Help on Outside-of-Paris Itinerary

Posted by shaylafitz on 04/29/26 06:45 PM

Heading to France in early October for 11 days.

Our must-dos in Paris are the Louvre, Catacombs, Notre-Dame, and attending a concert. Plus plenty of time to explore and simply enjoy being in the city, hit up other museums or attractions as we feel like it (and as their availability allows). So far we've settled on six days in Paris, one day in Versailles, and one day in the Loire Valley.

That leaves us with an additional 3 days, and we're strongly considering additional trips outside of Paris. Our top contenders are Strasbourg / Colmar, Luxembourg, and Saint-Malo / Mont Saint Michel. We're equally interested in each, though if doing MSM, would prefer to be there before and/or after the crowds.

Theoretically we could try to do each as a day trip, but that would be a lot. (And would be crowd-tastic for MSM.) Most relaxed would of course be three days in one place. But what we're leaning towards splitting the difference, and hitting two places--a bit more rushed to see a bit more.

Thoughts on how to spend those three days? We're really torn!

Posted by Allan

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

04/29/26 07:07 PM

5813 posts

The only one of the three that I've been to is the Alsace where we based in Colmar for 2 nights and it's highly recommend it. We didn't do it from Paris though, we had finished a river cruise in Basel and headed to Colmar from there. I highly recommend the Alsace Region, and if we were to go back we'd consider basing in Strasbourg which could easily eat up your three days.

Whichever you choose, consider how long travel will take so you don't feel rushed. Does your three days include you travel days or would it be 5 days total with 3 full days at the location? A total of three days only gives you one full day and two half days.

Posted by shaylafitz OP

04/29/26 07:30 PM

2 posts

Allan, thanks for your thoughts.

Since we'll be based out of Paris, travel to Strasbourg/Luxembourg is 2-3 hours each way. With the first train and last train, that gives us a solid 10-12 hours for a day trip--and of course more if we stay overnight. (Brittany is further at 4-5 hours, and less feasible for a day trip.)

Posted by Judy

Long Beach, Ca, usa

04/29/26 08:17 PM

3180 posts

shaylafirz,
The Alsace region is a bit far for a day trip. If you do choose to not stay the night in Colmar or Strasbourg, I suggest Strasbourg, which has a TGV option and a 2 to 2 1/2 hour ride each way.. Colmar would be a separate train from Strasbourg and takes about 30 minutes Add that extra 30 minutes coming and going, plus another 30 minutes or so to walk from the station to Colmar centre ville, you now have 2 extra hours used up. Strasbourg has tons to offer. However, I would still plan on an overnight there. If you have three days, it would give you both cities plus a day to visit the small charming towns in the area (good local transport available).

As for Mont St. Michel/St. Malo, I feel that is a bit too far for a day trip, but spending 2 nights there works for the Mont. Over half of one day would be getting to the Mont and returning from it. The train doesn't drop you off right by the Mont, so it takes additional time getting to the base of it. Definitely not a day trip IMO. Just MSM is 3 1/2-4 hours from Paris to the Mont, not counting St Malo.

Have you been to Reims, the birthplace of champagne? That is a very doable one day trip by train. The cathedral there has some magnificent stained glass and is where almost every king of France was crowned, going back to Louis the Pious in 816. And there are good half-day trips from there visiting some champagne houses. The train ride to Reims takes just under an hour. The Musee de la Reddition is there also, walkable from the cathedral. It is where the surrender was signed by Germany for WWII.

Other day trip ideas: Giverny, Rouen, Chartres, Provins, Lille, Le Mans, the chateaux at Fontainebleau, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Chantilly, plus Beaune, Dijon or Lyons (but I think an overnight at these last three is best due to distance).

Lots is great choices!

Posted by Judy

Long Beach, Ca, usa

04/29/26 08:24 PM

3180 posts

P.S. Should you visit Reims where the kings were crowned, it is nice to visit the Basilica of St. Dennis just north of Paris. The church is beautiful, but the best thing is that this is where many French kings and queens are interred. It makes for nice historical bookends. There is no charge to visit the church, but there is a feeto visit the location of the interments.