Planning a trip to Paris and are thinking about side trips? Keep scrolling for my list of the best day trips from Paris by train worth adding to your Paris itinerary!
This list of day trips from Paris by train was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Want to make the most out of your vacation to the French capital by taking a one-day trip from Paris?
It’s a smart move! Day trips mean you can explore more places without constantly checking in and out of hotels and schlepping your suitcases everywhere.
Planning day trips from Paris by train could not be easier. No dealing with the bureaucracy and headaches of hiring a car just for one day or crazy Parisian traffic. It’s also really easy to buy train tickets in France.
Plus, there are tons of options for a Paris one-day trip. You really are spoiled for choice!
This guide has all the best trips from Paris by train that will not only give you inspiration, but all the logistical info you need to know too.
Whether you’re in the mood for a beach day or a wine day (shouldn’t every day be a wine day?) then there are easy day trips from Paris on this list for you!
Don’t have time to read a bunch of Paris blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Paris with kids.
Popular Paris Tours/Activities
- Scavenger Hunt at the Musee d’Orsay (my kids voted this the BEST thing they did in Paris)
- Paris Food Tour (We ate SO many yummy treats on our Food Tour)
- Tootbus (this is a kid-friendly hop-on-hop-off bus)
- Eiffel Tower (skip the line and go straight to the top)
- Day Trip to Giverny and Versailles (it’s a great city break)
- Flytographer photo shoot (they are easy to book and really affordable)
Kid-Friendly Paris Hotels
- Hotel Aiglon (this is a quiet area near Luxembourg Garden, and it’s perfect for families)
- Pullman Paris Eiffel Tower Hotel (there’s a shuttle to Disneyland or Giverny from here)
- Newport Bay Club Resort (this is our favorite place to stay at Disneyland)
Day Trip to Versailles from Paris
Taking a day trip to Versailles from Paris is usually every first-time visitor in the French capital’s ideal day out.
And for good reason! The 18th-century Palace of Versailles has been immortalized in literature, movies, and historic stories. You really must see this impressive structure with your own eyes.
It’s also one of the closest Paris day trips, too. Get your skip-the-line tickets for Versailles.
How To Get from Paris to Versailles by Train
There are three ways you can travel from Paris to Versailles by train depending on which Paris train station is the closest to where you are staying.
Option 1
This is the most common route. Head to Austerlitz or any other station on the C metro line in Paris and take the RER C train service to Versailles-Chantiers.
These services depart every 30 minutes and the length of this train journey is approximately 42 minutes. Tickets cost €3.65 as you’re traveling outside the Parisian borders.
Option 2
From Gare Saint-Lazare, take the L service to Versailles Rive Droite. These services depart every 15 minutes. Tickets cost between €4-6 and the length of this journey is around 36 minutes.
Option 3
From Paris Montparnasse, take the N service to Versailles-Chantiers. These services depart every 15 minutes. Tickets cost between €3-5 and the length of this journey is around 25 minutes.
Paris to Caen, Normandy Day Trip
Do you love WWII history? Then you must take a Paris to Normandy day trip, with the city of Caen being one of the easiest cities in the region to visit.
This port city is one of the most popular day trips from Paris to Normandy due to its huge Memorial Museum devoted to World War II and the Cold War. It also has some lovely abbeys and castles.
How To Get from Paris to Caen, Normandy by Train
TER (Transport Express Régional) is France’s regular, regional train network. You do not have to book ahead if you are traveling second class and they’re usually the cheaper service.
From Gare Saint-Lazare, take a direct TER service to Gare de Caen. Non-stop services take around two hours but others can take up to three hours. Around 16-19 trains between Paris and Caen depart every day. Ticket prices start from €10 when booked in advance but can cost up to €40.
Day Trip to Reims from Paris
All wine lovers need to take day trips from Paris to Champagne. While there are a few different options when planning a Paris to Champagne day trip, Reims is the unofficial capital of the region.
In Reims, you can sign up for as many wine tastings and tours as you can squeeze into a day trip to Champagne from Paris. You should also check out Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims where French Kings were crowned for more than 1,000 years.
How To Get from Paris to Reims by Train
There are two main options to travel by train on a day trip to Reims from Paris. Note that TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) trains are high-speed and it’s better if you book ahead as these are more expensive.
Option 1
From Gare de l’Est, take a TGV service to Champagne-Ardenne which takes around 40 minutes. Walk about seven minutes to the Gare Champ tram stop and take a 20-minute tram towards Neufchatel but get off at Langlet, which is the Reims station.
