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Giverny Gardens - What time & prepurchase tix?

Giverny Gardens - What time & prepurchase tix?

Old May 10th, 2013, 07:38 AM
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Giverny Gardens - What time & prepurchase tix?

We will be going to visit Monet's Gardens on a Tuesday in mid-June. What time is best to arrive to avoid the crowds? Should I buy tickets in advance to avoid having to stand in lines?

(1) In researching, alot of website say that lines are up to 1 hour long. Is this line to purchase tix? Or to get into the gardens?

(2) Most bus tours say that they depart in the afternoon. Is it better to visit mid-morning? How about taking the 10:20 train and arriving at noon before the afternoon bus tours?

Thanks!
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Old May 10th, 2013, 07:40 AM
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In an interview with the gardens director a few years back for an article I was writing she said Tuesday lines are often worse because the gardens are closed on Mondays (not sure if they still are!) so maybe another day would be more slack?
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Old May 10th, 2013, 07:45 AM
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Unfortunately, that is the only day we can go =( Great point about it being more crowded on Tuesdays...at least I can mentally prepare.

Would arriving first thing in the morning be crazy? Along with other tourists?

I was actually thinking a noon arrival since the morning crowd might be taking a lunch break, but it would be before the tour buses arrive. These are all just guesses though...would love any opinions...
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Old May 10th, 2013, 08:57 AM
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I'd go early as possible as there is a lot to do in Giverny besides Monet's House and Gardens - there is also the American Impressionists museum - documenting the American artists who like French Impressionist artists flocked here (and to Auvers-sur-Oise - which to me was as good as Giverny - Van Gogh and Cezanne's stomping grounds - another great day trip) and also walk thru the village to the parish cemetery where Monet lies under his grave - or walk down to the Seine as Money was want to do to put those now famous scenes on canvass.
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Old May 10th, 2013, 08:58 AM
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I don't think there is going to be much solution to the crowds if you go in summer. If you are sure you want to go, why wouldn't you buy your ticket in advance online? It appears to me that they are not specific to a certain date or anything.

I think the best chance is to arrive as it opens. Most tourist sites tend to get more crowded as the day goes on until end of the day, with mid-day probably being the worst. Probably 9:30 would be best or towards the end of the day, but if you want to get there at noon, probably won't matter that much. Most tourists don't get places when they first open for some reason.
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Old May 10th, 2013, 11:07 AM
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The gardens are now open on Mondays, too.

Pre-purchasing your tickets and getting then first thing is your best bet. With tickets in hand, you can enter at the lower garden entrance (Japanese Garden, bridge over the water lily pond) section and have that area mostly to yourself for a short time before those who had to buy tickets and entered via the main entrance make their way back there. In doing our research, I read over and over that the crowds are not better in the afternoon.

We did not know till the day before what day we would visit, so did have to buy our tickets once we got there. The line for tickets was actually very short. We rushed to the lily pond section first and had it almost to ourselves for about the first 30 min. By the time we made it up to tour the house (about an hour later) it was wall-to-wall people. When we left to go get some lunch and see the cemetary (around noon), the line was huge!

Also, if you are in Paris prior to that Tues, you can buy your train tickets ahead of time, too, at either a train (not metro) station or SNCF store. I have read of accounts where the line to buy the train tickets can be long in the morning and people have missed the first train. The tickets are not time specific.
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Old May 10th, 2013, 11:08 AM
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Sorry, getting there, not getting then!
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Old May 10th, 2013, 11:26 AM
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bookmarking
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Old May 10th, 2013, 11:33 AM
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If you go early and have much of the day consider walking back to Vernon - on a path on a former railway that goes along the Seine and thru a pastoral setting - Money himself often used this train line to go to Rouen when doing his series of canvasses on that town's stunning cathedral. It's about 3 miles or so if I recall correctly.
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Old May 10th, 2013, 12:01 PM
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We were just there 10 days ago and did purchase our tickets prior to leaving home. We also purchased our train tickets the day before we were going and it did take 25 minutes or so in a long line. We were glad to have not waited until the morning of as we may have missed the early train. Also, we rented bicycles from a cafe across from the train station and rode out and back. Of course you could always take a taxi from the train station and there were the shuttle buses available also. Enjoy your visit.
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Old May 10th, 2013, 03:28 PM
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Lots of good tips already given about planning your trip. Since I'm there frequently I'll add my own tips. First, once you arrive in Vernon the shuttle buses are in front of the train station and are timed with trains arriving from Paris. When you want to leave Monet's house the buses are timed to leave there to match up with trains heading back to Paris so keep that in mind. Here is a link to the shuttle bus schedules to and from Giverny:

