When planning your trip to Paris, you may want to see a bit more of France than only the capital. It can be a nice way to get out of the busy city for a slower-paced day or to visit an area of special interest. Day trips from Paris not only save you from checking out of your hotel and transporting your luggage to a new city or village but also allow you to see a different side of the beautiful country. Plus, many day trips or only a train ride away, though some are easier to reach by bus tour.
For castles and palaces, the Palace of Versailles is undoubtedly the most popular, but you also can spend a day at Château de Fontainebleau, Loire Valley or Château de Chantilly. If culinary tourism is your thing, consider Champagne region of France and enjoy Champagne tastings accompanied by tours of historic Champagne houses. There are also Paris day trips that appeal to art and history lovers with villages like Giverny where Claude Monet lived and Normandy with strong ties to World War II history.
No matter your interest, with a little planning, you can add a fulfilling day trip from Paris to your vacation itinerary.
1. Palace of Versailles
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How to get there: You can travel to Versailles from Paris on your own by train in about an hour on the C line of the RER train. You need either a Paris Visite pass for zones 1-5 or a point-to-point ticket to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station or a Navigo Day Ticket.
Versailles is a top day trip from Paris with the Palace of Versailles being one of the best things to do in Paris among visitors. This must-see palace is an example of royal opulence, and you can tour the palace and the estate gardens on your own, with an audio guide or on guided tours. The estate is large and a visit here requires a lot of walking. Wear comfortable shoes. Also plan to spend a few hours here or even an entire day if you want to see the gardens as well as the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon, other residences on the estate. You’ll see where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette lived as well as learn about their lives and legacy.
If you've been to the Palace of Versailles or want to split your time between the palace and the town, Versailles has more to see. The Gallery of Coaches is a free display of royal carriages located in the royal stables. You can also visit the Marche Notre Dame, a food market where there are stalls selling street foods, and you browse seasonal produce, cheese and wine. The covered portion of the market is open Tuesday through Sunday, and the open-air market is open Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The market closes in the early afternoon.
2. Château de Fontainebleau
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How to get there: To travel on your own to Château de Fontainebleau, depart from Gare de Lyon station taking the R line on the Transilien train and depart at the Fontainebleau-Avon station, and hop on bus 1 taking it to the Château stop. Opt for a Paris Visite pass or a Navigo Day Ticket for zones 1-5 for this journey.
The Château de Fontainebleau dates back to the Middle Ages, though the palace went through an extensive rebuilding process in the 16th century. It was a residence of French royalty and rulers to the 19th century. This palace is less visited than the Palace of Versailles, so it is a great option for those looking to escape the crowds. A ticket will get you admission to the Grands Appartements and the Napoleon I Museum. You'll have the chance to view murals, paintings and an extensive collection of decorative arts from different rulers. Give yourself at least two hours to tour the palace because you can spend longer, especially if you opt to spend time on the grounds meandering through the gardens.
The village of Fontainebleau also has outdoor activities to enjoy. Bouldering is a popular pastime, and visitors also can enjoy taking on of the many trails in the Fontainebleau forest. Alternatively, you can rent a small rowboat and head out onto Carps Pond. For a unique experience, book a hot-air balloon ride for a bird's-eye view of the region.
3. Castle Tours in Loire Valley
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How to get there: Many of the castles in the Loire Valley are not easily accessible by public transportation, so the best way to get to the castles is by tour bus or a car rental.
The many castles of the Loire Valley make touring this area one of the best day trips from Paris. You can find tours that visit different castles but two of the most popular options are Château de Chambord and Château Chenonceau. Touring these sites offers an insight into some of the royals of France’s past as well as a chance to see luxurious decorations, furnishings and tapestries as well as paintings by well-known European artists.
Château de Chambord is an enormous structure on which construction started in the early 16th century and was not fully completed until the 17th century during the reign of Louis XIV. The architectural style mirrors the architecture of the Italian Renaissance, and while it was never used as a personal residence, it was used to host ambassadors and other dignitaries.
On the other hand, Château Chenonceau, also built in the 16th century, has been a home to several French nobles. This palace is uniquely built with part of the structure spanning across a river held up by a foundation of arches.
