Best Things to Do in Giverny

© Maison et Jardins Claude Monet Giverny - all rights reserved / C. David / Aurelio Rodriguez

Some village names evoke an entire world of imagination. Giverny is no exception. Inseparable from Claude Monet, this small bucolic paradise owes its fame to the Impressionist painter, who made it his creative sanctuary. To mark the centenary of his passing, the village is coming alive, offering visitors an artistic getaway into Monet's colorful world. Experience a deep dive into his paintings while discovering a typical Normandy village and its local flavors, just one hour by train from Paris. The perfect spot to escape the city for a day… or perhaps a few nights?

For the first time, Monet’s early years in Giverny are being highlighted in the current exhibition: Before the Water Lilies, Monet discovers Giverny. Hovering between a love for the village and homesickness, we follow the painter's journey and the first versions of the great series he is famous for today: the Poplars, the Haystacks, and, of course, the iconic Water Lilies.

But the true magic of this exhibit is seeing these landscapes on canvas come to life the moment you step out of the museum: the fields lining the road, the Vernon Collegiate Church, or the riparian forests of the Epte (the characteristic vegetation along waterways). Don't miss his Self-portrait with a Beret dated 1886, one of the rare ones he painted among the roughly 2,000 works recorded today.

Before the Water Lilies. Monet discovers Giverny at the Musée des Impressionnismes, 99 Rue Claude Monet, Giverny, from March 27 to July 5. Daily from 10 am to 6 pm, online booking recommended.

© All rights reserved - Roy fox Fine Art Photography / François Guillemin / Grand Palais Rmn (Musée d’Orsay)

Art certainly works up an appetite! Before or after visiting the Musée des Impressionnismes, discover Oscar, the restaurant by Chef David Gallienne located right inside the museum. The 2020 Top Chef winner draws inspiration from his grandmother's cooking, offering an affordable menu that pays tribute to Normandy’s terroir. The highlight? Its divine terrace under a pergola, offering a pastoral and gourmet break worthy of an Impressionist painting.

For a spring lunch, opt for the Market Menu (starter, main, dessert for €25) featuring a delicious pea velouté with a crustacean oil that is to die for, followed by a generous pike quenelle gratinated with langoustine bisque over an incredible leek fondue. For dessert, succumb to the crème renversée (caramel custard) topped with a generous dollop of 100% Norman whipped cream straight from Isigny (did someone say #Foodporn?).

Restaurant Oscar, 1 rue du Milieu, Giverny. Daily from 7 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 11 pm.

© Aurelio Rodriguez

The ultimate Giverny landmark remains, of course, the pink house with green shutters and Claude Monet’s gardens, nicknamed “Le Pressoir.” This is where the artist settled with his family in 1883 to paint en plein air. You can find his artistic touch in the blue kitchen, the yellow dining room, and rooms filled with Japanese prints, as well as his own bedroom offering an unobstructed view of the gardens and showcasing paintings by his close friends.

Next, head to the famous Water Lily Pond, which Monet created as a true landscape artist. Today, 12 gardeners continue to tend to this haven of peace exactly as it was in the artist's time. Delight in the scent of tulips, daffodils, and peonies covering the ground by the thousands, organized in color beds like a painter's palette. Finally, cool off by the ponds where, this summer, you can admire the water lilies from the legendary Japanese bridge. Monet’s gardens, spanning over two hectares, were his ultimate masterpiece—a lifetime’s work to be contemplated in an afternoon.

Maison et Jardins Claude Monet, 84 rue Claude Monet. Open from April 1 to November 1, 10 am to 6 pm. Online booking highly recommended.

© Maison et Jardins Claude Monet Giverny - all rights reserved

For a truly decadent evening, treat yourself to dinner at Jardin des Plumes, the Michelin-starred restaurant by David Gallienne, who has firmly established himself as Giverny’s culinary master. In a room with soft lighting and a view of the kitchen’s choreography, the chef offers a menu that resonates with the history of the village and Claude Monet. Every dish is crafted from fresh, local ingredients—from seafood to a glass of wine from the vines of local producer Camille Ravinet. At the table, choose the Artist’s Garden menu: a five-course tasting illustrating his creed: “Sincere, Terroir, Travel.”

The meal begins with a bite of black pudding with mushrooms, followed by the land-and-sea starter: sardines with sorrel and leeks terrine-style. This is followed by a signature dish as flavorful as its creator: smoked haddock on an Amandine potato cake, served with a velvety butter and watercress sauce (a total banger). Following tradition, enjoy a refreshing Trou Normand (palate cleanser) revisited by the chef: an apple granita with your choice of a non-alcoholic infusion or a (generous) spoonful of Calvados. Then comes our personal favorite: the revisited veal blanquette, nestled under Comté polenta and crunchy asparagus, drizzled with a Vin Jaune sauce that is simply divine.

For a sweet finish, the 9 citrus fruits in a meringue shell are exceptionally refreshing. Still have room? The Poire Belle-Hélène, plated like a water lily—a subtle artistic nod—with cardamom notes, closes the experience: a nostalgic dessert, a true "Madeleine de Proust" for the chef. In short, a memorable, perfectly choreographed menu that unveils the unexpected flavors of the Normandy region.

Jardin des Plumes, 1 rue du Milieu, Giverny. Wednesday to Sunday, 12:15 pm to 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

© Aurelio Rodriguez

To end this getaway in style, head to Ô Plum’art, the guesthouse by David Gallienne—him again!—located just fifteen minutes from his starred restaurant. Its six cozy rooms invite you to curl up in a soft, elegant, and warm cocoon. A former dairy house dating back to 1906, it has been reinvented into an ultra-desirable sanctuary, almost entirely white as a nod to its past.

Boasting a sublime garden, it is the perfect place to unpack, slow down, breathe… and sleep like a log! The next morning, enjoy a (not so) small breakfast filled with local and homemade products: buttery croissants, the chef’s coffee, and a soft-boiled egg for your protein fix. When are we going back?

Ô Plum’art, 12 rue Claude Monet, Giverny. 02 32 54 26 35. Rooms from €170.

© Yvan Moreau / Aurelio Rodriguez

Just like in the days of the Impressionists, catch a train at Gare Saint-Lazare. In one hour, you’ll arrive at Vernon-Giverny station, where you can take a taxi (€15 - €20) or a bus (roughly every 2 hours, €5 one way). Watch out for peak hours when heading to the center of Giverny! Walkers will enjoy the beautiful one-hour stroll to reach Monet’s house from the station.

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