10 Epic Day Trips From Paris – Best Getaways From Paris

The Château de Versailles is located approximately 20 km (40 minutes) West of Paris. You could choose to travel from Paris to Versailles by train, bus, car or opt for a convenient guided tour that includes round trip transportation.

Bus

If you choose to travel by bus, you can take bus no. 171 from the Pont de Sèvres stop (located at the end of the metro line 9) and get dropped off at the Château de Versailles.

Train

There are three train stations in Versailles. The closest and most convenient stop is the Versailles Château Rive Gauche. Purchase a train pass from any ticket office at the metro stations and take the RER C line to get to the Versailles Château-Rive Gauche stop. The train runs every 15 minutes from Gare d’Austerlitz and costs €7 for a 40 minute trip to Versailles.

You can return to Paris by train that also departs from the same stop. The last train from Versailles Rive Gauche railway station departs at 11:55 PM.

Car

If you are driving to the Palace, the best route to take is to get on the Peripherique (the Paris beltway) and exit on the A13. However, It can get crowded, especially on summer weekends. Plan for a minimum travel time of 45 minutes. You can park your car at the metered public parking lot in front of the chateau for the duration of your visit.

The Château

The Château de Versailles is one amongst the world’s most prestigious monument, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and “Monument historique”. With over 700 rooms, the Palace of Versailles offers a sneak peek into the lives of the French monarchy’s during their most influential years. Displaying over 60,000 artwork collections, Versailles is an ode to five centuries of French History.

Marie Antoinette's Estate

To take a breather from regal affairs and matters of the court, the Kings of Versailles built themselves a few intimate spaces close to Palace park. Adjacent to the Petit Park is the estate of Trianon, home to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon palaces, as well as the Queen’s Hamlet and a variety of ornamental gardens.

Domaine de Trianon

The Grand Trianon is a unique architectural building which King Louis XIV used as a private residence where he could spend time with Madame de Maintenon. It was originally known as the ‘Marble Trianon’ on account of the pink marble panels which adorned the palace’s elegant façades.

Gardens and Parks

The Château de Versailles is spread over 800 hectares and it's grounds are covered with sprawling gardens, musical fountains, orangeries, pattresses and more. The gardens were designed by famous architect André Le Nôtre and they are as breathtaking as the Palace itself.

Fountain Shows

Water is an important element of French gardens, even more so than plant designs and groves. Over 50 grand water fountains can be found in the gardens of Versailles. Each fountain was designed and sculpted based on themes from Greco-Roman mythology.

Palace Timings

The Versailles Palace timings are Tue-Sun between 9:00 AM - 6.30 PM during the high season (April to October) and between 9:00 AM - 5.30 PM during the low season (November to March).

The Versailles Palace is closed every Monday, 25 December and 1 January.

The Musical Fountain Shows

April 6th to October 27th - Saturdays and Sundays
May 21st to June 25th - Tuesdays
April 19th, May 8th, May 30th, August 15th
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

The Musical Gardens Show

April 2nd to May 14th - Tuesdays
July 2nd to October 29th - Tuesdays
April 5th to October 25th - Fridays (except April 14th)
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Disneyland® Paris is located approximately 40 km (60 minutes) east of Paris. You can travel from Paris to Disneyland by train, bus, car or opt for a convenient guided tour that includes round trip transportation.

Bus

You can take the Express Bus which includes the entry ticket for Disneyland Paris. If you're traveling from the airport, then take the Magical Shuttle Bus that runs from Paris Orly Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport costs €23.

Train

The RER A line travels from Paris to Disneyland - starting from the Charles de Gaulle Etoile station and ending at Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy - 2 minutes from Disneyland Paris. The train runs every 15 minutes and tickets cost €15.

You can return to Paris by train that also departs from the same stop. The last train from Versailles Rive Gauche railway station departs at 11:55 PM.

