We have one day that is set aside for a day trip, but nothing I've seen is exactly what I want. Traveling with me are two of my grandchildren - ages 18 and 21.
I was thinking of perhaps taking a train to an area to visit, maybe paying for a tour wherever that is, and coming back when we feel like it. However, I just don't know where to start! It would have to be a relatively short train ride, or a high speed train if going farther.
If anyone has suggestions, I would appreciate it.
If the ones you've seen "aren't exactly what I want", it might help with our suggestions if you give us some idea of what exactly you are looking for. There are innumerable daytrips from Paris by train to satisfy almost anyone's desires, but we need some guidance.
Good point! We would be open to anything, really. Price is important - I can't afford $1000 for one day trip, for example. We are comfortable taking trains and it would be nice for us to see something outside of Paris. Possibilities - cathedrals, palaces, small non-touristy towns to walk around and have lunch/wine, vineyards, wine-tasting, art-related places, places of historical importance, etc.
Fontainbleu palace & Chantilly are close to Paris by train and perfect for picnics, beauty and interesting things to do. Fewer crowds also make for a relaxing day.
Cathedrals? Chartres is not expensive, easy to get to by train, and is THE classic Gothic Cathedral in the world. How touristy? Other than the immediate area by the cathedral, not so much. You don't need to travel far out of Paris to get away from it all.
Palaces? Versailles is just out of town with frequent cheap trains, unless you've already been there.
Versailles( easy by train), Chartres, Reims, Rouen, Giverney(Monet's home and gardens) not too far.
On a high speed train- Strasbourg in Alsace, London
Perhaps a train trip to Giverny to visit Monet's home and gardens then, continue on next train to Rouen where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. A charming town full of history from her time, the plague, WW2 and so much more as well as amazing art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Both locations would be familiar to grandchildren your age...bring history to life. Very doable day trip from Paris, minimal costs. What a treat for your grandchildren!
Giverny is a great day trip from Paris, if you're going spring, summer, or fall. The gardens are beautiful and the town itself has a nice Impressionist museum and is nice to walk around, get something to eat, etc. It's an easy do-it-yourself train ride from Paris (about 45 mins) to Vernon, then a bus from there to Giverny, buses meet all the trains. It's less than 4 miles so if you're fit you can walk or rent bikes. The train and bus are cheap, you can pick up a picnic lunch, so it can be a very reasonable day out. Best to get there early when they open up to avoid crowds in peak season.
EDIT - Patricia and I were keying at the same time. I so agree that you can do both Giverny and Rouen in one day by yourselves and it would make a great day out.
Here's a vote for Rouen. It's a 1 1/2 hour train ride and provides a variety of things to do - the cathedral, lovely architecture, Joan of Arc history. It's a very walkable town - tourist center across from cathedral offers tour book with headsets.
If you want palaces that aren't as crowded as Versailles, try Fontainebleau, Chantilly, or Rambouillet. Although it isn't a full day, a good afternoon trip is to visit Malmaison, the country house of Napoleon and Josephine. You can get a bus there from La Defense, and the bus only requires a normal Paris transport ticket each way.
Hi Janet. I just asked a similar question a few days ago. You may check the responses out to get ideas for your trip. One idea that I'm considering that was suggested is a day trip to the DDay beaches at Normandy and the American cemetery. (There is also a German cemetery as well.) Many travelers say it is too far for a one day trip, but other things I have read from travelers say that if you keep it to just the DDay beaches that it is totally doable. The town of Bayeux is close by and you may be able to do that as well. I'd love to hear what you decide. Have a great trip!
Lots of good ideas...I would just suggest you check Rambouillet before going there, to see if it is still under renovation. We were there in 2015 with our French friends, and the access was extremely limited (3 rooms, or so). We were disappointed.
