Giverny: Monet's House and Gardens Skip-the-Line Walking Tour
4.3
130 Ratings
Giverny
Explore the charming village of Giverny and skip the long lines to Monet's house and gardens. Discover the inspiration behind Monet's iconic paintings and learn about the Impressionist movement.
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Giverny - Meet your local guide for a walking tour of the village of Giverny, then enter through a special entrance to bypass the long lines to visit Claude Monet’s gardens and house.

Claude Monet’s house in Giverny is a must for any modern art history enthusiast, or anyone who simply enjoys beautiful surroundings.

Your tour guide will tell you the story of Monet’s life and how he led the Impressionist movement from 1883 to 1926. In Giverny, he was joined by artists like John Singer Sargent, Paul Czanne, and Mary Cassatt. By 1887, the sleepy little village found itself somewhat of an artists’ colony. Monet’s house with its pink facade is surrounded by enchanting ponds and magnificent gardens, two of the central features of his paintings.

Wandering through the village of Giverny, as well as Monet’s house and gardens, is like stepping inside one of Monet’s paintings. The street featured in Claude Monet’s Wedding March has remained practically unchanged since the artist depicted it with his master brushstrokes. The same goes for the Japanese footbridge that crosses over a pond decorated with luscious lilies.

  • Fondation Claude Monet - Today, Monet’s house and gardens are maintained by the Foundation Claude Monet. The gardens are enchanting; from April to October, they overflow with wild roses, hollyhocks, poppies, and fragrant honeysuckle. The water lilies, weeping willows, and Japanese bridge in the Oriental Water Gardens are instantly recognizable from his classic paintings.

The artist’s house features a cheerful and lively kitchen, as well as Monet’s collection of 18th and 19th century Japanese prints. In the village, visitors can pay their respects to the great painter, whose grave is in the cemetery of Giverny’s church.

What's Included
  • Local tour guide
  • Entrance fees to Monet’s house and its gardens
What's Not Included
  • Pick–up and drop off
  • Tips
  • Food / Drink
Additional Information

Wander through the quaint village of Giverny, where you’ll encounter the final resting spot of Claude Monet in the local churchyard. Subsequently, bypass the extensive queues to enter Monet’s home and gardens where you’ll gain insight into the artist’s life and his foundational role in the Impressionist movement, centered in this village from 1883 to 1926.

Understand how renowned artists like John Singer Sargent, Paul Cézanne, and Mary Cassatt flocked to this peaceful village and unofficially formed an artist’s haven. Be captivated by the beautiful ponds and gardens that served as inspiration for his masterpieces, and observe the renowned Japanese bridge and lilies of the Eastern water garden.

Relish the fragrant aroma of in-bloom flowers such as wild roses, hollyhocks, poppies, and honeysuckle. Appreciate the recognizable water lilies and weeping willows from his iconic artwork and step into the thatched-roof house to explore the vibrant kitchen and his elements of 18th and 19th century Japanese prints.

  • The tour will start promptly at the scheduled departure time. Latecomers run the risk of missing the tour. Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
  • The gardens are wheelchair and stroller accessible, but the house is not.
Location
La Capucine
Rue Claude Monet
Meet your guide outside "La Capucine"/Botanic Café, 80 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.3
(130 Ratings)
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Donna_h
Apr 28, 2024
Nice way to spend the morning. - This was a very informative, little tour(one and a half hours) of the beautiful house and gardens of Monet. The guide, Bertram, was very friendly and full of facts and history. Easy to find meeting spot, a short walk from the shuttle stop. Skip the line is always a good option too.
Review provided by Viator
Leona_o
Apr 25, 2024
Great tour guide to a beautiful garden and interesting home of Monet - Sheila was an awesome guide. So informative, extremely knowledgeable. She had a wonderful way of telling the historical story and she was very accommodating. She was early at the meeting point and easy to find
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_s
Apr 22, 2024
Dream Garden Visit - What a magnificent garden it was all I had hoped it would be. Guide was very informative about the history of the garden
Review provided by Viator
Pete
Apr 12, 2024
Lovely place to visit, stunning gardens - It was on our hit list to visit but was a surprise when we got there, beautiful settings, the house was surprisingly warming and fascinating but omg the gardens were amazing esp the water gardens. Worth a trip YES definitely.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Footprints657974
Apr 3, 2024
Great tour with Sheila - We had a tour of Monets house and garden in Giverny in English with Sheila. Really enjoyed and would recommend it to others. First week of April garden was in full bloom, tulips, apple trees, very beautiful! Sheila took time to tell us details about life of Monet, his childhood, family, work while we visited his house and beautiful garden. A lot of interesting info which helps to understand his life and appreciate his contribution to the art. My 14 year old daughter also enjoyed the tour and really liked Sheila! Thank you Sheila for the great time in Giverny😀!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stacey_o
Oct 31, 2023
Excellent experience - Sheila Levet was a terrific guide, the gardens were “giving their last gasps” before winter fully sets in. Nice to go late October- less crowds
Review provided by Viator
Rayleeee
Oct 22, 2023
Monet in Giverny - We had a wonderful day with our guide Sheila. The garden wasn't crowded that day so we were able to soak it in. Sheila did a great job explaining Monet as an artist as well as his personal life. She was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The actual house tour is pretty quick, the grounds are incredible!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Verena_s
Apr 18, 2024
Gorgeous spring experience - The gardens were the most beautiful part of the tour. Our guide was informative and patient when we needed to linger. Monet's house was cute. The history of Monet's coming to wealth and purchasing the property interesting.
Review provided by Viator
Y6516ickarenw
Apr 29, 2024
Not worth the cost or effort. - I was disappointed how crowded it was, how difficult to get around, and how blah the gardens are. We visited at the end of April.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rick_g
Apr 5, 2024
Guide too New! - Our Guide was new. It was his first day he said. We booked an English tour, but he did not speak English too well. He had to read from notes. Tour said it was 2 hours. Tour only lasted 1 hour. Nothing personal against the guide. I blame the company!
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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