Giverny and Versailles Palace Audio Guided Day Trip with Lunch from Paris

Versailles queue wasn't skipped!

Monet's garden was beautiful. We were disappointed to be dropped at Versailles at 2.45pm with tickets timed for entry at 3.30pm. One of the reasons I booked this tour was that it stated "skip the queue" at Versailles. We didn't skip the queue we wasted 45 minutes waiting for the queue we were in to move. That's not what we expected and paid for.

Monet and versailles

Monets garden was beautiful, versailles was mind blowing despite the wet weather. Tour was great for a taste of each site but would have liked more time to explore versailles. The guide were very informative. Lunch was provided and delicious.

Great tour to Giverny and Versaille!

Very organized and wonderful tour. Highly recommend. We had a great guide who was a wealth of information. Highly recommend!

Loved seeing the Cheatue...

Loved seeing the Cheatue of Versailles! I also enjoyed the lunch very much at the village of Forges and all the fancy cars there! Just seeing the countryside and areas outside of Paris was amazing in of itself! Also the village of Gitney was incredible as well seeing Monet’s house and bedroom and actual kitchen was all a very unique experience would highly recommend this tour!

The gardens at Giverny...

The gardens at Giverny were beautiful. If we were to do it again, we would skip going through the house and simply walk the gardens. And, Versailles was amazing. It would have been nice to have more time to walk the gardens there also. The little place we had lunch was picturesque. It was an old mill along a river in a very small town. And, the food was absolutely wonderful. A great experience.

Well worth it

Very well organized. Great driver, comfortable bus, patient and knowledgeable guide. Lucy was an exceptional surprise.

Left Behind and still cost me $330! GIVE PARIS CITY TOUR A MISS!

Despite being at the meeting point 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure, failure to connect with the guide meant the tour left without me! No attempt was made to look for me as I was clearly at the cafe at the specified address, nor use the contact number I provided upon booking through Trip Advisor to make contact. After waiting for a while, assuming the pickup must be running late, noone was answering the WhatsApp number provided. When finally connected via phone, I was told the tour left as scheduled and they had just deemed me a “no show”… on a $330 day trip - highly unlikely!! This was extremely upsetting as Giverny & Versailles was a bucket list item I had scheduled on my last full day in Paris. I requested a refund which was denied in full. No responsibility taken by the company at all. Absolutely disgusted by such poor form - they have taken my money without providing the service I paid in full for. I RECOMMEND YOU GIVE PARIS CITY TOUR A BIG MISS.

Wonderful day at Versailles

The whole trip was fantastic. Tour bus was comfortable and on time. Monet's home and gardens were an impressive first stop, the restaurant that served lunch was outstanding and the Palace itself was as impressive as expected.

Tour guide is in the wrong business

The tour guide was so unprofessional, attitude, temper, unfriendly, told us to listen as he would not repeat himself. Audio system was terrible and when in the bus talking he mumble so much, thought he was falling asleep. He should be a bill collector. I’m not the only one who felt this way, conversing with over half of the attendees, they all felt this way and was not worthy of a tip. The tour itself, the Monet portion was great, very good lunch but Versailles portion was rushed, not enough time for us to walk the grounds, needed another half hour, 30min wasn’t enough. Driver was very considerate of the passengers. Andre, you’re in the wrong business, you’re not a people person.

No audio

The most memorable was paying for an audio tour and not getting audio. To left to our own divises to wonder through Monets gardens and Palace of Versailles by ourselves with no idea what anything was no we would not recommend this tour.

I am writing to you about...

I am writing to you about our guided tour to the museum d’Orsay the day before you sent us an email saying that our tour been canceled that’s terrible. I was emailing you texting you and calling you to say we have never received the tickets and you never got back to me. I will never recommend your company for anything, and I will tell my friends about this experience, thank you were I guess for refunding my money, but I would rather of had the tour

WAY too crowded!

Both Giverny and Versailles were so crowded that it was barely enjoyable. While I know that is not the fault of Viator or the tour guides, they could have given us additional information to help us better navigate the crowds. We never got inside Monet's house because we went to the garden first, then the line to the house was too long. We only had 90 minutes total. The apartments in Versailles were so packed that we couldn't move and I almost had an anxiety attack. They also should have told us there was a train and golf carts to rent in the gardens. That way, we could have seen a lot more of the grounds in the short time we were allotted. Lunch was quite lovely though.

Lovely Tour

A lovely tour but be prepared for the crowds especially at Monet'shouse and within the Palace. Gardens were stunning at both places and the lunch and setting exceptional. Guide was lovely and knowledgeable.

