Private tour of Giverny with chauffeur from Paris
What ‘private’ actually changes
On a coach, fifty people get off at the same time and enter a house that wasn’t designed for fifty. In a sedan, you’re two, three, or four, and you arrive in Giverny around 9:15 AM, over an hour before the first coaches. The difference is visible in the pink house, in the yellow dining room, and on the Japanese bridge, which you photograph without ten people on it. That’s why I reserve this option for people who have a specific reason to prefer it: elderly parents who don’t want to walk between a train station and a shuttle, a family with school-age children, or a short stay where every hour counts.
It remains the most expensive of the six, by far. Prices are displayed in the booking module based on the number of participants; I don’t reproduce them. For a couple, the small-group minibus covers part of the same need with hotel pick-up.
The typical schedule
Departure from your address in Paris around 8:00 AM. About 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive for roughly 70 kilometers. Tour from 9:15 AM to 11:00 AM: house, Clos Normand, underground passage, water garden, in whatever order and at whatever pace you like. Village from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM: rue Claude-Monet, galleries, walk up to the tomb at Sainte-Radegonde if you wish. Lunch from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM, not included, at the restaurant of your choice. Return to Paris around 2:30 PM. Entrance tickets and bottled water are included.
These times are a typical schedule. Flexibility is the point of the option: if you prefer to arrive later and stay into the late afternoon, or have lunch in Vernon on market day (Saturday), that can be discussed at booking. The only non-negotiable rule is that the house closes at 6:00 PM, last admission at 5:30 PM; see opening dates and hours.
Guide or driver only?
Both options are available. With a driver only, you’ll be dropped off at the entrance and explore freely: the Fondation recommends about 1 hour 30 minutes, and you’ll have nearly two hours. With a guide, someone accompanies you through the gardens and the house. Reviews mentioning a guide do so warmly, with one visitor praising both a “very knowledgeable” guide and a “very attentive” driver. If you’ve never read about Monet, opt for the guide. If you’ve already browsed the page on Monet’s history in Giverny and are coming for the gardens, the driver alone is enough.
Families, seniors, mobility: what you need to know
This option is not recommended for children under six and requires at least two participants. Like other excursions from Paris, it’s not wheelchair-accessible. On-site, the water garden is accessible via the main gate, but the house has stairs and is not; I’ve gathered this information on the accessibility page. For parents who walk slowly but can still walk, the private car is actually the gentlest way to spend the day: no train station, no shuttle, and no parking lot to cross.
Out of 27 reviews
Twenty-seven reviews may seem few compared to the 3,393 for the half-day excursion, and I prefer to be upfront about that. The 4.6 rating is based on a small sample. All comments are very positive and mention the people by name: an “excellent and very informative” guide, a guide “full of knowledge,” a driver who “drove carefully and shared a lot.” Nothing about the equipment or delays. My summary is on the private tour reviews page.
| From Paris: guided minibus tour to Monet’s gardens | Our pickFrom Paris: private tour of Giverny with driver | From Paris: Giverny, Monet’s house and gardens (half-day) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departure | Hôtel or Café La Flamme | Any address in Paris | Église N.-D.-de-Compassion or hotel |
| Vehicle | Minibus | Sedan or minivan | 50-seat coach |
| Arrival time in Giverny | Not specified | Around 9:15 AM | Like the coaches, generally 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
| Free time | Fixed schedule | About 2 hours | About 80 minutes in the village |
| Guide | English-speaking | Guide or driver only | English-speaking + audio guide |
| Cancellation | 24 hours | 3 days | 24 hours |
| Rating | 4.7 (844 reviews) | 4.6 (27 reviews) | 4.5 (3,393 reviews) |
| See → | Book → | See → |
Ask for an 8:00 AM sharp departure and visit the house first. At 9:15 AM on weekdays, you’ll walk through it almost alone; by 11:00 AM, never again.
Book the private tour
Cheaper alternatives
Small groupFrom Paris: guided minibus tour to Monet’s gardens
Most bookedFrom Paris: Giverny, Monet’s house and gardens (half-day)
On-siteGiverny: guided tour of Monet’s house and gardens
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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
How many people are needed to book the private tour?
A minimum of two participants. The option is not recommended for children under six. For solo travelers, the small-group minibus with hotel pickup is the closest alternative.
How late can you cancel?
Up to three days before departure, free of charge. This is the only one of the six options that doesn’t offer 24-hour cancellation. See the comparison on the all tours page.
Is lunch included?
No. The itinerary includes about 1 hour 15 minutes for lunch in the village, at your own expense. Bottled water and entrance tickets are included. Picnicking is not allowed on the premises; see where to picnic in Giverny.
Is the private tour suitable for wheelchair users?
No, it’s listed as not wheelchair-accessible. The water garden is accessible via the main gate, but the house is not. Details on accessibility.