Home » Destinations » Europe » France » Paris » Best Day Trips From Paris
- Last Updated on November 3, 2024
Paris is one of the best cities in the world to visit. Not only is it overflowing with its own sights, it has easy access to many culturally rich destinations nearby. In this article, we list our recommendations for the best day trips from Paris.
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Day Trips From Paris
Versailles
A day trip to Versailles is a must for any trip to Paris. This is perhaps the most famous palace in the world, and the one that inspired so many others around Europe. These stunning grounds were the residence of French kings and queens until the French Revolution. Today, you can (and should) tour the palace, gardens, and the Trianon / Marie Antoinette’s estate.
Pro Tips: Crowds can be insane – buy a timed-entry ticket online in advance to save time at the entrance. Avoid Tuesdays and weekends if you can.
If you don’t have time for all three stops, skip the Trianon / Marie Antoinette’s estate.
Beware – the fountains are only turned on during “Musical Fountain Shows” (click the link for the schedule).
Getting There: Getting to Versailles is easy. Take the RER – C from Paris. Use Google Maps to get from your hotel to an RER – C stop.
Cost and Hours: €22 per adult (€29 on fountain show days). Palace open daily 9:00am-6:30pm (closes 5:30pm Nov-Mar). Trianon open 12:00pm-6:30pm (closes 5:30pm Nov-Mar). Gardens open 8:00am-8:30pm (close 6:00pm Nov-Mar).
Address: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France
Website: en.chateauversailles.fr
Giverny
Giverny is a must for Monet fans. This is the home of Claude Monet’s garden, which he created and used as inspiration for hundreds of paintings. Walking through this garden is like walking into an impressionist painting. Best of all, Giverny is only about 75 minutes from Paris. See our guide for a day trip to Giverny from Paris.
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is considered an “outstanding cultural landscape of great beauty” by UNESCO. This is where French royalty built their castles during medieval times, and their palaces during the Renaissance. This region is full to the brim with historic towns, villages, and outstanding châteaux to choose from. See our Loire Valley day trip itinerary to plan your trip.
Normandy D-Day Sights
June 6th, 1944, D-Day, is perhaps the single most significant day in World War II history. It marked the beginning of the end for Hitler and his allies. This is the day that allied forces landed in Normandy as part of the largest seaborne invasion in history. There is so much to see in this area, you really need several days to cover it all. Unfortunately, you also need a guide to understand what you’re seeing, so it’s not practical to take more than one day seeing the sites. Our Day Trip to Normandy itinerary covers the major D-Day beaches and related sites.
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