Paris Day Trip

I would skip Versailles and choose between Rouen and Chartres. Just because it's on everyone's list, if it doesn't excite you, don't go. I would choose the one that excites you most. For me, that would be Chartres as I think it's unique.

I second Grier, Chartres. It's magnificent and nice to visit a smaller town outside Paris.

Not sure what day of the week you are talking about, but Rick is right in saying to avoid Versailles on Sunday. We did it last May and it was extremely crowded. I have never made it Rouen in four trips, but it's on my list for sure. Chartres last May was wonderful, I wonder why people do not rave more about that town. It sounds as if you will not be there at night, but in the evening they have a tradition of the "Chartes en Lumiere" where they light up public landmarks and play classical music, and it's just magical. It seemed to us like a town that accommodated the tourists, without pandering to them on every street corner (except, understandably, near the Cathedral). The Cathedral itself was of course great.

If you visit Chartres, it has a great old town area continuing on past the Cathedral from the station and downhill toward the river.

I would chose Chartres and have been to all 3 cities. Versailles is to touristy for me and the gardens require a lot of walking to see portions of the gardens. The most interesting thing to me in Rouen is the Joan of Arc church/memorial.

I haven't been to Rouen, would like to go. Have been to Chartres twice, loved it. The cathedral is uniquely beautiful and the surrounding town easy to navigate and interesting, especially between the cathedral and river. There's an open air market one day a week. It's about an hour by train from Gare Montparnasse, trains are frequent and you go through great countryside. Versailles is a spectacular and historic palace, with spectacular gardens, all of which you share with multitudes even during the week. I've been there twice (decades apart) and don't expect to return for a long time. I wouldn't tell someone not to go there, especially if they're interested, but be prepared for crowds and very few bathrooms. The earlier in the day you can get there the better. So my vote is for Chartres, with the caveat that Rouen is an unknown to me.

Hi Jeff, I haven't been to Rouen or Chartres but I've visited Versailles twice - once in Summer and once in Winter - and I really love it. Sure, it is on everyone's list, but the size and grandeur of the Palace is amazing, and then there's the gardens. You could definitely spend a full day there and not cover everything. Versailles is also really easy to get to from the centre of Paris. The frequent trains take less than an hour. My tip for Versailles, no matter what time of year you visit, is to buy a skip the line ticket as the queues at the ticket booth can be extremely long. If you're buying a Paris Musuem Pass, entry to Versailles is included.
Whatever you choose, enjoy!

I want to give a shout-out to Versailles. It really is amazing! That's why it's on everyone's list! It is, however, a must to avoid when crowded and hot (shuffling slowly along with hordes of other sweaty sufferers is pretty horrible). Of the other choices, I've been to both, and suggest Chartres just because the cathedral is, in fact, awe-inspiring. And I don't say that lightly. The town is charming. Rouen has a more "big city" vibe - I think there are about a half million people in Rouen. Chartres is much smaller, and the vibe matches. So, it depends on what you want: Versailles: utterly grand old mansion simply crammed with stunning antiques, plus immense gardens and fabulous fountains, but that's your day. Rouem: cool medieval city, plus a modern city vibe! There's more to explore than just the old stuff. Chartres: Sublime cathedral, charming little town, quite relaxing and quaint.