Quick Facts: Port of Le Havre (primary) or Rouen | France | Terminal de Grande Bretagne (Le Havre) / Port de Rouen (Rouen) | Dock (both ports) | ~80 km from Le Havre, ~65 km from Rouen | UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer/CEST)
Giverny is not a cruise port itself — it’s a tiny village of fewer than 500 residents in Normandy’s Seine Valley, and you’ll reach it as a day trip from either Le Havre or Rouen, two of the most popular ports on Seine river and Normandy cruise itineraries. The single most important planning tip: Giverny is enormously popular, the gardens sell timed-entry tickets, and many cruisers miss them entirely by not booking in advance — sort your tickets and transport before you ever step off the gangway.
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Port & Terminal Information
Le Havre (Most Common Gateway)
The main cruise terminal in Le Havre is the Terminal de Grande Bretagne, located on the Quai de Southampton in the commercial port zone. Most vessels dock directly here — no tendering required, which is a genuine blessing given the logistics of reaching Giverny. Check your ship’s docking schedule carefully; some vessels use the Terminal de l’Atlantique, which is a short walk further along the quay but still within the same port complex.
The terminal building itself is functional rather than luxurious. You’ll find:
- ATMs: 2 machines inside the terminal (Euros, major cards accepted)
- Tourist information desk: staffed on port days, usually 8:00–13:00
- Wi-Fi: limited free Wi-Fi in the terminal building
- Luggage storage: not available at the terminal; some private operators near the port offer it
- No shuttle to the city centre is provided by the port — you arrange transport yourself
The terminal is approximately 80 km from Giverny by road. Check your exact berth on [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Giverny+cruise+terminal) before departure day.
Rouen (River Cruise Gateway)
If you’re on a Seine river cruise, you may dock in Rouen at the Port de Rouen, right in the heart of the city along the Quai Emile Duchemin. Rouen is closer to Giverny at around 65 km and makes for a slightly easier logistics day. The riverside berths here are scenic and central — you’ll walk off the ship directly into the old city.
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Getting to Giverny
Because Giverny has no train station and is served by very limited public transport, getting there requires more planning than a typical port day. Here are all your realistic options:
- On Foot — Not applicable. Giverny village is beautiful once you’re there, and everything within it (Monet’s House, the Museum of Impressionism, the village itself) is easily walkable in 15 minutes end to end. But you cannot walk from any port.
- Bus (Public) — From Vernon train station (the nearest rail stop), a seasonal shuttle bus called the Giverny Bus runs April through October, roughly every 30–60 minutes, costing around €3–5 return. The journey from Vernon to Giverny takes about 10 minutes. To get to Vernon from Le Havre by train, take the SNCF regional train: Le Havre → Rouen Saint-Sever → Vernon, total journey roughly 1h 30m–1h 45m with a change, costing approximately €20–28 return. From Rouen, the train to Vernon is direct, about 45 minutes, €12–16 return. Check [SNCF Connect](https://www.sncf-connect.com) for current timetables before your cruise.
- Taxi / Private Car — From Le Havre port, a taxi to Giverny costs approximately €130–170 one way; a round trip with waiting time runs €280–380 depending on the driver and season. Agree the round-trip fare in advance and confirm the driver will wait. From Rouen, expect €80–120 one way. Taxis at Le Havre port gather outside the terminal exit — avoid drivers who refuse to use the meter or quote obviously inflated fares to tourists (anything over €200 for a local round trip is worth questioning).
- Organized Shore Excursion (Ship) — Your cruise line will almost certainly offer a Giverny excursion. It removes all the transport stress, includes timed entry, and guarantees you’re back before sailaway. The downside: you’re on a group schedule, rushed, and often don’t get enough garden time. Worth it if logistics stress you out or if it’s your first visit.
- Viator / Private Tour — Honestly, for Giverny, a pre-booked private or small-group tour from your port is often the smartest middle ground between ship excursion and DIY. You get professional guiding, guaranteed entry, and far more flexibility than a ship tour. The [Giverny – Monet’s House & Garden – Transportation Private Trip on Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Giverny) (from USD 610.27, 7 hours) is a premium but seamless option for couples or small groups who want a truly personal day. For a combined Paris departure, the [From Paris: Discovery of Monet’s House and Its Gardens in Giverny](https://www.viator.com/search/Giverny) (from USD 215.67, 6 hours) works if your ship overnights in Paris.
