The shortest genuinely great trip on this list: Monet's water-lily gardens, a Norman market town on the Seine, and a flat riverside cycle path — all well within a single charge, round trip.
Giverny is the village where Claude Monet lived for 43 years and painted his water-lily series — the pink house, the Japanese bridge, the pond, all still there and open to the public exactly as he left the layout. It's an easy 72 km, roughly one hour via the A13, so this works as a day trip or a relaxed overnight without ever touching a Supercharger. Next door, Vernon is a proper Norman market town on the Seine with half-timbered houses and a genuine old town — not just a museum-village. And since 2020 a dedicated riverside cycle path (part of "La Seine à Vélo" / EuroVelo network) connects Vernon to Giverny along the river, a flat, car-free 5 km each way through meadows and Normandy cattle pasture — built specifically for this stretch with EU and regional funding.
Drive out mid-morning to beat the tour-bus crush — Giverny gets busy by midday, especially in peak bloom (May–June) and autumn color. Spend the morning/early afternoon at the Fondation Claude Monet: house, studio, and the famous gardens with the water-lily pond and Japanese bridge. Open daily 1 April–1 November 2026, 10:00–18:00 (last admission 17:30). Adult entry is €13, students/7–17yo €7, under 7 free.
Afterward, ride the bike (or walk) the flat riverside greenway 5 km from Giverny down to Vernon — wander the old town, half-timbered houses, and the Wednesday/Saturday morning markets (Place du Vieux-René, Place du Général de Gaulle) if your dates line up. The Seine riverside path is part of the wider Seine-à-Vélo route running Paris → Le Havre.
Easy morning ride further along the Seine-à-Vélo greenway (flat, riverside, good for a relaxed spin — no elevation drama here), or a second slower pass through Giverny's public gardens area before the crowds arrive. Treat yourself to lunch at one of the Norman-specialty spots near the gardens — La Capucine (in the village itself) or Les Nymphéas (opposite the gardens) both serve Norman terroir dishes; budget roughly €18–28 for a main. Home by mid-afternoon, ~1 hour back.
This is one of the best trips on the list for the bike specifically: the Giverny–Vernon stretch of the Seine-à-Vélo greenway is purpose-built, flat, fully separated from road traffic, and only 5 km each way — genuinely low-effort. Bike loaded inside per the Car Camping & Bike Guide (front wheel off, no range impact). If you want more distance, the route continues further along the Seine toward Château-Gaillard and Les Andelys.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tolls (A13, minor) | ≈ €3–6 each way |
| Charging | €0 (round trip within a single charge) |
| Lodging (free municipal aire) | €0 |
| Fondation Claude Monet entry | €13 |
| Food (mostly self-cooked, one splurge lunch) | ≈ €20–28 |
| Total (day trip / overnight) | €25–55 |