Only one free day? · Day trip from Paris
Versailles or Giverny?
| Field | Versailles | Giverny |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 14 min + 18 min walk; RER C is about 40 min + 10 min walk | 46 min + shuttle bus from Vernon station |
| Transport | Train from Montparnasse or RER C | Train + shuttle |
| Self-guided | € 37.10–40.10 | € 43–59 |
| Tour | € 88 | € 64 |
| Time needed | 5–8 h | 2–3 h |
| Closed | Monday; also 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec | 2 Nov to 31 Mar |
| Best time | Tue-Fri, first entry slot; gardens are at their best Apr-Oct | May-Jun for flowers, Jul-Aug for water lilies; at 10:00 opening |
| Verdict | Worth a full day | Worth half a day |
Our verdict
Versailles, unless you have already seen it.
One free day? Versailles. It is 14 minutes by train from Montparnasse or about 40 on RER C, costs € 37 to € 40 with the Passport ticket, and fills 5 to 8 hours. Giverny takes 46 minutes by train plus a shuttle, costs € 43 to € 59, and the visit itself lasts 2 hours. Choose Giverny if you care more about Monet than about kings, if it is a Monday, when Versailles is closed, or if you want to be back in Paris by mid-afternoon. After 1 November there is no choice: Giverny is shut until April.
Last checked: · Train times and lowest fares from SNCF Connect and Île-de-France Mobilités; opening days and ticket prices from each attraction's official site.