which is about an hour away.

This was a beautiful one-time visit garden. It is very peaceful, even with the crowds. There are plenty of paths and benches, and I recommend whenever you see an empty bench, just sitting and soaking it in. The house was fine--not a lot of explanation. I read the children's book Linnea in Monet's Garden to my kids, and it gave more information about the complicated family composition, and you can wonder where all the 8 kids slept in the house that looks big from the outside, but is actually not very. We had visited the water lilies at the Orangerie the day before, so the context was vivid for the kids. Buy tickets beforehand to avoid the line, pack a picnic to eat in one of the fields in town (no eating in the garden), and enjoy a couple of lovely hours.

Absolutely wonderful spot to visit in France if you want to get out of the city! You are able to visit both the Japanese gardens and the Normandy gardens surrounding Monet's home, and then take a tour inside Monet's home itself. The flowers and the Japanese bridge are absolutely stunning and it's very clear the gardeners take their job very seriously because everything is beautifully well maintained. You can see plants from all over the world, including water lillies and bamboo. Even in 89 degree weather, the shade from the trees and bushes and the breeze from the pond makes the visit comfortable and enjoyable. Be sure to take the time to see Monet's house and where the famous artist used to live and work. There are beautiful pieces of artwork and furniture all around and it's truly breathtaking. Don't forget to stop at the gift shop to get a painting to take home!!

It's super crowded but Claude Monet is the pay off. The gardens are beautiful and really help shed light on what was going through his mind as he created the treasures he left behind. You almost begin to think Monet may have become more of a gardener and less of an artist in his older years but I can easily see how the beauty of nature and painting can easily intertwine. His love for Japanese art was something I didn't know about and seeing the studio of a legend was worth fighting the crowds.

*******A MUST SEE WHEN IN FRANCE ******** I'm so glad we visited this historic site. Such a very interesting place and very relaxing too. Giverny is not that far from Paris. The distance from Paris to Claude Monet House is about 45 miles by car. It was a quick ride if you want to get out of the busy city and see the other side of France. This is more like a suburb area, it's very quiet too. We had plenty of time to walk around this beautiful garden. There's so many different kind of flowers all over the garden. Take your time to stroll around the property, somehow you'll find yourself immerse in this magnificent place. I wish I have a garden like this. It is calming and relaxing. Just FYI, there are no original paintings on display inside the house due to security issue.

One hour drive from Paris to the beautiful gardens, museum, and home of the famous impressionist, Claude Monet. We spent five hours visiting the town of Giverny. It is nestled in an out of the way area and is everything you expect a quaint French town to be. Flowers are abundant and there are museums and restaurants along the streets, but they are tastefully presented and there are no junky tourist shops. On a Sat afternoon, we ran into no problems with traffic or crowds. The home tour is self guided and very interesting with lots of artwork and famous paintings. The Japanese influence is apparent throughout the home. The museum offers an audio tour if you want some depth and explanation of some of the works. Admission ticket for museum and gardens is 17.50 euros and the audio handset is 4.50 euros. The gardens and lily pond, including the famous foot bridge were build by Monet, and one can see how this setting would inspire the artist. Be prepared to spend around 11 euros in toll roads if driving from Paris.

I was most impressed by the magnificent garden, which inspired his delightful paintings. So many gorgeous views and flowers to enjoy... You will need a couple of hours to soak all the beauty and visit the entire venue. His home was fine.

