Best Day Trips from Paris, France
Are you looking for the best day trips from Paris, France?
Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world. I used to live there, and I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years. I’ve also taken quite a few day trips from Paris, and I’m sharing my favorites below.
While Paris itself is an amazing city, there are also some great destinations you can easily discover on a day trip. Many of these day trip destinations are easily accessible by train from Paris, while others require you to drive. For some of the destinations, especially the ones that are further away, I’ve included tour recommendations if you’d rather not worry about the logistics of planning a visit on your own.
If you’re taking the train, I recommend using Omio to book your train tickets at the best price.
I’ve personally visited every single one of these destinations myself, and they are all worth a visit.
Here’s a look at the best day trips from Paris, France.
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Best Day Trips from Paris:
- Day trip to Versailles with skip-the-line access and a guide
- Day trip to Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte (less crowds than Versailles!)
- Day trip to Reims with champagne tastings and lunch
- Day trip to Normandy and D-Day beaches (lots of driving but worth it!)
Versailles
Versailles is the classic Paris day trip. This opulent palace located near Paris was the home of many French monarchs including Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King. The interior of the palace is stunning.
But you also can’t miss the sprawling landscaped gardens of Versailles, or Grand Trianon, which is a smaller palace on the grounds that was the primary residence of Marie Antoinette.
You will definitely want to book your tickets to Versailles in advance, because there can be extremely long lines for tickets and it’s often very crowded, being such a popular day trip from Paris.
I recommend visiting Versailles independently because it’s very easy. All you have to do is take the RER C train from Paris to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, which takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on where you’re coming from in Paris. Then it’s a 15-minute walk to the entrance of Chateau de Versailles.
However, tours to Versailles are also available if you’d prefer not to take the train yourself.
This highly-rated half-day tour to Versailles includes round-trip transportation by coach bus from Paris, admission to the palace and gardens, and a tour of the palace by a knowledgeable guide.
Giverny
Another one of the best day trips from Paris is Giverny. This small village outside of Paris is where the famous Impressionist artist Claude Monet lived and worked for 43 years. He painted some of his most famous works at Giverny, including his water lily paintings and haystack paintings.
You can visit Giverny on your own by taking the TER train from Gare de St. Lazare in Paris to Vernon. This takes 40 minutes. From the town of Vernon, though, you will need to take a taxi or bus to Giverny. It’s a 15-minute drive. Another option is taking a scenic one-hour walk from Vernon to Giverny.
Like with Versailles, you’ll want to book your tickets for Giverny in advance because it’s very popular. Tickets give you access to Monet’s home as well as his extensive gardens where he often painted.
You can also visit Giverny on a tour. This half-day tour to Giverny includes round-trip transportation by coach bus from Paris, admission to Giverny, an audio guide, and free time in the town for lunch.
Fontainebleau
If you’re already been to Versailles before, or you want to avoid the massive crowds there, I highly recommend visiting Fontainebleau instead. This town is the perfect Versailles alternative.
The highlight here is Chateau de Fontainebleau, an impressive palace that was historically a summer residence and hunting lodge for the French monarchs. Napoleon later lived here as well.
To get to Fontainebleau, take the Transilien R train from Gare de Lyon in Paris to Fontainebleau-Avon. The total journey time is 40 minutes. You can then walk a leisurely 40 minutes across town to reach the chateau, or save time and take a 10-minute bus ride on the 1 bus or the 4014 bus.
You can book your tickets to Chateau de Fontainebleau online in advance.
There’s another chateau just 30 minutes from Fontainebleau, Chateaux Vaux-le-Vicomte. You can visit both on a day trip if you drive yourself. Otherwise, you can take a tour that visits both chateaux. This is what I personally did, and I would highly recommend it! Chateaux Vaux-le-Vicomte is worth the visit.
This is the exact full-day tour I did that went to Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte. It included round-trip transportation from Paris by coach bus and admission and audio guides for both chateaux.
Related: Chateau de Fontainebleau Day Trip from Paris, France
Chantilly
Another great chateau to visit near Paris is Chateau de Chantilly. The town of Chantilly is also a great place to stop for lunch and to try Chantilly cream, a delicious whipped cream that is popular all over France but originated here. Try it on hot chocolate when it’s cold or with a bowl of strawberries in the summer!
I like Chantilly as another alternative to Versailles. It’s nowhere near as crowded because many tourists don’t know this historic palace even exists, so it makes for a lovely, relaxed day trip from Paris.
To get to Chantilly, you just have to take the TER train from Gare du Nord in Paris to Chantilly Gouvieux. This takes 25 minutes. Then it’s a scenic 20-minute walk to the entrance of the chateau.
You can book your tickets to the chateau online in advance, but as I mentioned, it’s nowhere near as crowded with day trippers as Versailles is, so you probably don’t need to worry about it. Admission includes access to the interior of the palace, the gardens, and the horse stables, where many prized horses live!
There’s a free equestrian demonstration at the stables, although it’s all in French.
Related: Chateau de Chantilly Day Trip from Paris, France
Reims
Reims is a city northeast of Paris that is famous for being the unofficial capital of the Champagne region of France. Many champagne houses have their headquarters in Reims and vineyards nearby.
Additionally, Reims is a nice city to walk around and explore on a day trip, seeing historic sites like Reims Cathedral, a grand Gothic cathedral where 25 French kings were crowned.
You can get to Reims independently from Paris. The fastest option is the TGV train from Gare de l’Est, which takes just 45 minutes. However, tickets can be pricy for this, so be sure to book them in advance. Personally, I took a FlixBus (a cheap option) to Reims, which took about one hour and 40 minutes.
