16 Best Day Trips from Paris, France
There’s nothing quite like a day trip. It’s the perfect way to spend a few hours, learn more about the world, and leave your comfort zone just enough so you can tell all your friends about it later. The great thing is that a day trip can take you anywhere: from Paris to Brussels and beyond.
Paris is a wonderful city and one of the best cities in Europe to visit, but there’s so much more to see in France! If you’re looking to explore beyond the city limits, there are plenty of great day trips you can take.
Best Day Trips from Paris, France
Here are some of the best options for visitors who want to see more of France and the surrounding countries.
Château de Versailles
Château de Versailles is a must-see for anyone visiting France. This former royal palace is now a museum, and it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The Château is huge, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore all it has to offer. And don’t forget to visit the beautiful gardens! Château de Versailles is a great day trip from Paris. It’s the former home of Louis XIV, and it’s also where he built his famous gardens.
There are plenty of things to see at Versailles, so it’s a good place to learn about French history if that interests you. If you like gardens, this might be your favorite part! Château de Versailles is definitely worth a visit when you’re in France.
Loire Valley
If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Paris, the Loire Valley is the perfect place to go. This picturesque region is located in central France and is home to many beautiful castles and estates. You can take a day trip from Paris by train or car, or even spend a few days exploring if you have the time. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy your time in this lovely region.
The Loire Valley is a great option for visitors who want to get out of the city and see some of the country’s stunning countryside. So if you’re looking for a little respite from the busyness of city life, be sure to add the Loire Valley to your travel itinerary.
Normandy
Normandy is located in northwestern France and is best known for its role in World War II. However, there’s much more to see in Normandy than just its wartime history. The region is home to charming villages, a stunning coastline, and plenty of delicious food and wine.
Visitors can take day trips from Paris by train or car, or even stay overnight if they want to explore more thoroughly. Normandy is an ideal destination for travelers who want to experience a little bit of everything that France has to offer. There’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
For a day trip from Paris, Neuilly-sur-Seine is an excellent choice for travelers who want to get away from the city but still be close enough to visit it on return. This commune in the western suburbs of Paris is located in the department of Hauts-de-Seine, in the region of Île-de-France. It is known for its large mansions and historic buildings.
Neuilly was originally a village called Nully but was renamed after an area that was part of France during World War I to avoid identification with Germany (the word “neu” means “new”). The name has also been spelled as Neuil or Nuilly; it comes from Latin nucetum meaning “nut grove”.
Chantilly, France
Chantilly is a town in northern France famous for its Château de Chantilly, which is located just outside of Paris. It’s also home to one of the most important stables in the world: those belonging to the Duke of Westminster. The Duke’s stables house some of the best racehorses in all of France and have produced many winners over the years.
However, there’s more than horse racing in Chantilly! There are numerous parks and gardens around town that are worth exploring; these include Le Bois de Nesle, Parc Floral de Paris-Vincennes, and Parc Zoologique d’Amnéville (which has an underwater tunnel so you can snorkel through sharks).
Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a city in Yvelines, France. The town is located on the Seine River and it’s known for its château. The château was built in 1669 and has been renovated several times since then to maintain the original look. There are many parks and gardens surrounding the castle, which makes it an ideal place for a picnic lunch if you’re visiting on a nice day.
Saint-Germain has plenty of other attractions as well: there are museums like Musée du Château de Saint-Germain en Laye (the castle museum), Musée du Petit Palais (a contemporary art museum), Musée du Jeu de Paume (a photography museum) and Musée Nissim de Camondo (a 19th-century mansion that now houses artwork from various periods).
Reims, France
Reims is known for its champagne and is the capital of the Champagne region. It’s also home to a pair of medieval cathedrals: the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Reims, which has been around since the 12th century, and Saint-Remi Basilica, built in 1049. Both are Gothic structures with lots of arches, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows that let in tons of light.
If you’re looking for something more modern or you want a break from churches, head to Place du Général De Gaulle where you’ll find one of France’s largest squares (the smallest being Place de la Bastille). There are plenty of restaurants around here so grab lunch before heading across town to see another famous French landmark: La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (or Cathedral of Our Lady), home base for one-third of all French monarchs before it was destroyed during The French Revolution; Charles X had it rebuilt between 1844 and 1864 using much older materials salvaged from other churches throughout France.
Calais, France
Calais is a town in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It’s located on the English Channel, and it’s a major port for ferries between France and England.
The town has an interesting history that you’ll be able to learn about on your visit. During World War I, British troops were stationed there and considered it their last stronghold before they went back home to Britain. During World War II, Nazi Germany took over Calais as part of its invasion of France and used it as a staging ground for its attacks on Britain.
Épernay, France
Épernay is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It lies on the river Marne, from which it derives its name, and at the confluence of two small rivers: Éve and Ardon. The town is located at 51 degrees north latitude, about 102 km (63 mi) east of Paris. Épernay is a part of Champagne and borders Reims to the south; Châlons-en-Champagne to the east; Sézanne to the north; Contrexéville to the northwest; Vertus to the west; Avize to the southwest and Aÿ within Chaville close by Paris.