Pick One Or The Other

My best advice: pick an all-day tour of EITHER Versailles or Giverny. Both have a lot to offer and they really can't be covered well in a short time. On the other hand, If you only have one day and you must see both Giverny and Versailles, this is your best option. Be prepared for security lines and transportation time. In total, I would say we had about 2 hours at each place. In that time we also had to get through security, use the bathroom and get from the bus to our ultimate destination. Part of the problem is that both places are super busy. That will slow you down. Going to see the Hall of Mirrors and some of the main apartments, for example, will consume most of your time at Versailles. That said, our host guides were wonderful and knowledgeable. The bus was comfortable and having someone else provide transportation was super helpful. Our 3-course lunch was delish and a nice break in the day, but it took up an hour of our day. In hindsight, I wish we had done an all-day trip to one or the other. But we only had one day and I have no idea when or if we will ever get the chance to go to either place again. If that describes you, then this is a perfect option. If you have the luxury of time or one of these spots is not a high priority, I would suggest a tour that focuses on just one location.

Don't be fooled....

Be careful of the wording when purchasing through this company. Just because the description states tour guide, it doesn't mean that you will actually have access to the actual support they provide. We booked this tour after reading several other options. What we didn't expect was to be EXCLUDED from the presentation from the tour guide on the bus ride over to Giverny. We were handed headsets and a wand instrument to hear pre-recorded information. We were expected to share this despite it being a single user accessory. We were left on our own upon arrival, ZERO guide support. Onto lunch, we spent more time sitting in the restaurant than we were allowed at either of the stops. Versailles was our next stop. Disaster # 2. Handed our tickets and left to figure it out ourselves. Tour guide was NOT providing us with the same services the rest of the group received. We had 1.5 hours to tour the palace. Between the lines and size of the crowd, we spent more time in line for the toilet than actually seeing the palace. Literally scurried through the palace only to find out that an additional hour was added bc the other group had to wait for their tickets. ZERO COMMUNICATION from the company. ZERO. This is unacceptable. You cannot buy time. This day was a bucket list excursion for the week we spent in Paris and by far the WORST tour booked /experienced. Bus was dirty and doesn't provide a bathroom despite being a coach, zero guide interaction, wasted our time waiting for the group bc they decided to add an hour and NOT TELL US. Poorly run. We had far better service and tours for which we were completely satisfied with other providers, I do NOT recommend this company for your tour needs.

Enjoyable tour

Giverny and house were beautiful and interesting. Lunch at Moulin de Fourges was outstanding. Versailles was terribly crowded and audio tour members seemed like second-class citizens at times.

Go on your own! Don’t use a coach bus

Our coach bus broken down which led to us skipping Giverny completely. We didn’t get to Versailles until 4pm and only spent 1.5hrs there. I’d recommend traveling to Versailles and Giverny using public transportation from Paris. It would be much more relaxing that way.

Great way to visit Giverny and Versaille in one day

The tour arrangements were done well. Arrivals and departures were on time. Money's house is definitely worth a visit. The surprise was the lovely lunch at a quaint French restaurant with 3 courses and unlimited wine.

Monet and palace

Being solo was hard and guide didn’t attempt to befriend anyone. 2 your groups on one bus was confusing. Bus air conditioning didn’t work. Bus left us and was late returning causing some anxiety to many. Tour guide was knowledgeable but we could not hear nor understand her. Lunch in the sun and was too heavy for the trip. Lots of wine! The walk to the palace at Versailles was hard for any older guests ( not smooth and distance). Should have been a total day to see everything. I was glad I went.

1 day visit to Versailles and Giverny was excellent

This one day visit to Versailles and Giverny with lunch with Damien was excellent. Damien is a highly knowledgable guide with Paris City Vision, and treated me and my fellow tourists super great. He drove us to Versailles in the morning, picking us up exactly on time at our hotel. He gave us lots of good background on Versailles, its history and purpose. In Versailles itself, he gave us the interesting story on much of the art and the symbolism inherent in the art itself. At the end of the tour of the royal apartments, we had the option of going into the gardens or the gift shop. It was raining that day so about half of us chose either option. Afterwards, we went to a lovely and picturesque lunch and then a beautiful drive through the countryside to Giverny. We had an opportunity to tour Giverny's gardens and house on our own and met up with him at the end for our return to Paris. Again, Damien is super knowledgable, very nice, and was entertaining and informative. This is not a cheap trip, approximately 290 euro, but everything was included except for our own shopping. Damien made it worth it. I hope you get a chance to tour with him on your own tour.

Excellent tour

Fantastic tour for anyone wanting to visit the two places in one day. Tour guides were helpful and informative and we had plenty of time to explore both places in our own time. Using the audio guides meant we could bypass the guided tour groups and see the things we really wanted to see without feeling too crowded. Lunch venue was beautiful and relaxing and the food and wine was excellent quality!

Florence

Helpful and exceeded in anticipating needs. Beautiful tour of Monet’s garden and home. Lunch was informal with group setting that encouraged getting to know neighbors.

Giverny & Versailles

Our guid le was so amazing. She made sure we were all back on point! She also was very knowledgeable. I’d highly recommend this tour and I would actually go again. An absolute don’t miss!!

A wonderful trip!

