Donnae

We would like to visit Monet's Garden in Giverny, does anyone know how far it is from Paris? What is the easiest way to get there by rail?

Donna

While many eschew "tours", we found the train schedules to be awkward, and transportation to and from Giverny from the station to be a bit inconvenient, so we took a Paris Visions tour. We selected the "mini-van" tour with hotel pick-up and return. To us, it was worth the extra. We didn't have to get to the station early in the morning so as to "beat the crowds". The tour companies schedule their trips between peak times and have their own entrance (hence, no concern with "ticket lines&quot. We had plenty of time for a leisurely visit, along the American Museum and lunch (well, by then it was a late lunch!). Our driver graciously dropped us off back in Paris at our dinner destination, rather than our hotel. But, for everything you need to know about visiting Giverny on your own (including the best times to schedule your visit), go to giverny.org

Howard

I totally concur with the above advice. We took a mini-van tour as well and we glad we did. <BR>One question: When are you going? If it's before the spring, then it's not worth it, as the gardens, obviously, aren't in bloom.

ita

I totally disagree. There is no need for a guided tour to see Givery. I have been there three times in the past two years. Get the train schedule from your hotel's minitel. Take the train to Vernon from Gare St. Lazare and then from there take the bus (10 minute ride). The American Museum is also worth a visit as is the village and the grave yard where Monet is buried. Giverny is equally beautiful in the Spring and Autumn. Don't miss it and it is unecessary to spend the money for a tour.

Christina

It's about 50 miles from Paris and takes 45 minutes on the train itself. There is only one way to get there by rail, taking the regular train (SNCF) from Paris Gare St Lazare to Vernon. <BR><BR>I have done it on my own but can see the advantage of the minivan tours for convenience and saving time. It also depends how good you are with train schedules because you have to really be careful that you note the correct return trains to Paris and make them or you can be stuck out there a while since there aren't that many convenient return times in the afternoon (during the week, I think if you miss the 3pm, there isn't another until 6, or something like that). That may be okay for you, but you do have to note these things because there aren't trains every hour. Some of the trains from Vernon take a lot longer than others, also, if they make a bunch of stops, and some involve transfers at Mantes-les-Jolies, so you really have to be aware of that and hustle (there is less than 10 minutes to change trains there) or you could end up in the wrong place. In the morning, you also have to know the times as there is a big gap in the schedule and you could waste a lot of time waiting for a train if you just show up without knowing the schedule. Anyway, it can certainly be done without problem, but you do have to be aware of these things and check current schedules for the days when you go as they vary on weekends and weekdays (and perhaps winter vs. summer). YOu also have to really note the bus schedules as they aren't that frequent, either. I don't think there are any between 2:30 and very late afternoon, so if you want to leave about 3, you may have to take a cab anyway.<BR><BR>If you have a whole day to spend on it, doing it yourself will save you about US$40 pp or so vs. the cost of the private companies (I think their cost includes transportation and entrance fees).<BR><BR>

Bob Brown

The first train at a reasonable (my defintion) hour leave Gare St. Lazare at 8:16 and takes 45 minutes to reach Vernon.<BR><BR>There is one at 11:03, but it is a slow one; it takes an hour and 20 minutes.<BR>The next express train is at 12:04; it too takes 45 minutes.<BR><BR>The bus leaves from the station and goes to the gardens. In summer, the bus can fill up. It is also possible to take a taxi. We did and learned some new words in French from the driver. Well, the were more sounds I suppose. (Extend two fingers outwards and upwards and splutter with the tongue and lips when greeting other drivers.)<BR><BR>If you want to have dinner in Vernon, there are several trains back to Paris in the period between 5:50 and 8:00. There is a no change connection as late as 8:43 that takes about 48 minutes to return to Paris. The fare one way is 10.60, second class. <BR>

xxx

I was a &quot;first time to Paris&quot; visitor when I ventured to Giverny. I did not want an organized bus tour because I did not want to be hurried along (one tour combined Versailles and Giverny in THE SAME DAY!!). Taking the train as Bob Brown descried was very easy. I had heard horror stories about getting from the train station to Monet's but it could not have been simpler to catch the bus. I'm sure in &quot;peak&quot; season it can be more hectic. As mentioned above, be sure to take the short walk to the American Museum, it is &quot;worth&quot; seeing. Have a wonderful time, don't be afraid to take the train, and above all, do not be afraid to ask questions/directions!

Howard

I agree that you don't have to take a minivan or bus tour to Giverny. We just found it much, much easier after digesting the train schedule. We would had to get up very, very early, make two or three metro changes to get to the train station for the 8:15 train to Vernon. And, if we missed that train, we would have had to wait quite a while for the next one.<BR>Thus, we found the alternative of taking a minivan (at 60 euro apiece) well worth it. The van picked us up at our hotel and we drove up in comfort with a delightful hos right to the entrance to Monet's home. It was very relaxing and was one of the highlights of our two-week trip to Paris.

elaine

The first time I went to Giverny it was not nearly as much visited as it is now, so crowds even in June were not quite as much of an issue. Like xxx, we were first-time visitors to Paris.<BR>We went to Giverny on our own, and found it easy.<BR><BR>We arrived in Vernon in the morning<BR>(can't recall, (9:30? 10am?) and after about a 15 minute wait we caught a taxi to the Monet foundation. We asked the taxi driver for a business card and about a half hour before we wanted to leave Giverny we called for a taxi to take us back to the Vernon station.<BR>I can't speak to the convenience of the train schedule more recently.<BR><BR>The second time I went I was in Paris on my own, and I decided to do the large bus group tour. <BR>I will say that my strategy worked, which was when we descended from the bus, I went straight to the water lily pond and saw it in (relative) peace while my bus-mates went through the house and nearer gardens first. Then I made my way back to the house. It was convenient, just not as independent- feeling as going on one's own, and much more expensive, about the equivalent of $70 or so, I think, and this was a number of years ago. The minibus thing might be a good compromise. <BR><BR>On the other hand, going on your own may build your confidence for future daytrips.

Beth

Not only is the American Museum worth seeing, but the restaurant has good food and was not in the least crowded (late July). I thought its gift shop surpassed the one at Monet's gardens.