train experience day tour from Paris

Another idea is to take a train, also from St. Lazare,to Bayeux in Normandy. The train takes about 2 1/2 hours.The charm of Bayeux is that it was not destroyed during WWII and thus has a lot of interesting architecture. It is, of course, one of the places people go to to visit the Normandy beaches, etc. You would not have much time to do that though. If you take a train at about 8 am, you would get there at about 10:30 and I suppose you could arrange a taxi tour to the American Cemetary.

OOOOH! Love this idea! I have already decided that a full-blown Normandy and WWII beaches are too taxing and better suited for another trip altogether, but a taxi out to just the American Cemetary sounds quite do-able! And to explore the smallish town with the old architecture sounds wonderful.

The Giverny trip sounds so lovely as well, but I was a little concerned with the day-trippers, the crowds. I'm kind of looking at getting away from crowds what with the week in Paris?? Or am I over-thinking this one?
Thanks, everybody!

You could easily make a day trip to London on the Eurostar. Running time Paris to London is about 2 hours 20 minutes. An early morning departure would get you there in time to see many of the sights, and you could be back in Paris before 10 PM.

I'd pick a destination that is appealing, then enjoy the train ride to and from. You don't say what you like, and as you can see, there are many choices! Paris is the center of France's rail network.

For the full experience, you could take trains from Paris to Seville--a sleeper to Madrid, then a transfer to Spain's super-fast AVE.

Early Eurostar to London, see Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, ride a double-decker, fish n chips, etc. Of course, on the Eurostar, you really see little scenery. But it's still a great ride. And I adore London.

I like the Eurostar idea. Certainly there will be some scenery, though? Is it all the chunnel? And I really liked the overnight train idea. We already have our air bought, however, for that portion of the trip. What we are mostly looking for is a different "feel" from Paris, just to switch it up. So England definitely fits that bill. We really love medieval villages or we would love to experience the non-Paris France, the French countryside. I don't really know what I am talking about, though. Guess I have seen too many movies! Thanks for all your suggestions and ideas!

The tunnel is only about 20 ninutes od the trip to London. The rest is quite uninteresting scenery of mainly farmland as you whiz by at high speed. However, I do love the trip. If you de ide to do this though, book the train ASAP as the fares rise as you get closer to the date you wish to travel.

Another thought is a day trip to Giverny to see Monet's garden. You take the train from the Gare St. Lazare to Vernon and then either a bus or taxi to the little village of Giverny which is across the river. Besides Monet's House and Garden, Giverny itself is quite small but is worth a stroll as there are some interesting old houses. But it is rather quiet other than the tourists who go to the garden.
Vernon itself, is worth a stroll as well as it is a more bustling place. This would be a very eay trip not on high speed trains.

Another idea is to take a train, also from St. Lazare,to Bayeux in Normandy. The train takes about 2 1/2 hours.The charm of Bayeux is that it was not destroyed during WWII and thus has a lot of interesting architecture. It is, of course, one of the places people go to to visit the Normandy beaches, etc. You would not have much time to do that though. If you take a train at about 8 am, you would get there at about 10:30 and I suppose you could arrange a taxi tour to the American Cemetary.

Also in Normandy and intersting is Rouen, which would make another interesting trip.

Only ideas but worth googling for more information.
I was trying to think of places that are not too large so that you could get around on foot.

The tunnel is only about 20 ninutes od the trip to London. The rest is quite uninteresting scenery of mainly farmland as you whiz by at high speed. However, I do love the trip. If you de ide to do this though, book the train ASAP as the fares rise as you get closer to the date you wish to travel.

Another thought is a day trip to Giverny to see Monet's garden. You take the train from the Gare St. Lazare to Vernon and then either a bus or taxi to the little village of Giverny which is across the river. Besides Monet's House and Garden, Giverny itself is quite small but is worth a stroll as there are some interesting old houses. But it is rather quiet other than the tourists who go to the garden.
Vernon itself, is worth a stroll as well as it is a more bustling place. This would be a very eay trip not on high speed trains.

Another idea is to take a train, also from St. Lazare,to Bayeux in Normandy. The train takes about 2 1/2 hours.The charm of Bayeux is that it was not destroyed during WWII and thus has a lot of interesting architecture. It is, of course, one of the places people go to to visit the Normandy beaches, etc. You would not have much time to do that though. If you take a train at about 8 am, you would get there at about 10:30 and I suppose you could arrange a taxi tour to the American Cemetary.

Also in Normandy and intersting is Rouen, which would make another interesting trip.

Only ideas but worth googling for more information.
I was trying to think of places that are not too large so that you could get around on foot.

Giverny is likely to be crowded but well worth it. I love the town and the many other gardens you see as you stroll down the main (and only) street. If you go, have lunch outdoors at the Hotel Baudy. The duck omelet is wonderful.

I think London and Bayeux are great choices but I would vote for either Beaune or Bruges. I love all of these places but I think you'd get more "bang for your buck" with Beaune or Bruges when you only have one day.

Thanks so much. I am printing this page so we call all get together this weekend with a glass (or two) of wine to discuss it!! And just in case someone may know, is there really that much difference between 1st class and 2nd class on Thalys triain to Bruge? There is certainly quite a difference in price!

I just read on another thread about a town called La Rochelle, a seaside town on the west side of France, they said it was only 2.5 hours from Paris. All the comments were that it was delightful and charming. I think it has a web site, the fares were affordable. I always buy 2nd class and have been comfortable.

2nd class on Thalys was fine and dandy. Great trains.

I like the Eurostar roundtrip from Paris to London…powerhouse sights upon arrival and a cool bullet train experience for your parents. Another good laid-back idea is a daytrip to Chartres.

You can get to Reims (the champagne region) in 45 min on the TGV which makes a nice day trip. It's a nice little town with a beautiful Notre Dame cathedral where almost all of the former kings of France were crowned. You can then take champagne tasting tours in some of France's largest champagne houses. You can get to Strasbourg in 2 hrs on the TGV (Strasbourg is considered the Alsace region) -- 4 hrs to & from Paris will make for a long trip, but certainly still doable. Strasbourg is on the French/German border.