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10 Easy day trips from Paris
Bored of visiting the Eiffel Tower? Find out the best day trips from Paris and explore some hidden gems close to the capital.
Already visited the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame? We get it. Sometimes, all you need is a day away from Paris’ hustle and bustle.
So, here’s a list of the 10 best day trips from Paris. Hop in your car or take a quick train and be back in the capital before sundown!
Unsure how to get around? We’ll tell you how to stay connected during your Paris day trips using an unlimited data eSIM.
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1. Visit Claude Monet’s hometown in Normandy
- Distance from Paris: 45 miles (72.42 kilometers)
- How to get there: 1:30-hour drive through A14 and A13 autoroutes or a 45-minute train from Paris stations Saint-Lazare or Gare de Lyon to the Giverny station.
- Time required: Half day
Giverny is a small village in Normandy where Claude Monet lived and left his artistic mark.
Monet created lush flower gardens and a pond filled with floating water lilies, which later inspired him to do the famous Water Lilies paintings.
Explore the location where Monet lived and inspired his paintings, with colorful houses surrounded by beautiful flowers.
Wander through the gardens and watch your reflection in the mesmerizing ponds before visiting the famous exhibitions at the Musée des Impressionnismes.
Tip: With one of the best eSIMs for France, you’ll be able to buy your museum tickets while on the train to Giverny.
2. Explore the Saint-Denis suburb
- Distance from Paris: 6.7 miles (10.9 km)
- How to get there: A 40-minute drive through the D24 autoroute or Av. du Président Wilson or a 15-minute train from Gare de Lyon to Saint-Denis metro station.
- Time required: Half day
Visiting the Saint-Denis suburb is one of the best day trips from Paris by train.
You can walk around the Stade de France, where the French National Team mostly plays its international matches.
However, no visit to Saint-Denis is complete if you don’t go to the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Close to the Saint-Denis metro line, this Gothic cathedral is one of the most important in France.
When visiting the basilica, take a guided tour of the royal necropolis. It’s a great way to learn about French history and to visit the tombs of many French kings and queens from the 10th to 18th centuries.
Entry tickets for the Basilica of Saint-Denis start at €11 (~$11.87 USD), and the Basilica plus Necropolis ticket costs €19 (~$20.51) for solo travelers in Paris.
3. Spend a day at Vitry-sur-Seine
- Distance from Paris: 6.15 miles (9.9 km)
- How to get there: A 35-minute drive through the D155 or D223B autoroutes or an 8-minute train from Gare d’Austerlitz from the Pont de Rungis Aéroport D’orly to the Vitry-sur-Seine station.
- Time required: Full day
Reachable in just eight minutes from Gare d’Austerlitz, Vitry is one of Paris’s most popular short-day trips.
Once a famous suburb for its riots and civil disobedience, Vitry-sur-Seine is now home to one of France’s most important street art collectives. Murals and other artistic expressions are found around almost every corner, making short trips one of the best things to do in Paris.
You can dive deeper into the Vitry-sur-Seine art with a visit to the Musée d’Art Contemporain du Val-de-Marne tickets cost €5 (~$5.40), with exhibitions changing every few months.
Lastly, the ideal way to end your day is to take a boat ride on the Seine River during the afternoon, far from the bustling Parisian streets.
4. Explore the opulence of Versailles
- Distance from Paris: 21.56 miles (34.7 km)
- How to get there: 1-hour drive on the A86 or D7 autoroutes or a 50-minute train from Gare d’Austerlitz or Gare Montparnasse with a 10-minute walk from the Versailles station. Alternatively, book a private tour.
- Time required: Full day
One of the best places near Paris is Versailles. Its most iconic attraction? The Palace of Versailles.
Home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the palace’s opulence can be seen in every corner. From crystal chandeliers to beautiful mirrors, fine arts and unique sculptures, you’ll feel like part of French royalty for a few hours.
Once you’ve finished with the palace, the Gardens of Versailles are your next stop. Covering 800 hectares, the gardens are home to over 400 statues, smaller palaces, fountains, and colorful flowers. Taking a picture or recording a video is part of the trip.
Note: The Palace and Gardens of Versailles is one of the most popular Paris day trips, with over 10 million visitors per year, so you’ll likely wait around two hours before enjoying the facilities.
5. Visit the “true home of kings,” Château de Fontainebleau
- Distance from Paris: 41.32 miles (66.5 km)
- How to get there: A 1:15-hour drive on the A6 autoroute or take a 30-minute train from Gare de Lyon to Bois-le-Roi, walk to the Poste-Gare train station, and take another 30-minute train to François 1er for another 15-minute walk. Booking a tour is another alternative to visit Fontainebleau.
- Time required: Full day
Home to the Palace and Park of Fontainebleau, this UNESCO World Heritage Site named by Napoleon as “the true home of kings.” It’s also one of the best things to do outside of Paris.
The Château is among France’s most beautiful buildings, thanks to its Renaissance architecture and artistic expression.
For a complete experience, book a special guided tour to visit the Imperial Theatre, Napoleon III’s working cabinet, the Euginere Lacquer Room, and Marie Antoinette’s Turkish Boudoir.
