4 Best Hotels in Giverny, Side Trips from Paris

This storybook 18th-century château (once the country home of Catherine Deneuve) has everything you need to experience the beauty and magic of the French countryside far from the hustle and bustle. And yet it's only a 50-minute drive from Paris and 35 minutes by car from lovely Vernon and Giverny, making it the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Once here, there's little reason to leave the wooded 74-acre property, complete with flower gardens, an outdoor pool, woodland walks, and a farm fully equipped with livestock, orchards, and vegetable gardens. Rooms are the epitome of contemporary elegance, with views of the gardens or the nearby Eure River. The restaurants on the property, a gastronomic dining room run by chef Géraud Dupuis and Martin bistro, both make good use of the garden bounty. Round off your idyllic stay with a relaxing spa treatment at the Susan Kaufmann spa set in a former woodshed.

Top chef and owner of Jardin des Plumes hotel and restaurant David Gallienne now runs this ultracontemporary six-room bed-and-breakfast in a 19th-century milkman's cottage set in the countryside overlooking the Seine River. The original decor would be quite at home in the pages of a design magazine, but there are still plenty of the cozy touches: fireplaces, antiques, comfy bedding, beautiful baths, well-appointed kitchens, and a charming on-site tearoom and spa. All rooms are bright and cheerful with views over the leafy yards. For privacy, romance, and calm—with your own private yard under pretty trees—this (and its mothership the Jardin des Plumes hotel) is your best bet in Giverny. The B&B is a 45-minute train ride from Paris and a 15-minute walk to Monet's gardens.

Just a short stroll from chez Monet, this beautifully refurbished 1880 manor house (the name means "Place to Idle") has reinvented itself as a more contemporary "hotel de charme." The cozy lobby, comfy spiffed-up guest rooms with views overlooking a leafy garden, and "bistronomic" restaurant make it a popular choice, so reserve in advance.

This Norman-style half-timbered inn with its stylish contemporary interiors, lovely gardens, and Michelin-starred restaurant make this a destination unto itself. All the better that it's a mere 10-minute walk from Monet's fabled gardens. Spacious, light-filled guest rooms pleasantly mix upscale design with Art Deco touches and provide a warm, welcoming retreat tucked away in a splendid setting offering plenty of peace and quiet. The chic one-Michelin-star restaurant, open for lunch and dinner (except on Monday and Tuesday), is a great asset.