Best Day-Trips from Paris
The intricate and vast transportation network in Europe make it easy and affordable to do day-trips. Paris in particular is fabulous for this, and there are many cities and countries you can discover in under 24 hours!
Take a look at the map below, and scroll for more information on each of the places showcased. Bon voyage!
Chartres
Chartres is a city known for its famous gothic cathedral, which houses an actual piece of the veil that Mary Magdalene wore (Sancta Camisa). The French city’s cathedral is also a historical relic, as it survived many fire outbreaks and the 1944 bombings that destroyed many of the surrounding old town. A UNESCO heritage site, Chartres Cathedral itself is well worth a visit, as well as the wonderful river and ramparts that surround the town.
Laon
Up until the 13th century, Laon was the catholic diocese of the Aisne department of France. Nowadays, the hilltop city makes for a magnificent day-trip with spectacular views over the surrounding Picardy region.
The Souterrains de Laon, a network of tunnels underneath the city, are also well worth a visit. All in all, Laon is an excellent example of a French citadel, that marries together history and culture.
Provins
One of my absolute favourite day-trips from Paris is Provins. While I was living in the French capital, I often took the train to visit.
Provins is a prime example of an intact medieval city. The ramparts, cathedral, and surrounding town transport any visitors back in time. The town is also known for it’s rose garden, which offers any tourist a relaxing and scent-filled getaway from the smoke-filled Parisian air.
Bordeaux
Wine, wine, and more wine. What else could you want? Grab the TGV (a high-speed train) and pop to Bordeaux for a culinary adventure mixed with art and sightseeing.
Loire Valley
Disney fans can rejoice when they visit Loire Valley! Tours, the city in which it’s found, is known for it’s high volume of castles (and wineries - woohoo!).
Château de Chambord was the inspiration behind Prince Adam’s/ Beast’s enchanted castle in the film Beauty and the Beast. It’s no surprise as for the reason; the spectacular building, commissioned in 1519 by Francis I, blends the best of French Renaissance and Medieval structures. Meanwhile, Château de Chenonceau, the second most visited castle in France, second only to the world-renowned Château de Versailles, was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s abode.
For information on Chambord, the castle that inspired Disney’s castle in Beauty & the Beast, press this link. If you want to know about Chenonceau, the castle that sparked the design for the Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, click here.
Bayeux
One of France’s most history-filled cities must be Bayeux.
Both the Bayeux tapestry and relics of past World Wars lie within this town. For history buffs visiting Paris, this is a no-brainer to visit!
Colmar
Colmar is often regarded as one of the most beautiful cities not only in France, but in the world.
The town, which inspired Belle’s provincial town in Beauty and the Beast, has magnificent multicoloured houses and a plant and flower-filled canal system. Grab a boat ride, and marvel at the French and German influenced architecture. The city went between French and German control during wartime, so it’s made up of a pot-pourri of aesthetic tastes.
Enjoy as well the culinary offerings, such as sipping on a crisp Riesling or Gewürztraminer while digging into Alsatian cuisine.
Strasbourg
Another Alsatian delight is Strasbourg, the capital city of the Alsace region.
The picturesque city has thatched houses and a flower-strewn river which would excite any visitor. Pop into one of Strasbourg’s many museums for a dose of history and knowledge while you walk the beautiful city.
D-Day Beaches
Have the finals days of World War II come to life before your eyes when you take the time to visit the historic D-Day beaches along Normandy’s coastline - Utah Beach, Juno Beach, Sword Beach, and Omaha Beach.
Walk the steps of Allied and Axis soldiers along the beach and in the bunkers built into the coastline. Make sure you visit the wartime memorials, and one of the many D-Day dedicated museums in the surrounding area to really get the most out of your visit.
Mont St Michel
The word “breathtaking” get’s tossed around a lot when describing travel destinations. However, no place deserves that description quite as much as Mont St Michel.
This historic site is the second most visited spot for pilgrimages in history, second only to the Spanish camino de Santiago to the Santiago de Compostela church.
A monastery sits atop this mount, which finds itself surrounded by vast expanses of open expanse. It really is magical when approaching Mont St Michel, and there’s nothing for miles except its telltale form. The views from the top, as well as the town you must walk through to reach the religious. spot, are picturesque.
The destination is only accessible at low tide, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly.
Giverny
It’s no surprise that Claude Monet’s home, the inspiration for many nature-filled works of art, would be a thrilling and inspiring to witness.
The gardens of the late painter are lush, imaginative, and evocative. I honestly spent an entire day strolling through his gardens and sipping on Kir Royal in this picturesque village.
For art buffs and those who adore nature, Giverny is not to be missed. Visit in the springtime, when the freshly bloomed flowers seem to literally engulf his home. It’s phenomenal.
Auvers-sur-Oise
If Vincent Van Gogh is your painter of choice, grab a Transilien train to Auvers-sur-Oise.
This little known and rarely visited village is the final resting place of both Vincent Van Gogh and his brother, Theodore. The village has many sites which the impressionist painter took as inspiration for some of his popular portraits - the church, the cornfield, and even some of the landscapes.
Enjoy strolling through an authentic French commune as you pay tribute to this evocative artist.
Reims
No Parisian day-trip list would be complete without mentioning a city within the Champagne region. My personal favourite? Reims.
This French city, well-known for it’s Champagne (you must visit the Champagne caverns and taste test them!) is also home to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral of Reims (Notre Dame de Reims). This cathedral was used for centuries as the place for the coronation of future French kings. So much history has been seen in its walls, and it’s worth visiting for a dose of good drinks and good history.
Amiens
I can’t gush enough about Amiens: fabulous shopping, enthralling floating gardens, great architecture, historically significant, unique macarons (and birthplace of Président m̶a̶c̶a̶r̶o̶n̶ Macron).
