Late April crowds at Giverny and Versailles?
Feb 26th, 2012, 02:51 PM
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Late April crowds at Giverny and Versailles?
We are planning day trips to Versailles and Giverny on Sunday and Monday,April 22 and 23 and wonder what to expect in the way of crowds. Our dates are inflexible due to the length of time we'll be in Paris and the various closures of places we want to visit. We plan to arrive in both places before the gates open (and plan to have the Paris Museum pass already in hand for Versailles) but wonder what to expect in terms of crowds- i.e. length on time in line to enter-...? We do recognize that Sunday at Versailles will be busy, especially with the fountain show. Our only other option is to go to the Musee d'Orsay on Sunday and then visit Versailles on Tuesday, but the museum is likely to be very crowded on Sunday also, and the fountains will not be on at Versailles on Tuesday! Any opinions out there on this?
Also, would it be worthwhile to buy Giverny tickets ahead of time to pick up at FNAC when we arrive, or can we just buy on-site without wasting too much time?
Thanks for your help.
Also, would it be worthwhile to buy Giverny tickets ahead of time to pick up at FNAC when we arrive, or can we just buy on-site without wasting too much time?
Thanks for your help.
Feb 26th, 2012, 03:16 PM
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We visited Giverny in April once (now quite a long time ago) and the garden really wasn't in full bloom then, although it could have been a couple of weeks earlier than your visit, I just don't recall. There were a few tourists at the time, but not too many that it was difficult to get in or walk around. I think you would get more tourists later in the season because there would be more chance of seeing the garden in bloom. I wouldn't worry about tickets beforehand, as it wasn't an issue for us.
Lavandula
Lavandula
Feb 26th, 2012, 04:19 PM
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It's impossible to predict what lines will be like at a major tourist attraction on any given day. I would say it doesn't hurt to buy your tickets to both places before-hand and get there before they open. If those are the only days that you can go and you really want to see these places then go see them.
Feb 26th, 2012, 09:09 PM
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There's an FNAC with ticket counter right across from Gare Saint-Lazare (where trains depart for Vernon). Advance tickets allow you to use the group entrance. If you get there right at opening time, you'll beat any crowds to the gardens and the house.
I wouldn't schedule anything to avoid crowds. Just go when you wish.
We've had great luck at Musée d'Orsay arriving at lunch time.
I wouldn't schedule anything to avoid crowds. Just go when you wish.
We've had great luck at Musée d'Orsay arriving at lunch time.
Feb 26th, 2012, 11:18 PM
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We were in Versailles in May, and on a fountain show day. Unless you are really lucky, they will be a line, and the pass does not help get you through faster. When we got there the line was really long, but it did not take to much time for them to get us through (approx. 30 min). I do not know if going on a non-fountain day will really make much of a difference. We found the fountains to be one of the best parts of Versailles, so it might be worth it to just put up with the crowds and go on a fountain day anyway.