Train tickets start from €18 but you will have to buy a separate ticket for the tram journey.
Option 2
From Gare du Nord, take the TER service to Gare de Laon which is around a 90-minute journey. Change here to another TER service to Reims which is a 45-minute journey. Tickets start from €13 and there are around 20 trains a day.
Paris to Luxembourg Day Trip
Visiting another country is one of the most adventurous, best day trips from Paris you can take! Taking a Paris to Luxembourg day trip is super easy thanks to high-speed rail.
In Luxembourg City, you can stroll around the medieval streets and visit galleries like the Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art.
How To Get from Paris to Luxembourg by Train
There are many route options to travel from Paris to Luxembourg by train. For a day trip, you should only consider the fastest option as the other options can take four or five hours each way!
From Gare de l’Est, hop on the direct TGV service to Gare de Luxembourg. This direct train takes around two hours and 30 minutes and ticket prices start from €18.90 but are often much more expensive.
There are only five of these high-speed trains every day so definitely book in advance.
Day Trip to Bordeaux from Paris
Champagne isn’t the only option if you’re keen on finding great wine day trips from Paris. You could also take a great day trip to Bordeaux from Paris.
Hop from bar to wine shop to sample the best of the region’s grapes and admire the Gothic buildings penetrating the city’s skyline.
How To Get from Paris to Bordeaux by Train
From Montparnasse, take the direct TGV service to Gare de Saint-Jean in Bordeaux. The length of this journey is just over two hours. There are around 20 services a day and tickets start from €16.
Paris to Chartres Day Trip
One of the best day trips from Paris by train is a Paris to Chartres day trip. It’s an underrated city to visit and the train journey will take you through the lush French countryside.
Don’t forget to explore the massive Cathédrale Notre Dame, the pièce de résistance of Chartres.
How To Get from Paris to Chartes by Train
From Montparnasse, take the direct TER service to Gare de Chartres. This train journey takes 90 minutes and services depart every 60 minutes. Tickets are usually around €10.
Day Trip to Lyon from Paris
Staying in Lyon for a couple of days is a great example of super fun side trips from Paris, but a day trip to Lyon from Paris is the next best thing.
The birthplace of cinema and a former Roman city, Lyon offers diverse history and unique culinary offerings too. You’ll have a great time, even if it’s just one day in Lyon!
How To Get from Paris to Lyon by Train
From Paris Gare de Lyon, take the direct TGV service to Lyon Part Dieu station. This journey takes just over two hours and services depart every 40 minutes. Tickets are available from €10.
Paris to Fontainebleau Day Trip
Looking for day trips out of Paris to the most charming countryside chateaus? Taking a Paris to Fontainebleau day trip should be at the top of your list!
Fontainebleau Palace is a luxurious estate with its own forest, manicured gardens, and even an equestrian stadium.
How To Get from Paris to Fontainebleau by Train
From Gare de Lyon, take the R line to Thomery which is Fontainebleau’s closest train station. The length of this train journey is only 45 minutes but there are only a few services each day.
Tickets cost between €10-19 and Fontainebleau is a short walk or taxi from the station.
Strasbourg Day Trip from Paris
When booking day trips from Paris in winter, you have to choose places with the best Christmas markets which is why a Strasbourg day trip from Paris is a no-brainer.
This city on the German-French border looks like a fairytale during the festive period. So much so, you’ll swear that you saw Belle from The Beauty and the Beast strolling along the banks of the Rhine.
How To Get from Paris to Strasbourg by Train
ICE trains are similar to TGV trains as they are high-speed. The only difference is they cross the French-German border.
From Gare de l’Est, take the ICE service to Strasbourg station which should only take around one hour and 45 minutes.
There are around 20 services from Paris to Strasbourg every day but some of them take more than three hours, so book the ICE trains in advance. Tickets will cost anywhere from €20-60 depending on when you buy them.
Paris to London Day Trip
Outings to Luxembourg aren’t the only day trips from Paris by train to other countries that you can take. London is much easier to visit on Paris day trips by train than you might think!
Walk along the Thames, eat fish and chips, wave hello to the King, and be back in Paris for dinnertime. But if you’re looking for weekend trips from Paris by train, London would be a great option too.
How To Get from Paris to London by Train
Eurostar trains cross the English Channel and you will need to book these tickets in advance! Arrive early for increased security checks.
