November 2024 / Day Trips from Paris

We did an overnight tour to Normandy many years ago thru the Peace Museum in Caen. Took the very early morning train there and did a tour of museum and beaches. Then dropped at hotel in Bayeaux . Next day independently went to the Bayeaux Tapestry and the DDay Museum. Took late train back to Paris. Was wonderful. We double booked hotel for one night so we left our luggage in our hotel in Paris and took an overnight bag to Normandy. Don't know if the museum still does that tour but I'm sure you can find others.

I don't see any of those places a day trips. I would take a couple of days...train to Rennes, pick up a rental car to visit Mont St Michel, then drive to Bayeux. Visit Bayeux at minimum 1-2 nights; drive to Rouen. Return rental car in Rouen. Train back to Paris.

Amy,
Reims is a good day trip. Magnificent cathedral, where almost every king of France was crowned. Musee de Rendition (where WWII surrender was signed), and it is the center of champagne country! Nearby is Hautvilliers, where Dom Perignon is interred. Easy walk between cathedral and the musee. Also can walk to one or two champagne cellars for tours and tastings. Easy train ride to and from Paris. Can do champagne house tours from Reims to Epernay as well.

"I personally would love to see Mt. St. Michel but know it's an all day thing and can be very busy and of course if tied to the tides."

A visit to Mont Saint-Michel is not really tied to the tides. There is a causeway out to the island so water now flows underneath but it is usually not cut off by tides. I will add that when I visited last month it was the full moon and a super tide so water DID cover the last 100 yards from the end of the causeway to the "front door" to the island. We had to wait about 10 minutes while the tide continued to recede to walk across the paved area without getting our feet wet. This was not a usual occurrence. It IS an all day trip from Paris, though.