Chartres: We did an afternoon/evening trip to Chartres in the summer, and had time to see the cathedral, enjoy a dinner on the square by the cathedral, and then take "le petit train" around the city at night to see Chartres en Lumieres, which was a fabulous light show. If you go in the summer, I'd definitely recommend that. We traveled back to our our friend's home by car, so you'd need to be sure about return train schedules to Paris. Our kids were teen/young adults and they all thought the light show was unique and cool. The finale on the front of the cathedral was stunning.
Have a great trip!
Laurie
I can't thank you enough for all these wonderful suggestions! I will be looking into each and every one of them.
Hi Janet, sounds like a wonderful trip you're planning! How about Versailles, Chartres, or Giverny? All are close to Paris and easily accessible by train.
There's a great book called "An Hour From Paris" that might be helpful - https://www.amazon.com/Hour-Paris-Annabel-Simms/dp/1873429495. Hope you have a great trip!
Hi,
If you are going by regional train, I would suggest Fontainebleau for its historical importance and significance, also Amiens, Reims. For a place requiring the TGV, still possible from Paris, I recommend Strasbourg or Arras dep from Gare du Nord.
Part 2 here...If you are interested in seeing more history connected with WW1 and other history/culture, I would recommend two more places aside from Amiens and Arras, ie, Compiegne and Soissons. I did a day trip to Compiegne for its war history connected sites. Both these cities can be reached dep from Gare du Nord. taking the regional train.
If you're going during the Summer months, and need a break from cities, culture, etc - why not pack your swimsuits and go to Trouville-sur-Mer?
Only 2 hours from Paris - make sure to take the direct train - a 10 minute walk to the beach from the station, sandy beach and interesting architecture, especially if you walk up the hills. Lots of ice cream, mussels, crepes...and sunshine.
Chexbres - Good idea, but what should be wrong including a visit to Deauville too?
In case your choise will be Chartres you can visit Rambouillet and Maintenon along the same railway line. Both have royal palaces and especially Rambouillet loads of history. A tour there includes also a visit to Marie-Antoinette's laiterie (milk house) you can find in the public park. Rambouillet is further a pleasant place. Madame de Maintenon was the second wife of Louis XIV, the château is not so big but absolutely lovely in combination with the gardens and adjacent golf course.
You land in the train station in Deauville, actually.
You can either make the choice to wander around the "rich" part of Deauville, or head to the beach.
Both towns are only 10 minutes' walk away...but Deauville doesn't have a nice beach.
There are literally dozens of great day trips within an hour or so of Paris. Auvers sur Oise is lovely; it is the town where Van Gogh lived his last days and full of Van Gogh related landmarks as well as his grave and the field he painted just before he died. St. Denis is on the Paris metro so perhaps is not a 'day trip' but it is the oldest Gothic Church in Europe and houses the magnificent tombs of the Kings of France.
Thank you SO very much for the wonderful suggestions! I knew I could count on this forum.
Regarding visiting Giverny and Rouen on the same day - is it possible to get a ticket to Giverny, stop there for a few hours, and continue on with that same ticket? Should that ticket be purchased ahead of time (for a Thursday - first week of June) and if so, what is the best place to buy it online?
Janet, I think that a Giverny-Rouen day trip is feasible, especially in June when the days are so long. However,
--you will need to all get an early start.
--it will be a long day, and not for the slow of foot or weak of leg.
--to make the most of it, before you go view as much of Monet's works as possible, including his multiple paintings of the cathedral in Rouen. These may be on loan or at the Marmatton Museum and the Orsay.
I always buy my tickets in the SNCF site ( French national rail site )
Buying in advance can save you a lot of money , I bought a ticket to Rouen return for 25 euros , months in advance , the lady ahead of me in line paid 45 for a ONE way walk up fare !! That adds up for three of you !
Sorry not sure about the being able to jump off at Giverny and revised train on same ticket , I would confirm that as French rail conductors are not understanding about such mistakes and you can and will be fined on the spot of your ticket is not correctly used .