From Gare du Nord, take the Eurostar to St Pancras station in London. This train journey takes less than two hours and 90 minutes and there are normally 15 trains per day. Tickets start from €38.50.
Rouen Day Trip from Paris
The capital city of the Normandy region and a historically important port city, taking a Rouen day trip from Paris is like going back in time.
Discover Gothic churches, buildings dating back to the Roman era and Middle Ages, and a cobblestone Old Town.
You’ll soon realize why Claude Monét loved this place and painted it prolifically!
How To Get from Paris to Rouen by Train
From Saint-Lazare, hop on a TER service to Gare de Rouen which is only around 90 minutes. There are around 29 services per day and tickets start from €9 which is one reason why Rouen is one of the top day trips from Paris.
Paris to Amiens Day Trip
Searching for unusual day trips from Paris? The canal-laden city of Amiens is a great choice. From their floating market gardens to sci-fi author Jules Vernes’ old house, there are plenty of cool things to do in Amiens!
How To Get from Paris to Amiens by Train
From Gare du Nord, get a TER service to Amiens Railway Station. There are some services that require you to change at Gare d’Arras or Creil, but plenty of them are direct.
These direct services take just over an hour and tickets start from as little as €5.
Beach Day Trip from Paris to Le Crotoy
You might think beach day trips from Paris are impossible with it being an in-land city, but think again!
Le Crotoy is widely known as the closest beach to Paris. It boasts a long stretch of yellow sand, lots of beachfront restaurants, and a marina.
How To Get from Paris to Le Crotoy by Train
From Gare du Nord, hop on a TER service to Gare de Rue. This journey takes around two hours and there are around 13 services a day. Tickets start from €5.
Take the 709 bus from Gare de Rue to Le Crotoy’s Rue Victor Pelletier bus stop which will last around 20 minutes.
Day Trip to Épernay from Paris
Épernay is one of the best day trips from Paris by train if you’re looking for an alternative way to visit the Champagne region away from popular Reims.
It’s the perfect place to go wine tasting at vineyards and hiking which are two things that are difficult to do in Paris.
How To Get from Paris to Épernay by Train
From Gare de l’Est, take a TER service to Épernay station. There are some services that will require that you change at Château-Thierry or Champagne-Ardenne but there are direct services that take less than 90 minutes. Tickets usually cost around €10.
Paris to Blois, Loire Valley Day Trip
If you’re specifically looking for Loire Valley day trips from Paris, then that’s absolutely doable. You can take day trips from Paris to Loire Valley in no time at all if you visit Blois.
It’s a small yet beautiful hillside city right on the Loire River with lots of wineries and vineyards only a short taxi ride away.
How to Get from Paris to Blois, Loire Valley by Train
From Montparnasse, take a TGV service to Gare de St-Pierre-des-Corps which is just over one hour. You will need to change trains at this station and take a TER train to Gare de Blois – Chambord which will take less than 30 minutes.
There are around 20 services a day between these two cities. Ticket prices start from €20.
Paris Day Trips FAQs
There are many day trip options from Paris, including Versailles, Giverny, Mont Saint-Michel, and the Champagne region. The best day trip for you will depend on your interests and preferences.
The transportation options for day trips from Paris depend on the destination. Some options include taking a train, bus, or booking a tour.
The travel time for day trips from Paris varies depending on the destination. Some destinations, like Versailles, are only a short train ride away, while others, like Mont Saint-Michel, may take several hours.
The cost of a day trip from Paris varies depending on several factors, including transportation, admission fees, and guided tours. It’s important to research and budget accordingly.
It’s important to bring comfortable walking shoes, a camera, appropriate clothing for the destination’s weather, and any necessary documents, such as passports for certain day trips.
Day Trips from Paris by Train Wrap-Up
These day trips outside of Paris by train will allow you to visit wine regions, beaches, chateaus, and even other countries! Train day trips from Paris are so easy to organize and navigate and they will make your Paris vacation even more exciting and memorable.
Looking for more Paris travel content? Check out the coolest Paris hidden gems, where to stay in Paris with kids, whether it’s worth visiting Versailles with kids, things to do in Paris with teens, how to take cute Paris family photos, Paris Instagram spots, things to do on a Paris family vacation, my kid-friendly Paris itinerary, how to plan a trip to Paris, the best kid-friendly Paris tours, and the best things to do in Paris at night!
