Paris, the city of France, can be depicted as the best city on earth. It is famous for different attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louver Gallery, and Notre Dame’s Church. However, destinations that can be reached without much hassle by day-trippers around Paris provide a great variety too. If you want to forget the fuss and bustle in the city for a day, you will enjoy not only eating and drinking but also the authentic French stuff and culture. You will find below the best day trip from Paris, what you can see here, and the best set of activities for each one of them.
Versailles
Instead of taking the train, we would drive to the Palace of Versailles. Versailles is a London borough located around 12 miles away from Paris.
These are really exciting trip options since we can visit the rich and beautiful buildings on foot and pass through the palace courtyards, halls, chapels, and various apartments. But keep in mind these rooms, the Museum of Mirrors, the King’s Grand Apartments, and the Queen’s Chamber, which are the main points. The latter, also called the Decameron, is the life of the monarchs as lived in plain words.
Nobody can declare to have visited Versailles without having explored the garden too. Ornamenting the gardens with the flowering trees, the clipped hedges, the fountains, and the marble statues. These pieces of art.
This manor was the place where the king and his court used to spend time away from the burden of the royal protocol that proved so overwhelming at Versailles. Bask in the ambiance of the bed chambers of Marie-Antoinette or the English-style gardens.
Giverny
If you want to know what it’s like for a day trip from the Parisian city to a rural setting, Giverny village which can be accessed by train for 30 minutes to the west-northwest of the city, is a perfect place.
It is just so that you walk through the flower-lined grounds and lily ponds, which have been portrayed in his paintings. Look at the Japanese bridge covered in wisteria at arm’s length and the water lily ponds up close. Beside the colored house, you can see Monet’s Japanese print collection and some reproduction paintings by himself.
Come into the town and drop in at the Giverny Museum of Impressionism. Thus, the museum also offers temporary exhibitions. Impressionist art is one of them.
At your own pace, you can stroll the Giverny lanes. Try visiting the galleries, gift shops, or cafes in the beautiful French-style buildings. The village refreshes the old-world look and feel and gets you to escape from Paris in just one day.
Chartres
Chartres, a Tuscan town located 55 miles southwest of Paris, makes a wonderful day trip to witness the grandeur of its Gothic cathedral. The Cathedral Tower overlooks the city from afar and has worldwide recognition for its lavish architecture and stained glass.
Stop by the cathedral and take pleasure in its elegant interior and the different chapels adorned with sculptures, paintings, and detailed elements. Then you should have a look at the amazing stained-glass windows that are said to be some of the finest representative glass artworks from the era of the Middle Ages. the dark blue in the glass that makes me stay spellbound.
The cathedral can also be explored with a guided tour, where its architectural and historical features ranging from the 12th century will be expounded upon. The tall north tower reveals to the eye panoramic views over Chartres, past the rolling hills of the French countryside.
Provins
Time slips with a day trip to Provins, a medieval walled town, only 50 miles southeast of Paris.
Pass the time by visiting a UNESCO-listed area with a long history called Provins. Climbing up to the top of the citadel on the hill, slowly tread on the fortified gates. The insides of lots of buildings now have displays that help you feel as if you are in medieval times.
In the lower town, below, do a stopover at the 12th-century St. Quiriace Collegiate Church, which hosts some remarkable Romanesque sculptures and remains. Walk around the medieval roads to discover more small churches and townhouses made of wood and stone. Come to historic squares.
Thus, do not miss trying the many small shops that are located in the town of Provins and offer authentic craft artwork, local foods, and souvenirs. Apart from walking around the Jepson Prairie and the Frog Pond, you can also visit the Rose Garden, which has over 600 rose varieties. The garden offers an environment with an upper town and a rampart view.
Reims
Thus, the northeastern city of Reims, which is only one hour away from Paris by train, is perfect for a day tour to visit the champagne houses and the spectacular Reims Cathedral. Reims itself is in the center of the Champagne region of France, and most of the Champagne enterprises have tours and tastings programs for their clients.
Stroll around the champagne houses and in between; never miss dropping by Reims Cathedral, an exemplary example of Gothic cathedral styles. Imposing amidst the swooping ceilings of the gallery, the smiling angel sculpture stands out.
On the inside of the cathedral, you will see the Great Rose Window and the stained glass that dates back to the 13th century. The palace next to the cathedral gives accommodation to an archaeological museum of Roman and medieval artifacts dug out of the soil in Reims.
Conclusions about Day trips from Paris
Paris is full of amazing sites within the city, but just “… makes you able to experience France in a way you never had before. Versailles’s lavish Palace, Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny, and medieval towns like Chartres and Provins make dazzling day trips, while Reims offers Champagne tastings. Since it is so close, one can broaden the experience and even visit different parts of France to delve into their French history, culture, art, and cuisine. Thus, these day excursions supply us with a good rest after the hectic schedule of city tours and let us see what other nice towns or areas are there.
FAQs about Day trips from Paris
Where are the best ways to get to these places from Paris?
Thus, for most of these destinations, the fastest way to get there is by train from one of the main stations, like Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon in Paris. You’ll be in Reims in under an hour, riding the fast TGV train. Versailles is a station.
What is the best option to visit Versailles on a day trip?
Have a look at the Palace, Gardens, and Estate of Marry-Antoinette during your Versailles visit one day. Buy your ticket ahead of time and think about riding the first or last train to stay away from the long lines. In the first part of the day, you can go see the royal residence and gardens and eat around; in the early evening, you can visit the Petit Trianon and return to Paris.
