Excursion to Giverny from Paris: coach, minibus, or bike
Why opt for an excursion instead of the train
Let me be honest: the train from Saint-Lazare takes 45 minutes, and the shuttle covers the rest. For someone who speaks French and can read a timetable, it’s the most flexible option, and I explain that on the how to get to Giverny page. An excursion makes sense in three cases. You don’t want to deal with TER tickets, transfers, or shuttle schedules. You’re traveling with people who walk slowly and for whom the train station, then the shuttle, then the uphill walk to the entrance would be too much. Or you want a guide who talks about Monet during the journey—something the TER doesn’t offer.
The cost comparison also matters: since the entrance ticket is included in all three excursions, the gap with the train narrows once you add up the round-trip TER fare, the shuttle, and the on-site ticket. The amounts appear in real time in the booking module—I won’t list them here.
The half-day coach: the most popular option
Meet at Notre-Dame-de-Compassion church in the 17th arrondissement, or enjoy hotel pickup depending on the option you choose. A climate-controlled coach, an English-speaking guide on board, and a self-guided audio app in ten languages to accompany you through the gardens. Once there, you’re on your own: about thirty minutes for the house, forty-five minutes for the water garden, around 80 minutes of free time in the village, and a ten-minute photo stop at Monet’s grave. Total duration: roughly six hours.
What reviews criticize—and I agree—is that the time on-site is short, and fifty people disembark from the same coach. The house, which is small, is then visited in single file. What they praise: the skip-the-line ticket, which alone justifies this option on June weekends, and the guides on board, often mentioned by name. Food, drinks, and tips are not included. This excursion is not wheelchair-accessible. My full review is on the half-day excursion reviews page.
The small-group minibus: more time at the water garden
Meet in front of the black-fronted Café La Flamme at 6 Avenue de Wagram, or enjoy hotel pickup and drop-off. Five hours in total, with one hour of transfer time, followed by a program that prioritizes the water garden: around 110 minutes around the pond, the Japanese bridge, and the flower garden, twenty minutes for the Fondation Monet Giverny, and fifteen minutes at Claude Monet’s grave. English-speaking guide.
The key point to know before booking: the entrance to the gardens and house is included, but skip-the-line access to the house is not. In high season, this can mean a queue in front of the pink house. If the house matters more to you than the pond, the half-day coach is better suited. If it’s the pond you care about, the minibus devotes more than double the time to it. Details on the small-group minibus reviews page.
The bike day trip: the highest-rated of the six
Meet at 24 Rue Edgar-Faure in the 15th arrondissement (metro Dupleix or La Motte-Picquet-Grenelle), with no hotel pickup. The coach takes you to Vernon, where you buy your picnic at the market, then you cycle five kilometers along the flat Seine riverside path to Giverny. Bike and helmet provided, entrance included, picnic outside the grounds (as it’s not allowed inside). Eight and a half hours in total. This is the only excursion that passes the Hôtel Baudy and the Sainte-Radegonde cemetery with a guide. I go into much more detail on the Giverny by bike page.
The three side by side
| From Paris: guided minibus tour to Monet’s gardens | Our pickFrom Paris: Giverny, Monet’s House & Gardens (half-day) | From Paris: Monet’s gardens by bike and picnic break | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meet-up point | Café La Flamme, Av. de Wagram, or hotel | Notre-Dame-de-Compassion church, 17th, or hotel | 24 Rue Edgar-Faure, 15th |
| Duration | 5 h | Approx. 6 h | 8 h 30 |
| Time at the water garden | Approx. 110 min | Approx. 45 min | Depends on the group’s pace |
| Skip-the-line for the house | No | Yes | Entrance included |
| Hotel pickup | Yes | Depending on option | No |
| Meals | Not included | Not included | Picnic bought at the market |
| Rating | 4.7 (844 reviews) | 4.5 (3,393 reviews) | 4.8 (238 reviews) |
| See → | Book → | See → |
The coaches arrive between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM, at the same time as everyone else. Once there, visit the house first, then the water garden—the line for the house fills up faster than the one for the pond.
Book the half-day excursion
The three excursions
Most bookedFrom Paris: Giverny, Monet’s house and gardens (half-day)
Small groupFrom Paris: guided minibus tour to Monet’s gardens
By bikeFrom Paris: Monet’s gardens by bike and picnic break
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
Where do Giverny tours depart from in Paris?
The half-day coach leaves from Notre-Dame-de-Compassion church (17th arrondissement), the minibus from Café La Flamme, 6 avenue de Wagram, and the full-day bike tour from 24 rue Edgar-Faure (15th). None stop at Vernon station. To get there on your own, see how to get to Giverny.
How long do you spend in Giverny on a tour?
Around two and a half to three hours for the half-day coach (house, water garden, village), nearly two and a half hours for the minibus. The Fondation Monet Giverny recommends 1 hour 30 minutes for the visit itself; see visit duration.
Is the entrance ticket included in the tour?
Yes, in all three. However, the minibus does not include skip-the-line access to the house. What a ticket covers is explained on the tickets and skip-the-line page.
Do the tours run all year round?
No. Giverny is open from April 1st to November 1st, and the tours follow this schedule. See opening dates.