http://www.giverny.fr/IMG/pdf/Horair...verny_2013.pdf

For info on train times use www.voyages-sncf.com.

You could also take a taxi or rent a bike from one of the two cafés across from the train station. The key thing is to beat the crowds and that means taking the train at 7:20 or 8:20 from Gare Saint-Lazare. The 8:20 train arrives in Vernon at 9:06 and you'll arrive at Monet's house by bus around 9:30. This is the first group that shows up and it only gets more crowded from there.

However, if you take the 7:20 train you arrive in Vernon before anyone else and you can rent a bike or take a taxi (or walk) to Giverny and be in line at the door before it opens. You'll be among the first few people there so you'll get a few minutes of solitude before the crowds arrive. This also gives you a bit of time to stroll the streets of the village while they are still quiet before you go wait to get into Monet's gardens.
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Old May 10th, 2013, 05:57 PM
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I've been a few times and enjoyed every visit. The last time we visited (late June) we stayed 2 nights in the village so were able to visit both in the morning and late in the afternoon (unfortunately, the tickets are for single entry only, so we had to buy tickets twice). Staying in a B&B in the village was a wonderful experience--great memories of a low-key experience without the tourist crush. We bought tickets to the gardens the afternoon we arrived in the village, so we were basically the first individual visitors to the garden when it opened--but we were surprised to see that a couple of tour groups were also entering at the group entrance at the same time. Nonetheless, we had the pond mostly to ourselves because we headed straight there from the entrance. Enchanting. The late afternoon was also amazing--most people had left, and only us and some photographers who had special access were wandering the grounds. That was indeed a priceless experience. Mid-day...not so much.
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Old May 10th, 2013, 09:17 PM
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Thanks everyone! Amazing tips.

(1) Question about entering from the lower gardens --- how do I reach the lower gardens. How will I know where to go?

We have decided to buy tix online ahead of time thanks to everyone's advice here.

(2) Train tickets -- we will also buy these in advance, from the SNCF station at the Musee D'Orsay. Are tickets time specific and date specific? Or are they only date specific? We're going to Versailles on Sunday from the Musee D'Orsay station. Can I buy the St. Lazare to Vernon tickets at the same time, from this station?

(3) Should I just use an automated machine to purchase the train tickets (I have a credit card w/a chip). Do I need a pin for the credit card or is it sufficent to swipe?

Thanks everyone. These boards have always been so helpful and it's so nice to discuss these issues with like-minded people =)
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Old May 10th, 2013, 09:47 PM
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we were there a few days ago. if your card has a chip no need for a pin. when arriving there were only 3 busses for the train so try to get off quickly to get in line. we did not see any cabs waiting. we found a cab and it was 15+€ which was ok as there were 4 of us. i am a bike rider but unless your inclined to work i would skip the bike.
going early is always good advice. we went on 10:20 train and did not find the crowds to be bad. it was beautiful!
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Old May 10th, 2013, 10:31 PM
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Two years ago (in May) I went on the 10.20 train, took the bus, waited in line - and the garden was mobbed. So my advice would be to buy tickets ahead, take the earliest train possible, and if you can, take a taxi -or a bike- to get there before the other train passengers.

