Exploring Beyond Paris

Just the mention of Paris conjures up visions of class and elegance, romance and history, French food, and cool cafés, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre…  But there’s so much more to France than Paris.

Paris is also a great base for day trips to quaint towns and villages, historic monuments and icons like Versailles.

To help you make the most of your time, we’ve done a round up of some of the best day trip experiences around Paris. Here are our top tips:

Versailles

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to Versailles to see the residence of the Sun King, Louis XIV. Its famous ‘Galerie des Glaces’ (Hall of Mirrors), Grand Trianon and gardens and fountains, have made it a mandatory part of every Paris itinerary.

Remember when planning your trip that the Palace is open every day except Mondays.

Fontainebleau

Dubbed ‘a forgotten treasure’ by the NY Times, Fontainebleau is home to one of the most impressive imperial chȃteaus in France, the Fontainebleau Palace, with its staggering 1500 rooms and 130 acre grounds of formal gardens, lakes and sculptures. Less known than Versailles, the palace started as a royal hunting lodge, and was added to over seven centuries by subsequent monarchs. Highlights include Marie Antoinette’s Turkish boudoir and the Napoleon Museum.

Only 70 kms south of Paris, Fontainebleau is easily accessed by train, or coach, and makes an ideal day trip to explore the Palace for several hours.

Provins

Located at the crossroads of the ancient European trade routes 80kms southeast of Paris, Provins is a showcase of medieval architecture. The town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001 due to its military, religious and civil buildings of note, with more than 50 monuments with historic value.

Be sure to check out the ‘Banquet Médiéval à Provided restaurant, a tribute to the middle ages for its medieval banquet, 12th century style! (Note the restaurant is only open Saturdays and Sundays from March 2018).

Giverny

Giverny is referred to as the birthplace of impressionism, and it’s easy to see why, with its picturesque ambiance, quaint village streets, flowing clusters of wisteria and morning mist over the undulating fields.

Renowned as the home of Monet’s fabulous gardens, where he lived for more than 40 years, his beloved village and garden settings provide inspiration for the artiste in all of us.

Only 75km from Paris, explore Giverny’s many art galleries and boutiques, and immerse yourself in its cultural places of interest.

Paris Disneyland

Especially for families, discover the magical world of Disneyland Paris and spend an unforgettable time meeting all the well known and loved Disney characters, experience the thrill of the rides and visit the five enchanting Lands, each one in its own unique setting. When the sun sets, fireworks and lasers illuminate the night sky – the perfect end to a family trip that will never be forgotten. 

The best way to reach the parks from Paris is to use train line “RER A” in direction of Marne La Vallee / Chessy (Parcs Disneyland).

Mont St-Michel

In fact an island, Mount Saint-Michel is a definite must-see. The UNESCO World Heritage site is home to just 50 residents amid the picturesque village and the iconic fortifications. A true full day excursion, the trip includes a two-hour TGV train ride from Paris’ Gare Montparnasse through the countryside to Rennes, followed by a connecting bus, and is well worth the effort.  

Speak to our experienced consultants for your Paris day trip arrangements!

If you want help picking your best French experience, just give our team a call on 1800 242 353.