Day trips · Paris · France
7 best day trips from Paris
Where to go when you want a day away from Paris, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Paris is Palace of Versailles (About 40 minutes by RER C). The closest option is Palace of Versailles, about 20 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 7
- Closest
- Palace of Versailles (20 km)
- Most popular
- Palace of Versailles
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palace of Versailles | 20 km | About 40 minutes by RER C | RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche | First-timers, Families, Culture |
| Giverny | 75 km | About 1 hour 15 minutes by train and shuttle | Train from Saint-Lazare to Vernon, then shuttle bus or bike | Couples, Culture, Quiet stays |
| Disneyland Paris | 32 km | About 40 minutes by RER A | RER A to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy | Families |
| Reims and Champagne | 145 km | About 45 minutes by TGV | TGV from Gare de l'Est to Reims | Couples, Food lovers, Culture |
| Fontainebleau | 60 km | About 1 hour by train and bus | Train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon, then bus | Culture, Quiet stays, Families |
| Mont-Saint-Michel | 360 km | About 4 hours each way by train and bus | TGV to Rennes, then direct coach; or an organised tour | First-timers, Culture |
| Chartres | 90 km | About 1 hour 10 minutes by train | Train from Gare Montparnasse | Culture, Quiet stays |
The day trips
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20 km · About 40 minutes by RER C
1.Palace of Versailles
Louis XIV's palace includes the Hall of Mirrors, the King's and Queen's apartments, Marie-Antoinette's estate and vast formal gardens. Allow a full day, and visit on a weekend in spring or summer to see the musical fountain shows.
- Getting there
- RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche
- Best for
- First-timers, Families, Culture
75 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by train and shuttle
2.Giverny
Claude Monet's house and gardens, including the Japanese bridge and water-lily pond he painted for decades. The gardens are open from spring to autumn and are at their best from May to July.
- Getting there
- Train from Saint-Lazare to Vernon, then shuttle bus or bike
- Best for
- Couples, Culture, Quiet stays
32 km · About 40 minutes by RER A
3.Disneyland Paris
Europe's most-visited theme park has two parks, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios, right next to the RER station. A single park fills a day with young children.
- Getting there
- RER A to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy
- Best for
- Families
145 km · About 45 minutes by TGV
4.Reims and Champagne
Reims has a great Gothic cathedral where French kings were crowned and the chalk cellars of famous Champagne houses, many offering tours and tastings by reservation.
- Getting there
- TGV from Gare de l'Est to Reims
- Best for
- Couples, Food lovers, Culture
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60 km · About 1 hour by train and bus
5.Fontainebleau
A royal château used by French monarchs for eight centuries, with Renaissance galleries and Napoleon's apartments, surrounded by a forest popular for walking and bouldering.
- Getting there
- Train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon, then bus
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays, Families
360 km · About 4 hours each way by train and bus
6.Mont-Saint-Michel
The tidal island abbey off the Normandy coast is one of France's most famous sights. It is a very long day from Paris, so consider an overnight stay or a guided tour.
- Getting there
- TGV to Rennes, then direct coach; or an organised tour
- Best for
- First-timers, Culture
90 km · About 1 hour 10 minutes by train
7.Chartres
Chartres Cathedral is one of the best-preserved Gothic cathedrals in Europe, renowned for its medieval stained glass and labyrinth. The small old town is pleasant for lunch.
- Getting there
- Train from Gare Montparnasse
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buses use the same tickets as the Métro but you cannot change between bus and Métro on one ticket.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Paris?
Palace of Versailles. Louis XIV's palace includes the Hall of Mirrors, the King's and Queen's apartments, Marie-Antoinette's estate and vast formal gardens.
+How long does it take to get from Paris to Palace of Versailles?
About 40 minutes by RER C — RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, about 20 km.
+How long does it take to get from Paris to Giverny?
About 1 hour 15 minutes by train and shuttle — Train from Saint-Lazare to Vernon, then shuttle bus or bike, about 75 km.