Giverny in Normandy is a mandatory stop for every fan of Impressionism. It is a place where Claude Monet, the founder of the Impressionist movement, lived during the second half of his life and created the celebrated “Water Lilies” series. Many travelers and students visit the maestro’s former estate in Giverny, which is open from late March until November.
Tips for booking train tickets from Paris to Vernon
If you take a day trip from Paris to Giverny, traveling by train is an excellent option that tends to be cost effective. To get to Giverny, you need to book a train heading from Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon. Unless your hotel is near the train station, catching the express metro 14 is your quickest option to get there. Since the train station is quite large, you may need a few extra minutes to find the train once you’ve arrived.
Before the trip to Giverny, you would do well to buy the ticket online. Purchasing online could save you half the amount you may pay for the ticket at the station. Plus, you may find searching for the ticket counter confusing. However, buy train tickets online only if you are sure you can make it for the selected departure.
If you buy a ticket at the ticket-selling machine, note that they don’t accept cash, only cards. More so, you will need to answer questions I have found unimportant considering the nature of my journey. Inquiries regarding your email and a prolonged validity of the ticket would make sense for later departures. The average travel time between Paris and Vernon is less than an hour.
Arrival in Vernon and a connection to Giverny
When you arrive in Vernon, take a bus or tourist train connection to Giverny next to the train station. Buses not only get you to the village more quickly than the train, they also briefly introduce the town of Vernon to you. Unless it is rainy or a bit cold, you might prefer to take the tourist train, which is more affordable (8 EUR/9 USD) than a bus (10 EUR/11.5 USD) for a round trip. The journey by train lasts around 20 minutes. When you arrive in Giverny, follow signposts leading you to the Claude Monet Foundation, which is about 10 minutes away.
Visiting Giverny
Many visitors go to the Foundation Claude Monet before noon, overcrowding the estate. The attraction deserves a full-day tour, that’s certain. But, if you wish to tour the garden without bumping on other visitors all the time, consider arriving during the afternoon. More so, the water lilies in the nearby pond open themselves later during the day, at least in May.
The mansion in which Monet and his family lived is also open for visitors. When you enter the estate, there will be an advertisement for a free guided tour. Depending on the number of participants, you may benefit from a tour of the mansion, equipped with the period appliances and furnishings.
Allocate some time to roam the village of Giverny and visit its art galleries, cafes, and gardens. You can also visit Claude Monet’s grave next to the village church.
For your information
In general, you can spend a full day visiting Vernon and Giverny at an easy pace. For a quick tour of Vernon, on board a tourist train, and Giverny, plan at least a few hours. If you purchase a train ticket from Paris to Vernon online, the prices start at 8 EUR (9 USD) per passenger. One-way tickets bought at Gare Saint-Lazare will set you back 15 EUR (17 USD) per person at the very least.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9 Safe Neighborhoods In Paris, France - Updated 2024Natália Cagnani
Create an account to