Giverny Transportation

Of all the means of getting to and from Giverny/Vernon, the last one I ever expected to take was walking. We were ready to return and it was a long time until the next bus. We could have called a taxi, but we decided to walk. It was great - there is a footpath all the way and it takes you by fields, nice houses and gardens and finally across a bridge over the Seine. It took the better part of 2 hours as we made several stops to admire this and that. It is 7 km. If you are daunted by this, I will tell you that the four of us had no trouble and our ages are 68-72!

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From Paris, the train leaves for Vernon several times in the morning. The information desk has a hand out where the train and bus schedules coincide Cost is about 22 euro RT for the train. The bus from Vernon to Giverny is another 2.75 euro RT. Taxi is 11 euro one way, but usually there are other travelers you can split the cost of the trip with. Or you can do what we did and bicycle to Giverny. This was a blast and allowed us the freedom to explore Vernon.

Check out Monet's painting of Gare St. Lazare as if he wanted to lay out the road map for us.

When you arrive at Vernon train station you can get the bus or a taxi (you can also rent bicycles). When we were there last, it was cheaper for 4 of us to take a taxi - less than 15 euros for the group. On an earlier trip with my 91 year old mother-in-law, it was a must. The card in the photo is from that trip and the man gave us his card, asked if we wanted him to pick us up, agreed to the time and was there waiting when we were ready to go.

There are several trains a day from Gare St. Lazare in Paris to Vernon, but there are some gaps in the return schedule in the afternoon so check the schedules. Also, there are fast trains that make the trip in about 45 minutes and slower ones that take twice as long. Round trip fare is about 22 euros. From the Vernon train station you can take a bus or taxi, rent a bike or hike the 7 km.

It takes a little over an hour to get to Giverny from Paris if you take a direct train from Paris to Vernon. The trains leave from the Gare Saint-Lazare and the journey time is about 45 minutes. From Vernon, there’s a bus directly to Giverny. The bus leaves from the train station and is coordinated with the train arrivals. It costs €2 for the bus, and the journey takes about ten minutes. From the bus stop it’s about a five-minute walk to Monet’s house.

There are extensive transportation details, and links, on the website for Monet's house.

Giverny is about 50 miles (75 km) west of Paris. You can get there by driving or by taking a train.

If you are driving, your destination is Vernon, from which you will then get to Giverny. Take A13 (towards Rouen) for 55 km until you reach exit 14 (Bonnières) or exit 16 (Douains) - (the A13 is free until Mantes-la-Jolie. After that it becomes a toll road). After the exit follow the Vernon or Giverny signs. Or leave the highway before the tollgate (follow green Vernon road signs) and go on the N15 past Rosny, Rolleboise and Bonnières. The road follows the River Seine for a while. Once in Vernon, cross over the Seine (towards Beauvais) and turn right on D5 for 5 km. There is a large free car park on the side of the D5, in front of the Fondation Claude Monet.

If you take a train to Vernon, it is about an hour walk from the station to Giverny. Alternatively, you can take a taxi (they are usually waiting at the station) or there is a bus shuttle from the train station to the bus station in Giverny (shuttles don’t run in winter). You can buy your ticket on the shuttle (round trip is about €4).

We chose to take a bus tour from Paris.
You can take the train to Vernon, then a local bus or taxi to Giverny -- what you gain in flexibility you lose in simplicity!.
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If you choose the tour route there are many small van tours in addition to Paris Vision and Cityrama. Your Paris hotel should have information.

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From Paris you need to take a train from St Lazarre train station to the town of Vernon. The trains aren't as frequent as we thought they might be so make sure you check up on the times. We ended up wandering around for an hour or so before we could get a train. Ask for a leaflet that gives you a note of the return trains and also the connecting buses to take you to and from Giverny. These leave from just in front of the Vernon train station and take about 15 mins.

I was really impressed with the french trains! Very nice clean, comfortable and double decker!