Another option is visiting Reims on a tour from Paris. This full-day tour from Paris comes highly rated and it includes stops at several champagne houses, eight champagne tastings, and lunch.
You can also take this half-day tour from Reims, which is more affordable. You’ll need to get yourself to Reims, but then you’ll embark on this tour to visit several champagne houses and enjoy six tastings.
Disneyland Paris
Whether you’re traveling with kids or you’re just a kid at heart yourself, Disneyland Paris is another great day trip. I’ve been to Disneyland Paris four times now and I love it. If you’re a fan of Disney theme parks, it’s certainly worth going. But if you wouldn’t normally visit a theme park at home, you can skip it.
Like I said, I really enjoy Disneyland Paris. There are two theme parks here (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park) but for a day trip, I recommend just visiting Disneyland Park. This is the largest and best park of the two, and it has the iconic pink Sleeping Beauty Castle at the center.
To get to Disneyland Paris, take the RER A train from Paris to the final stop, Marne-La-Vallée Chessy. This will take 40 minutes to an hour depending on where you’re coming from in Paris.
I recommend purchasing your Disneyland Paris ticket through GetYourGuide. I’ve done this the past two times I’ve visited Disneyland Paris because it’s about $10 cheaper than purchasing directly from Disneyland Paris, and you have the flexibility to change or cancel your ticket up to 24 hours in advance.
To make the most out of your day trip to Disneyland Paris, I highly recommend getting an early start and arriving at least 15 minutes before the park opens. You will also want to stay late. The first hour in the morning and the last couple of hours before the park closes are the least crowded times of day.
Sceaux
Sceaux is a lovely town just south of Paris. This is a little-known destination for a day trip, but it’s one I highly recommend! It’s the perfect place for a short half-day trip because of its proximity to Paris.
The highlight here is Chateau de Sceaux, a small but beautiful historic chateau. The chateau also has some beautiful gardens and a large park behind it, the perfect location for a picnic on a nice day.
To get to Sceaux, take the RER B train south. The journey time is about 20 minutes depending on where you’re coming from. You can either get off at Bourg la Reine and walk 20 minutes to reach Chateau de Sceaux, or wait one more stop and get off at Sceaux, and then walk about 15 minutes to get there.
You cannot book your tickets to Chateau de Sceaux online in advance — you just buy them there. It’s unlikely to be very crowded, and the tickets are also quite cheap. This is definitely a hidden gem!
Related: Chateau de Sceaux Day Trip from Paris, France
Lille
If you want to visit another city in France on a day trip from Paris, Lille would be my top pick. This city in northern France is close to the border with Belgium and it has many Flemish influences.
Historically, Lille has been an important merchant city, as well as a cultural hub. It’s a great place to visit independently on a day trip from Paris. The historic center of the city, Vieux Lille, is a lovely place to stroll around. You also shouldn’t miss the Palais des Beaux Arts, an excellent art museum.
Getting to Lille from Paris is easy. The fastest option is the TGV train which takes just over an hour from Gare du Nord. You’ll want to book tickets in advance because this can be expensive.
If you don’t mind a longer journey, the TER train (which is a slower regional train) is another option. It also leaves from Gare du Nord, but it takes two hours and 20 minutes to get to Lille.
Normandy
Another one of the best day trips from Paris is the D-Day beaches of Normandy. For World War II enthusiasts and history buffs, this is a great destination. However, I have to warn you that we’re now getting into territory much further from Paris, and visiting Normandy means you’re in for a long travel day.
I highly recommend making a separate trip to Normandy and spending a few days there if you can, but I know not everyone has time for that and you might be limited to a day trip from Paris.
The only way to get to the D-Day beaches in Normandy is to drive from Paris, which takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on where you’re going. For just a day trip, I don’t recommend getting a rental car since picking it up will eat into your already limited time, and driving in and out of Paris can be a hassle.
Instead, I would highly recommend a tour if you want to visit Normandy on a day trip from Paris. This full-day tour would be my top pick. It includes round-trip transportation by coach bus from Paris, an expert guide, stops at several important World War II sites, lunch, and a cider and spirits tasting.
Related: Normandy Day Trip from Paris, France
Mont St. Michel
Finally, Mont St. Michel is one of the top day trips from Paris. Like with the D-Day beaches of Normandy, this is a long day trip so be prepared for that if you choose to do it. Once again, I understand that not everyone has time to go stay in northern France, and a day trip from Paris might be your only option.
If that’s the case, don’t be put off by the long driving times. Mont St. Michel is an incredible destination that is well worth a visit. Located on a tidal island in a remote coastal region of northern France, Mont St. Michel rises dramatically from the water. The small island is home to a monastery that dates back to the 8th century, an abbey, and a small village that is filled with shops and restaurants.
The only way you can get here is by driving from Paris. Like with Normandy, I would also recommend doing an organized tour rather than dealing with the hassle of a rental car for just one day.
This full-day tour to Mont St. Michel is a good option. Although it’s a very long drive (4.5 hours each way), this tour maximizes the time you actually spend at Mont St. Michel (over five hours.) It includes a guide who will give you a tour of the island, and includes admission to the Mont St. Michel Abbey.
Best Day Trips from Paris
This guide showed you the best day trips from Paris, France.
As much as I love Paris, I also really love exploring the rest of France too! There are so many great destinations in France that you can visit on a day trip from Paris, some just an hour or so away.
Whether you want to spend the day at a historic chateau, walk in the artist Claude Monet’s footsteps, discover World War II history in Normandy, or something else, there’s a day trip for you.
Enjoy your trip to France!
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