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Giverny

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Monet's living canvas of inspiration

Giverny is a small village in northern France known for its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful gardens. The area became famous because of Claude Monet, the painter who lived there in the early 1900s. His home and flower-filled water lily pond inspired many of his works. Visitors can walk through well-kept paths lined with poppies, roses and willow trees along the River Epte. The village also has a local market selling fresh produce and handmade goods. Walking here feels calm and inspiring for anyone interested in art or nature.

Village in France
Climate zone: Mild oceanic

Mild oceanic: Marine-influenced climates with cool summers, mild winters and frequent precipitation year-round, typical of western coasts at mid-latitudes.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 5.5
General Safety:5
Health & medical:5
Accessibility:7
Tap water:9
Read details
Tourist English: 2/5
English proficiency varies in Giverny. Staff at major tourist attractions like Monet's Garden and museums generally speak basic English, but in smaller establishments and with locals, communication might be challenging. Having a few French phrases handy i
Last update: 12 Oct 2026
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Giverny Summary

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Famous for art and garden scenery. Visit Monet’s house and gardens, photograph lily ponds and flower paths and enjoy peaceful walks in the Normandy countryside.
Place score
7.4
Best at:
Cosy towns
9
Art
9
Walkable
8
Spotless
8
Museums
8
Personal score
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Suited for
👶 6
Families
🧓 7
Seniors
❤️ 9
Couples
🛡️ 8
Travel Beginners
France – Quick facts
Power Grid: 230 V, 50 Hz
Plug: Type C , Type E
Type C:
Diagram of a Type C power plug
Type E:
Diagram of a Type E power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: Euro (EUR)
£1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info: Rating 5/5
Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in cities and tourist areas.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: Tipping is optional but appreciated in restaurants (5-10%) and for exceptional service.
Public drinking: Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, but restrictions apply in some cities.
Public smoking: Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces but common in outdoor cafes.
Bastille Day
(July)
Parades and fireworks occur nationwide.
Easter
(March/April)
Cultural celebrations and closures.
Christmas
(December)
Markets and festive events.
Emergency contact: Emergency Numbers: 112 (EU emergency), 15 (Ambulance), 17 (Police), 18 (Fire)
Taxi apps: Uber, Bolt, Heetch
Other: France offers diverse experiences, from art and culture to nature and cuisine. Be cautious in crowded areas.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Giverny, France
☁️
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
🌦️
May
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Jun
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Jul
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Aug
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Sep
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
High season: April - Sep.
Shoulder season: Oct.
Crowdedness: 6 (Many tourists)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Monet's house and gardens are open only from April to early November, closed the rest of the year
Queues at the gardens are longest from late morning to mid afternoon, so book timed tickets ahead or arrive at opening

Why travel to Giverny?

Giverny offers visitors a rare opportunity to literally walk through the landscapes that inspired some of the most famous paintings in art history. Monet's house and gardens have been lovingly restored to appear exactly as they did during the artist's lifetime, allowing you to see the Japanese bridge, water lilies and flower arrangements exactly as he painted them. The experience of standing in the spots where Monet positioned his easel creates a profound connection between art, nature and history that can't be replicated anywhere else in the world. Beyond Monet's estate, Giverny rewards visitors with a quintessential French countryside experience. The village itself is delightfully pretty with its limestone buildings and flower-filled streets. The surrounding hills offer panoramic hiking trails with stunning views of the Seine Valley. The Museum of Impressionisms provides context to Monet's work and the artistic movement he helped pioneer. Despite its small size, Giverny delivers an immersive experience that transports visitors to a more contemplative time, though be prepared for crowds during peak season – this tiny village welcomes over half a million visitors annually between April and November.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Claude Monet's grave
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Vernon
  • 2 Rue Claude Monet
  • 3 Rue Blanche Hoschedé-Monet
🎈Events
  • Garden Opening Day (April)
  • Spring Flower Festival
  • Impressionist Art Exhibitions
  • Normandy Cultural Events
  • Summer Music in the Gardens
  • Plein Air Painting Workshops
  • Harvest Celebrations
  • Photography Competitions
  • Garden Closing Day (November)
  • Seasonal Garden Tours

Knowledge before you go

  • Go early or late; gardens get crowded quickly.
  • Monet’s House and Gardens are seasonal; confirm opening dates before booking transport.
  • Allow at least two hours for both gardens and the house.
  • Buy timed e-tickets on busy weekends; the water-lily pond and Japanese bridge bottleneck badly.

How to travel to Giverny

The most common way to reach Giverny is by taking a train from Paris Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon (approximately 45-60 minutes), followed by a shuttle bus or taxi to Giverny (about 15 minutes). Alternatively, bicycles can be rented in front of Vernon train station for a scenic 3.5-mile ride to Monet's gardens. For those driving, Giverny is about 75km from Paris (roughly 1.5 hours), though be aware that parking in public lots near the gardens can be expensive. Many visitors also opt for organized day tours from Paris, which handle all transportation logistics.

Access summary

  • From Paris CDG: RER/metro then train to Vernon–Giverny, about 2 hours.
  • From Paris city: train from Saint-Lazare to Vernon, bus/shuttle, ~1.5 hours.
  • Self-drive from Paris via A13 motorway toward Rouen, roughly 1–1.5 hours.

Where to stay in Giverny

Giverny offers limited but charming accommodation options, primarily consisting of small boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses that reflect the village's artistic heritage and countryside charm. Many properties feature gardens inspired by Monet's own. While staying in Giverny allows for early morning or late afternoon visits when gardens are less crowded, many visitors choose to base themselves in nearby Vernon or even make a day trip from Paris. Advance booking is essential during the April-October tourist season.

How to get around Giverny

Giverny is a small, traffic-free hamlet that's best explored on foot, allowing you to fully appreciate its charming streets and gardens at a leisurely pace. The village itself is compact enough that all attractions are within walking distance of each other. For those interested in exploring the surrounding hills and countryside, hiking trails begin behind the city hall on Rue Blanche Hoschedé-Monet, offering panoramic views of the Seine Valley and neighboring Vernon. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, especially for the more challenging forested hillside sections.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-22 %
Daily expenses in the region are around 22% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Cergy, France - 37 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£66
£150
£383
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£34
£90
£195
🍝 Food per day
£23
£50
£156
🚕 Transportation per day
£9
£10
£32
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£20
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£7
🍟 Fast food combo
£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£8
☕ Cappuccino
£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£4.10
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£2.20
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£18
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£1.50
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£11
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£23
🤧 Cold medication
£4
💇 Basic haircut
£19

Safety information overview

General safety
5
Giverny is generally very safe for tourists with minimal crime concerns. The main issues to be aware of are potential pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas during peak season. The hiking trails can present natural hazards, so proper footwear and caution are advised.
Health & Medical
5
Medical facilities in Giverny itself are limited due to its small size. For any significant medical needs, visitors would need to go to nearby Vernon or larger cities. The French healthcare system is excellent overall, but travel insurance is recommended for non-EU visitors.
Accessi­bility
7
Accessibility in Giverny presents challenges due to its historic nature. While Monet's gardens have made efforts to accommodate visitors with mobility issues, some areas remain difficult to navigate. The village's narrow streets, garden pathways and surrounding hiking trails are not ideal for wheelchair users.
Tap water
9
Tap water in Giverny is safe to drink and meets French quality standards. Public drinking fountains are limited, so carrying a refillable water bottle is recommended, especially when exploring gardens or hiking trails during warmer months.

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