If you had the chance to spend 1 to 2 nights somewhere out of Paris in late April, where would you go?
I'm planning to spend 2 weeks in Paris proper (including day trips to Versailles and Giverny), and 2 nights somewhere else. But the question is where?
Strasbourg? Beaune? Avignon? Aix-En-Provence? Mont-St-Michel?
I'm leaning towards Mont-St-Michel but I'm not sure how practical it is in late April.
Hi,
This day trip idea is a matter of priorities. If you're not planning on nothing else in eastern France, I would choose Strasbourg, which can be done direct on the TGV. It's best to get the adv. discount but they may no longer be such a great discount. What about 2 nights in Normandy?
If you have 3 nights, Amsterdam is my favorite 3 night town. It is 3.5 hours on the Thalys and tickets are about 35 Euro each way if bought early. Strasbourg would be a great 2 night town. For one night, heading to Tours and then joining a minivan tour of chateaux in the Loire would be a nice trip. But if it were me for so short a trip, I would focus on doing several day trips right in the Paris area. There are literally dozens within an hour of Paris. Here are a handful.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/day-trips-from-paris/
Other great day trips include: Auvers sur Oise, Chartres, Versailles, Giverny, Rouen, Reims (champagne houses as well as a great Cathedral) etc. And within Paris a good book of neighborhood walking tours can greatly enhance your experience. I had a Frommer's guide that included an architecture walk in the 16th that was terrific and our stroll around Butte Aux Cailles was also interesting and quite different from most of Paris. You can also see some of our Paris walks in my photo journal.
I took a 2-day bus tour of the chateau of the Loire Valley -- from Paris Vision -- that was outstanding.
Highly recommend.
You could take the train to St Pierre de Corps (1 hour from Paris) and rent a car right there at the train station. It is easy to drive the small country roads and visit many amazing Chateau in the area and small beautiful villages. Then just drop the car and head back to Paris. In RS guide book he lists all the different Chateau you might visit.
Strasbourg is easiest for a two-night stay. Easy to get to on the train, lots of variety for places to stay, easy to get around there, and sufficiently different from Paris.
Have you considered Colmar? Great little town in which to spend a couple of days. Google it and see what you think.
I think my choice would be a train to Bayeux, visit the tapestry and cathedral there, spend the night, then take a day-long tour of the D-Day sights, or rent a car and drive along the beaches. I think a tour would provide a lot more information and save the driving. Then another night in Bayeux and return via Caen (great WWII museum) or Rouen (Cathedral, Joan of Arc sites).
If you're not that into WWII, then maybe a TGV to St-Pierre-le-Corps near Tours, rent a car, and spend two nights in Amboise or thereabouts, visiting chateaux and such. About two a day would be my limit on a longer stay, but you might manage three on your full day and one each on the first and last days.
Beaune is a good base for exploring Burgundy, and has its own sights, but for me the travel time would be too long to justify just a two-night (one full day) visit. Save Burgundy for when you have more time.
Reims is an easy train ride, great cathedral and interesting Roman gate, plus the WWII museum and all the champagne you want to experience. Two nights and one full day would be plenty.
You might look for Ina Caro's Paris to the Past, her description of a couple of dozen interesting places to visit by train from Paris. Some are day trips, others could be overnight or even two-nighters. She recommends La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast but I haven't been there.
Add another vote for Colmar or Strasbourg. Will be spending a night in Colmar during this May Paris visit.
I loved Lyon, and a 2 night stay would offer a good taste. I was not as taken with Strasbourg, but loved the Museum of Alsatian Life. You could also go to Strasbourg for a night and on the way back spend a night in Nancy - an under-visited gem, with great glassware, a gorgeous main square, and Art Nouveau houses.
As you see from the variety of the other responses, how to spend the two days depends on exactly what kind of experience you want to have.
Reins if you want a great cathedral, champagne, and museum of the Surrender, or Strabourg If you want a great cathedral, Alsatian cuisine, and great museums. Can't go wrong with either.
Either Aix-en-Provence, or Mont StMichel...
Either TGV to the Loire (overnight in Amboise) or TGV to Beaune (take wine van tours of the countryside)
