Can you recommend a day trip from Paris?
 

First of all a BIG thank you for the valuable advice from everyone! (Post-Recommendations for mom and daughter in Paris 7/20 ?My daughter has her heart set on a show so we will go, but as many of you suggested we will skip the dinner there.) We've been studying and researching all the info and though it still seems a bit overwhelming I feel we're much better prepared than two weeks ago...Of course this brings forth more questions-

We will be staying in a central location and so will be walking to many sights. It may be presumptuous on my part but I am feeling our safety on metros and walking are secure. Are there any areas we should avoid for safety reasons?

Many have recommended day trips outside of Paris. Alsace, with its divergent cultural climate looks fascinating- is it do-able, can it be reached via train? Is there another/better recommendation? While I know winery tours are popular we are not drinkers (shh...lest they turn us away from France altogether) so we'd prefer to concentrate on something different.

In the meantime, we are longing for nutella crepes, Berthillon ice cream and shopping...though the latter will certainly blow the budget if we're not careful! 10 days and counting.

You are visiting Paris for 5 days, according to your other post... If this is your first visit, I wouldn't recommend any day trips, especially considering your first day is usually not at 'full speed' due to jet lag or just fatigue.

You can certainly get to Alsace by train, but I wouldn't consider it as a day trip. Save it for another trip and spend some time to get to know it.

As travelnut recommended, with only five days, there is more than enough to see and do in Paris alone.

emmeelle..please see my comments under your first post.

EmmeElle,
I agree with previous posters about staying in Paris, esp. if shopping is on your agenda. Browsing/shopping is fun yet time-consuming (in the best possible way!) If you wish to have a sightseeing experience outside the city center, why not take the train to Versailles and check out the palace?

For only 5 days stay in Paris. You will not do it justice and day trips are sort of like "if I have seen most of Paris and have an extra day." Alsace is too far.

I agree that there is enough in Paris to more than fill your time. My wife and I walked all over central Paris and never felt unsafe.

If you really want the day trip, I would suggest Chartres (for the cathedral) or Vernon (then shuttle bus to Giverny, to see Monet's gardens). If you choose Giverny, be certain to visit the Marmottan museum in Paris afterwards, and see many of his works showing the garden. Have lunch at the small restaurant just outside Monet's home.

Versailles could be considered a day trip also. It is vast and, when we went, the crowds were horrible, but many people feel it is a must-see.

Ditto for Champagne region & Alsace/Lorraine being non-daytrippable.

*If* you feel up to it, and *if* you get an early start, take the train to Chartres. Wander 'round the Cathedral and charming town in the morning. (some days there's a marketplace outdoors.) Have a knock-down lunch (lots of bistrot, there's also a good creperie in 1 of the squares, outdoor seating under the trees -- get the super-complet to start, nutella afterwards). Then take Malcolm Miller's tour of the Cathedral to get more insight on the place & the history. Train it back to Paris for late afternoon . . . you still have the whole evening å Paris.

Just a suggestion. HTH.

I heartily second the suggestion of a half-day trip to Chartres so you can see the cathedral and its medieval precincts.

Chantilly.
There's a dressage exhibition at the fabulous stable ( unlike any stable your've ever seen. It's really kind of a
"horse museum".

This suggestion is based upon my perception that a young teenager might be more into horses than Cathedrals, though
Giverny would be pleasant if the weather is good.

There is also a Chateau in Chantilly, and an attractive town with some upscale shopping, and nice restaurants.

If you go to Giverny, don't miss the "American Museum" which is right next door.

I had answers ready, but when I saw you had only 5 days, I have to agree with travelnut. Stay in Paris and explore.

My first thought was Giverny. About 21 euros round trip each when I went in April, and then a little shuttle from the Vernon station. Be advised, trains are sometimes limited, check the schedule,and they leave propmptly. Also, for entry to the house & gardens, you really need to arrive before 1:00 according to the man there we spoke to, or risk waiting in long lines. You cannot buy Monet house entry tickets in advance.

Versailles. You'll lose a lot of time on the trip to & from plus crowds and long lines. Except for the grounds, I personally could have done without it.

If you just stay in Paris, why not take one afternoon to go to the Rodin museum, and eat lunch outside overlooking the sculpture gardens. Enrty to the cafe and grounds is only a euro if you're not going into the museum. The tratines are phenomenally good-- try a goat cheese or smoked salmon. The grounds are lovely, lush, and quiet. You'll feel like you've gone out of town! And from there, if you walk up to Les Invalides there are lovely little boutiques and perfumeries along the way.

Then again, I like the Chartres idea, too.

at the Rodin, that was tartin of course. Theyshould get an edit button here.

Hi EmmeElle,

Here's a link to one of the beeter know bus toru companies in Paris. They have a multitude of in-Paris and out-of-Paris tours.

http://www.parisvision.com/fr/index.cfm

With 5 days I would agree with others that a day trip may take away from time you could easily spend in Paris. If you did decide to do one, Versailles would be my choice. You could go on an escorted tour, or just take the RER train from central Paris (I got on at St Michel). On your own you could get there before the crowds and be back before dinner. A day trip to Reims is also do-able, nice cathedral and of course the wine cellars. Train ride to the town is scenic also.

If you can, try one or more of the Paris Walks tours. Good value and interesting.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pariswalking/

Hope this helps
Mike




http://www.parisvision.com/fr/index.cfm