Arriving in Paris on June 20 to start a RS tour 21st in Chartre. We arrive 7:25AM. We could spend the day in Paris and catch a train the next day for Chartre or just head to Chartre on the 20th and roam the town. Been in Paris several times so trying to decide stay or go to Chartre. Interested in your suggestions. Be kind.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
3021 posts
dhoffmabn,
Lucky you to have such a choice...Paris or Chartres! Either one sounds good, but for me, I would go to Chartres on arrival day just to be confident I would be on time for the meetup. If the meetup in Chartres is early afternoon, I would definitely go straight to Chartres. Of course, I always like to give myself lots of time, but that is me.
Have a fun trip!
Posted by
Chicago
9564 posts
And it is nice to spend the evening in Chartres for the illuminations -- Get dinner at https://restaurant-moulin-ponceau.fr/en/. if they are open -- down on the little river below the Cathedral -- lovely setting and views and excellent service and food.
It is also good to be in the place you meet up with a tour, the day before. If you don't want a fancy dinner the restaurant on the parvis by the Cathedral -- clearly tourist restaurants, were actually pretty good when we were there last year. I was surprised.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16859 posts
I'd probably go straight to Chartres as well just to get settled in and be ready for the tour. It would be great if you could get a night at the tour hotel for this prior night! What a wonderful place to wake up!
Posted by
Paris
7832 posts
Another vote in favor of going to Chartres!
If you stay in Paris, you'd also probably have to wait quite a bit for your hotel room to be ready (unless you book an extra night). While you could sightsee in the meantime, it is tiring.
If you go to Chartres, you'd get there by lunchtime, so less waiting around.
Posted by
Bend, OR
1923 posts
I would go straight to Chartres. We came in two days before the tour started and spent a day at Versailles which is a close train ride back toward Paris. I remember a great crepe restaurant near the Cathedral. Have a wonderful time!
Posted by
Boston
170 posts
Hi,
I've been fortunate enough to have been to Paris 9 times over the last 35 years and can't wait to go back again. However, if I were in your shoes and had never been to Chartres, and only had one day, I'd go to Chartres. It's beautiful and you can see a lot of it in one day. The Cathedral is magnificent, especially as you walk from the train station to it. They run a light show off the Cathedral facade and other buildings on many nights and if you get a chance to see it, you should. Good luck.