2-Night Trip from Paris

Brugges is great fun and you need look no further. However, there are other choices within a similar 2-1/2-hour (by train) radius, including Beaune, Lyon, and even Avignon. Arles, Colmar, and Amsterdam are just a little farther, measured in minutes.

Hi Lisa, I second the vote for Bruges. We were there for a few days in May and loved it. The area is very nice and there's no shortage of canals, windmills, historic sites, or cute shops. I recommend the Hotel Adornes which is near everything, including the market square. The staff was exceptionally helpful and made the trip all that more enjoyable. Hope you have a great time!

With two nights I'd opt for London, only 2.5 hours away, city center to city center on the Eurostar. Take the early train over and a late train back, buy the tickets at 120 days prior to travel and they are dirt cheap. Go to www.seat61.com for all train issues and tips.

With two days you have lots of options. In addition to the suggestions above, a wonderful two day trip would be Paris to Strasbourg on day 1, overnight in Strasbourg, then Starsbourg to Nancy on day two (Nancy is an undiscovered gem), then back to Paris. As with most of the other places mentioned, travel is on high speed trains, so you can get good fares by booking ahead - or pay a LOT if you buy at the last minute. Lyon, Bruges, London, or Amsterdam would be my other "first choices" in this situation. You just have to decide what place calls to you most.