Once you’re done inside, head over to the beautiful gardens and walk on the canal designed by André Le Nôtre or visit the Forêt de Fontainebleau before returning to Paris.
6. Escape for a full day in Lille
- Distance from Paris: 139.80 miles (225 km)
- How to get there: A 2:45-hour drive on the A1 autoroute or a 1:05-hour train from the Gare du Nord and start walking from the Lille-Flanders station.
- Time required: Full day
Lille is an exceptional city to consider for day tours from Paris.
The city combines French and Flemish architecture, which is evident in the breathtaking cathedrals and other places for you to visit, like La Vieille Bourse or the Palais des Beaux-Arts.
Explore the World War I battlefields with a guided tour to learn more about what happened in Lille or walk through the iconic city landmarks, like the Parc de la Citadelle, the Notre-Dame-de-la Treille Cathedral, or the Belfry Tower.
7. Explore the Boulogne-Billancourt museums and outdoor spaces
- Distance from Paris: 7.08 miles (11.4 km)
- How to get there: A 40-minute drive on the Quai Jacques Chirac autoroute or a 30 to 40-minute train from Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare de l’Est, Gluck-Haussmann, Gare de Lyon, or Gare Montparnasse to the Boulogne-Billancourt station.
- Time required: Full day
Boulogne-Billancourt is another popular suburb in Paris. Once a royal hunting ground, it’s now home to the Bois de Boulogne 865-hectare park.
You can walk in the park and explore its beauty as the main thing to do. Waterfalls, a large lake, and the Jardin de Bagatelle, with its colorful roses and water lilies, create a beautiful scenario for visitors.
Visiting Boulogne-Billancourt is better during Spring, as the flowery landscape will peak.
Done with the park? You can explore the beauty of Boulogne-Billancourt by visiting the local museums, the Musée de Années for an art deco experience, the Musée Paul-Belmondo to watch exquisite sculptures, and the Musée Albert-Kahn for the most beautiful gardens in the suburb.
8. Visit the Champagne region in Reims
- Distance from Paris: 91.96 miles (148 km)
- How to get there: A 1:50-hour drive on the A1 and A4 autoroutes or a 45-minute train from Gare de l’Est to Reims or Epernay stations.
- Time required: Full day
Leaving the bustling streets of Paris to visit the countryside is always a great plan, especially to visit the Champagne region.
While in Reims, you can taste iconic wines like the Mumm, Veuve Clicquot, and Chandon. You may also want to explore the beautiful vineyards where the exquisite grapes used for wines are grown.
You can also spoil yourself with a fancy meal at Le Crypto or Racine, both Michelin-star restaurants.
Lastly, you can connect with the local history by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Abbey of Saint-Rémi and the Palace of Tau, two of the most beautiful places near Paris.
9. Explore the gastronomical capital of France
- Distance from Paris: 289.55 miles (466 km)
- How to get there: A 5-hour drive on the A6 autoroute or a 2-hour train from Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part-Dieu.
- Time required: Full day
Did you know that Lyon has the highest number of restaurants per capita, with over 3,000 eateries in the city? It’s a city worth adding to your Paris travel guide itinerary for the culinary experience alone.
With its unique Renaissance and Gothic architecture, Lyon is a must-visit place while in France.
You can walk around the city and watch the Rhône and Saône rivers flow, explore the Vieux Lyon, or go through the hidden passages from the Renaissance era.
Lastly, you can’t leave Lyon without eating a paté and visiting the Basilique de Fourvière via cable car to get a unique city view.
10. Spend a full day at the German border
- Distance from Paris: 307.579 miles (495 km)
- How to reach Strasbourg: A 5:10-hour drive on the A4 autoroute or a 1:45-hour train from Gare de l’Est to the Strasbourg train station.
- Time required: Full day
Traveling to France during Christmas? Don’t miss your chance to visit the Christmas markets in Strasbourg for a last-minute gift.
Also known as the Capital of Europe, Strasbourg is the ideal day-trip destination to try mulled wine, participate in Oktoberfest, or walk on the picturesque Petite France quarter.
However, you can add plans to your itinerary by taking a boat trip on the Rhine, visiting the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, or exploring the extensive Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Experience the best day trips from Paris with Holafly
An internet connection will be your best ally when planning your day trips. eSIMs for Paris and France will help you book trains, get entry tickets, and find cheap guided tours.
That’s where the unlimited data plans from Holafly will help you.
Our eSIM for France takes the stress out of traveling with 24/7 customer support, up to 5G connectivity, and 500 MB of data sharing per day. Pricing starts at $6.90 for one day, reaching as low as $1.55/day for a 90-day trip.
But what if you’re studying or working in Paris and looking for day trips? The Holafly Connect monthly subscription. You can use it as your home WiFi and as your main data plan while traveling.
For $64.90, here’s what Holafly Connect offers you:
- Unlimited data sharing
- Monthly renewal
- Up to 5G connectivity in 170+ countries
- 24/7 customer support in different languages
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I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
