I would like to take a train from Paris early in the morning to go see Monet's home in Giverny. After seeing that I was considering then going to Rouen and then onto Jumieges Abbey. I would need to be back in Paris that night as we have a room already booked in Paris.
1. Is there enough time to see all these places in one day trip? I would be willing to cut out the city of Rouen if needed.
2. Also If we do cut out Rouen, would we then maybe have time to make it all the way to Etretat?
3. Also what is the best way to get to all these places? Will trains and buses be good enough as far as my time crunch or would renting a car in either Paris or Rouen be a better idea?
Thanks all!

There was a recent thread entitled Magical Monet about visiting Giverny early in the morning. Try entering those words in the search box.

I don't think you could make it to Etretat--that's quite a distance from Paris. Hhowever, Giverny plus some time in Rouen would be a nice day trip, provided that you get going early. You can get to both locales by train, and a car would not be necessary--or even advisable.

Hi BG,

It's about 0:45 hr from Paris to Vernon and 0:35 hr from Vernon to Rouen, so I guess you could do two things that day.

see ww.sncf.com for schedules.

I believe that the recommended route to Giverny is

Take the no. 12 metro from Sevres-Babylon direction Porte de la Chapelle to Gare St. Lazare (15 min) In the Metro, take the 'SNCF - Grandes Lignes' exit. Buy a ticket to Vernon. The Rouen line departs from the right side of the platform, in the 'Grandes Lignes' section. From Vernon "T. V. S." coaches link Vernon train station and central bus station to Giverny. Return tickets are sold on the coach : 3.20 euros.

You might find this helpful:
http://giverny.org/index.htm

I look at a question like yours in this way - - even if you <u>can</u> fit this into one (6 am to 11:30 pm?) day - - why are you punishing yourself to get back to Paris...

...where your room is likely costing 50-100% more for 25-50% less <i>value</i> than you could find out in Normandy itself?

It will almost certainly be more expensive to do this by rental car... and by the same token, most likely much more <u>doable</u>.

Personally, I would recommend cutting out Rouen. It is almost ten times larger than Etretat... and a city of over 100,000 is very difficult to just &quot;buzz in&quot; see what you want, <i>enjoyably</i> and move on (by car - - conversely, this can be not so terribly difficult by train).

Of course, this would inherently require renting the pm before this &quot;day away&quot; and returning it the day after. And rentals of one or two days are usuallu bad bargains - - frequently cost the same as a three day rental.

I would encourage your trip - - but leave afternoon one, stay near Vernon/Giverny, see the things you want to see on day two and stay night two somewhere in Normandy, and return to Paris on morning three.

Best wishes,

Rex

thanks to all and also to Julia for popping up that Monet thread for me. Well after reading everyone's replies here is what I think I will do...

I really would love to stay overnight in Normandy but our trip to Paris is only 4 days including the day we land and the day we fly back home so I just cannot devote an overnight outside of Paris. However I do really want a day trip. So with that said... I plan on taking a train to Giverny from Paris early in the AM. Once done with that I want to go right to the Jumieges Abbey. Is there a train directly from Giverny to the abbey or what would be my best bet for transportation for this route, since I will be skipping Rouen all together? I know there is a train or maybe a bus from Rouen to the abbey, but without going through Rouen I am not sure of the best way to get to the abbey from Giverny. Any input will be very helpful - thanks again!!!

As mentioned, you really need to study the train schedules. The times between Paris and Giverney are so awkward that we opted to go with a mini-van tour. Getting there before opening time isn't much help when lots of tour buses have the same idea - the grounds will be mobbed and you may not get into the house. The tour buses have a separate entrance, so you won't even know what you're up against until you get inside. Our tour arrived just before lunchtime, and worked out just fine.

Personally, if you are determined to see all those places, you should, but allow sufficient time.

You can't really see much of Paris in such a short time anyway, so surely you'll be planning a return trip.

If you are so determined, and if you can afford it, you should rent a car, even if you will return to Paris for each and every night's lodging.

It will cost you, but get it the day before you need it - - perhaps ideally the last day before you're departing from Paris. That way you could simply drive it back to the airport (not a cost-saver since parking it could cost you as much as or more then airport transfer; possibly a convenience).