Giverny & Versailles in a single day
Monet's water lilies in the morning, the Hall of Mirrors in the afternoon: two worlds no public transport connects — and which a private car links naturally, Giverny and Versailles each being an hour from Paris, but in different directions.
It is the combination our international guests request most, and the most impossible without a car: Giverny lies in Normandy (75 km north-west), Versailles to the south-west, and no line connects them. Privately, the sequence becomes obvious: Monet's gardens at opening time, before the groups, in the light of the paintings; then Versailles in the afternoon, as the morning coaches drain away.
In Giverny, the pink house with green shutters, the Clos Normand and the water garden — the Japanese bridge, the lilies — fill two peaceful hours. The road to Versailles then follows the Impressionists' Seine. At the palace: the Hall of Mirrors, the State Apartments, and time permitting Le Nôtre's gardens, the Trianon or the Queen's Hamlet.
One seasonal constraint you must know: the Monet Foundation opens from April to 1 November. In winter we substitute Chantilly, Fontainebleau or Vaux-le-Vicomte — days just as fine, built on the same principle.
How a typical day unfolds
- 8:00 amDeparture from your Paris hotelOne hour on the A13, along the Impressionists' Seine valley.
- 9:15 amGiverny — Monet's house and gardensThe Clos Normand, the water garden, the Japanese bridge. Two hours at opening, ahead of the crowds.
- 11:30 amLunch in Giverny or en routeFrom the former Hôtel Baudy, canteen of the Impressionists, to tables in Versailles.
- 1:30 pmPalace of VersaillesHall of Mirrors, State Apartments — timed ticket booked ahead; your driver drops you at Entrance A.
- 4:30 pmGardens or Trianon, energy permittingLe Nôtre, the Grand Canal, the Queen's Hamlet — or straight back.
- 5:30 pmReturn to ParisHotel drop-off around 6:15 pm.
What the excursion includes
- Recent Mercedes vehicle (sedan, 7-seat van or S-Class) with private driver
- Pick-up at your hotel or any address you choose
- Car and driver stay with you at every stop — no imposed schedule
- Fuel, tolls and parking included in the quote
- Bottled water and chargers on board; free child seats on request
- French- and English-speaking driver; other languages subject to availability
Not included: entrance tickets to sites and museums, meals and tastings. Your driver drives, waits and advises — for commented visits inside the sites, we can recommend licensed local guides.
Your questions
Are Giverny and Versailles tickets included?
No, and they are essential: book timed tickets online for both sites. We send the official links with the quote and build the route around your slots.
When is Giverny at its best?
May and June for the wisteria on the Japanese bridge and the first water lilies; autumn for the colours. Note: the Foundation closes from 1 November to late March — in winter we offer Chantilly or Vaux-le-Vicomte instead.
Is Versailles open every day?
The palace closes on Mondays. If your dates demand it, we invert: Versailles another day, or a Giverny-Rouen day in Monet's footsteps.
Can we do Giverny alone, as a half day?
Yes: 8 am departure, 1:30 pm return. A lovely morning, especially combined with a free Paris afternoon or a monuments tour.
Does the day suit children?
Giverny, unreservedly — the gardens enchant. Versailles in measured doses: the Hall of Mirrors impresses, but aim for 90 minutes inside, then the gardens to run in, and in summer the Musical Fountains.