7 Nights in Paris
 

We will be going paris in mid may & will be staying 7 nights. Any charming recommendations for day trips out from paris for the 6th & 7th day? No stayovers and maximum 1hr train ride please?

Many thanks!

Hi Louise, the most suggested are Versaille and Giverny but I'm sure there are others that I can't think of.

I noticed that you said the day trip will be for the 6th and 7th day. I just want to suggest that you keep the itinerary flexible. If you have a sunny day on say, the 3rd day then hop on the train and head off for the day trip. On rainy days (hopefully none) then head indoors to a gallery etc.

OR keep it flexible because you may find you don't have time to go for a day trip--you have even more in Paris you want to do.
And another rainy day activity is to explore the Passages.

Vaux le Vicomte (the "precursor" of Versailles) via Melun

Chartres (mainly for the cathedral) although the trip by rail takes about 1 hr and 15 minutes

Louise, Here's a book that might help you -

PARIS TO THE PAST: Traveling Through French History by Train by Ina Caro

Louise,
I second the book recommendation by latedaytraveler. Even if you don't use any of the suggestions, it is a good book for the Paris-goer.

We loved Chartres; we went there by car on our way out of Paris, so I can't discuss the rail-trip, but the cathedral is so worth a trip by any transportation.

Reims is a nice day trip - 45 minutes to champagne and cathedral.

Another nice trip is out to Fontainebleu. Here is a site for details and this might give you some other ideas of some nice day trips:

http://parisbytrain.com/paris-to-fon...leau-by-train/

Chantilly, Senlis, Fontainebleau (note correct spelling), Auvers-sur-Oise, Pierrefonds, Moret-sur-Loing, Saint-Denis, Ile des Impressionistes.

Second Cathies suggestion to keep it flexible, and I'd suggest scheduling one of the day trips earlier in the week to break the week up.

I vote for Versailles and Chartres, even if it takes a bit longer than an hour to get there by train.

Have a look at this thread and it will outline most of the major day trip destinations from Paris and includes links to all the tourist office websites and info about which trains you will need to take and how to buy your train tickets:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic....html#55885554

I have just extended another 3 nights which I will like to go to another destination before paris and will appreciate your good recommendations and kind comments.

I will not be driving and will train instead. I was thinking of provenance, belgium or even amsterdam? Which is a short train ride away from paris other than london?

I will be arriving in paris on 13 May and train straight to that destination before coming back to paris on 16 May. We will be with a toddler in tow so I really have to plan it slow.

Do you mean Provence? It's a 3-hour train ride from Paris and in 3 days you could do a very small bit of it. But that's true also for Bruges/Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent and Amsterdam. They're all very different. You'll need to read up.

Giverny would be great and you definitely should read Paris to the Past. Great day trips and history behind the places.

StCirq, 3hrs are way too long. I was hoping it will be within 2hrs train ride.

denisea, giverny sounds great. Thanks!

I am really short of time to really research in depth as I am rushing to clear all my huge work backlog before this trip. Work has been so hectic recently sighs. I really appreciate the advice of forummers in fodors here who have travelled so extensively and know exactly how to enjoy life.

Good thing is that I will take this trip really at a very slow pace to accomodate my toddler, so I will just need to reach a very convenient destination out from paris. I am not a picky traveller. To be able to go on a trip itself is already a luxury for me.

Can I ask why versailles is so popular as a day trip from paris?

The chateau itself is interesting and it it's surrounded by gardens on a scale that lots of us have never seen before. It's also only about a 30 min train ride from Paris.

If you want to take a train directly upon arriving in paris you will need to pick a destination with service from CDG--or it becomes a logistical undertaking of going INTO Paris and getting a train from the proper station.
With 3 extra days to go somewhere, why limit yourself? You can be in Provence easily in 3 hours from CDG. Or Amsterdam.
When you return, you can arrive in Paris directly. And maybe you should consider it in the light of "I can have 4 days outside of Paris so this would really be a good destination". If you go to Provence, I strongly suggest renting a car while there.
And, if you want to go somewhere else before paris, why not rent a car? You could leave from CDG and go to Normandy (train service to Normandy would require going into Paris).
As for the remainder of your time, you may or may not want a day trip from Paris once you are enjoying the city itself, but you could have one planned to do--Versailles, Giverny, Chartres, Rouen.
As for Versailles, cathies stated it well, as well as its place in history of the French Revolution. it is not a favorite of mine personally.

Haha Gretchen, I completely forgot about the history aspect!

The problem with Versailles is that the hordes of tourist that make it hard to see things. The gardens, on the other hand, are worth a trip.

That's a wonderful list, French-Mystique. I would say, if you were to go Saint-Germain-en-Laye, do not miss the Musée Maurice Denis. No one I've taken there has been disappointed.