11 of the Best Daytrips from Paris

Paris is beautiful but it’s a large city with lots of crowds and plenty of traffic. Even if your visit is short, we highly recommend that you take one of these amazing daytrips from Paris. In a short time, you can explore majestic castles, incredible cathedrals, and other beautiful sights that can’t be seen in the city. Wander gardens where kings and queens played, smell the flowers that inspired Monet, visit small villages and towns that provide a taste of France outside the city. There are many possible daytrips from Paris, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few to get you started!

As with any location in or around Paris, you should always check the opening days and hours when making your plans. This is equally true when planning daytrips from Paris. Many museums and sights of interest are closed on either Mondays or Tuesdays, depending on the time of year.

Several castles and museums that you may visit during your day trip from Paris can also be free if you have a Paris Museum Pass. For more details on the pass, check out our Best of Paris blog post.

There are so many great reasons for hiring a local guide. We usually hire a private guide for at least one day when we’re visiting a new destination. Many of these daytrips from Paris are very easy to do on your own but we’ve added a few options for guided walking tours as well as some interesting tours such as Segway or bike tours that may be of interest.

Note: Because of Paris’ great location, you can also visit many international destinations as a day trip from Paris but that’s for a different blog post. Right now, we’ve limited our suggestions to daytrips from Paris that are located in France.

Fantastic Daytrips from Paris that You’re Going to Love

Lyon

Contributed by Noel at Travel Photo Discovery

If you are looking for an easy day trip from Paris consider doing a fun day trip from Paris to Lyon which is less than a two-hour direct train ride on the TGV. An easy day trip or even an overnighter so that you can spend more quality time in this fabulous city, Lyon is considered the perfect little Parisian city but at a smaller scale and easier to maneuver. There are many wonderful walking promenades through the lovely newer sections of the city with vast and beautiful squares, open air restaurants and bars and fantastic galleries and boutiques to explore. My first impression of Lyon, France was unforgettable! 

Across the scenic Saône river is the medieval historic part of the city. Here lies the medieval district, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with beautiful architecture, old churches, historic buildings and a stunning basilica on top of the hill with panoramic views of the entire city.

The best time to explore here is later in the afternoon to enjoy the outdoors and spectacular sunset views from above the city and in the evening when all the outdoor restaurants spill out into the squares and walking promenades in the old district. You’ll be entertained with music, dancers and other street performers while you dine on local favorite dishes like Lyon sausages, coq au vin, tripe cooked with onions, saucisson brioché and coussin de Lyon. Pair that with a delicious local wine or beverage and you’ll be enjoying your brief stay exploring this amazing city. A visit to Lyon will be one of your most enjoyable daytrips from Paris!

Versailles

Contributed by Lee from The Travel Scribes

When you’re planning a day trip out of Paris, one of the best jaunts is right under your proverbial nose: the town best known for its world-famous palace complex, Versailles. Just hop on the RER Line C out of Paris to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, and around an hour later you’ll find yourself confronted with one of the most beautiful facades in Europe, the gold-tinted Palace of Versailles.

While the city of Versailles has its own charm in the form of chic boutiques and a plethora of high-end restaurants, the main attraction has to be the Palace itself. Dating as far back as the 1600’s, this French landmark was the home of France’s royal family and was previously the political centre of the country during Louis XVI’s reign before the French Revolution forced him to leave for Paris.

There really is so much to explore that you could spend at least a day wandering the grounds. From the Palace itself, where you can stroll through the Hall of Mirrors (aptly named for more than 350 mirrors) and spell-binding suites like the Queen’s Apartment. Channel your inner Marie Antoinette and check out the Galerie des Glaces, the historic Royal Chapel or marvel at the many famous paintings and sculptures scattered across the galleries. The Palace has more than 2300 rooms spread over more than 63000 metres, so pack those walking shoes!

