BEST DAY TRIPS FROM PARIS
We’ve carefully curated a list of the top 10 day trips from Paris that you’re sure to enjoy. While Paris has so many options, we highly recommended taking at least one day trip outside the city of light in order to gain a deeper understanding of France, a beautiful country with so many different landscapes and regional cultures.
The quickest and most obvious day trip destination is the Palace of Versailles, the largest castle in the world with one of the largest gardens. It’s so big that you can easily spend a full day here. And what about the home of Impressionist painter Claude Monet in Giverny, or the beautiful town of Chantilly? These are all an hour or less from Paris and very easy to get to.
If you’d like to go a tad further, you can perhaps explore the charming city of Reims, home to world-famous champagne houses, or chateau hop across the Loire Valley, home of fairy-tale castles like Chambord which inspired numerous stories like Cinderella.
Keep in mind that France boasts one of the world’s finest rail networks, especially their high-speed trains (TGVs), connecting Paris to virtually every city in the country. This makes it possible to reach anywhere in France within a few hours.
So here are the top 10 best day trips from Paris which won’t disappoint:
NB: We link to Tiqets where you will find all the fees, options and tax breakdown information.
1) NORMANDY
OK so you already know about Mont St Michel, right? But how about Rouen, Etretat, Deauville and Bayeux? Normandy is full of gems and is so close to Paris it is our top pick!
Rouen is the capital of Normandy and also gateway into Normandy from Paris. It’s a beautiful medieval city famous for it’s half-timbered architecture. This is definitely one of the most under-rated, over-looked cities in France and given its close proximity to Paris it’s amazing this isn’t included in every guide book! There is a stunning cathedral as well as a famous clock, and best of all the beautiful Seine river which snakes through the city giving it world class charm to rival Paris. Besides the landmarks and unique architecture, you have some delicious Norman food (heavy on cream and apples) as well as a museum dedicated to Joan of Arc who was burned at the stake after helping defeat English forces in the Hundred Years War.
Meanwhile Bayeux and seeing the famous Bayeux Tapestry is an experience not to be missed. It’s a massive tapestry that depicts the French (yes French) conquest of England. It tells the entire story from the preparation of combined French (the king’s own + Norman + Breton forces) down to the Battle of Hastings itself- replete with arrow through Harold the Saxon’s head. Ouch. It’s not just history, it’s a work of art and culture which is fascinating to study and interpret. The town of Bayeux is just stunning and within a few minutes drive you have all the World War II D Day beaches to explore!
Besides warfare, Normandy is famous for horse riding, apples, apple brandy (you can go Calvados tasting and sample all the apply brandies), and dairy products. You will see loads of cows, horses, apple and pear orchards, and half timbered houses. As this is THE top dairy region in France expect fresh butter, milk, and of course cheese. You can visit and sample fresh butter and cheese like Camembert and other gems.
Then there is Etretat. England has the white cliffs of Dover. France has Etretat. Both are stunning and have been photographed a zillion times but the view never gets old. The town of Etretat itself is gem, brimming with charm and Norman character. Les Jardins d’Etretat (Etretat Gardens) is also an interesting choice as it’s an award winning formal garden right on the coast and full of quirky sculptures and eccentric shrubs. The best part about Etretat is that it’s one of the closest coastal towns from Paris. The best way to get there is via Flixbus which departs from La Defense in the west of Paris. It takes about 3 hours and stops once in Rouen (see above if keen to check out Rouen) then Fecamp before arriving in Etretat.
Tickets for all attractions in Normandy: Mont St Michel, Calvados tasting, WW2 memorials and more
2) VERSAILLES
The palace of Versailles is not to be missed. One of the largest castles ever built, Versailles stands testament to the prowess of France’s monarchy, notably Louis XIV, the sun king. The castle of Versailles is not only an architectural marvel, it stands testament to hundreds of interesting stories that will leave you in awe. And if history and fancy castles bore you, then surely the gardens will impress. You can spent an entire day exploring Versailles’ formal gardens, forests, mazes, follies, theatres, a mini farm built by Marie-Antoinette, and a massive lake you can explore by row boat. You can even explore Versailles gardens via horseback or take a bike tour of the massive and beautiful gardens of Versailles (so big you can spend an entire afternoon exploring!)
The palace of Versailles is in the town of Versailles in the southwest of Paris, so the best way of getting to Versailles is via an RER commuter train. Many go to Versailles from all over Paris so we recommend simply finding closest RER station that connects you to Versailles’ train station (a short walk to the palace). There are also a ton of fun tours you can do both inside and outside of the palace.
3) DISNEYLAND PARIS
OK, so we held out for long on this one but Disneyland Paris keeps improving and has started to offer more for adults, such as evening shows and cool rides. We love that they combine both French and American food and folklore, tapping into French fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty as well as more modern French tales like Ratatouille. You then of course have all the classic Disney (American) attractions and rides.
Disneyland Paris is actually one of the largest Disney parks in the world, consisting of two theme parks: Walt Disney Studios Park and Disneyland Park. Whilst Disneyland Park is akin to the Magic Kingdom original theme park (sleeping beauty castle, adventure land, frontierland, etc) and is more oriented towards children, they also have ‘adult-friendly’ rides like Indiana Jones Temple du Peril (rollercoaster). Walt Disney Studios is invariably more adult-oriented with majority of rides not suitable for young children e.g. Star Wars 3D Star Tours simulated ride and the Tower of Terror in Studios Park (note: best to avoid this ride on a full stomach!). We also love the new Marvel area.