It is located in the Champagne wine region and is home to famous Champagne houses Moët et Chandon (founded 1743), Pommery (founded 1829), and Mercier&Fils(founded 1872).
Provins, France
Provins is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located 35 kilometers southeast of Paris. Provins, a very old city, known for its medieval and Renaissance history.
The historic center of Provins contains many important monuments and buildings from these periods: its Romanesque cathedral (11th to 13th centuries); its fortified walls (12th century); its Gothic former bishop’s palace (14th century), now housing a museum; and the houses of several famous figures from Medieval times like Jacques Cœur or Charles V of France, who was born here on December 21st, 1338 and died on September 16th, 1422 at Vincennes castle while he was preparing to invade England.
On July 7th, 2015 an enormous fire destroyed much of this part of town including four churches, two theatres, and many shops but thankfully there were no casualties as they were closed at night when most residents were asleep! One year later it seems most places are back up and running again with some renovating still occurring around town but definitely worth visiting if you’re interested in Medieval architecture or if you just want some history lessons during your stay here!
Auvers-sur-Oise, France
Auvers-sur-Oise is a village in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located in the heart of the valley of Saint-Germain-en-Laye with an incredible view over the Seine River. Auvers-sur-Oise was once a rural commune that has been merged into the urban area of Paris.
This sleepy town was once home to some of France’s most famous artists including Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh. The latter spent his final days here and died in 1890 at an Auberge Ravoux hotel (now a private house).
The village itself is very picturesque with narrow cobbled streets that lead up to its main attraction: The Church of St Peter which houses one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings – “The Church at Auvers”.
Giverny, France
Giverny is a commune in the Eure department in Normandy in northern France. The village is well known as the location of Claude Monet’s home and gardens, which were donated to the French state by his son Michel in 1922 and form the Giverny Museum of Impressionism.
Monet moved to Giverny after living for several years on an island off Honfleur and was inspired by Japanese art that he encountered during his travels there. He found that he could capture effects with light at different times of day or year using coloration based on different pigments from his garden flowers, walls, shrubs, and trees.
Rouen, France
Rouen is a city in Normandy, France. It’s the capital of the Seine-Maritime department and has a population of over 100,000.
Rouen is best known for its Gothic cathedral—the world’s largest church—and its historic buildings such as the Palais de la Cité and the former castle of Rouen which date back to medieval times. The city was also home to French writer Gustave Flaubert who lived here during his childhood until he moved away when he was 14 years old.
Brussels, Belgium
Brussel is the capital of Belgium and is one of the most popular places to visit in Belgium. The city has everything you’d want for your day trip from Paris—a rich history, stunning architecture, beautiful parks and gardens, and delicious food. It’s also home to NATO and the EU (European Union).
Brussels has quite a few museums worth visiting if you’re into art or history: The Royal Palace of Brussels Museum features over 2000 years of royal artifacts; The Musical Instruments Museum has over 3000 instruments from all around the world on display; The Natural Sciences Museum includes exhibits on nature, natural science with an emphasis on evolution; there are also several art galleries like Galerie d’Expo which offers guided tours where visitors can learn about contemporary Belgian art while enjoying their favorite paintings.
If you’ve got an appetite after seeing all these great sights then head over to one of Brussels’ many restaurants! You’ll find everything ranging from fine dining to street food carts so pick whatever sounds good based on your preferences (and budget).
London, England
London is a city of contrasts: from the ancient monuments of Westminster to the modern skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, London has something for everyone. Transport yourself back to medieval times at Westminster Abbey or take in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, which was reconstructed from timber that survived the Great Fire of 1666. There are many museums to be explored including the British Museum and Tate Modern gallery.
London’s skyline has been transformed over recent years with iconic buildings such as The Shard (the tallest building in Western Europe), Tower Bridge, and London Eye all featuring within its borders.
From London, you can take a dozen more awesome day trips all around England.
Antwerp, Belgium
A one-hour train ride from Paris will take you to this colorful city. Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. It’s also home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Rubens House Museum and Cathedral of Our Lady.
This historic city has a rich history dating back over 1,000 years—the medieval architecture alone is worth checking out! You’ll find yourself wandering through narrow cobblestone streets that are lined with boutique shops selling everything from fine art to handmade chocolate truffles (don’t miss them!). Don’t be surprised if you stumble into an art exhibit or shop that catches your eye along your journey; everyone seems obsessed with their neighborhood’s unique culture here!
Final Thoughts
There are so many great options for day trips from Paris! Whether you’re interested in exploring French history, seeing beautiful scenery, or tasting delicious food and wine, there’s sure to be a perfect trip for you. So get out there and start exploring France.
Author Bio: Kyle Kroeger is the owner of ViaTravelers.com. ViaTravelers is a destination travel blog providing the best tips, hacks, and itineraries to help you explore the world. Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
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