This is one of my favorite places I visited on my trip to Paris. I purchased my tickets in advance in case of any lines, and researched how to get to Giverny but forgot to buy train tickets in advance because getting to Gare St. Lazare was not very easy from my hotel. I recommend if you can to go to Gare St. Lazare in Paris to purchase train tickets to Vernon at least the day before so you do not rush. My mom and I had been going to bed late after eating late dinners like the French, so waking up at 6ish to take 2 different metro lines to the train station to buy tickets for the first train was tough. Well, we did it somehow....got through the ticket line and purchased tickets for the 8:20am train at 8:00am. A few minutes after we got the tickets, we frantically looked for the boarding platform since boarding starts 20 minutes before. Then the rail line for our train broke and our train was cancelled! We had to get back in the ticket office line with a ton of other angry tourists to see what to do. We planned to go on the only sunny day in the forecast so we were bummed. We were offered tickets for the next day or a refund, so we got the next day tickets and repeated our morning routine for the trip. Board as soon as you can because the train fills up. When you get to Vernon, you will see signs leading you to Bus Giverny. You buy bus tickets in cash (Euros) on the bus (8 Euros round trip per person) and are given a small card that you need for your return trip. The train is around 50 minutes and the bus is about 15 minutes. When we arrived at Giverny, we crossed the road by going underneath in a tunnel - then you turn right on Rue de Claude Monet and follow signs to the garden. Those who purchase tickets in advance can go to the left side to skip the line. Once inside, you go through the gift shop first (scoff) then see the toilets (use them first if you arrive early, as the gardens open at 9:30 so you will be the first visitors). Then, amazingly beautiful gardens, Claude Monet's house (with copper utensils filling the kitchen and a surprising amount of Japanese art throughout the house, much of it from the Edo period). Roaming through the gardens, there are endless types of flowers and plants to gawk at and then a path to the Lily pond and more lush greenery, bamboo, and flowers. Tour groups from cruises clogged the paths and I am sure it gets worse in the afternoon. It was sunny the entire morning somehow for us, so that was a relief. It started pouring right at noon as we walked through the town looking for lunch, but otherwise was very picturesque. Not far from the garden entrance is a tourist information center. We were also able to see a free exhibit on Monet in the Impressionist museum just west of the gardens. Entry is only 9.5 Euros per adult. I picked up some Monet and Japanese art postcards at the shop, but there are tons of things to buy if you like impressionism. Remember, the train and bus schedules are coordinated and you can miss the last bus and be stranded in the evening. Our return bus came during the pouring rain so a ton of people hovered in the tunnel until we could run to the bus, which took us to the Vernon station perfectly in time for our train tickets. Another tip: if you buy your train tickets in advance, you have to validate them in the yellow validation box on the platform at Gare St. Lazare or at Vernon in the station so you don't get fined when the conductors check tickets during your ride Only same day tickets are validated upon purchase and only the way to Vernon. Our return ticket was actually good until early September. This is a must-see!!

The Garden maybe touristy but it definitely worth visiting! I felt as inspired as Claude Monet when I walked through the property with such beautiful landscape with such a contrast of vibrant colours: lily pond, bridges, flowers. The House which was the most crowded area was meh. I would skip it next time when I come back for a revisit. I can just sit by the pond under the shade and daydream away.

I dove in Monet's painting for real! The gardens are maintained just like they were when Monet was living there. We visited his house too and the impressionist museum adjacent to it. It is one my most memorable visits over past few weeks. Perhaps because it was not only beautiful but also exhilarating. Indeed, while walking through the many paths, we could smell a palette of scents emanated by the flowers, greeneries, trees, water ponds covered by Lilly pads...

My husband and I visited in early September and this was one of the most memorable days of our entire trip. It was like walking into a live 3d version of one of monet's paintings. We booked a tour through our hotel, which included a ride to Giverney with a short history lesson, and our tickets for the garden and the museum. I've heard it's best to visit later in the winter to see the flowers in full bloom. The little town is located about an hour outside of Paris. You can take the train, but you'll loose a lot of time. Since we were only in Paris for 4 nights we decided to book the tour. The town is adorable full of cute shops and restaurants. Loved it!