Another reason to visit is it’s just a fun place to hang out for both adults and families. Compared to the Disney resorts in the USA, the food at Disneyland Paris is better quality, and yes, you will find pineapple dole whips and such, but you will also find loads of French pastries. All the food is sourced locally hence better quality meat, veggies, etc. There are some unique restaurants like the Auberge de Cendrillon (Cinderella) and there are many bars open until late such as Billy Bob’s Country Western Saloon and King Ludwig’s Castle.
4) GIVERNY, HOME OF MONET
French Impressionist superstar, Claude Monet lived in Giverny for more than 40 years. Needless to say his home and surroundings provided enough inspiration for countless masterpieces so we are sure you will at the very least find it charming, if not inspiring! His home is miraculously preserved and if you’re lucky enough to visit on a sunny day, you will feel like you’re right in one of his paintings. You can see the famous bridge and pond he painted for instance, and of course take a tour and learn how his home was at the epicenter of the Impressionist movement.
Giverny is about an hour and a half north of Paris. You can take a train from the Saint Lazare train station in the north of Paris. Trains run regularly and from Vernon train station you can either walk (10-15 mins), or take a taxi or shuttle. If you drive from Paris there is free parking. There are plenty of tours where you can learn all about Monet and other artists, tour his home and gardens.
5) LOIRE VALLEY
Blois is the closest town in the Loire valley to Paris – just two hours from Paris by train but you can also head to Tours or other towns as a starting point. If you decide to visit we recommend more than just castle hoping and guzzling down loads of wine. For instance, why not drift over rolling hills in a hot air balloon? The Loire is world famous for hot air ballooning and is also a great region for outdoor activities like cycling – and no, not the uphill Tour de France kind. The Loire Valley is pretty flat and so is ideal for the leisure cyclist who enjoys scenery and an more gentle slopes.
There are many providers who can hook you up with all kinds of bikes and help you plan your journey. We recommend Loire By Bike who have been going strong in the area for years.
Loire Valley tickets: all castles and attactions
Also while Le Mans isn’t technically in the Loire Valley, it’s just a tad north and accessible by train or car. It’s home of the famous Le Mans 24 car race and is an must visit destination for any car enthusiast. We of course advocate taking a car to Le Mans and meandering through the area, possibly en route to the Loire or on the way back. You can also enjoy a racing experience at 24h Lemans Experiences:
Day trip tickets to Loire Valley from Paris
6) CHANTILLY
Chantilly is a beautiful town North of Paris that is famous golf, horse racing and polo. The Chantilly Polo Club (Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly) is one of the most famous polo clubs in the world and hosts several major events such as the Open de France. While most polo clubs of this kind don’t offer classes let alone open their doors to non-members, Chantilly offers numerous options including private and group lessons. A two hour group lessons costs 130 euros and includes an hour of theory plus an hour on horseback.
Chantilly also has a beautiful castle which you can visit and has a fascinating history. Legend has it the Prince de Conde believed he would be reincarnated as a horse and so asked architect Jean Aubert to build incredible stables and race tracks. The castle also boasts an incredible art gallery and library and there are numerous events throughout year.
You can get to Chantilly from the Gare du Nord train station in Paris (about 30 mins journey) and then take a taxi once you arrive. There are dozens of trains each day, you can also hire your own car if you want to explore the area.
7) CHAMPAGNE TASTING IN REIMS
Reims is a charming small city in the Champagne region where most of the top champagne brands are headquartered. It also boasts one of the largest and most beautiful cathedrals in all of Europe where many kings were coronated. Champagne brands like Taittinger, Veuve Cliquot and Pommery offer tours which explain the process of making champagne, the history of the brand and even offer a complimentary glass of bubbly! They all have gift shops with of course tons of champagne as well as bags, collectables, and all kinds branded souvenirs.
You can get to Reims by taking a train from the Gare de l’Est train station in the north of Paris. There are numerous trains throughout the day (almost every hour) and it only takes an hour to arrive in Reims. From the Reims train station you’re only a 10-20 minute walk to most champagne houses.
Note that you must book a tour in advance directly with the Champagne house, and if you’re looking for a tour including transport there are plenty of options to choose from:
Day trip tickets to Champagne from Paris
Besides these destinations, there are a a number of places to visit and activities in the Ile de France (greater Paris area). For instance, if you’re interested in family activities then have a look at our TOP 20 THINGS TO DO IN PARIS WITH KIDS guide which includes many activities like karting, horse riding and ziplining just outside Paris.
And if you’re sporty there are some excellent golf clubs around Paris as well as some a number of outdoor active things to do around Paris like taking a boat out on the Seine river.
Finally, if you’re looking for a good deal, you can purchase the Paris City Card which includes a cruise along the seine via Bateaux Parisiens, Louvre museum access plus access to the Eiffel Tower and an audio guide (app). And if you have a kids or just looking for something a bit more relaxed, the Paris Family Fun Pass, which includes access to the Paris Zoo (world class and not to be missed!), Gallerie D’Evolution at the Natural History Museum (skip the line) and the Grevin Wax museum. Click below for more details!