It’s a sign that spring is really here – in Giverny, Monet’s gardens and home for over 40 years have just reopened for the 2022 season (until the end of October), and we have all the details about how to get there quickly and simply!

You may well have seen les Nymphéas de Monet at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris (and if you haven’t, you should!), and heard of Monet’s gardens not far from Paris, but you have no idea where they are exactly, or how on earth to get there. Well fret not! We are here to help, with all the info you need about trains, shuttles and entrance!

OK, first up – where are Monet’s gardens?

The Monet Foundation, which includes Monet’s house and gardens, is in Giverny, a small town 70km / 43 miles northwest of Paris. Take a look…

So how do I get there without a car?

Don’t be put off by the thought of getting the metro, a train and then a shuttle bus – it’s really simple and we’re going to explain everything! The first step is to get to the Paris mainline train station Gare Saint-Lazare (here). It takes about 20 minutes from out hotels.

Click the name of your hotel to get specific directions by metro:

Hotel & Spa la Belle Juliette
Hotel les Dames du Pantheon
Hotel Baume
Hotel Design Sorbonne
Hotel des Grands Hommes
Hotel Saint-André des Arts

For some reason, the train station at Giverny is called Vernon, so keep that in mind. From Saint-Lazare there are trains ever two hours minimum, and often every hour. The journey take 50 minutes and a one-way ticket currently costs 16€, although we would advise you to get a return ticket just so you have it with you when returning.

Click here to check when the next trains are leaving, in real time.

The Monet Foundation is not right next to the station, but there are shuttle buses (100% electric!) timed to coincide with the arrival and departure of Paris trains. for example, for the trains that arrive at Vernon at 9.17am, 11.05am, 1.05pm, 3.05pm and 5.53pm, the shuttle bus for the Foundation leaves from in front of the station five minutes afterwards.

If you arrive at a different time, you’ll probably have to take a taxi. They are often waiting in front of the station, but if not you can call one on +337 71 89 08 03 (they’ll speak at least basic English).

To get back to the station after your visit, there are eight shuttle buses every day, timed to arrive in time for the train home (and even just enough time to buy your train ticket if you haven’t already).

The PDF with the full timetable is here and a one-way shuttle bus ticket costs 5€ (10€ for a return).

Feeling adventurous? Theoretically you can walk to the Foundation from the station, but it’s 5km along a road with a fair amount of traffic and not much space for pedestrians, and will probably take you an hour. 😕

And that’s it! You made it!

The house and gardens are open seven days a week from 9.30am-6pm (last ticket at 5.30pm) and pets are not allowed.

According to the Foundation’s website, things are flowering early this year, following a fairly mild winter, and there are some new things to be seen in the garden in 2022 – new varieties of tulip, some bushy peonies imported from Japan and some new Portuguese squill that look a little like dwarf agapanthus.

Also, one the famous arches in the garden was destroyed in a heavy storm back in October 2021, and will soon be replaced with an identical copy to keep the character of the garden intact.

The official website of Monet’s house and gardens has a lot of other info about the place, its history and the Foundation itself, with a virtual visit for anyone wanting to see what’s in store.

This magical place really is worth the small effort needed to get there, but if you feel it’s too much to look after, or just want to be sure that everything goes OK, then our receptionists can help you book a tour including transport and entrance. You can choose between a half day, full day or even a day split between Monet’s gardens and Versailles, with lunch included!

Just ask at the reception desk and they’ll look after everything!

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Monet’s house and gardens (here) are open from 1st April – 1st November 2022

Open seven days a week from 9.30am-6pm (last ticket 5.30pm)

Admission: 11.50€ / 7€ – online sales here

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Une publication partagée par Fondation Monet (@fondationmonet)

En phase d’éclosion ou déjà épanouies, nos fritillaires, réchauffées par un soleil bienvenu, ont le vent en poupe. Seront-elles les stars de la réouverture ? Rendez-vous le 1er avril prochain ! #giverny #J-9 pic.twitter.com/KUJQUs6Xn8

— Fondation Monet (@FondationMonet) March 22, 2022