Best day trips from Paris
 

We're going to the Loire Valley for one day, but for a second, where to go?

1. Reims/Champagne

2. Or substitute Chartres for Reims -- can this be squeezed in on the way to Loire?

3. Giverny

Thank you.

No - Chartres cannot be squeezed in on the way to the Loire - which chateaux are you planning on seeing - and how? (Tour bus or ?)

Have you already done Versailles?

Giverny depends on time of year - as does the Loire.

Chartres can be squeezed in on the way to the Loire, if spending a couple days in the Loire valley.

Good idea given by Michael.

If you are planning on using public transportation, get a copy of "An hour from Paris" by Annabel Simms, ISBN 9781873429. You then will be spoiled for choice.

DIRKN I always suggest reading:


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

If you have a car and will be spending a couple of days in the Loire then Chartres can be "squeezed in", as mentioned. There's no comparison between Chartres and Reims and neither is better than the other. One is a champagne destination and the other has a world famous cathedral and nice medieval old town. Giverny is again completely different from the other destinations. It really comes down to what most interests you. People can give you their opinions as to which they liked best but what someone else liked, you may not.

Have you considered any of the other day trips you could do from Paris? You can have a look at the link below to learn about other day trips from Paris. It will outline those destinations that don't require advance train ticket purchase to get the cheapest train tickets (with a couple of exceptions). Even the list in this thread is incomplete as there are literally dozens of other day trip options but the list in the thread below covers the best known day trips. There are links to the official websites for each destination and instructions on which train stations to use, train ticket info etc.:

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

But the OP said day trips.

A day trip to the Loire is already extremely crowded - I think those little tour vans try to get to 3 chateaux - but don;t know the details since we spent 6 nights at a private chateau near Chinon to be able to see a bunch of the chateaux, a couple of son et luiere and Fontevraud Abbey.

If you're going to Loire Valley, Chartres makes the most sense geographically of any of those you are interested in, and so you could "squeeze it in" much easier than the other places, leaving more time for seeing stuff in the Loire Valley.

You can actually visit both Versailles and Chartres on the same day trip. If you use the Versailles-Chantiers station out of Montparnasse, it is the same line as the line to Chartres.

Out of curiosity, how long will you be in Paris total?

Just to be sure that the OP is aware, Reims also has a very famous Cathedral (along with the Champagne). The Reims cathedral was the site for coronation of French kings. It's beautiful.