Disneyland Park

You can immerse yourself in the world of Disney stories and experience the magic of fairy tales in Disneyland Park. With over 50 attractions for different age groups, you can zip through the galaxy, discover the world of pirates, brave out a haunted mansion, and go on a voyage with dolls from all over the globe while stunning colorful parades bring your favorite Disney characters to life. Stay till the evening for the unforgettable fireworks and laser displays at the magnificent Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Walt Disney Studios Park

At Walt Disney Studios Park, you can uncover behind the scene truths of the most magical Disney films and television, discover the making of special effects and animation, meet and greet your Disney friends and explore the amusement land bursting with thrill and adventure.

Disneyland Village

Disney Village is the hub of entertainment for the whole family with shopping, restaurants, live shows, music, dancing, movies, and more. The state-of-the-art Gaumont Cinema Complex has 15 screens where you an enjoy the latest releases. Disney Village also has a hot-air balloon ride, Panoramagique - allowing you a panoramic view of Disneyland Paris.

Art of Disney Animation

A cinema presentation that takes you to the inside story of Disney Animation. You will learn about the inception and legacy of Walt Disney animation with Disney Characters from all eras. Followed by an interactive session giving you a chance to pencil in some animation.

Big Thunder Mountain

This is a thrilling ride on a runaway mine train cart as it takes you on a crazy rattling ride around a haunted mountain. This wild expedition takes you through dips and sharp turns, around raging waterfalls and raving rivers, giving you a rush of excitement. It has a height restriction of 1.02m.

Disneyland® Park: 10:00 AM to 07:30 PM

Walt Disney Studios® Park: 10:00 AM to 07:30 PM

Giverny is located approximately 75 km (80 minutes) west of Paris.

Train from Paris to Vernon-Giverny

Trains to Giverny depart from Saint Lazare and take you to Vernon, a town 6 kms away from Giverny, where you can get down and take a shuttle for the rest of your journey. Take the SNCF line heading from Saint Lazare for Rouen Rive Droite and you'll be in Vernon in 45 minutes.

Vernon to Giverny

From Vernon, you can either take the bus, taxi or bike to Giverny or walk the rest of the way. All public transport options are easy to find, you'll even find a few buses waiting at the station.

Fondation Claude Monet

The foundation includes Monet’s house and gardens where roses, poppie, dahlias, crocuses, tulips, irises, peonies and wisteria adorn the garden, year round. Monet’s house is a burst of colours as well - from its dusky pink exterior to yellow dining room and petit salon bleu, where Monet’s collection of Japanese prints is displayed.

Musée des Impressionnismes

Musée des Impressionnismes is nestled in a beautifully designed garden of its own. The annual exhibitions here are excellent and the permanent exhibitions are a well-curated collections of work by the likes of Sorolla, Degas or Manguin. They also conducts regular painting workshop, special events and tours.

Bus

Buses from Paris to Reims are ridiculously cheap, sometimes priced as low as one euro! Buses leave Paris from Bercy-Seine station in Paris and drops off in Reims at the Champagne-Ardenne train station. The total trip takes about 2-3 hours. Note, while the bus journey is definitely a cheaper option, it takes three times longer than the train.

Train

The easiest way to get to Reims is on the high-speed train, which gets you into the city center in only 45 minutes. All trains to Reims leave from Gare de Est station in Paris and arrive at either Reims or Champagne-Ardenne.

For the best deals, book your tickets as far in advance as possible as the ticket fare for these trains are based on demand, so tickets get more expensive as seats sell out and the travel date gets closer.

Car

You can drive from Paris to Reims, but the effort is not worth it. You could get there in 2 hours, but if you're driving during rush hour on this popular commuter route expect to be behind the wheel for much longer. The tolls amount to more than train or bus , not to forget the cost of renting a car and fuel. If you're planning to visit only Reims, you should stick to bus or train commute. If you're exploring more of French countryside, like Troyes, Lyon or Strasbourg then a car makes sense.