4. Château de Chantilly
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How to get there: From Gare du Nord, take a TER train to Gare Chantilly-Gouvieux. The journey takes about 25 minutes. From there, it's a 15- to 25-minute walk to Château de Chantilly. On weekends and holidays, you may be able to catch a shuttle bus that takes tourists up to the castle. Tickets for TER trains can be purchased from the SNCF website or at the train statin. Note that the RER line D has a stop in at Gare Chantilly-Gouvieux, but your journey on the train can increase to a little over an hour depending on your departure station.
The gorgeous Château de Chantilly is a popular Paris day trip to see the impressive interiors decorated in royal colors of deep reds and purples. You can tour the library, private apartments and reception rooms, much of which is decorated in the style of the 18th and 19th centuries. The art here is also a big draw. The collection of Henri d'Orleans, Duke of Aumale, is on display and is full of paintings from well-known European artists, like Raphael, Titian and Anthony van Dyck.
If you can, time your visit for an equestrian show. Buy your tickets for the show ahead of your visit because of the limited seating. And whether or not you can see the show, you should also tour the Great Stables. There are paintings and sculptures, displays of horse tack from a range of periods. If you visit the house, and stables, and see the equestrian show, your visit will span most of the day. For convenience, have lunch at one of the three on-site restaurants. Service ranges from a full-service restaurant to a cafe serving sandwiches. The full-service restaurant, La Capitainerie, is in one of the palace’s kitchens and takes reservations on weekdays.
5. Reims – The Champagne Region of Paris
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How to get there: To travel to Reims on your own, book a ticket on the TVG train. A direct ride from Gare de l'Est in Paris to the train station in Reims takes little more than 45 minutes. Be careful when booking trains. Routes that have stops and transfers can take around 90 minutes or longer. Tickets can be booked through the SNCF website or at the station.
Reims is one of the best Paris day trips to the Champagne Region of France. You can take Champagne-tasting tours to the vineyards and Champagne houses. Trying some of the French bubbly, touring the cellars and learning about the Champagne-making process. In addition to Champagne, Reims also contains historic sites. The town suffered bombings in World War II, and when rebuilding took place, many buildings were constructed in an art deco style.
Some of the popular Champagne houses to visit include Veuve Clicquot, Champagne Pommery and the Taittinger Champagne House. You can book tours and tastings of the Champagne houses directly on your own so you can go at your own pace or find a tour that will take you around the houses and take care of the logistics for you. Don't leave without trying the pink cookies that are a specialty of Reims or perhaps buying a bag for the road. These vanilla-flavored delights are called pink biscuits or biscuits rose and are meant to pair with a glass of Champagne.
6. Giverny — Claude Monet's House and Garden
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- Giverny and Monet's Garden Tour, a bike tour
How to get there: To travel to Giverny by train, depart from the Gare Saint-Lazare on a TER train to the Vernon stop. From there take the Grandes Lignes exit to get to the bus stop for a shuttle that will take you into Giverny. Tickets for the train can be purchased at the station or online from SNCF, and the fare for the Vernon to Giverny shuttle can be purchased on the shuttle.
Giverny is a small town outside of Paris. The main attraction here is Claude Monet's House and Gardens. Monet is a notable artist from the impressionism art movement, and his work can be found in many museums, including in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. On a visit to his former residence, you can take a self-guided tour of his lounge, kitchen and bedroom as well as his artist studio filled with replicas of his paintings to represent how the studio appeared when he actively used it.
You'll also have the opportunity to tour his gardens, which he built to inspire his art, including the water lilies, a particularly famous subject in his work. The gardens are lush with a pond, colorful blooms and archways covered in climbing plants. The whimsical setting is well worth the day trip from Paris, especially for fans of his art. Expect to spend around two hours at Monet's House and Gardens. The attraction is open from March to early November. If traveling during peak season in summer, purchase tickets ahead of your visit to save time at the entrance.
7. Auvers-sur-Oise — Vincent van Gogh’s Last Residence
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How to get there: From Gare Saint-Lazare, take line J to Gare de Pontoise where you'll transfer to line H and depart at Gare d'Auvers-sur-Oise. Tickets can be purchased online from SNCF.
