From Paris: Monet Gardens & Giverny Bike Tour with Picnic Stop
Description
To begin your Giverny and Monet's Garden Bike Tour you will travel from Paris to the quaint town of Vernon, located in Normandy. On the way, you will pass beautiful wheat and sunflower fields, far from the hustle and bustle of Paris. We will make our first stop at the open-air market in Vernon. Here, you can enjoy an array of local specialties, such as cider, and organize your picnic basket for the perfect riverside lunch. We will then pick up our bikes and enjoy an effortless cruise from Giverny to Monet's famed-estate. We'll stop along the Seine river for a picnic lunch next to a picturesque mill, all while appreciating in breathtaking views of the French countryside. You will have plenty of time to explore Monet's gardens and home in Giverny, and then we will enjoy a leisurely ride back to Vernon before returning to Paris. Round trip transportation to and from central Paris makes this day trip to these special gardens a breeze!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet here to connect with your guide and board the bus to Giverny.
Once in Vernon visit the charming farmers' market to buy picnic supplies. You'll then hop on your bike and pedal across the river to a beautiful park along the banks of the Seine for lunch. At lunch you can also sample the local's favorite drink: cidre.
It will then be time for your relaxing 5 kilometer (3 miles) ride down the bike path to the village of Giverny and the world-famous gardens of Claude Monet. Cruise past the Giverny church and its cemetery containing graves of local citizens dating back to the 17th century, British soldiers from World War II and even Monet himself buried within his family's vault. You will pass the Hotel Baudy, where Impressionists Manet and Renoir used to paint. Shortly you will arrive at the highlight of the day - Monet's Garden Spend about 1.5 hours enjoying Monet's gardens, his house and the famous water lily pond where some of his most famous works originated. Be sure to bring your camera and plenty of film! Additionally, the village of Giverny offers you the American Museum of Art (across the street from Monet's Gardens), numerous cafes and small streets begging to be explored.
Skip-the-line entry into the gardens
See the Hotel Baudy from the outside; can stop for a drink
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- There is no age minimum or maximum - this tour is suitable for everyone as long as you can ride a bike!
- If a children's bike is required, you must advise at time of booking.
Reviews(533)
We had the most wonderful day experiencing Monet’s house and gardens with Dave, OJ and Bart. The trip was well organised and the bicycles very comfortable. We so appreciated our excellent guides’ recommendations for our picnic selections at Vernon market. There was ample time to enjoy Giverny. We highly recommend this tour; truly 5 star!!
It was a great tour. Our guides Dave, OJ and Bart were super friendly and helpful and made the entire tour very enjoyable and comfortable. Strongly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Paris !!
This was an incredible way to visit Vernon, Giverny and Claude Monet’s home. The transportation was comfortable, the historical information and context set the stage perfectly, the bike ride was leisurely and beautiful, and the group entry to the museum meant we were able to bypass the long line at the regular entrance. We were given plenty of time to explore and wander on our own, which I really appreciated. We were able to patronize independent vendors at the local market in Vernon and the guides pointed out so many interesting things in the region - historical churches and building, remnants and evidence of WWII battles, local geography and culture. I absolutely loved the tour, and our guides were perfect!
Tobias and Oljean were great guides. The bike trip was at a good pace for most. Be prepared to use Euro in the marketplace where you buy lunch for your picnic. Monet Gardens were beautiful and crowded. This trip got us in a priority entrance bypassing the line. The home was beautiful and filled with art and household objects. The giftshop has A/C which was needed during the heatwave. Ended the visit with ice cream and the ride back was relatively easy. They provided helmets and vests fir those who wanted them. The bikes (3-speed with basket) were in good mechanical order and fairly comfortable. The bus back to Paris was a relaxing end.
The guides were knowledgeable and very friendly. They made the trip great even though it was really hot. I would definitely recommend fat tire tours!
Rory and Toby were excellent guides. Couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. Safe, easy route… the market was lovely and we were happy up to find vegan Lebanese food there for our picnic. The gardens were divine. 10/10 worth every penny and I would do a trip like this again,
Thank you for the glowing review! Rory and Toby make a great team and we're so glad they helped make the day so special. Giverny really is magical and it sounds like everything came together perfectly — beautiful weather, a lovely market find, and those stunning gardens. We'll pass along your kind words to both of them. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Rides in paris suck. If I miss my appointed time at the Louvre I will be pissed.
This is a great experience but be sure you can ride a bike! A few people struggled and our group was large so it was difficult to manage. The ride is gentle and gorgeous across the river Seine. We got to Vernon and got to choose our picnic items in town and at the farmer’s market. We saw and did so much. This is such an excellent way to see the countryside. We had plenty of time at the gardens. Our guides were hilarious, had great stories, and were patient.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We are so glad you enjoyed the gorgeous ride along the Seine, the local farmer's market, and the gardens. It truly is a wonderful way to see the French countryside. We also appreciate your note about group dynamics and bike riding experience; we are always looking for ways to improve the flow of our tours. Thank you for your patience and for choosing us for your day trip from Paris!
Wow! What a lovely experience! I had visiting Monet's Gardens on my bucket list and since my sister and I were going on a trip to Paris - we had to make sure we included this excursion! It was soooo worth it! Tobias and OJ were the guides for our bike tour. They were excellent! Took care of all f our needs! You meet at the bike shop, then take a bus where Tobias and OJ give you some interesting history on Monet. A quick visit in Vernon at the market and local stores to get your food and drinks for the picnic. We had rain and hail on our bike ride - but it didn't matter. We enjoyed so much. I have already told family and friends about this and would go back again anytime I'm in Paris.
What an incredible review! We are so glad that we could help you tick Monet's Gardens off your bucket list. Tobias and OJ will be thrilled to hear your kind words—they always do an amazing job keeping everyone taken care of, even when unexpected rain and hail join the tour! It is wonderful to hear that the weather didn't dampen your spirits and that you enjoyed the bus ride, the Vernon market, and the beautiful bike ride. Thank you so much for recommending us to your family and friends, and we would love to welcome you back anytime you are in Paris!
Had a great day biking to Monet’s garden and house! OJ and Nick were funny, kind, and super informative!! 10/10!
We are so happy to hear you had a 10/10 day exploring Monet’s home and gardens! OJ and Nick will be thrilled to know their humor and information made the ride so great. Thank you for the wonderful feedback!
