Private Day Trip, 6 Hours

Leave the hustle and bustle of Paris behind and enjoy a scenic drive to Normandy with your expert driver.

Overview

This six-hour private trip from Paris pairs a personal driver with a self-guided visit to Claude Monet's home and gardens in Giverny. Pickup is from your hotel or another central Paris location, and the drive out to Normandy is part of the experience rather than dead time: you leave the city behind on a scenic route. Admission to the house and gardens is included in the tour price.

Once there, the visit is at your own pace. The water garden is the part most people come for, with its weeping willows, wisterias, azaleas and the lily ponds crossed by the famous Japanese bridge. Inside Monet's house you can see his collection of Japanese engravings, and the Clos Normand garden offers archways of climbing plants and flowering shrubs that shift colour from spring through autumn. There is also a stop at the Nympheas studio, which houses the Foundation's shop if you want a souvenir.

Before the drive back, you get a walk through Giverny's historic village, where American artists built a colony between 1883 and 1920. The driver then returns you to your hotel or a central point of your choosing. This suits travellers who want a private car, included admission and the freedom to explore without a guide. A guided tour is not included but can be added as an extra option.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup in ParisYour private driver collects you from your hotel or a central Paris location you choose.
2. Scenic drive to NormandyPrivate transportation for the drive out of Paris towards Giverny.
3. Monet's Water GardenSelf-visit at your own pace through the water garden, with its lily ponds, Japanese bridge, wisterias, azaleas and weeping willows.
4. Monet's House and studioExplore the house and its collection of Japanese engravings, then stop at the Nympheas studio, which houses the Foundation's shop.
5. Clos Normand gardenAdmire the Clos Normand, a garden with archways of climbing plants and flowering shrubs.
6. Walk through Giverny villageA leisurely stroll through the historic village before heading back.
7. Return and drop-offRelax on the drive back to Paris, with drop-off at your hotel or a central location of your choice.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape your day, from ticket handling in high season to what you can photograph inside the house.

• Tickets and queues. Tickets are secured the day before your tour. If none are available online, your driver buys them onsite, and in high season the wait can run from 45 minutes to an hour. Plan for that possibility when deciding how long to linger at each spot.
• Walking and footwear. The listing calls for a moderate amount of walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Expect to be on your feet for much of the visit.
• Photography rules. You can take photos in the gardens but not inside Monet's house. If the interiors matter to you, look slowly, since pictures are off limits there.
• Weather and sun. The tour runs in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately for the day. The listing also recommends bringing a hat, sunscreen and water.
• Comfort on the road. Reviewers have described the transportation service as excellent and the car as very comfortable. One reviewer, though, felt the driver's English could be better, so set expectations for a driver rather than a fluent guide.
• Food and extras. Meals and drinks are not included, so budget for lunch separately. Gratuities are optional, and a guided tour of the site is an additional option rather than part of the base booking.

Common issues. This is a self-visit, not a guided tour; a guide is an additional option, and one reviewer noted the driver's English could be stronger. In high season, ticket collection onsite can mean waiting up to 45 minutes or an hour if online tickets are unavailable. Parts of Monet's House, with its narrow hallways and stairs, may not be wheelchair accessible. Meals, drinks and gratuities are not covered.

Common Questions