Paris Day Trips
The four day trips from Paris worth a full day. Each section has the current transport options, ticket prices, restaurant picks, and what to skip.
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Versailles
The opulent palace and gardens of the Sun King, Louis XIV.
Originally a hunting lodge, Versailles was transformed into a lavish palace by Louis XIV in the 17th century. It served as the seat of political power and royal court from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789.
Top attractions
- Palace of Versailles (book a timed entry online)
- Hall of Mirrors
- The Grand Apartments
- The Gardens
- The Grand Trianon
- Marie-Antoinette's Estate
Getting there
- RER C from any central Paris station (Saint-Michel, Invalides) to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche, ~40 min, €4.20 each way
- SNCF train from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers, ~15 min once on board
- Guided coach tours from central Paris run €70–€100 with skip-the-line entry
Where to eat
- La Flottille (in the gardens, near the Grand Canal)
- Ore — Ducasse au Château de Versailles (inside the palace)
- La Table du 11 (in town, Michelin-starred)
What it costs (2026)
Passport ticket (palace + Trianon estate + gardens): €32 high season, €24 low season. Palace only: €21.50. Gardens: free except on Musical Fountain days (€10). Free year-round for under-18s and under-26 EU residents.
Travel tips
- Book tickets in advance via the [official château site](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/) — third-party resellers add a 30%+ markup.
- Visit on a Tuesday or weekend (April–October) to catch the Musical Fountains Show, an extra €10 on top of the palace ticket.
- Allow a full day to do palace + gardens + Trianon properly. The palace alone takes 2.5 hours minimum.
- Wear comfortable shoes — the gardens are far larger than they look from the palace steps.
Giverny
The picturesque village and gardens that inspired Claude Monet.
Giverny became famous as the home of Impressionist painter Claude Monet from 1883 until his death in 1926. It's where he created his celebrated water lily series and developed his now-iconic gardens. The site has been open to the public as a museum-house since 1980.
Top attractions
- Claude Monet's House and Gardens
- Water Lily Pond and Japanese Bridge
- Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny
- Church of Giverny (Monet is buried in the cemetery)
- Ancien Hôtel Baudy
Getting there
- Train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon — Giverny station (~45 min, €15–€18 each way)
- From Vernon: shuttle bus (€10 round trip, runs April–October) or rental bike (€12/day) to Giverny — 15 min by bike
- Coach tours from Paris run €80–€110 including transfers and house entry
Where to eat
- Restaurant Baudy (in the historic Ancien Hôtel Baudy where Cézanne and Renoir stayed)
- Les Nymphéas (across from the Monet house)
- Le Jardin des Plumes (in Giverny village, hotel-restaurant)
What it costs (2026)
Monet's house and gardens: €13.50 adult, €8.50 ages 7–17, free under 7. Musée des Impressionnismes: €12.50. Combined ticket: €22.
Travel tips
- Visit between April and October — the gardens are closed November to March, so a winter trip is pointless.
- Book Monet's house tickets online at the [Fondation Monet](https://fondation-monet.com/en/) at least a week ahead in summer.
- Combine with a visit to nearby Vernon (15 min by bike) for lunch and a walk along the Seine.
- Mornings are calmer — most coach tours arrive at 11:00.
Fontainebleau
The royal château favored by Napoleon, in a forest 1 hour south of Paris.
The Château de Fontainebleau has been a royal residence for eight centuries — Henri IV, Louis XIV, and Napoleon all stamped their style on its 1,500 rooms. Napoleon abdicated here in 1814 on the famous "Adieux" staircase. It is on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
Top attractions
- Château de Fontainebleau
- The Grand Apartments
- Napoleon I Museum
- Forest of Fontainebleau (climbing, hiking)
- Town of Fontainebleau (bistros, antique shops)
Getting there
- Transilien R train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon (~40 min, €10 each way)
- Bus 1 (or "Aérial" shuttle) from the station to the château (~10 min, €2)
- Driving: ~1 hour from central Paris via the A6
Where to eat
- L'Axel (Michelin-starred, in town)
- La Table des Maréchaux
- Bistro Bonjour (lunch only, near the château)
What it costs (2026)
Château entry: €14 adult, free for under-18s and under-26 EU residents. Forest access: free.
Travel tips
- Far less crowded than Versailles — most days you can walk through the Grand Apartments without a queue.
- The forest of Fontainebleau is one of the best bouldering destinations in Europe; rent a crash pad in town if you want a half-day in the woods.
- Trains run hourly from Gare de Lyon — easy to get there and back in a day.
- The town itself has good lunch options if you want to escape the château crowd.
Champagne Region
The birthplace of the world's most celebrated sparkling wine.
The Champagne wine region has a winemaking history dating back to the Middle Ages. It gained its famous sparkling wine in the 17th century and has been synonymous with celebration ever since. Reims and Épernay are the two main hubs.
Top attractions
- Reims Cathedral (where French kings were crowned)
- Champagne houses in Reims (Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Pommery)
- Épernay and the Avenue de Champagne
- Hautvillers village (Dom Pérignon worked and is buried at the abbey)
- Champagne cellars tours and tastings
Getting there
- TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est to Reims (~45 min, €30–€60 each way)
- TGV from Gare de l'Est to Épernay (~1h15, €25–€55)
- Guided wine tours from Paris run €150–€250 including tastings and lunch
- Driving: ~1.5–2 hours; designate a non-drinking driver
Where to eat
- Le Parc at Les Crayères (Reims, two Michelin stars)
- La Table Kobus (Épernay)
- Le Café du Palais (Reims, classic brasserie)
What it costs (2026)
Champagne house tours and tastings range €25–€65 per person depending on the house and number of wines tasted. Reims Cathedral entry: free.
Travel tips
- Book tours and tastings at champagne houses in advance — most close lunchtime and slots fill up.
- Hire a driver or take a guided tour if visiting multiple wineries on the same day.
- Visit the Reims Cathedral — UNESCO-listed and a 5-minute walk from the TGV station.
- Lunch in Épernay is better and cheaper than Reims — Avenue de Champagne has several excellent options.
Related
- The Disneyland Paris guide — a fifth day-trip option, with its own dedicated post
- Paris Neighborhood Guide — pick where to base yourself before adding a day trip
- The Ultimate Weekend in Paris Itinerary