Paris for 6 days, will do Versailles one day, any other day trips worthwhile?

If you haven't been before, take a day trip to the WWII sites in Normandy from Paris. There are a few highly recommended companies that run tours that pick you up and drop you off from the train station at Bayeux. Even though you do not see everything, you see the key sites and learn enough to know that you will want to return. We took Overlord; you can book online in advance and were very pleased. It turned out to be a trip highlight. Bonus visit to the Bayeux Cathedral at the end of the day while waiting for your train back to Paris.

I agree with stephb - Normandy for a day tour is incredible. Especially since the 75th anniversary was just this past June 6th. We were there on June 10th and had a great day tour with Overlord as well. Not staying in Bayeux, you might consider a private tour with Overlord as well. It is a bit more, but that way you see as much as possible just being the four of you. (We considered it when our trip was initially 5 people, then adjusted when we were just 4 - something I wish we had kept even with just the 4 of us). I will also add, it is better f the teens are in to that sort of history. Ours were not, so it was a painful day for them. Any where you go though, your are in France!

Normandy is a fine area to visit but I wouldn't try to do it as a day trip from Paris. You'd be starting very early and getting back very late, and rushed while you're there. Bayeux and the beaches would be good as an overnight trip, or better still two nights with a full day between. But I think your overall timeframe is too short for this.

A more reasonable day trip, if you like Gothic architecture, is Chartres. An easy hour by train each way, basically just the cathedral and surroundings to see. Another great Gothic building is the St-Denis basilica north of Paris, reachable by metro, an even easier day or half-day trip.

You'll have plenty to see and do in Paris. And I'd say your best "outdoors/wild" options might be the Bois de Boulogne and/or Bois de Vincennes.

I agree with the advice against going all the way to Normandy & back in 1 day. Paris has so-o-o much to see and do, subtracting your Versailles day you can easily fill up the rest with Paris. Another place with a "great outdoors" feel is the Parc de Sceaux, on the southern edge of the city not far from Orly Airport. It has acres of open parkland as well as a museum and places to eat.

Thank you all so much! I think we'll likely plan on spending the extra near Paris as suggested in order to simplify things.

A day trip to the D-Day Beaches from Paris is not the best way to experience the D-Day Beaches.
Easy day trips from Paris are Chartres, or Reims.

I took my 13 yr old to Provins .. a world heritage site.. they loved it..

Monet's home and garden in Giverny are an easy day trip from Paris, and while it's not "wild" it is outdoors and quite beautiful. You can easily take the SCNF train to Vernon from Paris.

Thank you guys so much for these wonderful ideas.
I am so grateful for the amazing forum.
What a beautiful space for sharing, thank you!

Chartres was my favorite day trip so far. It's a beautiful little city with a great cathedral. Paris has so much to see, however, it's hard to find time for day trips.

I like Reims but not as much as Chartres. Reims gives you an opportunity to tour a champagne house, a couple Roman ruins, plus another one of the great cathedrals. It's not as compact as Chartres, so you will walk (or taxi) more. If you take the fast train to Reims, you have to connect with a small regional train (or taxi) to get into town (it's a little too far to walk), which adds to your travel time.

Another possible day trip would be to take the RER to Saint Germain-en-Laye, There you can visit the chateau, stroll through the gardens (designed by Le Notre), and look at the Seine from the edge of the gardens. Or you could take the metro to the Chateau de Vincennes on the east side of Paris, and visit the chateau there, and then stroll through the large park. Peter

From Paris you can Visit Fontainebleau and Vaux-Le-Vicomte in one day if you feel that there is not enough to keep you busy in Paris.
Mike

I second Vaux-Le-Vicomte. They have Candlelit Evenings on Saturday nights through the summer. Stunning! Fireworks over the chateau at the end of the evening. And the free audio guide is fabulous. Check it out!

Hi from Wisconsin,
Personally, I wouldn't leave Paris. I would try to eat myself to death on croissants and baguettes. And then I would try to revive myself with a pitcher of wine.

There is an excellent bakery in the Marias. It is at the T of Rue Vielle de Temple and Rue St. Croix de la Bretnoneire. This is not a tourist destination, and the people working the counter don't speak English, but you don't go there to chat. You go thetefor morning special of a long black coffee and a croissant, the return at lunch for a fresh sandwich so you can eat in a park, and then return in the evening to buy a rouge tort or some other pastry. All of the above will be excellent. The local restsurants source their bakery needs at this place.

Go to Chartres and its world famous cathedral. It has a nice old town, the cathedral is nicely placed on the hilltop, and there is good food. Besides, I bet Notre Dame in Paris is closed for repairs.

Ah, go to St. Denis. The basilica's rose window is stunning. The tombs of the French kings from Pepin on down the line minus Charlesmagne were burried there. It is on a Paris subway line. You might have to change lines to get there depending on where you start from.

Forgive my spelling but tour Pere Lachaize cemetary. The headstones alone are worth the visit. But Alice B Toklas is burried there. Famous for her trail mix.

Paris, so much to do.

Wayne iNWI

baandyfan beat me to it, Vaux-le-Vicomte is one of my top favorites (along with Versailles, Malmaison and Giverny). It’s an amazing chateau and very un-crowded even in summer. Read about it and see if it interests you. The movie Man in the Iron Mask with Leonardo diCaprio was filmed there.

I grew up in St Germain-en-Laye and like it for that reason but i wouldn’t recommend it to a tourist that only has 6 days. I don’t like Reims at all, so i really wouldn’t recommend except the Cathedral is spectacular. I agree with other posters, with only 5 days for Paris i wouldn’t do any additional day trips. 5 days in Paris isn’t enough to really enjoy all there is. And i very much agree not to do Normandy in a day. That’s like doing California in one day. Normandy needs a minimum of 4 nights imo.

Try to spend an hour or two in the Luxembourg Gardens. They have 2 cafés, bathrooms, and so much to enjoy there. Just being around other Parisians who are enjoying themselves vs rushing past you on the street is a fun cultural experience. We especially like to sit and watch the neighborhood friends playing boules (bocce ball).