Organized Tour

The most hassle free way of traveling from Paris to Reims, an organized tour has your travel, entry to attractions and the company of a fantastic local guide sorted. What more do you need for an ideal day trip from Paris?!

Reims Cathedral

The 13th century Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is one of Europe’s finest Gothic cathedrals and the site of coronation of over 30 French kings.The magnificent cathedral stands tall at 81m, and houses 2,303 statues.

Palais du Tau

The walls of the Palace of Tau speak of the gaiety and celebrations of the coronations of kings. The palace, built in the Baroque style, houses several statues and rich tapestries that narrate heroic stories of France. Maintained as a museum today, it contains the coronation objects like the Talisman of Charlemagne and the Chalice of coronation.

Montagne de Reims

The mountains of Reims offer the sweetest and most famous bubbly – Champagne! Montagne de Reims are one of the four regions of Champagne district , where houses have the right to call their sparkling wines ‘champagne’. A Reims Champagne tour is ideal to discover the sunlit vineyards that produce the famous sparkling wine.

Abbey of Saint Rémi

Saint Rémi is the patron saint of Reims and holds importance as the Bishop who converted Clovis, the King of Franks, to Christianity. His relics are still preserved at the Abbey, beside which is the grander Basilique Saint-Remi.

Bus

A number of buses ply from Bercy Seine in Paris to Loire Valley. Check out buses 735, 773, 790, 733, N1162, N1163. This journey should take you about 2 hours.

Train

From Paris Montparnasse to St Pierre Des Corps by train and a quick self-transfer to a bus from St Pierre Gare to Jéricho takes you to the heart of Loire Valley. The whole journey should take just about 1.5 hours.

Car

If you truly wish to enjoy the scenic route from Paris to Loire Valley, travelling by road is ideal for those interested in capturing the landscaping views into their camera. A journey by road takes 3 hours.

Organized Tour

This is the best way to travel from Paris to Loire Valley. Since the journey via train includes self-transfers bus travel is time-consuming and driving a car for 3 hours is bound to tire you our, a coach transfer on organized tours offers many positives - wine tours, transfers from your accommodation and the company of an expert local guide.

Châteaux

Loire Valley is best known for its stellar castles, and while there are over 300 châteaux in Loire Valley, the Château de Chenonceau and the Château de Chambord are the most visited, as well as the most photographed, castles in France. With their expansive courtyards and palace grounds, these castles look right out of a fairytale.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

A museum dedicated to the wonders of fine art, Musée des Beaux-Arts holds an eclectic collection of notable artworks, sculptures, furniture, as well as paintings beginning from the 14th century onwards. The Musée des Beaux-Arts is also regarded as an iconic structure in Loire Valley because of its strikingly beautiful facade.

Cathedrals

Loire Valley is also blessed with some of the finest cathedrals in the world - Bourges Cathedral and the Chartres Cathedral, being the most popular for their intricate architecture and their artistic stained glass windows.

Wine Tasting

Being France’s 3rd largest wine producer, Loire Valley houses some of the most picturesque vineyards that produce a variety of wines. Take a guided walk through Loire Valley's vineyards, a typical visit which begins with a brief look into the grape picking and wine producing process, along with a fun wine-sipping experience to go along!

Bus

A number of buses ply from Bercy Seine in Paris to Loire Valley. Check out buses 735, 773, 790, 733, N1162, N1163. This journey should take you about 2 hours.

Train

From Paris Montparnasse to St Pierre Des Corps by train and a quick self-transfer to a bus from St Pierre Gare to Jéricho takes you to the heart of Loire Valley. The whole journey should take just about 1.5 hours.

Car

If you truly wish to enjoy the scenic route from Paris to Loire Valley, travelling by road is ideal for those interested in capturing the landscaping views into their camera. A journey by road takes 3 hours.