- Rental Car — Practical and cost-effective for 2–4 people. Europcar, Avis, and Hertz all have offices in Le Havre near the port (a €10–15 taxi from the terminal). Renting a small car for the day costs approximately €50–80 including basic insurance. Driving from Le Havre to Giverny takes about 1 hour via the A13 motorway (toll approximately €9 each way). Parking in Giverny village is free in the main lot on Route Claude Monet. This is my personal recommendation for independent travellers who want the most flexibility.
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus — There is no hop-on hop-off service serving Giverny from Le Havre or Rouen. Le Havre does have a tourist bus for the city itself, but it does not extend to Giverny.
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Top Things to Do in Giverny, France
Giverny is a village built almost entirely around one extraordinary legacy — Claude Monet lived here from 1883 until his death in 1926, and the gardens and house he created inspired some of the most recognizable paintings in art history. Here’s how to spend your time well.
Must-See
1. Monet’s House & The Clos Normand Flower Garden (€12–23 adults, timed entry) — This is the reason everyone comes, and it earns every euro. The Clos Normand is the formal flower garden directly in front of Monet’s pink-and-green house — a riotous, painterly explosion of nasturtiums, irises, roses, and poppies laid out in long beds designed by Monet himself for colour and succession. Book timed-entry tickets at [fondation-monet.com](https://fondationmonet.com) well before your cruise — peak season (May–June) sells out weeks in advance. Entry includes both the garden and the house. Allow 2–3 hours minimum; you’ll want every minute of it. You can also find [guided tours of Monet’s House on GetYourGuide](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Giverny¤cy=USD&partner_id=MHU0UHU) that include skip-the-line access.
2. The Water Garden & Japanese Bridge (included in Monet’s House ticket) — Reached through a tunnel under the road from the Clos Normand, this is where Monet’s most famous paintings came to life. The willow-fringed pond, the arched Japanese bridge heavy with wisteria (spectacular in May), the clouds of water lilies — it’s startlingly, almost uncomfortably beautiful. Come as early as your timed slot allows; the light is softer and the crowds thinner before 11:00. Allow 45–60 minutes here alone.
3. Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny (€8.50 adults, free under 7) — Just a short walk from Monet’s house, this excellent museum tells the broader story of Impressionism and the American artists who came to Giverny in Monet’s wake. The permanent collection is intelligent and the temporary exhibitions are consistently world-class. Don’t skip it if you have time — many cruisers do and later regret it. The museum garden alone is worth 20 minutes. Allow 1–1.5 hours. Check [mdig.fr](https://www.mdig.fr) for current exhibitions. The [Giverny Gems: Exclusive Guided Walking Tour on Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Giverny) (from USD 207.37, 2 hours) covers both this museum and the village beautifully.
4. Monet’s House Interior (included in garden ticket) — Monet’s actual home is open to visitors and it’s a revelation. The rooms are painted in bold, unexpected colours — the dining room in two shades of yellow, the kitchen in blue-and-white tile — and hung floor to ceiling with his Japanese woodblock print collection. His actual palette of paints sits on the table in the studio. It’s deeply humanising. Allow 30–45 minutes.
5. Église Sainte-Radegonde de Giverny (free) — The small 12th-century church where Monet is buried is a 5-minute walk up the hill from the gardens. His grave is simple and well-tended, surrounded by family. It’s quiet, often empty of crowds, and one of the most genuinely moving stops in the village. Allow 15–20 minutes.
Beaches & Nature
6. Seine River Valley Cycling (bike rental from ~€15/day) — The countryside between Vernon and Giverny is gloriously flat and cycling-friendly. Vernon has several bike rental shops near the train station, and the 5 km route along the Seine from Vernon to Giverny through poplar-lined paths is one of the loveliest easy rides in Normandy. This is a wonderful option if you’re coming by train. Allow 45 minutes each way including stops.
7. Les Jardins de l’Hôtel Baudy Grounds (free to walk past, restaurant entry free) — The old Hôtel Baudy was the gathering place for American Impressionist painters visiting Giverny in the 1880s and 1890s. The property retains its original rose garden and a small artists’ studio in the grounds. Even if you just walk past the facade on Rue Claude Monet, it’s a tangible piece of the artistic history of the village.
Day Trips
8. Château Gaillard, Les Andelys (~30 km from Giverny) — If you have a rental car and a full day, the ruined clifftop fortress built by Richard the Lionheart in 1196 is a dramatic 40-minute drive from Giverny. The views over the Seine meanders are extraordinary. Free to visit. Allow 1.5 hours.