If you are later, something worth knowing is that your ticket is for one entrance - it's not possible to go out and then back in. This was a nuisance for us, as we arrived late morning, and eventually wanted lunch. No cafe inside the garden, no picnicking. Understandable, but annoying that you have to go outside to get a sandwhich, and then line up and re-purchase tickets if you want to see any more. They obviously want to funnel as many people through the gardens as they can.
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Old May 11th, 2013, 02:01 AM
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(1) Question about entering from the lower gardens --- how do I reach the lower gardens. How will I know where to go?

As you walk into the village look on your right and you'll see a sign pointing to the right down a little alley/side street to the entrance for those who have pre-purchased tickets.

(2) Train tickets -- we will also buy these in advance, from the SNCF station at the Musee D'Orsay. Are tickets time specific and date specific? Or are they only date specific? We're going to Versailles on Sunday from the Musee D'Orsay station. Can I buy the St. Lazare to Vernon tickets at the same time, from this station?

You can buy an SNCF ticket at any of the main line train stations or from an SNCF boutique, which are scattered about in Paris. The tickets are not time or date specific and can be used on any train. As an aside there are no round trip tickets, only point to point tickets so you'll buy a ticket from Paris to Vernon and another from Vernon to Paris. Be sure to validate your ticket before boarding the train by sticking it in the little yellow composting machine.

(3) Should I just use an automated machine to purchase the train tickets (I have a credit card w/a chip). Do I need a pin for the credit card or is it sufficent to swipe?

If you have a chip in your credit card you should be able to use the machines to buy tickets. There are different machines for SNCF and RATP tickets. You might want to buy the train tickets to Vernon in advance since there can be long lines for tickets if you want to purchase just before boarding the train.
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Old May 11th, 2013, 05:13 AM
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We were there on a bucket list trip (mine) 2 weeks ago as well as some of the other responders.

As you are coming from Paris, the train schedule is the issue,so I would get the 720 train and be there to go to the Water Pond area ASAP, DO NOT STOP, run over anyone and everyone to get there (Water Pond area) IMMEDIATELY.

You could go almost at the end of the day, doing other sites in Vernon as well but you have to watch the times for the bus and last train back, so I think schedules are really geared for first thing in the AM so you are then stuck with everyone else. RUN, Don't Walk to the Water Pond area.

We were there as it opened but dillydallyed at the house, so by the time we oohed and aahed at the house and gardens, the crowds had arrived that OVERRUN the Water Pond area and everyone wants a pic on the bridge so there is a lot of jockeying for that.

I loved my visit but this is just like going to the Vatican Museum--the Sistine Chapel is at the end of the tour and by the time you get there it is jammed unless you take the short cut and you get there first and first thing in the morning. Then it was just us and the guard. Enjoy.
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Old May 11th, 2013, 06:13 AM
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>

Indeed, the trail leading to the water pond is thick with the bodies of the dead people who have been trampled because they were not swift enough.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 06:43 AM
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My experience with SNCF rail tickets is somewhat different from what FrenchMystiqueTours suggests.

I have today purchased Paris-to-Vernon tickets (a pair in each direction, no r/t, as FMT says) online at the SNCF website. We will visit on May 22, departing from Paris on the 8:20 train.

Recalling a comment here on the Fodor's forum, I entered my ticketing country as Antarctic rather than United States. This caused me NOT to be re-directed to the RailEurope website, where the cost is higher. Four second-class, one-way, age 60+ tickets cost 42€ ($54.52 today) directly from SNCF, but would have cost $80 from RailEurope.

We will not have to wait in any ticketing lines, either at Gare Saint-Lazare or at an SNCF ticketing boutique.

I have printed the tickets here at home, and they are definitely time- and day-specific. In fact, they state that they are "only valid for this train." They are exchangeable, however. They do "not require to be punched," but "must be shown at the time of ticket inspection or boarding the train."
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Old May 12th, 2013, 06:56 AM
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My advice was based on buying tickets in person, not on-line. If you buy on-line your tickets will be time and date specific, as you have noted.
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