Day Trips from Paris: 11 Trips Near the French Capital

See in this article 11 tips for day trips from Paris: cities, castles, museums, amusement parks.

Although Paris is practically endless in terms of tourist attractions, many people take advantage of their stay in the French capital to explore nearby cities, attractions, and monuments.

The day trips from Paris allow tourists to escape the bustling city atmosphere of the French capital and catch a glimpse of the interior of France, its charming little towns, its impressive castles, and some hidden gems.

Because of this, our article Day Trips Near Paris is one of the most accessed in the blog's history. Our infographic below is an extension of this post.

The suggested trips in the infographic below are recommended if you are staying more than 4 days in Paris. If you're staying up to 4 days, it is more interesting to stay in the capital to ensure you can visit the essentials. Our guide Paris: 5 Itineraries in 4 Days will help you get organized.

To ensure enjoyable and comfortable trips, we've chosen destinations that are around 1.5 hours away from Paris.

We did not include the Palace of Versailles, Monet's House and Gardens in Giverny, and Disneyland Paris in our tips because these locations, despite being around 1.5 hours from Paris (or even less), are already part of the traditional itineraries of most tourists, even those visiting the city for the first time.

Tips for day trips from Paris (nearby Paris). Click here to see the expanded infographic.

One of the most beautiful cities in Normandy. It has exceptional heritage, with homogeneous and well-preserved architecture, which makes it part of the Villes d'Art et d'Histoire.

Main attractions: the Gros Horloge - the most recognized monument in the city - and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Rouen, so beautiful that Monet painted it several times at different times of the day.

Click here to read our article about Rouen with more tips.

Take the regular train to Rouen at the Saint Lazare train station.

The trip lasts about 1.5 hours.

The ticket price varies from €9 to €30 (depending on how far in advance you purchase and the time of travel). Click here to check the schedules and prices for Paris-Rouen trains and buy your ticket in advance to secure the best prices.

Also known as the City of Light and Perfume. It is located in the heart of the so-called Cosmetic Valley, a research hub in the field of cosmetics and wellness.

Main attraction: its 13th-century Gothic cathedral, one of the starting points of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. In addition to its beautiful stained glass and interior decoration, the cathedral features a labyrinth drawn on the floor that serves as a path for pilgrimage/meditation/purification.

Click here to read our article about Chartres with more tips.

Take the regular train to Chartres at the Montparnasse train station.

The trip lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes.

The ticket price varies from €10 to €20 (depending on how far in advance you purchase and the time of travel). Click here to check the schedules and prices for Paris-Chartres trains and buy your tickets in advance to secure the best prices.

Medieval city also known as the "City of Walls". It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.

Main attractions: the monuments from the medieval period (walls, César Tower, Grange aux Dîmes, the underground, the cathedral) and medieval shows featuring eagles, knights, and jesters which take place from the end of March to the beginning of November (click here to see more information about them).

Click here to read our article about Provins with more tips.

Take the Transilien line P train to Provins at the Gare de l'Est / Paris Est train station.

The trip lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

The ticket price is around €5.

If you have the Navigo Découverte card with the weekly or monthly recharge that covers zones 1 to 5, you can use it to travel to and from Provins.

Considered the capital of Champagne and the main city of the Champagne region. It is also called the "city of coronations" and the "city of kings" because 25 French kings were crowned here.

Main attractions: the caves of the famous maisons of Champagne such as Veuve Clicquot and Ruinart, and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims, which has 2,303 statues.

Click here to read our article about Reims with more tips.

Option 1: take the TGV train to Reims at the Gare de l'Est / Paris Est train station.

The journey lasts about 45 minutes on the direct train. Before buying the ticket, check if you're buying for the direct train.

The ticket price varies from €18 to €60 (depending on how far in advance you purchase and the time of travel). Click here to check the schedules and prices for Paris-Reims trains and buy your ticket in advance to secure the best prices.

Option 2: group tour, click here to book your reservation.

It may seem strange to suggest a city in another country for a day trip, but Brussels is about 1 hour 20 minutes by train from Paris and has a beautiful architectural ensemble worth exploring.

In addition, there are the beers, chocolates, and moules-frites.

Main attractions: La Grande Place and the Royal Galleries Saint-Hubert.

Click here to read our article about Brussels with more tips.

Take the TGV/Thalys train to Brussels at the Gare du Nord train station.

The trip lasts about 1 hour 23 minutes.

The ticket price varies from €29 to €103 (depending on how far in advance you purchase and the time of travel). Click here to check the schedules and prices for Paris-Brussels trains and buy your ticket in advance to secure the best prices.

The only royal and imperial castle that has been continuously inhabited for 7 centuries. A true history of French art and architecture.

Main attraction: the interior of the castle with its halls, rooms, and libraries featuring sumptuous decoration and exquisite furniture.

Click here to read our article about the Château de Fontainebleau with more tips.

Option 1: at the Gare de Lyon train station, take the Transilien line R (to Montargis) and get off at Fontainebleau-Avon station.

The journey lasts about 40 minutes.

The ticket price is around €5. If you have the Navigo Découverte card with the weekly or monthly recharge that covers zones 1 to 5, you can use it to travel to and from Fontainebleau.

At the station exit, take the regular bus line 1 towards Les Lilas, and get off at the stop Bibliothèque or Château.

Option 2: there is a group tour in a minibus that visits both the Château de Fontainebleau and the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in one day. Click here to learn more and make your reservation.

One of the closest castles to Paris and one of the most interesting in France. Its painting collection - known as the Musée Condé - ranks it as the second largest museum of ancient paintings in France after the Louvre.