Organized Tour

This is the best way to travel from Paris to Loire Valley. Since the journey via train includes self-transfers bus travel is time-consuming and driving a car for 3 hours is bound to tire you our, a coach transfer on organized tours offers many positives - wine tours, transfers from your accommodation and the company of an expert local guide.

Châteaux

Loire Valley is best known for its stellar castles, and while there are over 300 châteaux in Loire Valley, the Château de Chenonceau and the Château de Chambord are the most visited, as well as the most photographed, castles in France. With their expansive courtyards and palace grounds, these castles look right out of a fairytale.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

A museum dedicated to the wonders of fine art, Musée des Beaux-Arts holds an eclectic collection of notable artworks, sculptures, furniture, as well as paintings beginning from the 14th century onwards. The Musée des Beaux-Arts is also regarded as an iconic structure in Loire Valley because of its strikingly beautiful facade.

Cathedrals

Loire Valley is also blessed with some of the finest cathedrals in the world - Bourges Cathedral and the Chartres Cathedral, being the most popular for their intricate architecture and their artistic stained glass windows.

Wine Tasting

Being France’s 3rd largest wine producer, Loire Valley houses some of the most picturesque vineyards that produce a variety of wines. Take a guided walk through Loire Valley's vineyards, a typical visit which begins with a brief look into the grape picking and wine producing process, along with a fun wine-sipping experience to go along!

TGV (Train A Grand Vitesse)

Take a TGV from Paris’ Gare Montparnasse to Rennes, from where Keolis buses travel to Mont St. Michel up to 4 times a day. The journey should take you around 3.5 hours. You can also change trains at Rennes for the Pontorson-Mont St-Michel train station. Once you arrive at the edge of the mainland, you can either take a free shuttle or walk across the 900 m long causeway (Pont Passerelle) that connects the mainland to the island. The shuttle will cost you €2 shuttle one way.

Car

There is a dedicated car park on the mainland, 1.5 miles away from the island. From the parking lot you have to walk about 800m to Place des Navettes and board the free shuttle that drop you about 450m away from the island. The shuttles operate every day from 7:30 AM to midnight.

Guided Tours

Most day trips to Paris begin with a pick up in Paris at the break of dawn. With round-trip transportation from Paris to Mont St. Michel and back, an organized day trip from Paris to Mont St. Michel allows you to skip the hassle of arranging your own journey to this popular destination. With an expert local guide giving you company through the day, bask in the knowledge they impart and visit the best of Mont St. Michel.

Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel

Le Mont St. Michel is a fairytale island commune located off the coast of Normandy, France. The image of Le Mont St. Michel with its dramatic spires and abbey, majestically rising from the bare beach is what most people come to see in Mont St. Michel.

La Chapelle-Saint-Aubert

Another hidden gem of a chapel, quieter and more pristine than other chapels in town. A tiny stone construction with paintings inside, it feels serene and calm with terrific views at high tide.

La Grande Rue

A street full brimming with hole-in-the-wall shops and rustic cafés, Mont-Saint-Michel’s main street is more like something from a fairytale than a French town. The street is steep as well as busy, so wear good shoes and save your feet.

Scenic drive

The drive from Paris to Somme with its winding coastal roads, devoid of traffic is a great ride. It is interspersed with historically important towns, memorials, museums, battlefields and graveyards.

Somme Battlefields

Experience the history of World War I on your visit to the Somme Battlefields and pay your respect to those who lost their lives in the war.

Adventure activities

One can indulge in sand-yachting, horse-riding, kayaking and hiking in Somme. There's a lot more in this region than memorials and graveyards.

Somme Bay

Visit Somme Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world. It is rich in wildlife and is most famous for the colony of seals that can be spotted at any given time.

Somme battlefield

The Somme battlefield is liberally scattered with various battlefields, trenches and memorials. While you may not be able to cover each and every one of them, no trip to Somme is complete without visiting at least the key battlefields, trenches and memorials.