If you take the A13 from Paris, you will exit at Vernon to get here. The signage (by local standards) is pretty good. Once you cross the Seine and are within 2 km or so, the signs stop, but by that point you're on the only likely road. You come to a small roundabout and can park in lots on either side of the road. It appeared that the one on the right was more of an overflow lot, whereas the one on the left was slightly closer in. We parked to the right and took the tunnel under the road to the village. I'm not an expert on small French villages, but from what I have seen, Giverny is what happens if you replace about 50% of the homes with tourist shops and leave the rest as private residences. It is an unusual mix. From the car park, you have about a 5 - 10 minute walk up to the main tourist area. Note: you will see a lot of signs for the 'Info Center'. It was closed for lunch when we arrived, but ultimately it didn't seem to be necessary anyway. I asked at a shop and was told that you actually got tickets at the main entry into the gardens. I walked on another 200 meters or so and found a queue of about 20 people. It moved well and I soon had our tickets. We were then able to backtrack to the area with the cafes and snack shops before entry. When we returned, we could skip the ticket queue and just go right in. You enter into the gift shop, which was the studio area where Monet painted things like his large Water Lilies canvases. You can then exit out into the main garden area. The garden itself is a series of large rectangular plots of flowers, roughly 2 x 5. You are limited to the perimeter of these and one or two paths through them. All were in bloom while we were there, and were spectacular. Presumably these change with the season as well. You can also walk through Monet's mansion. It was interesting in some ways, and was a short visit as well. He liked Japanese prints, certainly. Some of the rooms have a bright, monochromatic decor (blues / yellows / greens) that I'd personally find hard to take on a daily basis, but who am I to question Claude Monet's decor choices? At the diagonally opposite end of the garden plots from where you enter, there is a tunnel under an adjacent road. On the other side of the road is the famous pond with the signature green bridges that visitors will immediately recognize from paintings. There is a path around the pond which also crosses both of the bridges (at opposite ends). Despite the crowds, this felt tranquil. For me, it was a joy to visit this spot. I took quite a few photos here also, unsurprisingly. I had been worried that we might not get in, as this was one of the only venues we planned to visit where I had not bought advanced tickets. We visited on a Tuesday just at / after lunchtime. While there was a short line, it was not prohibitive. Maybe we were just very lucky. I'd advise you to research visit-times and purchase tickets in advance if possible. Highly recommended.

It's *that* house and gardens, where all those famous water lilly canvases were conceived and executed. Well worth your time, but best done in the shoulders, April and September, if you don't want to be part of an absolutely crazy mob.

We had a really nice day trip here! Main takeaways: Public transportation works fine, but takes ~2.5 hours door to door (depending on where you are in Paris). If you have a baby, just bring your carrier, not a stroller. Arrive right at opening to get a photo at the lily pond without any crowds! In mid-October, there were plenty of flowers in bloom, but not many lilies. Still very beautiful. We spent ~1.5 hours in the gardens. We were back in Paris by 2pm. TRANSPORTATION/TIMING: Not bad on public transit. We did have to get up early to get to the gardens right as they opened. This was our timeline: 7:30am leave our Airbnb near the Charles Michels Metro stop. 8:00am arrive at St-Lazare station on the Metro (go to the TOP FLOOR. You can use the machines, or go to the ticket counter on the FAR RIGHT or EAST of all the tracks). 8:15am get on the 8:19am train to Vernon-Giverny. 9:06am arrive at Vernon. FYI for the above steps, this page was very useful: http://paristogiverny.com/how-to-get-to-giverny/ 9:10-9:30am take the "Petit Train" to the shuttle parking lot in Giverny. This train takes you on a bit of a tour around Vernon with a pre-recorded guide. 9:30am-9:45am walk to the Gardens (we got there right as they were opening!). 9:45-11:15am walk around and see the pond, house, & gift store. 11:25-11:40am get coffee across the street from the gardens. 11:40-11:50am walk back to the parking lot where the "Petit Train" dropped us off initially. 11:50-12:10pm take the "Petit Train" back to Vernon. 12:20-12:45 walk around Vernon, see the cathedral (there was also an option to get dropped off at the cathedral, but we didn't take it. We hadn't realized how close it was to the Vernon train station). 12:45pm arrive at Vernon station for the 12:51pm train back to Paris. The train ended up being 15-20 minutes late. ~2:00pm arrive at St-Lazare station in Paris. THE COST: For two adults + a baby: 4 metro rides. ~60€ for roundtrip train tickets to Vernon-Giverny. It cost an extra 2€ per person to have flexible return tickets. It would have been maybe 10€ cheaper per person to purchase online. FYI the conductor did not check for tickets on either ride. 16€ for two roundtrip tickets on the "Petit Train" from Vernon to Giverny. FYI there seem to be other busses that were fancier and bigger, but not as charming. None were waiting at the Vernon station when we got off the train, so we just took the only option we had. I'm not sure of the cost of these busses, but those definitely wouldn't have made it through the small winding streets of Vernon that the "Petit Train" did. ~16€ for two tickets to the garden. THE GARDENS: We spent an hour and a half in the gardens. Even on a Thursday in mid-October, it got pretty crowded by 10am (from tour groups, children's school groups, etc). For the first 15 minutes or so, it was just the ~10 of us who probably all took the same train, and we were all able to get photos on the bridge on the lily pond without crowds in the background. VISITING WITH A BABY: Come with just your carrier if possible! The gardens are not too stroller friendly - there are small windy dirt paths and lots of steps. To get to the pond from the main gardens, the path goes underground to cross a road. When they saw us with a stroller, they led us to a gate, took us across the road (no crosswalk lol), and unlocked the gate on the other side so we could avoid the stairs. We were not allowed to bring the stroller into the house, so we had to park it outside at our own risk and just held our baby going through the house. We really should have brought her carrier. TIME OF YEAR: We went on October 18. It still felt like there were a ton of flowers in bloom, but only a couple lilies in the pond. I thought the gardens were gorgeous, but I'm sure if I were to compare it side-by-side to the summer time, it wouldn't be as nice. I thought it was worth coming at this time of year to avoid large crowds, though!