Main attractions: Musée Condé, the library, the stables with equestrian demonstrations, and the restaurants where you can enjoy the real cream chantilly.

Click here to read our article about the Château de Chantilly with more tips.

Option 1: at the Gare du Nord train station, take the regular train (to Creil) and get off at Chantilly-Gouvieux station.

The trip lasts about 25 minutes.

The ticket price is around €9. Click here to check the schedules and prices for trains from Paris to Chantilly-Gouvieux station and buy your ticket in advance.

Option 2: at Gare de Lyon, Châtelet - Les Halles, or Gare du Nord stations, take the RER D train (towards Creil) and get off at Chantilly-Gouvieux station.

The trip lasts about 50 minutes.

The ticket price is around €10.

From Chantilly-Gouvieux station, you can get to the castle:

on foot (25 minutes walk),

by taxi (5 minutes, price around 10 euros),

by regular bus line 15 (towards Senlis) or the DUC (Desserte Urbaine Cantilienne) free bus. Get off the bus at the stop "Notre-Dame Musée du Cheval". According to the official Chantilly site, the DUC bus operates even on weekends and holidays.

A private castle already considered the most beautiful in France. It was the residence of Fouquet, the minister of the young King Louis XIV, who, out of jealousy, summoned the same team that built Vaux Le Vicomte to transform Versailles into the sumptuous castle we know today.

Main attractions: its beautiful gardens, designed by landscape architect André Le Nôtre; the show "Les Soirées aux Chandelles," which takes place on Saturday nights from May to October, when the gardens are illuminated by thousands of candles and the Christmas decorations.

Click here to read our article about the Château de Vaux Le Vicomte.

Option 1: at the Gare de Lyon train station, take the Transilien line R and get off at Melun station.

The trip lasts about 25 minutes.

The ticket price is around €5.

From Melun station, you can reach the castle by taxi or Uber, the trip takes about 10 minutes.

Option 2: at Gare de Lyon, Châtelet - Les Halles, or Gare du Nord stations, take the RER D train (towards Melun) and get off at Melun station.

The trip lasts about 60 minutes.

The ticket price is around €10.

From Melun station, you can reach the castle by taxi or Uber, the trip takes about 10 minutes.

Option 3: there is a group tour in a minibus that visits both the Château de Fontainebleau and the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in one day. Click here to learn more and make your reservation.

An aviation museum where you can see and even enter planes like the Boeing, Concorde, Dakota, Super Frelon. In addition, there's a planetarium, flight simulators, and a model museum.

Main attractions: the Concorde, the flight simulator, and the excellent gift shop. Click here to visit the official website of the museum and find out more information.

Click here to read our complete article about the Air and Space Museum.

Take metro line 7 (heading towards La Courneuve) and get off at La Courneuve station. Then take bus 152 and get off at the stop Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace.

The total journey (metro + bus) takes about 50 minutes.

Price: €1.90 metro + €1.90 bus. If you have the Navigo Découverte card with the weekly or monthly recharge that covers zones 1 to 5, you can use it for this trip, both on the metro and on the bus.

"Branch" of the famous French museum located in the city of Lens.

Its collection, consisting of around 200 works, is displayed in a unique, continuous space - called the Gallery of Time - and retraces the history of civilizations from 3,500 BC to 1815. Access to this gallery is free!

The museum also features paid temporary exhibitions.

Main attractions: EVERYTHING - both the museum building and the park where it is located are beautiful, and its collection is exceptional. Click here to visit the official website of the museum for more information such as hours, etc.

Click here to read our complete article about the Louvre-Lens Museum.

At the Gare du Nord train station, take the TGV train to Lens.

The trip lasts about 1 hour 10 minutes on the direct train. Before buying the ticket, check if you're buying for the direct train.

The ticket price varies from €18 to €70 (depending on how far in advance you purchase and the time of travel). Click here to check the schedules and prices for Paris-Lens trains and buy your ticket in advance to secure the best prices.

From the station, walk for about 25 minutes to the museum on a marked path or take bus 41 and get off at the stop 'Louvre-Lens'.

A themed amusement park inspired by the famous Franco-Belgian characters from the 1950s created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The series narrates the saga of an invincible Gallic village and its eternal struggle against the Roman invader. The main characters are the warrior Astérix and his best friend, Obélix.

Main attractions: the roller coasters Pégase Express, Tonnerre 2 Zeus, Goudurix, and Oziris. There are also shows and meet-and-greet with characters. Click here to see the complete list of attractions at Parc Astérix.

From September to December, the park is open only on certain days of the week, click here to see the calendar. From January to March, the park is closed, reopening in April.

Click here to read our complete article about the Parc Astérix.

At any of these stations in Paris - Gare du Nord, Châtelet Les Halles, Saint Michel Notre Dame, Luxembourg, Port Royal, Denfert Rochereau, or Cité Universitaire - take the RER B train (heading towards Aéroport Charles De Gaulle 2 TGV) and get off at Aéroport Charles De Gaulle 1. Then look for the Parc Astérix counter to be directed to the park's special bus. Click here for more information about the bus.

The journey from Paris to Charles de Gaulle airport takes about 40 minutes. The journey from Charles de Gaulle airport to Parc Astérix takes about 20 minutes. The special bus departs every 30 minutes.

The ticket price for the RER B train from Paris to Charles de Gaulle airport is €10.30. The round-trip ticket for the bus connecting Charles de Gaulle airport to Parc Astérix is €10.

See all our infographics about Paris - they will help you plan your trip! Click here.