Where would you suggest going for a day trip outside of Paris in November? Is Versailles worth it? I'm guessing the fountains will not be on and not sure how the gardens look in November. Similar concerns with Monet's garden. I will be travelling with two 19 year olds and a 16 year old.
Posted by
America's Vancouver and the First
111 posts
Versailles is totally worth it. We never saw the fountains but I've seen people comment that they aren't all that special. Same for the so-called gardens. The Queen's hamlet is charming to wander around in. I would not take the time and trouble to go to Giverny. Chartres is another option. We took a day trip this year and took a Chartres cathedral tour with the venerable Malcom Miller (recommended by Rick). The town is charming to wander around in. If weather is challenging, Chartres could be good for spending a lot of time inside. Ditto for Versailles.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
784 posts
Giverney will be closed November to March. The gardens anywhere will be as you would expect at the end of fall/beginning of winter: few, if any, flowers and bare trees. Versailles will be "worth it" only if it is someplace you really want to go. The palace will be open with perhaps smaller crowds than at other times of the year. Other possible day trips are Chartres, Fontainebleau, Provins, and Reims, to name a few. Hope you are involving the teens in the planning process. They may have some good ideas. If you are in Paris for less than a week, I suggest that you not try to do more than one day trip. Actually, there is enough to do and see in Paris that it would be a good idea to skip day trips this time, especially if the weather is iffy.
Posted by
Chicago
8559 posts
Giverny is closed for the winter after October. Gardens in Paris like at Versailles are more architectural than floral although the fountains are not running in winter. Lots of great towns that make good day trips on a nice day in November. This was our visit to Moret sur Loing in November; even though we didn't have the boat trips on the Loing available at that time of year and it wasn't really picnic weather it was a beautiful place and we enjoyed the trip.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/moret-sur-loing-for-charm-always-follow-the-impressionists/
Lots of chateaux and towns in the region.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6486 posts
Maybe Versailles would be quieter in November. It really is quite lovely. The fountains will probably not be "on", but I'm thinking they still might have water in the pools at that time. I'd care more about that than the fountains operating. Day trip options I would recommend are Chartres, Rouen, Fountainbleu.
Posted by
Elmwood, IL, USA
368 posts
A long day trip experience would be hopping the Thalys to Amsterdam. It’s a 3 hour train ride there and it’s very different than Paris. You are right at the one hour boat tours on the canal in the city center. You could just walk the beautiful canals, have lunch, book tickets for Anne Frank house then hop a train back. Make you train reservation directly with Thalys web page.
Brussels would also be an option on Thalys but you’re not in city center.
Yes Versailles is beautiful and worth it regardless of the fountains.