We will only have 41/2 to 5 days in Paris in late September. We would love to see Monet's Gardens, but I wonder if it would be worth a trip in September or if we would be better off spending that time in Paris. This will be our first visit to Paris (and hopefully not our last, but it will probably be many years before we would be able to make it back). When I look at photos of the gardens, it seems that most of them are in the spring and I am wondering if there will still be much to look at.

September is a great time to go. I've been in Spring and Septembre and both times the gardens were overwhelming with blooms. No wisteria though.

We visited the gardens in October of 2010 and they were quite beautiful - not as nice as earlier in the year, but still wonderful! Looking at the reflections in the lily pond, we could see why Monet was so enamored of colors. Go for it!

One of Monet's themes was to paint the same view over and over in different lights and times. The garden varies by season in a similar way.

There is a website for Givirney - it will tell you what is blooming in Sept. - I think some dahlias which I just love! We did a Fat Tire bike tour out to Giverney and it was alot of fun. You meet at one of the train stations, then train to a small town near Giverney where you visit a market for picnic foods, then an easy bike on to the gardens. Assuming the weather cooperates, it is a great day.

Thank you, everyone, for your input.

suec1, I was actually looking into the Fat Tire tour, so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it!

We visited Giverny in September a few years ago. The gardens were lovely then...even in the rain. But Paris is very nice that time of year as well.