If the queues to enter the Palace are too long, head instead to the gorgeously manicured gardens. Spectacular in their own right, you can spend hours checking out the immense Orangerie, waiting for the synchronized shows of the many fountains, or darting in and out of the Groves, small gardens fenced in by trellises that feel like you’ve walked into a secret paradise, all to yourself.

Beyond the gardens, you’ll also find the Park: 800 hectares that surround the estate and are punctuated by the Grand Canal and the Lake of the Swiss Guards. Luckily, the Park is actually free to enter, in case you’re on a budget.

Regardless of your itinerary, Versailles (and its opulent palace) is a must-visit town, and one of the best (and easiest) daytrips from Paris.  

Rouen

Contributed by Cazzy at Dream Big, Travel Far

The charming French city of Rouen is located in the Normandy region and is located just 70 miles (112 km) from the capital of Paris. You can easily get from Paris to Rouen via driving, which would take around 2 hours with the typical traffic in Paris, or you can opt for one of the frequent trains that run daily. It typically takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes and if you leave in the morning, you’ll have plenty of time to explore all the best things to do in Rouen. 

Rouen offers a perfect blend of modern and old. Its charming center offers beautifully painted houses and cobblestone streets. There are a variety of walking routes available that will take you throughout the city and showcase historic sights. Whilst you wander, there are some beautiful Gothic churches to discover, including the stunning Rouen Cathedral and the Church of Saint-Maclou. 

The famous Church of St. Joan of Arc is also in Rouen and worth a visit. There are also lots of beautiful gardens to discover, which offer a perfect place to wander and relax. One of the best is the Jardin des Plantes de Rouen which has plants and flowers from over 5 continents. There’s also a boating lake offering the chance to hire your own boat. 

When you get hungry, you’ll be spoiled for choice with the many quaint and wonderful restaurants located around the city center. The great thing about a day trip to Rouen is that most of the great sights are free or low-cost and the restaurants, cafes and bars are all reasonably priced. 

To truly see all the great sights and sample the cuisine that Rouen has to offer, you should ensure you’ve got at least 6-7 hours to explore (which is true for most daytrips from Paris). 

Chateau de Chantilly

Contributed by Chrysoula at Historic European Castles

The magnificent Chateau de Chantilly is a grand castle north of Paris that welcomes visitors seeking a beautiful, historic attraction. This Chateau, set in peaceful surroundings, is a lovely alternative to visiting the Chateau de Versailles which is much busier with tourists, especially throughout the summer months.

Originally built in the 1500s for Duke Anne de Montmorency, the Chateau de Chantilly you see today is actually a reconstructed version that was built by Henri d’Orléans between 1875-1882 after the majority of the castle was destroyed during the French Revolution.

Visitors to Chateau de Chantilly can purchase tickets in advance and explore both the building and grounds, taking in Le Grand Chateau, Le Petit Chateau, the Musée Condé (showing a collection of antiques, manuscripts, and artistic masterpieces) and the Chantilly Racecourse. Equestrianism played an important role in the life of Henri d’Orléans and continues to be an important part of the site today. Guests can witness equestrian performances or visit especially for the Prix de Diane horse race which takes place at the Chantilly Racecourse.

As there is a lot to see and do at the Chateau de Chantilly, it is recommended that you spend at least half a day exploring the site.

Chateau de Chantilly lies around 50km north of Paris and can easily be reached by train, with the journey taking just half an hour from Gare du Nord Station. This makes Chateau de Chantilly a great option for a day trip from Paris as you’ll have plenty of time to travel out of the city and spend a few hours exploring the site.

From Gare du Nord Station, you’ll want to seek out the TER Hauts-de-France service towards Chantilly-Gouvieux, purchasing a ticket online or from a ticket booth before boarding the train. When you arrive in Chantilly-Gouvieux, you’ll need to follow the signs for the Chateau (approx. 15-minute walk).

Note: At present children up to age 18 are free of charge and admission for adults is included with the Paris Museum Pass.

