The 13 best day trips from Paris

How to get there: A 15-minute train ride from Montparnasse station

Even if you’ve been to Versailles and its château before, there’s always more to discover. The estate proudly displays its gold, fountains and mirrors over some 800 hectares – that’s twice the size of Central Park. Suffice to say, you need to get up early to cover it all (and avoid the crowds and busloads of tourists). At 8am, the most daring will have the park all to themselves. And if that doesn’t make you feel at home enough, treat yourself with lunch on-site at Ducasse’s Ore. Or opt for the more discreet (but highly recommended) Bistrot du 11, a stone’s throw from the bucolic King’s Kitchen Garden. For something really special, book tickets for the equestrian show La Voie de l’écuyère, choreographed by Bartabas and performed every Saturday and Sunday in the intimate Great Stables’ Manège. Sublime.

How to get there: A 10-minute train from Gare Montparanasse

Between Paris and Versailles, Meudon has risen in prominence since its historic airship hangar was transformed into the XXL cultural centre, Hangar Y. The place is really worth a visit (especially in summer): after the current exhibition, you can chill out in its vast park adorned with contemporary sculptures, have a drink at the open-air café, or sample the creative cuisine of chef Guillaume Sanchez in his restaurant overlooking the pond. If you set out early in the day, make a first stop at the Rodin Museum in Meudon, which is beautiful and less crowded than its counterpart in the 7th district. And if you still have some time, explore the vast forest of the town, just behind Hangar Y:  art and nature combined.

How to get there: A 45-minute train from Paris-Est to Reims 

How to get there: a four-hour train or a scenic bike ride (details below)

If you love a getaway but are allergic to public transport, the region is full of bike-friendly paths, from the Véloscenie (which goes all the way to Mont-Saint-Michel!) to the Scandibérique. But our favourite might be the one that takes you to the guinguettes along the Marne, starting from the Bois de Vincennes (which is already a destination in itself). As you exit the park, take the Allée des Guinguettes to discover these charming spots and step back in time: musette dances, oilcloth tablecloths, boater hats, and a little glass of white wine at lunch. Stop by Gégène or Fifi for a dance, and then make your way to the Château de Champs-sur-Marne. If you get hungry, swing back through Joinville and detour to Le Petit Pont to enjoy its hidden terrace perched over the river.

How to get there: a two-hour bus from Porte Maillot to Grand Val. 

How to get there: a one-hour train from Bibliothèque François Mitterrand to Eglise

Not a region or a city, Le Doyenné is simply a restaurant – but not just any restaurant. Named Time Out Paris’s Restaurant of the Year in 2023, it’s the go-to spot for savvy Parisians looking to escape to the countryside. Here, you dine in stables that once served as the studio of Niki de Saint Phalle, just a stone’s throw from the Château de Saint-Vrain where Countess du Barry and the Borghese family once lived. That’s the setting. On the menu, a carte blanche that will take up a good part of your day, featuring seasonal cuisine that relies heavily on its own vegetable garden, offering one of our most memorable culinary experiences in recent years. You’ll want to stay, and luckily, they also offer guest accommodation: about ten rooms, all designed by the architecture studio Ciguë.

📍 Discover our 2024 rankings of the best restaurants in Paris

How to get there: a 40-minute train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau - Avon

Royal France isn’t all about Versailles, you know. Before that was built, the medieval Palace of Fontainebleau was home to Napoleon III (nephew of the famous one) and Louis VII, and was known as the ‘Second Rome’ thanks to its suite of rooms decorated specially by Napoleon I for Pope Pius VII. Visitors should also take a look around Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, which was extravagantly landscaped by the same architect who worked on the Palace of Versailles. While in (second) Rome, head to the forest of Fontainebleau, with its large boulders and stunning views. There’s also 3000 or so species of mushroom here, if you were wondering. 

How to get there: a 40-minute train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon and a 20-minute bus