4 Outstanding Day Trips from Paris to Enjoy

Entry #2300, April 15, 2013

Even though Paris is one of the greatest cities, you might want to get out for a day and find out what lies beyond its limits. The city of lights is surrounded by several spectacular destinations including natural parks, chateaus, and, medieval fortifications. We point you to some of the best Paris day trips.

The capital city of France-Paris is steeped in history, art, and beauty

Image credit: Agaw Dilim

Chateau de Versailles

No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the former unofficial capital of France.  A symbol of French monarchy, the palace of Versailles was put up by the powerful “Sun King” Louis XIV. The palace’s magnificent gardens are idyllic and free to visit, but it’s worth shelling out for a ticket to see the interiors. The Chateau de Versailles sits just 10 miles away from Paris and is easily reachable by car or train.

Monet’s Gardens at Giverny

Wander through Monet’s Gardens to understand his fascination with light and water lilies.

Image credit: Destination Europe

For all the art lovers, a trip to french impressionist’s painter, Claude Monet’s home and his private gardens at Giverny is a must. When you wander through the gardens of father of impressionism, you will understand his fascination with light and water lilies. Standing in Monet’s garden is like being inside one of his impressionists paintings. The Japanese style bridges, water lilies, and varieties of trees and flowers are right there in front of you.

Fontainebleau

A tranquil alternative to the hustle-bustle of Versailles, Fontainebleau is just 35 miles away from Paris. Steeped in royal history, the town’s main attraction is the Chauteau de Fontainebleau. This beautiful palace and its surrounding forests have acted as a country home for French monarchs. The circular walks around the forests are quite peaceful and refreshing. Overall, an excursion to Fontainebleau is just perfect for history, architecture, and, nature lovers.

Versailles, Fontainebleau

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Disneyland

If you are visiting the city of light with kids, a trip to Disneyland Paris can be a real treat. Like any real Disney theme park, it includes amusement park rides, restaurants, hotels, and, other recreational activities. Formerly known as Eurodisney, Disneyland is located in the Paris suburb and is less than an hour away from the city by a single commuter train.

If you want to see more of France than just Paris, venture out to these interesting destinations for a perfect day out.