Giverny

Contributed by James at Travel Collecting

Giverny is where Claude Monet lived and, inspired by the beautiful gardens, created many of his famous impressionist works of art. His house and gardens are open for visitors and visiting them makes an easy day trip from Paris. There is no direct train from Paris to Giverny. Trains to the nearby town of Vernon leave from the Gare St Lazare throughout the day and take between 40 and 60 minutes. Shuttle buses meet the trains for the additional 20-minute trip to Giverny, about 5km away.

There are two main gardens, and both are beautiful. The Clos Normand is the main garden with thousands of flowers and a famous alley with arches for growing vines that features in his paintings. Different flowers bloom throughout the year, so the views change, but are always stunning. The garden is most famous, however, for the water garden, where you can see the water lilies and the green Japanese bridge that Monet painted in some of his most famous works.  Guests are free to wander around the gardens, but tours of the house involve a long snaking line along a set route through his home. Monet’s light-filled studio now houses the gift shop.

The house and gardens are located in the small village of Giverny, which has restaurants and stores to explore, as well as the small but interesting Museum of Impressionism and the Saint-Radegonde Church where Monet is buried. There are lovely walking trails around the village, which few people take, and a large picnic area in Vernon. It is easy to spend a full day exploring the area.

Monet’s house and gardens are open from late March to early November. It gets very crowded in late spring (May-June), so visiting in the shoulder season and getting there early when it opens at 9:30am is recommended. Tickets are sold online for particular arrival times. As with many daytrips from Paris, guides are available on site.

Provins

Contributed by Elisa from World in Paris

Provins is a medieval town in the department of Seine et Marne, in the region of Ile de France. The town is located 89 km southeast of Paris and it is well connected to the French capital by direct trains that leave from Paris Gare de l’Est. The train journey from Paris to Provins lasts one hour and a half, with hourly connections so it is a great option for those who want to spend an easy day out of the hustle and bustle of Paris.

In medieval times, Provins was a town under the protection of the powerful counts of Champagne. Due to its perfect location along several trading roads, it became an important international fair-town specialized in the trade of wool and tissues.

Over the years, Provins developed around these international fairs that kept busy all year-round. Because of this urban layout and its excellent preservation, Provins was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2001. Provins is also popular for its medieval markets, the most popular fair that takes place in June. Everybody is dressed in medieval costumes and it is a good opportunity to find good quality handcrafted products. The medieval Christmas market, held during the two or three weekends before Christmas, is very popular too.

What to do in Provins? You can start by visiting the impressive medieval ramparts that surround the town. The views from the top are great and you can appreciate the town’s general layout. The César Tower formed part of Provins’ defensive system and it is also possible to visit.

The Grange aux Dimes is an old covered market built in the 13th century. It hosts today a museum of merchants and trades in the Middle Ages.

Then it’s all about medieval half-timbered houses in narrow cobbled streets. A stroll around Provins is like a trip back in time!

Disneyland Paris

Contributed by Gwen at Healthy Travel Mom

If you’re planning a trip to France – especially with kids – consider a visit to Disneyland Paris! Even if you’ve been to Walt Disney World in Orlando or Disneyland in Anaheim, California, a day trip from Paris to Disneyland Paris should be on your to-do list. Of all the daytrips from Paris, this will be the most fun for kids.

Located an easy, straight 45-minute train ride from the heart of Paris, Disneyland Paris (formerly Euro Disney) is located in the town of Marne-la-Vallée, France. It is actually comprised of two parks – Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park – plus Disney Village which, with its numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment, is akin to Downtown Disney at Disneyland in California. All three of these areas are within steps of each other and just a five-minute walk from the train station.

Even if you are not the biggest Disney fan, this place is worth a visit! Since its opening 25 years ago, Disneyland Paris has used French culture and architecture as inspiration for its attractions, shows, gardens and cuisine. One of the best areas of Disneyland Paris is Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy (aka Ratatouille: The Adventure), which is located in Walt Disney Studios. The ride is one of the best rides in Disneyland Paris and the little corner of the park is magnificently French, with Parisian buildings, a sidewalk café, and even little statues and a fountain.

