Giverny

The most popular way to visit the Monet House and Gardens is by taking a day trip to Giverny from Paris. Tours generally include visits to the artist's home and garden as well as to the Museum of Impressionism (Musee des Impressionnismes), dedicated to various forms of impressionist painting.

While taking a Giverny full-day trip from Paris is ideal if you want to immerse yourself in the artist's life, combination options are a good idea for those short on time. Some tours from Paris combine Giverny and Monet's house with a skip-the-line visit to the Palace of Versailles. Others take travelers to the town of Auvers-sur-Oise, the village in which Vincent van Gogh spent his final days.

• A Giverny tour is ideal for art enthusiasts, especially impressionism fans.

• The journey to Giverny, along the banks of the Seine River and through the sunflower fields of Normandy, is almost as good as the destination.

• There are no ATMs or currency exchange bureaus in the village, so be sure to bring cash.

• Although hotels are available, the village's small size means availability is limited, so most people visit on day trips from Paris. Make sure to book in advance if you plan on staying overnight.

• Giverny and Monet's Garden are partly accessible for wheelchair users although Monet's House is not.

Giverny is about 45 miles (75 kilometers) from Paris by road. If you're coming by train, catch the SNCF from Paris's Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon on the Paris-Rouen-Le Havre line. From Vernon, you can catch a bus or taxi, or rent a bicycle, to get to the house and garden. The majority of guided tours from Paris include round-trip transportation.

Note that Monet's house and the majority of Giverny's restaurants and guesthouses are closed between November and Easter weekend. Although Giverny is very busy in the summer months, large tour groups fail to make the hamlet any less beautiful. Arrive early for the best experience or buy timed Giverny tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Claude Monet—known for La Grenouillère, the Water Lilies series, and Impressionism, soleil levant—lived in Giverny between 1883 and his death in 1926. He was also the founder of impressionism, with the movement's name deriving from one of his paintings. Fans of his work shouldn't miss the chance to visit his well-preserved house in Giverny.

Yes, it is worth visiting Giverny. The Normandy village's best-known landmark is Fondation Claude Monet, where the impressionist artist lived and worked. Visitors can explore his house and gardens and perhaps recognize scenery from his paintings. Giverny is also home to the Museum of Impressionisms (Musée des Impressionnismes).

That depends. Tours of Giverny can range from 1.5 hours up to a full day, depending on the type you choose. Full-day tours typically involve round-trip transit from Paris, by car or by train, and may also stop at nearby attractions like Versailles. Shorter tours begin directly in Giverny.

Spring is the best time to visit Giverny. It's when the gardens at the Fondation Claude Monet will be in full bloom, and you can admire the water lilies and many other blossoms that Monet immortalized in his canvases. Alternatively, explore in fall to see the gardens with vibrant foliage.

If you are visiting the Fondation Claude Monet, you should book your tickets ahead. This busy destination's ticket office is often closed, and the landmark requires advance purchases. It's also a good idea to book Giverny sightseeing tours in advance, as they can be popular in spring and summer.

It's wise to set aside at least half a day to explore Giverny—especially if you want to visit multiple sights in one day. Tours of Fondation Claude Monet typically last several hours, and additional time is needed to see the Museum of Impressionisms (Musée des Impressionnismes) and for round-trip travel.

If you want to see the Fondation Claude Monet before the crowds set in, arrive right when it opens in the morning. Arriving early also means you'll have the maximum amount of time to see the rest of the village, and the Museum of Impressionisms (Musée des Impressionnismes).