The small village of Auvers-sur-Oise is most known as the last home of Vincent van Gogh. The now-popular artist, most known for paintings like "The Starry Night," lived a short life. Though he was plagued by then little-understood mental illness, he was a prolific painter. Van Gogh only lived in the town for 70 days before his death, but in that time, he painted many scenes around the village, filling some 80 canvases with paint.
While here, you can visit Auberge Ravoux, the inn where van Gogh rented a room where he lived and died during his time in Auvers-sur-Oise. He and his brother Theo are buried in the cemetery. While here, take the Painter's Pathway, a self-guided tour put together by the village's Office of Tourism, for sights to see that are important to not only van Gogh but also to many other painters who were attracted to this village for its scenic beauty.
8. Disneyland Paris
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How to get there: There are a few options to get to Disneyland Paris. From the city, you can buy tickets on the Disneyland Express bus service that departs between 8:30 and 9 a.m. from the Eiffel Tower area, Opéra Garnier and Châtelet, but the return trip on the shuttle may depart earlier than you care to leave the theme park. The park is also easily accessible via public transportation. From Gare Saint-Lazare take line A on the RER train. Depart at Marne-La-Vallée, and from there, it is a short walk to Disneyland Paris.
Disneyland Paris is made up of two parks, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. At both, you'll find rides similar to those of Disney parks in the U.S., such as Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and also new ones that you may not have seen before. Disneyland Park is divided into lands, Adventureland, Discoverland, Fantasyland and Frontierland. The castle is modeled after the Sleeping Beauty Castle, and next to it, you'll find La Tanière du Dragon (The Dragon's Lair), a ride where you can explore a fantasy dragon's abode. You'll also find Peter Pan-themed areas, an Indiana Jones ride and more. At Walt Disney Studio Park, rides and areas are themed after Pixar, Marvel, Frozen, Aladdin and other animated films. There's also a shopping area outside of the parks that's free to enter called Disney Village.
9. Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Suggested activity: Walking and Tasting Tour of Saint Germain En Laye
How to get there: Saint-Germain-en-Laye can be reached from Paris on the RER line A. It's about a 45-minute travel time from the Gare Saint-Lazare station. This village is in zone 4. You could get a point-to-point ticket, but that doesn't include any other public transportation during the day. To use the busses and other transportation with ease, consider purchasing a Navigo Day Ticket that includes zones 1-4 or a Paris Visite pass for zones 1-5.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is an old village that has winding roads that are fun to explore, turning corners to see what shop front lies ahead. At Place du Marché each Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, vendors set up an open-air market selling mostly produce, but you'll also find baked goods, flowers and other items.
You can also tour the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale (National Archeological Museum) housed in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a palace first built in the 12th century. There are also plenty of parks for strolls if you are looking for some fresh air and green spaces. The historical aspect of the village is great for history buffs; Saint-Germain-en-Laye was the residence of many royals and the birthplace of more than a few, including Louis XIV. It's also an excellent option for people seeking a day trip with a slower pace than the busy Paris attractions, especially during peak travel season in summer.
10. Normandy
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How to get there: While you can get to Normandy (specifically Bayeux and Caen) by train, it's best to book a guided tour if you only have one day to see the region because World War II-specific sites are spread out.
It's undeniable that World War II was a significant moment in time, and Normandy, where the Allied troops landed on the beaches on D-Day, remains a popular place for not only World War II history buffs but those who have a more casual interest in the momentous part of history. If you have time, there is enough in Normandy to warrant spending a night or two, but if a day is all you have, you can see several important sites. Prepare for a long day; bus tours from Paris range from 12 to 14 hours in length.
Different tours of course will prioritize different sites, so read the itinerary carefully if there is a specific place you want to visit. Common stops include Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, two of five landing spots on D-Day; the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, where over 9,000 military personnel are buried, most of whom died during the D-Day Invasion; and Pont du Hoc, a site where German bunkers and machine guns were set up.
Plan you Paris Trip with AAA
Paris is one of the top cities in Europe to visit, but if it's your first time, planning might be intimidating. Check out our guide to Paris for first time visitors for things you need to know like the best time visit Paris, how to navigate the city and more. If you want a little more help planning, contact a AAA Travel Agent, a free service to AAA members, and if you don't want to travel on your own and would rather take a guided vacation, take a look at our AAA Vacations® offerings for Paris.