Day Trips From Paris
Paris is a wonderful city to travel to, but the little pieces of history outside of the city are worth seeing while on vacation. France is the cornerstone for inspiring wine and cheese and is rich in historical landmarks.
Day trips make it possible for you to have a hotel in a central location while having the opportunity to see the true lifestyle of the people of France. As many know, France can be costly; therefore, these five-day trips are a comfortable distance from central Paris.
Paris is a city like no other. Home to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and more, Paris is well known worldwide for its beauty, history, and charm. Whether you have lived in Paris all your life or have plans to visit, you should know that there are some amazing day trips from Paris, France, to be enjoyed by you and your loved ones. Read on for five amazing day trips from Paris, France, for a vacation your family will never forget.
Versailles
Revel in the grandeur, majesty, and glory of beautiful Versailles. Young and old alike will delight at the amazing spectacle that is Versailles. Stroll the magnificent gardens, tour the palace and Petit Trianon, and follow in the footsteps of French royals such as Marie Antoinette. Versailles offers many tours of the grounds and buildings, fountain shows, and ample room for picnicking. Expect a total travel time of 35 minutes to Versailles from Paris, France.
Loire Valley
Another amazing place that is just a short drive from Paris, France, is Loire Valley. Loire Valley is famous for its wine, gardens, and agriculture. Tour a Muscadet winery, enjoy the beautiful gardens of Chateau de Chenonceau, or delight in the magnificent local architecture displayed in local buildings such as the Chateau de Villandry. While in Loire Valley, dine at one of their amazing restaurants, such as Auberge du XIIe Si¨cle. Loire Valley is roughly 2.5 hours from Paris, France.
Mont St. Michel
Aside from Paris, Mont St. Michel is one of France’s most visited locations by tourists. Every year Mont St. Michel manages to welcome a staggering 3.5 million guests. Mont St. Michel looks like something out of a fairy tale, set in the middle of a bay with picturesque buildings such as the abbey, the parish church, and the museum of Mont St. Michel. Mont St. Michel also has plenty of shopping, dining, and lodging. While you are visiting Mont St. Michel, be sure to dine in one of their quaint restaurants, such as Cafeteria la Bella Normandie. You can expect a 3.5-hour drive from Paris, France, to Mont St. Michel.
Normandy
A trip to Normandy is a must for any visitor to France. While Normandy is most famous as a World War II landmark, it is also well known for its beautiful scenery, orchards, and seaside serenity. View Omaha beach, take a stroll along the seaside, and bask in all that Normandy has to offer. While visiting, be sure to check out some of their finer restaurants, such as L’Essentiel. You can expect a 4-hour drive from Paris, France, to Normandy.
Fontainebleau
Another great adventure to embark upon you are in France is a day trip to Fontainebleau, France. Fontainebleau has much to offer, including tours, sightseeing, dining, and more. Take a tour of the fabulous Fontainebleau Castle, meander through the Barbizon village or delight in fine dining at one of Fontainebleau’s restaurants such as Restaurant Letroubadour. You can expect to travel for 1 hour from Paris, France, to Fontainebleau.
Ile-de-France Wine Region
The idea of French wine conjures up pictures of the famous Champagne and Bourdeaux regions, but little known Ile de France grows the most superb grapes in the countryside. For travelers to Paris, this means that one doesn’t have to spend a fortune traveling to the better-known wine regions since this is just an hour or two(depending on where you choose to go) outside of Paris.
Clos Montmartre, a remarkable vineyard in the region, has 1,900 vines with twenty-eight grape varieties. The popular varieties are Gamay and Pinot Noir and the vineyard is said to produce over 1,700 bottles of delicious wine each year. Call the winery to set up a tasting and consider yourself a lucky soul- the winery does not sell the wine commercially. And there is no need to search for a hearty meal; the winery serves platters alongside the wine tasting for an additional fee.
The can’t-miss bistro in the region is Moulin de Ponceau, located on 21 rue de la Tannerie in Chartres. The restaurant offers majestic views of the River Eure, so be sure to ask for a table with a window. The menu changes regularly, but one can guarantee that rabbit terrine and foie gras to always be on the menu.
Reims, the champagne capital of France
The French love wine, so much so that they store up to 75 million bottles of Champagne under the streets of Reims. Just an hour and forty-five minutes outside of the city lies the Champagne capital of France. The city is beautiful and modern, yet antiquated, and a must-see for any lover of French culture.
Be sure to visit the House of G.M. Mumms, which stores 25 million bottles of Champagne under the streets and in the city’s caves. Tourists should set up a walking tour in advance. The tour includes several tastings and a delightful experience in the world of the Champagne king.
Monet’s Gardens at Giverny
One cannot go to France without peering into Claude Monet’s life’s inspiration and final moments. Monet’s Gardens is a tribute to the impressionist’s beautiful life and the paintings that he contributed to the art realm. Visitors can walk through the gardens, dine at bordering restaurants, and enjoy a calm, serene walk before returning to the bustle of Paris.
France is far too expensive to see in one trip, but one can fill their vacation with many day trips without ever having to stay anywhere but Paris. Day trips give visitors the flexibility to see French culture, and beautiful scenery, sip on French’s delightful wine, and avoid the need to book several hotels. The outskirts of France can make any trip memorable.
