11 Best Day Trips from Paris

Paris Day Trips – Best Way to Visit

A. Day Trips from Paris By Train

Most of the best day trips from Paris are easy to plan by train. The French rail network links all the major towns and cities while also linking up many small towns in rural France. If you know a few simple tips about using trains in France, then it’s an absolute breeze.

Generally, trains are on time, comfortable, relatively cheap, and definitely more eco-friendly than traveling by car.

TIP: Do you have more time available? Check out the best weekend getaways from Paris by train

Map of Best Day Trips out of Paris

Click here to view this map of the best day trips from Paris on Google

Best Day Trips from Paris by Train or Car

Below is the list of the best Paris day trips by train or car, in no particular order, and all the information and top tips to plan a self-guided visit.

If you are looking for a bit of comfort, we also list the best guided tours covering these destinations and have added links to our favorite trusty providers for your convenience.

1. Day Trip from Paris to Versailles

Versailles is the most popular 1-day trip from Paris, and for a reason! The Château de Versailles is one of the world’s biggest and most beautiful palaces, with spectacular rooms and halls. It was home to King Louis XIV and his court and the witness to important events like the signing of the Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919), which marked the end of the First World War.

The Gardens of Versailles are as amazing as the Château itself. They are beautifully decorated with fountains, water games, and grooves. From April to October, you can enjoy the shows around the Fountains of Versailles and a fireworks show on the weekends. The impressive 5.57 km wide Grand Canal is also the ideal place for a stroll or a picnic lunch by the water.

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2. Paris Day Trip to Monet’s Garden in Giverny

In the region of Normandy, Giverny is another of the most popular day trips outside Paris. Giverny is where Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived and worked from 1883 until he died in 1926. Every year, thousands of visitors travel to Giverny to visit Monet’s Garden and admire the water lily pond that inspired his paintings.

Giverny is the best day trip from Paris to enjoy the French countryside. Apart from Monet’s House, Giverny has a main street with cute shops, cafés, and an Impressionist Museum.

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3. Day Trip from Paris to Mont St. Michel

With spectacular Gothic architecture, rich history, and an incredible setting, the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is one of the best day trips from Paris.

Mont Saint-Michel is located on a rocky island about one kilometer off the coast of Normandy. The area is known for its high tides, making the Abbey inaccessible for some hours.

The Abbey dedicated to Saint-Michel became a renowned center of pilgrimage and learning, attracting some of Europe’s greatest minds and manuscript illuminators. Today, this stunning site is listed as Unesco World Heritage, and it is one of the most visited places in France.

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4. Day Trip from Paris to Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is one of the top family day trips out of Paris. Escape the hassle of the city and join Mickey Mouse & Co. for a wonderful day in the magical world of Disney.

In Disneyland Paris, there are two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. Both parks have many child-friendly rides on offer, but adults without kids will also have lots of fun thanks to Disney’s full-on thrill rides for adults.

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5. Paris Day Trip to Loire Valley Castles

The Loire Valley is dotted with magnificent Rennaissance castles, known as Châteaux de la Loire or Loire Castles. Home to French Kings and nobles, the best Loire Valley castles are great architectural achievements, usually surrounded by fabulous French-style gardens.

The most famous Loire Valley Castles, like Blois, Amboise, or Chambord, are relatively easy to reach by public transportation. Château de Chenonceau is also possible, but the transportation options are less convenient. If you decide to visit the Loire Castles by public transport on a one-day trip from Paris, you will only have time for one or two castles maximum.

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6. Paris Day Trip to Normandy’s D-DAY Landing Beaches

In the region of Normandy, the D-day landing beaches is one of the most memorable day trips from Paris. Indeed, this was the definitive battle that led to the victory of the Allies in WW2.

Visit Caen’s Memorial Museum to learn more about D-Day and the Second World War in general before heading to the main beaches where the Americans, Canadians, and British landed. These places are dotted with military cemeteries, memorials, and smaller museums, all well worth a stop.

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7. Day Trip from Paris to Champagne Wine Region

If you are looking for wine day trips from Paris, the Champagne region is a lovely area to explore.

Visit Épernay, the capital of the champagne wine, and the cute small town of Hautvillers nearby. In Hautvilliers Abbey, the monk Dom Perignon developed the method of champagnisation of wine, and you can visit his tomb.

Visit Reims, the region’s capital, for some city sightseeing and tastings.

TIP: If you plan to bring a few bottles home, make sure you pack your wine properly, so it arrives safely home!

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8. Paris Day Trip to Fontainebleau

Château de Fontainebleau is considered the ‘true home of French Kings‘, and it is one of the most beautiful castles in France.

However, Fontainebleau is a lovely town with much more than the château. There’s also a beautiful forest great for hiking or climbing and some pretty small towns around.

Trains to Fontainebleau Avon leave from Paris Gare de Lyon (39 min, hourly). There’s no need to book train tickets in advance for Fontainebleau.

Walkers will find some hiking trails not far from the train station, while sightseers will take the shuttle bus to reach the Château. The bus stop is just outside the train station.

In Fontainebleau, it is possible to fly over the Château and the forest on a hot air balloon. This is a wonderful experience that we always recommend to everyone. The hot air balloon tours depart from the entrance of the Château, and you can read about our experience here.

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9. Day Drip from Paris to Provins

Provins is one of the easy day trips from Paris by train. Provins is a picturesque medieval town located 90 km southeast of Paris. In Medieval times, Provins was famous for its fairs that attracted merchants from all over Europe.

This Paris one-day trip is like a step back in time! Provins boasts beautiful and well-preserved medieval architecture, part of the ramparts that protected the city, and a network of underground tunnels built by the merchants to store the goods. Provins Tourisme organizes guided tours to visit these galleries, and this is something unique you won’t want to miss.

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10. Paris Day Trip to Chantilly

Chantilly is another of the best day trips from Paris by train. Chantilly is a pretty town 38 km north of Paris, well-known for its prestigious galop race, Prix de Diane Longines, and the Domaine de Chantilly.

The Domaine de Chantilly includes the Château de Chantilly, surrounded by magnificent gardens, and the Great Stables, with the Horse Museum inside. There are Chantilly combo tickets for the Château, the Great Stables, and the Equestrian show, but you can also go for a stroll around the gardens only.

The day trip from Paris to Chantilly by train is straightforward and an excellent alternative to more popular and crowded châteaux like Versailles or Fontainebleau.

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11. Day Trip from Paris to Auvers-sur-Oise

Auvers-sur-Oise is one of the loveliest small towns near Paris. Auvers is mainly known for being Van Gogh’s last home. The Dutch painter spent the last two months of his life in Auvers, where he painted 70 works.

This Paris day trip is perfect for people willing to explore the French countryside. Travel to Auvers to visit the famous Church at Auvers, Van Gogh’s tomb, and the room where he died. There are also two trails that connect several views that appear in some paintings by Van Gogh and the Impressionists. On each exact spot, there’s a plaque with a canvas reproduction so you can compare the actual view to its artistic representation.

So there you have it, our selection of the best day trips from Paris by train and by car. Which Paris day trips would you like to take during your next holiday to Paris?

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