Disney truly captures and delivers the idealized version of Paris that you’ve come to France with the dream of experiencing, and you won’t find that at any other Fantasyland in the world! More than the rides, admiring the landscaping and details in the décor is just one reason Why Every Trip to France Should Include a Visit to Disneyland Paris.

Chartres

Contributed by Wendy of The Nomadic Vegan

The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s easy to see why. Built in the 13th century, it has been dubbed the “high point of French Gothic art” and is incredibly well preserved. Many of the original stained glass windows remain intact and depict religious and historical scenes, such as Charlemagne’s recovery of Mary’s veil.

The sculpted figures are also impressive, and you’ll see hundreds of them on the façade as well as the inside of the Cathedral. The ones on the screen surrounding the choir were a later addition in the 18th century, but they are just as magnificent as their Gothic counterparts.

A climb up the north tower will be rewarded with magnificent views of Chartres and the surrounding countryside. And finally, be sure to head down inside the crypt, which was built in 1024 AD in the Romanesque style and is the largest in France.

If you come to from Paris to Chartres just to see the Cathedral, which is certainly the town’s star attraction, then half a day will be plenty of time to explore its nooks and crannies. You could, however, spend a full day in Chartres if you wanted to explore the town further. Its streets are lined with beautiful half-timbered houses with flowers hanging in the windows.

There are some noteworthy museums here too, such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts and a modern art gallery called Prieuré Saint-Vincent. One of Chartres’ more unusual attractions is Maison Picassiette. A local graveyard attendant purchased the house in 1929 and spent the next three decades covering it with mosaics made out of broken crockery.

Various restaurants around town serve typical French fare, but most rely on the tourist trade and are rather unremarkable. Veggie options in particular are quite limited, so vegans and vegetarians may want to bring along a packed lunch from one of the many veggie restaurants in Paris.

There are plenty of trains each day running between Chartres and the Paris Montparnasse train station. The journey takes just over an hour, making it one of the easiest daytrips from Paris.

Strasbourg

Contributed by Elisa from France Bucket List

If you are looking for interesting French cities to explore on a day trip from Paris, then consider the city of Strasbourg.

Strasbourg is located 490 km east of Paris, definitely not around the corner. However, it’s only 2 hours by TGV train leaving from Paris Gare de l’Est so it is possible to have a taste of another French region in just one day trip from Paris.

Strasbourg is the capital of the historical and cultural region of Alsace and also the capital of the new French region Grand Est which regroups the former regions of Alsace, Champagne, and Lorraine. In addition, Strasbourg is the formal seat of the European Parliament which gives the city an international touch with the Parliament’s contemporary architecture and the expatriates’ neighborhoods nearby.

Strasbourg sits not far from the German border and over the centuries the city changed hands from France to Germany and back to France many times. That’s why Strasbourg has a mix of cultures, especially found in the local cuisine with typical dishes like the baeckeoffe, flammekueche, choucroute, spaetzle, fleischnacka, and bretzel. 

Although most of people spend 2 days in Strasbourg, it is possible to see most of the main sights in just one day trip from Paris. Be sure to visit Notre Dame of Strasbourg, the impressive gothic cathedral with only one tower. If the weather is good and the sky is blue, climb up to the top for a gorgeous view of the Black Forest in Germany.

Just in front of the Cathedral, there’s La Maison Kammerzell, a jewel of renaissance architecture with its beautiful half-timbered façade. Today, the Kammerzell is a hotel and restaurant chic famous for its Choucroute aux 3 Poissons, 3-fish sauerkraut.

Then, without leaving Old Strasbourg, there’s the most famous and touristy neighborhood of La Petite France. Here, the river Ill is divided into five arms, which allowed people to build mills and tanneries. The architecture of this area, made of colorful half-timbered houses, is very pretty and photogenic by the canals. A visit to Strasbourg is one of the prettiest daytrips from Paris.