This lovely city to the north of Paris is full of things to do. Divided by the large Somme river, there are many boat tours you can take to view the floating gardens in the region. On top of beauty, the city has seen lots of action during both World Wars. It’s a nice place to check out if you wish to learn more about what occurred years ago.
Amiens is a city that has thrived after the tragedy it witnessed during wartime years, and it’s a fascinating day-trip to take from Paris.
Rouen
Joan of Arc fanatics must add Rouen (and Orléans) to their list of must-visit cities!
Located just north of Paris, Rouen is the capital of the Normandy region of France.The town has seen its fair share of history, and infamous Joan was burned at the stake here in 1431.
The thatched houses are also a sight to behold, and represent the Normandy region well.
Pays de Meaux
Pays de Meaux makes for a very fascinating day-trip. This town, which is also to thank for the invention of brie de Meaux (among the worlds Top 10 best cheeses), also has one of the world’s best museums dedicated to World War I. It’s easy to spend hours here just looking through the well constructed and well laid-out museum depicting the pre-war, wartime, and post-war period.
The museums hosts many events to help its visitors further understand the war, and it is family friendly.
Domaine de Chantilly
The birthplace of whipped cream is, unsurprisingly, very regal and opulent.
Within the domaine de Chantilly is a lush forest, a magnificent castle, and a stable that would make any horse lover’s heart skip a beat.
The stable is attached to an arena that still hosts horse shows. These are among some of the best shows of equestrian art I have ever seen (and, I must admit, I’ve seen many).
The castle itself is very beautiful, and boasts the second largest collection of art in France outside of Paris.
This is a fun day-trip that combines art, sport, and food (hello, you can’t leave without trying the namesake whipped cream).
Fontainebleau
If you love the opulence of the Château de Versailles, but cannot stand the hordes of visitors, Château de Fontainebleau needs to be on your list.
This castle is in fact the inspiration behind Versailles, as it’s interior impressed Marie-Antoinette a great deal when she visited. Not as many people know about Fontainebleau, but it’s decor is just as stunning as that of Versailles. It’s nice as you can explore the beauty of the castle without having to elbow through tourists taking selfies with selfie sticks and iPads.
Fontainebleau is also the royal abode of many French kings and queens, so it has an extensive history that may be appealing to some visitors. Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France (and King of Italy… lol) even resided here for many years. Wow!
Caen
Another place any history buff needs to check out is Caen. This city boasts one of the best museums dedicated to World War II.
Caen also saw it’s fair share of action during the war, and it’s an interesting city to visit in Normandy.
Don’t forget the Eurostar:
London
Take the Eurostar underneath the English Channel briefly and go from the French capital to lovely London.
Another ancient city, London offers travellers more possibilities than they could possibly fit into one day (or even one weekend). Take in one of the many fantastic museums, grab some afternoon tea or stroll along the Thames as you enjoy the iconic skyline. Whether your aesthetic is more Camden cool or Chelsea chic, there is always something to do in England’s capital city,
Brugge
One of Europe’s most fairytale-like cities is certainly Brugge.
The Belgian city is incredibly picturesque, with its unique architecture, canals, and specialties. Lace and chocolate dominate the scene here, and it’s hard to leave the city without picking out one (or both) of these items.
Step back in time as you climb the well-known clock tower, and refused after your hike with some high-quality hot chocolate from The Old Chocolate House. Finish off your day with a boat ride, horse ride, or trip to the local Torture Museum.
Brugge is a stable city I recommend anyone considering going to Belgium should check out!
Brussels
Brussels, de facto capital of the European Union, boasts French and Flemish influences in everything from its architecture to its cuisine.
Those who adore Europe will enjoy the many “Europe” themed things throughout the city. Apart from it’s Europeanicity, Brussels has a very unique Francophone comic book culture (les bandes dessinées) that is showcased in various ways. Visit the Musée de la Bande Dessinée, or check out some of the graffiti on hidden streets that pay tribute to many great Belgian comic book artists of the past century. Those include Hergé, creator of Tin Tin, and André Franquin, creator of Gaston Lagaffe, to name a few.
The food in Brussels is also worth a mention - I genuinely think it has the best fries in the world. Like, ever. Worldwide. Nowhere else compares.
For a unique city, Brussels is worth exploring.
Amsterdam
The Netherlands is gorgeous, and Amsterdam is no exception.
The “Venice of the North” is a quaint and pretty canal city with a bicycle obsession.
Amsterdam is beautiful in any season, but the spring months are particularly gorgeous as things begin to be in bloom. Stroll along lovely canals as you munch on Stroopwaffels and visit some key historic sites such as the Anne Frank House, the Begijnhof, and the Rijksmuseum.
Geneva
For some Swiss flair not too far away from Paris, head over to Geneva. This Swiss city has metropolitan charm and plenty of decadent food to entice travellers (hello, fondue!)
Surrounded by the alps, there’s both nature and city chicness in this famed city. Just don’t visit in November - the alps aren’t open! Otherwise, book a ticket and enjoy.
Luxembourg
One destination I cannot recommend enough as a day-trip is Luxembourg.
The small country is big on attractions and amusement. Luxembourg City itself is magnificent to witness. Perched atop steep cliffs, it offers unparalleled views and is wondrous to behold.
The city itself is drenched in history, and no visit is complete without checking out the Bock Casemates that go deep into the cliff. It’s an excellent example of a fortified cit. As it’s landlocked, it’s interesting to see all the influences of the surrounding countries on what Luxembourg has become.
Overall, Luxembourg is a magical city that really should not be overlooked. It’s one in a million!
THANK YOU FOR READING, LOVELY! Bon voyage!
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