So, let me preface this review with the fact that I had booked my trip with a Viking River Cruise (Paris & the Heart of Normandy) and everything, including the transportation and entrance into the Jardins was already paid for. The town of Giverny is a really sleepy, quiet one in the countryside of France... I can totally see where Monet drew all his inspirations and lived his life. We had a local guide that took us through the gardens, especially his famous Japanese style garden in which he painted his water lily series and bridge paintings. It was early October and the weather was cooler in the mornings, but the flowers were still in full bloom and abundance near his home.... just rows and rows of flowers, some taller than you. From the house you can see a lot of the gardens. The caretakers of this place have meticulously replanted all the flowers according to townspeople's recollections, photographs, and information they could gather to make it the most accurate representation of how the gardens were in Monet's time. One of his studios, has since been converted into the gift shop, but it used to be a barn that Monet outfitted with skylights to work on his masterpieces. The rest of the house has been kept in tact, so you can see a traditional french kitchen (wood/burning oven)... colorful dining room and the bedrooms/washrooms. Overall it is a great place to visit. We were in a large tour group so the buses park far away in a designated bus lot and it is a bit of a walk to the house, but we passed the normal parking lot on our way to the house. It is really such a small town and a lot of tourists are just coming to see the mansion and gardens. After you check out the gardens, you can walk around the sleepy town of Giverny and take a 10min walk to the church to visit the Monet family grave.

Lovely. A must see if you have any interest in Monet and are in the area. Crowded, but to be expected.

I would have never imagined going here. Paris, Mt St Michel, Disney France... etc... but my in laws suggested going here. The garden is quite beautiful. You can see all types of flowers. Although, it's abit difficult to walk around since the walkways are abit narrow. It's pretty. The house of Monet is okay. I enjoyed walking into the house, but I wasn't too inspired inside the house. If you continue past the house, again you can enjoy the small pond and bamboo garden. At the end you arrive at the gift shop full of Monet related gift treats to purchase. The scenary is beatiful. Unfortunately, I'm not an artsy guy so alot of the history and art was lost to me. I went in early May so the photo's I posted are of the flowers that bloom in May.

It was awe inspiring to walk around the grounds of such a great master. The pond and the gardens are absolutely beautiful. It would be nice if there were fewer tourists but those are the breaks sometimes. The restaurants and galleries around the house are fun to visit and well worth your time to stop in a few of these.

What a beautiful place! If you are able it might be a good idea to go late in the day when the tour buses have stopped coming. It can be extremely crowded, but it's still enjoyable. The town around the museum is quaint, and I wish I had spent more time there.

If you love Monet and his work you need to come and experience his gardens. Divine tranquility. Monet painted his famous lillies here. It gets packed so if you can reserve your tickets online do so also check if the trains are on strike as you will need to take a train ride to Giverny. You can walk from Giverny station or take a bus, rent a bike or just walk (approximately 7 miles). This is once in a lifetime experience if you love Monet.

Stunning, gorgeous and well laid out gardens. You do not need to be a Monet fan to enjoy visiting the garden and his home. If making a day trip from Paris take early train to be first in line to get to Gardens as the busses of tour groups fill gardens fast. Buy tickets online prior to going. It's a good 1/2 day trip. If you can make time I highly recommend going to Rouen on the train which is 45 min train ride north. It's a perfect get away from the city. The cafe near the house is lovely place to get coffee.

