Loire Valley Day trip? or Stay overnight?

It depends how much time you have in France, and how much of it you want to spend in the Loire Valley. Many of our clients visit for one day on a day trip from Paris, but equally as many spend longer. Some people will say a day isn't enough - but that's just for them (they usually say something like "you need a week to see it properly" but I've been here for over 10 years and not seen 10% yet...)

If you're here for 2 days Tours is the only Logical place to stay. Anywhere else and you will spend moore timetravelling and less time visiting. Then again, it's only an hour by train from Paris, so if you want to spend one day here it's about 12 hours to see two chateau, have a country style lunch, and get too and from Paris.

I'd recommend at least one night, two would be better if time allows. The TGV train from Gare Montparnasse to St-Pierre-des-Corps takes about an hour, then rent a car. Choose whether you want to spend your time east or west of Tours -- both sides have fine chateaux, wineries, etc. If you have a particular chateau in mind, go there first and use remaining time to see others. Good overnight bases would be Chinon (west) or Amboise (east). Tours is a fine city but basing there means more time in traffic, less time sightseeing.

EDIT -- Simon and I wrote at the same time. I'll defer to him about Tours. I guess the idea is to figure out which chateaux interest you most and base yourselves accordingly.

A day trip to Loire valley would be difficult to get much out of. Even an overnight would be minimally helpful in allowing you to see anything. The Loire’s main attraction being chateaus, perhaps look at Fountainbleau or Vieux-le-Vicomte. They are more suited to day trips.

The Loire is huge. I would suggest watching some of RS's tv shows and videos that include France and Loire and decide your priorities and interests.

Don't let people put you off the Loire Valley if thats where you want to visit. Hundreds (if not thousands) of people do it every day, and you would think that traffic would have stopped by now if it wasn't worth it.

I think the advantage is that the Loire Valley is an established route and set up for isitors. Getting to one of the Chateaux near Paris will take just as long and be just as complicated (if not more complicated, and you don't get to ride on a train at 186mph)

Even with the TGV, a day trip is a bad idea. The only practical option is to synchronize with a commercial van tour, or do careful planning and rent a car in St. Pierre des Corps. (Watch for agency hours, however, 2 hours lunch, etc.) The OP did not give a month, and some of the hours and opening days must be seasonal. I personally would go from Paris to Chateau Chantilly and leave it at that, if you don't have time to sleep in the Loire. You'll be in France again; we put off the Loire until our seventh or eighth visit. We went to Giverny by train on our first trip to Paris. But even that train does not "deliver you" to the "attraction."

Thank you for the input. We are looking into traveling the first part of August. We are leaning towards staying a night and seeing just a few of the well known Chateau. We have a very limited time frame for this trip. This is what my husband wants to see. He loves the gardens :)

If that’s the plan then I recommend trying to do two chateau max. Villandry was one our favorites, with spectacular gardens. Azay-le-Rideau is nearby. That’s a full day. Staying in Azay might not be a bad idea either, it’s a cute little town.

Another one with a beautiful garden is Chenonceau. It's also quite a beautiful chateau with historical importance.