Where to in France after Paris?

five nights in Paris is 4 full days. If I were you and this were my first trip then I would add two days to Paris and plan a day trip or two from that base: Auvers sur Oise, Vaux le Vicomte, Chartres, Versailles, Giverny, Rouen, Moret sur Loing, Crecy la Chapelle are all close by and wonderful day trips. You can see those last two and Vaux le Vicomte in my photo journal under 'Day trips from Paris' www.janettravels.wordpress.com.

There are literally dozens of great trips around Paris. I don't know how long you have planned for Normandy etc but adding the days there would work well too -- have you been to Etretat? Honfleur? We had 5 nights in Normandy a year ago and loved our trips to those spots as well as the usual i.e. Mont St. Michel, Bayeux and the landing beaches.

It is actually six days in Paris but with travel, then it is five. We have been told that for a first trip that was good. We are spending two nights in Bayeux and one night in Saint Malo. My family originated in Saint Malo, thus the interest. With two nights open before we arrive in Saint Malo we were hoping for suggestions on other areas to visit. You gave a thoughtful and helpful reply. Thank you!

We would second Honfleur and Mont St.Michel. Are you driving? If so you could stop in Rouen on your way to Honfleur and spend 2 nights there. Mont St.Michel would be on your way from Bayeux to St.Malo and you could just stop there for a few hours if you can't find a day/night for it. It is a beautiful sight from afar and very interesting to visit. Another town that might interest you is Chartres, depending on if you're returning to Paris.

Agree with janettravels - there are so many great towns and sights that you may find it hard to choose. Have fun!

Three nights is nothing for Normandy -- I would definitely add time there and do Honfleur with a day trip to Etretat. I have spent a month to two months at a time in Paris without running out of its pleasures so I find the idea of 5 days being 'enough' a source of smiles. But with such a short trip, adding those days to another stop in Normandy makes great sense.

I think this is all good advice. There is plenty to see in Normandy, and also there are some wonderful day trips you could take from Paris. Setting out in a completely new direction for such a short time would probably not be as rewarding.

Carol and Adam,
Thank you for your replies. I am heeding your advice.

Enjoy Bayeux, one of my favorite towns ever. I would add the Loire valley or the Champagne region.

Dinan is a nice little Breton town not far south from Saint-Malo with some interesting things to see, just perfect for a short stay of a day or two. It has medieval ramparts, a little river port, half-timbered houses etc.

By the way I too have family originally from Saint-Malo! If you visit the maritime museum in the castle and see a light house lamp exhibited there, my great grandfather was the keeper of the light house it came from (it was dynamited by the Nazis but the lamp was saved).

I love it when a plan comes together.

Hi Ian, maybe our families knew one another!
Some of my relatives came from the U.S. to St. Malo over forty years ago to try and track down our relatives/ancestors. Unfortunately due to the war there were no records that they could find. The church where the records were kept had been destroyed. They checked cemeteries looking for names but some of them were also gone. So all we know is that my great-grandmother & great-grandfather came from St. Malo to Canada and eventually to Massachusetts . They died young so there was little information to find.
I simply wanted to walk the streets where they did. I am proud of my french heritage... (both sides of family)

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful help. I so look forward to our trip!