Get here when it opens @ 9am. Get out before the shoulder to shoulder crowds arrive at 11am, they will make your visit unbearable. Wonderful tourist site. The surrounding village is cute as buttons as well.

Visiting Monet's home and the GORGEOUS gardens & lily ponds was the highlight of my trip to France- you feel Claude Monet's presence everywhere. I was lucky enough to visit on a day with very few tourists; this made a huge difference in my experience.. the whole day was much more enjoyable. I went during early June, which did not appear to be their busy season. The town of Giverny is quiet, quaint, and dreamy... each house looked like it was out of a scene from a storybook.

One of the best things I have done in my entire life. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my entire life! The gardens are just stunning. Same goes for the water gardens. So many different types of flowers, and you're just surrounded by natural beauty. Even without the fact that this place belonged to the most famous artist of all time, it is still an amazing place to come to. The crazy thing is that Monet is just known as a "painter." Looking at his home and his gardens, he clearly had other things that he considered canvases. His creative genius shines through his bold interior design (an ALL-YELLOW dining room!! An ALL-BLUE kitchen!!!) that still compliments his lovely art (his own, plus apparently he was a fan of Asian art?! Who ever stopped to consider what kind of art Mr. Monet liked to look at?!) and through his gardens, which were clearly a labor of love and could only be created with some serious knowledge and planning. One of my favorite experiences of all time. If you are in France, you do not want to miss this!!!

One of the highlights of our entire trip. These gardens are simple but spectacular. All I could think about was that each step looked like a new Monet painting. Great spot for wedding photos to be sure.....

The lily ponds and gardens you've seen in Monet's impressionist paintings are all right here. It's an hour drive from Paris or you can take the train. Either way it's worth it. I went on a sunny day in April 10 yr.s ago. There were big floating water lilies with a bridge built over the pond. Monet's famous gardens were right outside his house. There were so many flowers, especially roses, all perfectly cultivated. Several of Monet's paintings were displayed on the walls of his house. Monet was able to capture his feelings of home and shared them with the world. Giverny is a sweet dream with warm fuzzies much like Monet's paintings.

I have to say that the most annoying thing about this place is actually getting to it. Basically you catch the train to Vernon and you can the catch a bus from Vernon to Giverny where the house is located, however the buses only run at certain times, which mean that if you decide to head back earlier (as we did, namely because we had to go back to Rouen to get our bags) you may find yourself having to wait a couple of hours for the bus to leave (and if you miss the last bus then, well, it's going to a be a long walk back to the railway station). However, that aside, it is certainly worth checking out, though I wouldn't go as far as putting it on my absolutely fantastic scale of things. The gardens felt as if they hadn't been tended for a while, and all of the paintings in the house were replicas (though that probably had more to do with them paintings sitting in the Musee d'Orsay). Oh, the lines can be pretty long as well, especially on a Saturday. It is worth a visit, particularly if you are a Monet fan, but if you are catching the train up you may need to keep an eye on the time. I should mention that while the lily pond is pretty impressive, you do need to sit in a boat in the middle if you want to get a good photo of the bridge.

Yesterday we were scheduled to visit Monet's house and gardens as part of our river cruise from Paris to Normandy. We didn't go. It was cold, windy and rainy. When we visited in July 2004 it was sunny and we were entranced. The gardens are on two sides of the road and a tunnel under the road provides access. The ponds, lily pads and Japanese bridge are gorgeous. They look like Monet's paintings of them. The gardens closer to the house are beautiful and diverse and look more like gardens and less like paintings. They were in bloom and were beautiful beyond description. The house was charming and enjoyable to wander through. I can only imagine how many gardeners it takes to keep the gardens so well maintained. We took many photos when we were there and they pop up randomly as part of our computer's screensaver. Of course you exit through the gift shop which is full of temptations. I bought a wall calendar which we ended up discarding because the layout is different from the American one, w/ the grid starting on Monday. It drove me crazy. Our memories of the house and gardens are so vivid and warm we had no need to suffer in yesterday's inclement weather to see it again.

It was one of the most memorable experiences during my visits to Paris. As other mentioned, the lily ponds, the gardens, and Monet's house are absolutely amazing. It was one of a life time experience to see where the famous waterlily painting series were created. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Paris.