Discover Monet’s House, Giverny and Versailles - Full-Day Tour
Parisians love to escape the city! On this tour, our passionate English-speaking guide will take you to two of France's most remarkable retreats. One, an opulent and luxurious palace built for royalty. The other, an artist's home where the scenery will seem all too familiar.
Meet in the center of Paris and travel by private air-conditioned coach to Giverny. After visiting the enchanting home and gardens of Claude Monet, you will have time to enjoy a quaint lunch and explore the picturesque town at your leisure.
Next, visit the Palace of Versailles, where skip-the-line access and an official palace guide ensure a great experience. Hear stories of Louis XVI, the Sun King, and Marie Antoinette as you visit their royal apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, and more. End the day in the magnificent gardens of Versailles and perhaps see the Fountain Show.
This tour combines visits to two of the most remarkable attractions within driving distance of Paris: Claude Monet's estate at Giverny and the famously extravagant Palace of Versailles. Learn about two distinct chapters in French history - the baroque excess of Versailles and the highly influential Impressionist art movement.
In the morning, travel by air-conditioned coach from Paris to the picturesque country village of Giverny. During the one-hour drive, your guide will provide an insightful introduction to the day's program. Your first stop is the Fondation Claude Monet, where you'll receive an informative introduction to the estate where the master of impressionism made his home.
After the orientation tour, you are free to explore. Stroll around the lily pad-filled ponds of the garden made famous by Monet's own masterpieces. Admire the fabulous explosion of flowers that change with the seasons. Wander around the artist's ivy-covered house, which has been restored to look as it would have during the painter's lifetime. You can also have lunch in one of the town's quaint bars or restaurants that exude provincial charm.
After lunch, we'll regroup and make the short drive to Versailles on the outskirts of Paris. Upon arrival, an official Palace of Versailles tour guide will join you for a comprehensive two-hour tour of the palace.
Enjoy priority access through our pre-booked group entrance to Versailles as your guide leads you through the labyrinthine interior, showing you the magnificent rooms where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette hosted lavish soirees for fellow aristocrats, as well as the royals' own private chambers. Marvel at the sheer array of magnificent art that rivals even the finest museum collections. You'll see the King and Queen's apartments, the Chapel, the Coronation Room, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Salon of Abundance.
Just when you think you've seen everything the Palace of Versailles has to offer, you'll step out into its dazzling, manicured gardens. The gardens cover more than 1,800 acres, so you'll have plenty of time to explore. From April to October, you'll experience the musical show in the gardens of Versailles. (Tickets are included in the tour price on show days). The Fountain Shows bring Versailles' famous water features to life, while the Musical Gardens event allows you to enjoy the gardens to a soundtrack of classical music.
After exploring the gardens at your own pace, board the coach back to Paris.