John Monash Centre

The John Monash Centre is an ode to Australia's story during the tragic war. You can get to hear war stories in the form of letters, images and diary entries - a truly immersive and interactive experience of the war and its consequences.

Museum of the Great War

Located at the heart of the Somme battlefield, the Museum of the Great War is one of the largest war museums in Europe. Prisoners of War and Children in World War I, two of its most famous permanent exhibits are the highlight for most visitors in Somme.

Historial of the Great War

The Historial of the Great War in Perrone depicts the lives of soldiers behind the trenches. The museum also has a collection of interesting documentaries and films that lets us know more about the war and its consequences.

Medieval Times

A day in Provins is like a walk down the medieval era, a chance to delve into the depths of a city that is seemingly frozen in the 13th century.

Offbeat Experiences

The Equestrian falconry show "Eagles of the Ramparts" is an exquisite display of medieval hunting tradition.The Tithe barn, another interesting location in Provins is an exotic barn that has a large fireplace with a fire that burns almost all year. The massive wooden beams that adorn the Grange aux Dîmes is a sight to behold. Not to forget, the La Légende des Chevaliers show that features knights, damsels, animals indulging in sword fighting, comedy sketches, and stunts.

La Légende des Chevaliers

This good versus evil themed show is a must watch for history buffs. The La Légende des Chevaliers show features knights, damsels, animals indulging in sword fighting, comedy sketches, and stunts. Though most dialogues are in French, it is easy to follow from the animated actions and expressions.

Saint-Jean's Gate and The Remparts

A tour of The Remparts will help you gauge the importance of Provins in the history books. The ramparts of Provins have 22 towers, and a tour here gives you the chance to walk the footsteps of legendary merchants and soldiers.

La Tour Cesar

Henri le Liberal is the crown jewel of Provins. Believed to be built during the reign of Henri le Liberal, this tower was mainly used for military purposes. The unassuming charisma of the architecture of its exterior leads you to the pragmatic interiors with dark passages and narrow stairwells. You are rewarded with a magnificent view of Provins from the top of La Tour Cesar.

Les Souterrains de Provins

Subterranean Provins has two sets of tunnels, one of which is believed to be in use during the Iron ages, and the other during the medieval period. A guided tour will reveal all that is known about these mysterious tunnels - the drawings and graffiti dating as far back as you can imagine.

La Roseraie de Provins

La Roseraie de Provins houses close to 500 varieties of roses in 30,000 square feet of area, divided into different chambers. Right by the entrance is a tea room that affords you a view of the capering colors and the town in all its glory.

Les Aigles Des Remparts

This show is for people who like birds and animals. Trainers get the birds swooping in from all directions during the show. The instructions are in French but that won’t mar the experience. At the end of some of the shows, the trainers may even place the birds on your head or shoulders. In addition to birds, dogs and horses are a part of the Les Aigles Des Remparts too.

Picturesque Drive

The drive from Paris to Carcassonne, though a long one, is very beautiful. Visitors can also make pit stops at picturesque destinations like the Loire valley and Dordogne that fall along the way.

Historic Relevance

The city of Carcassone played a very important role in the formation of France and was once the seat of the Counts of Carcassonne. It later became the home ground of the Trencavel family.

Exploring the Fortified Town

Carcassonne is one of the few cities that are fortified even now. Explore the old city that is still protected by the fortress walls built hundreds of years ago.

The Citadel

The Citadel spans an area of 3 km and houses 52 towers surrounded by a moat. A fascinating castle, a beautiful basilica and the entire Old City rest within these outer walls

The Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus

Famous for its Romanesque architecture and intricate sculptures, the basilica was built hundreds of years ago. It's central stained glass window is sai dto be the oldest in all of France.

Châteaux de Lastours

A combination of four magnificent castles, Châteaux de Lastours overlooks the picturesque village of Lastours. Just 20 minutes north of Carcassonne, this medieval castle should not be missed.