Giverny, France.
About an hour outside of Paris lies the little town of Giverny. Giverny is one of the places that I honestly recommend visiting if you want to do a day trip from Paris. While Paris is gorgeous, bustling, and lively, Giverny is the opposite. For me, I pick a day trip that’s the opposite of places that I’m in for the majority of the trip. I was lucky enough to visit this tiny town to the West and I regret nothing! Today, I’ve made a super quick and easy guide to the city to give you a little guide on how to enjoy Giverny to the max!
What to Do: Monet’s Gardens & the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny
Monet spent most of his life in Giverny and the city really is one of the birthplaces of impressionism. Art is one of my favorite things, which is why I chose to major in it in school. In Paris, you have the Musée de l’Orangerie, which houses Monet’s Waterlilies series. In Giverny, you can see where he actually created these paintings. I recommend going in the early spring-summer (April-August) because everything will be in full bloom and the heat isn’t unbearable. Monet’s gardens also give you access to the house where he lived and the other gardens, full of beautiful flowers. The Japanese style gardens are a nice, relaxing space to walk through and be in the presence of greatness. With rows and rows of flowers waiting in the gardens, you will be surrounded by true beauty in nature.
Impressionism was greatly impacted by Japanese culture and when you visit the Impressionism Museum, this will be readily evident. The museum houses pieces from all of the greats of impressionism, which you will be able to see and enjoy. The entire town is littered with flowers and covered in wisteria, so if you’re looking for a place to take Instagram photos, look no further!
What to Eat: Homemade Ice Cream
Okay so while you’re probably hoping that I had some three-course meal and restaurant planned, I honestly recommend the ice cream. There are carts that are found all around Giverny that sell ice cream at reasonable prices and on a hot day in Giverny, there is nothing better. Ice cream is a great treat after a long day of walking, so go find a cart and live your best life.
Where to Go: Rue Claude Monet
Most of the city revolves around Rue Claude Monet. I recommend seeing how many art galleries you can find and visit on this little street. Once you leave the gardens, you can walk down the street and explore a bit! The locals are all really lovely and helpful, so if you get lost or wanted real, REAL insider tips, I definitely recommend striking up a chord with one of the people who lives and breathes Giverny every day.
How to Get There: Train & Car
You can get to Giverny really easily, both by car and by train. By train, you can go from Paris St. Lazare to Vernon (the next town over from Giverny) 5€. It’s a 45-minute train ride, which isn’t very long at all. To drive, it is about a 1h-1h30 minute ride if you are up to drive or Uber. I definitely recommend taking the train to save you money, while it may not be as easy to get up and go as you please.
So this is your guide to Giverny! I hope you enjoyed it and if you have been, please leave a comment down below and tell me what your favorite part of the city was!
