Paris is on everyone’s tick list. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the food and the wine are just a few of the wonderful things to sample in the city of love. But if you’re feeling an itch to escape the city, don’t overlook the great day trips which are within easy reach of the French Capital. Since it’s our job to make travelling Europe easy, we’ve put together a list to inspire your travels…
Obviously, The Palace of Versailles is an absolute must when you’re in Paris! With its stunning gardens, lavish palace and huge grounds, you can easily spend a whole day there. Hopping on a bike is a great way to see the whole lot if you’re short of time – you can hire them from stands within the Palace and cover as much distance as time allows! It’s only 45 minutes on the RER (suburban metro) to Versailles, and tickets for the grounds start at €10.
55 kilometres South-East of Paris city center is Fontainebleau – a region which covers the largest area of land in the Ile-de-France region. The area has plenty of attractions including the Chateau de Fontainebleau and the Foret de Fontainebleau – both are well worth a visit for a picturesque rest-bite. With beautiful architecture, plants and wildlife it’s a lovely day out if you’ve got time to escape the city.
With its population of 42,000, Chartres is a small city which is situated roughly one hour south-west from Paris city center. The main attraction for most visitors to Chartres is the 12th century cathedral, which draws thousands of visitors with its stunningly preserved architecture and religious significance as a pilgrimage site.
Paris to Lille on the fastest trains takes about 1h and 4 minutes. On an average weekday, there are roughly 24 trains that run to Lille throughout the day. However, the journey time may be a little longer on the weekends and in holidays, purely because more people will be visiting. Once considered an industrial city, Lille is now a flourishing metropolis – a huge student population, top night life, great restaurants and incredibly friendly locals are just some of the highlights.
Epernay is located North East of Paris and is a beautiful place to visit for a day trip out. At the centre of a large wine producing area, there are plenty of vineyards and wineries near Epernay which are perfect for tours and tastings. The most famous street in Epernay is of course the Avenue De Champagne which features selections from the leading champagne manufacturers in the region.
Another little town which is perfect for a day trip, Troyes is famously known for the half- timbered houses which have survived for many years. There are plenty of museums and churches to see here for a taste of a more rural France, with a slower pace of life. Sit back and relax at one of the many pavement cafes and watch the world go by.
Loved this but still want more?
Check out our Europe packages for more inspiration! Don’t forget all of our packages are totally customisable, and we are always happy to help you create a custom route from scratch if none of our packages float your boat – so if you need any more help planning your Euroventure, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of friendly advisers by emailing info@euroventure.eu or calling us on 01138682360 (weekdays 8-8, weekends 8-6).
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Words by Samantha Lego | Edits by Catherine Livesley
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