Bordeaux

Contributed by Jennifer at Bordeaux Travel Guide

Bordeaux in France’s south-west might seem like a long way from Paris and not as obvious to visit as a day trip as destinations such as Versailles or even Champagne. But with the TGV Paris Bordeaux train link delivering passengers to the World Capital of Wine in just 2 hours, it’s possible to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and some of the best Bordeaux has to offer on a day trip.

As Bordeaux locals, we recommend taking the first train of the morning from Paris to Bordeaux. You’ll arrive in Bordeaux just as the city is coming to life and can spend a full day exploring before heading back to Paris on the last train of the evening. While a day trip from Paris definitely isn’t enough time to do Bordeaux justice, you can get a feel for this charming port city by visiting some of the best attractions. Start by heading directly to La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s interactive wine museum and education experience. Here visitors not only learn about Bordeaux, but also the great wine capitals from all around the world through interactive displays and exhibits that indulge all the senses – including the finale wine tasting on the top floor with panoramic views over the city.

After Paris, Bordeaux has more UNESCO listed buildings than any other city in France. You can explore many of the buildings and monuments in the compact city center with a walking tour. Some not to miss are the Place de la Bourse and its Miroir d’Eau, the castle-like Porte Cailhau that served as one of the main monumental gates to the city when Bordeaux was fortified and the massive Cathédrale Saint-André where Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII married in 1137.

You can’t miss out on tasting Bordeaux wine when visiting such a world-renowned wine producing region. There are countless wine bars to head to for an urban wine tasting, but one of the best is Bar à Vin. Run by the Bordeaux wine council, there’s an ever-changing rotation of Bordeaux châteaux and appellations represented on the menu. The prices per glass are also some of the best in the city.

Riems

Contributed by Megan Starr

One of the most fantastic daytrips from Paris is the unofficial capital of the Champagne region- Reims.  Getting to Reims is an easy feat from Paris- you can simply travel from Paris to Reims by train or one of the cheap and efficient buses that goes regularly from the French capital.  Depending on how you opt to get there, the duration of the trip can range from 39 minutes on the fast train to just under two hours on bus.  The average train journey is around 7 Euros and takes 1 hour and 20 minutes, however.

Once you’re in Reims, you will find a plethora of things to do.  A popular choice is to take a champagne tour in Reims– there are many options and you can choose one in the Champagne countryside or even a city Champagne tour at Lanson, the only one in the actual city of Reims.

But, Reims is far more than champagne!  There are so many things to do there that you can keep occupied for a single day (or even a week!). The food is exceptional and the city is known for its delicious mustards and cheeses, all of which pair perfectly with a glass of local champagne.

Another notable place to visit in the city is the Notre-Dame de Reims, or the Reims Cathedral.  This church dates back to the 13th-century and despite being destroyed during WWI, it was rebuilt and stands today as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the city, along with the Palace of Tau and Abbey of Saint Remi.  The reason the Reims Cathedral is so important to French history is that it was the sight of the coronation of past French kings.  It is most definitely a worthwhile sight to visit in the city!

There are many reasons to visit Reims as a day trip from Paris. You will find a quiet city with a lot to do.  It will offer a very much-needed respite from France’s capital city and you will also get to enjoy a glass of Champagne in its home region, which makes it that much more special!

Final thoughts on Daytrips from Paris

Daytrips from Paris can be filled with tasty food, incredible wine, fun roller coasters and so much more! Remember to look for hidden gems in each one just like you hopefully will when seeking out the hidden gems in Paris.

Along with these incredible daytrips from Paris, there are still many more to consider. Perhaps you’d like to visit Fontainebleu, explore the chateaux of the Loire Valley, or travel to a different country such as doing a daytrip from Paris to London, the options for a great day trip from Paris abound!

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