I am so glad I took this tour. The queues at both places were horrid but we did not have to wait at all. Lunch was very nice, with three bottles of wine for the whole table. Florence is an excellent guide, with so much kindess and patience. As I was on my own, she offered a couple of times to take photos for me. I strongly recommend this tour. It is tiring but you do two iconic places in just one day. I did not feel rushed at all.

FANTASTIC DAY

My daughter and I sent to France to celebrate my 60th. It was amazing. I booked this excursion for the two of us, and it was fantastic. The tour of Giverny Monet's Gardens was out of this world. I most certainly will be returning to spend the whole day at Giverny. It is so beautiful, it is beyond words. The luncheon was fantastic, we had a reservation at a small out of the way restaurant which was so pretty. The food and wine were excellent. While Versailles was beautiful, I could have spend more time in Giverny, and skipped palace. The architecture was beautiful, but super busy. I would most definitely recommend this trip to anyone, if asked.

A fabulous day - really well looked after!

Had a terrific day with Victor our wonderful tour host yesterday (thanks Victor!). He really looked after us and showed us a great time at both locations. Comfy bus ride and divine lunch location. I highly recommend this tour.

Appalling organisation by ParisCityVision

We took the ParisCityVision half day tour to see Monet’s garden at Giverny (not the full day with lunch) and were extremely disappointed with this company. They were poorly organised and inflexible. We did not get the time at the gardens we were promised and as a result only saw half the gardens, were not able to go into Monet’s house, there was no time in the gift shop - or to visit the charming village and shops outside. There wasn’t even time to go to the toilet. We were told the bus would go without us if we late back. None of this was our fault - the bus was late leaving because of delays in the bus office at the start (even if you buy your ticket online you have to queue to get a paper ticket for the bus!). But when we arrived at Giverny we were told we could only have 1.5 hours for our visit - despite the tour description AND despite being told on the bus we would have 2 hours. We were not shown to the entrance so there was a lot of confusion. Then when we got there we found there were large queues to get in, to get around and even to exit. Other tour companies were giving their clients time extensions - not cutting their visit time short! I would think twice before ever using this company again. What should have been a great trip now ranks amongst one of my worst travel experiences.

Check in process was shambolic

People cutting in line. Same desk serving reservations and check-ins. One reservation took more than the thirty minutes I was 'in line' which meant that desk was effectively put of action. Random desks opening and shouting "all check in over here" only to reverse the call as they became overrun. Not a good start to a tour.

Couldn't have chosen a better tour

I was fortunate enough to arrive in Paris on 7/15/18 - the day France won the World Cup! Though this event did change my site seeing plans a bit, it was such an opportunity to be there as they celebrated. And the all day tour to Versailles and Giverny exceeded all of my expectations! I was solo on this tour, but joined by 2 lovely couples from Oklahoma - it was the perfect number. While I could have spent days in each location, with only 3 days in Paris total, this was the perfect taste to make me fall in love with this city and decide I must return. Our guide, Damon was the perfect story teller - he gave us just enough information to make us want to learn even more about each site. He was so gracious and patient with our questions - he was just a delight!

This is a good tour if you're in...

<p>This is a good tour if you're in Paris just a few days and wanted to make the most of your trip. Giverny is a must-see and we had the whole morning to visit Monet's beautiful home and gardens. Lunch was at the picturesque Le Moulin de Fourges restaurant nearby. Food was simple and delicious. Versailles Palace is gorgeous but felt very rushed as we had only 2 hours to explore the Palace and grounds. There are a couple of things I misinterpreted from the tour overview: 1 All Day Audio Guided does not mean tour guide is provided. Transportation was provided and we were given an audio recording to follow along while we visited the sites on our own. 2 The overview says we will have time to wander through the gardens in Versailles, but total tour price paid does not include the additional ticket fee for the gardens. I looked through the whole overview and Important Info and nowhere was this mentioned. Overall, I would recommend seeing each site on separate days so there is more time to explore.</p>

BAD experience -- 1/2 day Versailles

(Before posting this review, I contacted the company through their website to give them a chance to rectify and received no response.) Have used guides all over the world and this was one of my worst experiences. Half of trip was in Spanish and we did not speak Spanish, as they knew (we booked a tour in English). Tour guide through Versailles was rushing and kept telling us that he was worried about missing his train in Paris. Hotel concierge did not seem surprised at poor experience with this company. Apparently, this company is big and does not have quality control. Too bad...

Giverny was beautiful! The lunch...

<p>Giverny was beautiful! The lunch and the location of the lunch was really nice as well. The food was good and you get enough to hold you over. We would recommend leaving yourself some time to check out the town near Giverny and walk to the Church nearby. You definitely need to walk fast. We wish we had just a little more time in Giverny to enjoy the town area a little longer. Versailles was nice but wasn't the highlight of my trip. We actually thought Versailles was overrated. It was probably our least favorite tourist attraction because there were so many people that you can barely enjoy it. You felt like sardines walking through the building. Also, our tour guide was running late and we had to run in order to get in. We walked really fast through the building and we barely got to enjoy it because the amount of tourists there. You definitely need more time in both places to truly enjoy this tour.</p>