Chartres day trip from paris

I have not been in decades, but I've been researching a similar day trip and I am interested in the stained glass center and in walking around enjoying the smaller town. If I go later this month, I'll report back, but I'm sure someone else will have more recent experience.

We had a wonderful day trip to Chartres last April and had a delicious lunch agree the street at Le 21. I had my hotel make reservations in advance. It was a great day! We just visited the cathedral and had lunch before returning to Paris.

I was there October 30, 2024.
There's nothing else to sightsee other than the cathedral. That is enough as a daytrip from Paris to a small town. Don't plan anything just stroll feel the vibe of the town; you might find something yourself. Or look at the info on the official local tourist website:
https://www.chartres-tourisme.com/en

If you don't mind a somewhat late return to Paris, you should stick around for the light show illuminations on the cathedral and other bldgs. In Oct they should start around 8 pm. You'd have to check the train schedule for how late they run in Oct. But definitely worth it.

The last train to Paris is usually too early to see the illuminations. I would do Chartres as a one night overnight and in fact that is what we did last fall. the illuminations were great -- it is worth spending a night.

If you take the train, sit on the left side of the aisle!

"sit on the left side..."
Yes! And on the right side on the trip back to Paris.

Great suggestions. We are now considering an overnight visit.

"There's nothing else to sightsee other than the cathedral. That is enough as a daytrip from Paris to a small town."

This is absolutely false. Chartres is a gem. The Musée des Beaux-Arts is a treasure. The stained glass museum is fascinating. Taking a walk through Picassiette is whimsical and taking a walk along l'Eure and in the haute-ville can be fascinating. One could spend a full day here and stay the night so that they could see the illuminations. I also recommend staying maybe 2 nights and doing a day trip to Maintenon to see the fabulous château. While some call this city a "small town" - many French people in the surrounding cities consider this "the city" and come here for their shopping, to hear the symphony, or see a film or festival.

Chartres is nothing to shake a stick at!

I second Alexander.

Glad you’re considering an overnight. We quite enjoyed Chartres. I was going to suggest that earlier, but your original post was pretty clear about day trip only.

Sights to enjoy.

• Chartres en Lumieres. https://www.chartresenlumieres.com/en
• Mediatheque L’Apostophe - a wonderful library in a deco-gothic building built 100 years ago. When we visited, the lobby had a wonderful exhibit on early French filmmakers.

And restaurant to enjoy.

• https://restaurant-moulin-ponceau.fr/fr/

I also recommend an overnight stay. It is a wonderful small city and has a real country France feel to it.

The lightshows at the Cathedral and along the river are special

wE also ate at the restaurant Fred recommended Ponceau de Moulin -- lovely and with great food and service. We had the seat in the window overlooking the river in spring and flower were in bloom and birds putting on a show.

We stayed at the very old and antique Parvis hotel right at the Cathedral and really liked it -- our room had a sitting room as well as bedroom and a view to the Cathedral. The Cathedral is a very easy stroll from the train station and we did it as a side trip from Paris and so just traveled with backpacks for the night.