Visiting Paris on holidays can feel a little overwhelming for some. If this is the case for you : take a break! Paris is surrounded with incredible sightseeing, accessible by car or by train. One day is all you need to refill your battery before getting back to enjoying hectic and beautiful Paris. And the good news is we are making it easy for you : here is our top 5 day trips from Paris on a silver platter! Just keep scrolling and take your pick…
Who doesn’t enjoy an occasional glass of wine or champagne? I know I do! Wine & Champagne are inherently part of France’s culture so it’s only logical to take a day experiencing the making of champagne, meeting champagne makers, and discovering historical wine cellars and vineyards. Located just 1h30 hour drive from Paris, Champagne region had to be in the top 5.
You can reach Reims or Epernay by train (a little less then 1 hour), or by car (around 1h30). Once at the station, some of the most famous Champagne houses are accessible by foot such as Moet & Chandon in Epernay or Veuve Clicquot in Reims. Should you wish to discover smaller producers or take incredible selfies in the vineyards you will need to have a car to move around. Bear in mind that visiting a champagne house involves tasting champagne. And we all know that drinking and driving is a no-no… best options for you: invite a friend who doesn’t like champagne AND has a driving license (if that even exist) or get chauffeured!
There are quite a few professional agencies who can organise a day trip from Paris such as My Winedays. The tour should include a wine expert guide/driver who will make sure you leave the region knowing everything there is to know about the world-famous beverage.
Kids are THE perfect excuse to finally meet Mickey Mouse and ride space mountain! Know that you are just 40 minutes away from making this dream a reality. Yes, only 40 minutes!! Don’t you think it’s time to go through with it?
Take the RER A from Nation, for about 30 minutes. Then it’s time to scream, cry, laugh, but mostly spend a day to remember in the world’s greatest attractions. If you don’t have kids with you, well… who cares? Just bring out that inner child in you and have a blast. No one will judge 😉
Book your entry tickets in advance to be on the safe side. The official website is right here.
You won’t regret it!
Travellers know mostly Normandy for the D-Day landing beaches, the Mont-Saint-Michel or the cliffs of Etretat, but there is much more to it. Ever heard of camembert? That white round and stinky cheese that runs on the platter if you leave it out of the fridge…. Mmmmh! You foodies out there know exactly what I’m talking about.
Normandy has only advantages: it’s easily accessible from Paris by car, it makes camembert, it produces some of the finest ciders of France, and it has the most beautiful quaint ports. What else can you ask for? A day tour like this is invigorating for the body, the mind AND the taste buds!
We suggest calling cheesemakers and cider wineries ahead to make sure they are open to the public. If you don’t feel like driving, book a tour with a travel agency who will drive and guide you there, such as My Winedays.
Mont Saint Michel… Just hearing the name feels like traveling!! UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage for a reason. This extraordinary, fortified city is home to the strongest and highest tides in Europe. Perched on a rocky islet, it is either surrounded by the English channel or a vast sandbank.
Take a day or two out of Paris to experience this magical place and get lost in the maze if its little alleys and narrow staircases. Of course, a walk to the top is a must: to visit the gothic-style Benedictine abbey and enjoy the panoramic views on the bay.
The best advice to make the most of your trip : avoid high season & favor high tides (full moons or new moons)
Once again, should you wish to visit the abbey or tour the sandbanks on low tide (don’t go on the sandbanks without a guide!); book in advance over here.
The Loire Valley has a lot to offer. It’s a region where you will find another UNESCO World Heritage Site : Château de Chambord, one of the most amazing constructions of the Renaissance. It’s also where you will taste some of the most delicious French wines such as Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé, Montlouis-sur-Loire. And don’t get me started on the breath-taking viewpoints on the Loire River; or the Crottin de Chavignol, Selles-sur-Cher and the Pouligny Saint-Pierre, farmhouse goat cheeses produced over there… It’s almost impossible to have a bad day in the Loire Valley! And it’s only 2 hours’ drive from Paris. What else?!
Just rent a car or book an organised tour from Paris and let yourself be enchanted by the different wonders this region has to offer.
Visit Château de Chambord : https://www.chambord.org/en/
Learn more about the Loire valley wines : https://www.vinsvaldeloire.fr/en
Book a day tour from Paris : My Winedays
As is any capital in the world, Paris is a big city that doesn’t always represent the true local way of living. Spending one day out of Paris is the only way to experience a more authentic France, especially when you don’t have time to wander around the country.
Have a look at your options and book something. You won’t regret it!
A bientôt!
Caroline