9. Rouen (~65 km from Giverny) — If you’re docked in Le Havre and have an 8+ hour day, some cruisers combine Giverny in the morning with a quick visit to Rouen’s medieval cathedral (which Monet also painted obsessively) in the afternoon. It’s ambitious but doable by car. The [Viator Versailles Palace and Giverny Monet House Visit with Lunch](https://www.viator.com/search/Giverny) (from USD 239.65, 9h 30m) combines Giverny with Versailles in a long Paris-departure day — worth considering if your ship calls at Paris/Le Havre.
10. Vernon Market (Tuesday and Friday mornings) — The market in Vernon town centre, 5 km from Giverny, is an authentic Norman farmers’ market — not tourist-oriented at all. Cheeses, cider, local vegetables, bread. If your logistics bring you through Vernon on a Tuesday or Friday morning, budget 45 minutes here.
Family Picks
11. The Garden Scavenger Hunt (free, self-guided) — The Fondation Monet sells a children’s activity booklet at the ticket desk (€3–4). Younger kids who might not be electrified by Impressionism tend to be genuinely engaged by hunting for specific plants, bridge views, and details Monet painted. Ages 5–12 respond particularly well. The gardens are stroller-friendly on main paths, though some narrower areas are tight.
12. Giverny Village Walk (free) — The village itself is worth 30 minutes of wandering even if you’ve done everything else. The houses along Rue Claude Monet are beautifully kept, draped in climbing roses, and feel genuinely lived-in rather than theme-park-ish. Kids enjoy the simple pleasure of walking the same road Monet walked to his studio every morning. Find more [family-friendly Giverny tour options on GetYourGuide](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Giverny¤cy=USD&partner_id=MHU0UHU).
Off the Beaten Track
13. La Réserve Naturelle de la Boucle du Moisson (free) — About 15 km downriver from Giverny, this protected Seine floodplain reserve is almost entirely unknown to cruise visitors. It’s a lovely place for a short walk through wetland and riverside woodland if you have a car and an hour to spare.
14. Gasny Village & Château de Villarceaux (~10 km from Giverny, €8 garden entry) — The Renaissance château at Villarceaux, with its grand formal gardens and reflecting pool, is visited by almost no cruise passengers despite being a fraction of the price and crowds of Versailles. If you love garden history and want to escape the Giverny rush entirely, this is your secret weapon.
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What to Eat & Drink
Giverny’s food scene is small but surprisingly good for a village this size, with Norman cuisine front and centre — meaning cream, butter, apple cider, and seafood. Don’t expect bargains at restaurants directly beside Monet’s house; the closer to the garden gate, the higher the tourist surcharge.
- Normandy cream-braised chicken (poulet à la crème normande) — The regional classic; rich, comforting, deeply Norman. Found at almost every sit-down restaurant in the area. €18–26 at local restaurants.
- Cidre Normand — Norman apple cider is served in ceramic bowls (bolées) rather than glasses in traditional style. Dry, cloudy, and nothing like English cider. €4–6 per bowl. Look for Cidre Bouché (bottle-fermented, more complex).
- Galettes and Crêpes — Several small crêperies operate in and around Giverny village. A buckwheat galette with ham, egg, and cheese (the classic complète) is the ideal €9–12 lunch when you’re between attractions.
- Restaurant Les Nymphéas (next to the Musée des Impressionnismes) — Reliable Norman cuisine with a pleasant garden terrace; popular with tour groups but manages the volume well. Set lunch menu €24–32. Open April–October, noon–15:00.
- Hôtel Baudy Restaurant (Rue Claude Monet, Giverny) — Serves lunch in the rose garden of the historic artist hotel. Not the cheapest option (mains €18–28) but the setting is genuinely romantic and historically significant. Reservations recommended in summer.
- La Capucine (Rue Claude Monet) — A good option for a lighter lunch: salads, sandwiches, quiches made with local ingredients. €8–16. Quick service, which matters when you have a ship to catch.
- Cheese & picnic supplies — If you’ve come by car or bike, stop at a fromagerie in Vernon before heading to Giverny and picnic on the grass beside the Seine. Camembert, Livarot, Pont-l’Évêque — you’re in the heartland of all three. Budget €10–15 for a proper spread.
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Shopping
Giverny’s shopping is almost entirely centred on Monet-related art and garden items, and most of it is on or just off Rue Claude Monet. The Fondation Monet gift shop (inside the garden complex) is the best-curated stop: reproduction prints, art books
🎟️ Things to Book in Advance
These highly-rated experiences fill up fast — book before you arrive to avoid missing out.
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📍 Getting to Giverny, France
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
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