Going to Paris from January 18th-24th and was wondering if anyone had recommendations on day trips? I've looked at numerous day trip tour websites but haven't seen much feedback about the tours. Fountainebleau looks interesting, as well as Loire valley castle tours.

I assume this is not your first trip to Paris? If yes...we'll talk

For bus tours, Parisvision and Cityrama are the two biggest and most popular.

Fat Bike tours may be another organized group you might want to check out.

On your own, the most mentioned locations here are Versailles, Giverny, Auvers sur Oise, Fontainebleau, Chantilly, Reims, Dijon, Troyes, Vaux le Vicomte...

Depending in your interest visiting Chartres is a good suggestion.
Take the train at Montparnasse. In an hour you will be at Chartres.
The whole day-trip could take six hours.

Hi A,

With only 6 nights, first visit, January, with your mother, I recommend against daytrips.

You'll have enough to do in Paris.

However, Chartres, Malmaison and Versailles, as well as Fontainebleau, are very easy to get to, and you don't have to purchase a tour.

Michel & Ira, this isn't my first time in Paris. I've been once before for a couple days, but the main focus of our trip was the Dordogne region (hikes/tours/etc). Just looking for some interesting sights outside the city. Chartres definitely sounds good. I'm assuming the return ticket via train is reasonably inexpsensive?

Hi A,

Train schedules and prices for Chartres are at www.voyages-sncf.com

You can also google your destinations for info on how to get there. Not all require SNCF.

Reims is another interestign destination for day trip, 45 minutes train from Paris Gare de l'est.

If we were to go to some of these locations via train, is it reasonable to get around without having to worry about other forms of transportation? We'd love to go to Versailles and Fountainbleu but don't want a ton of hassle getting from the train station to these places. Do cabs run?

Hi D,

>If we were to go to some of these locations via train, is it reasonable to get around without having to worry about other forms of transportation?

Yes

Versailles is an easy daytrip via the RER. You can walk over to the castle from the RER station, no need for a taxi.

Chartres is also an easy walk to the cathedral from the train station.

I would not do a Loire Valley tour, with only 6 days in Paris. That is definitely worth more than a daytrip.

I did a Loire chateau day trip tour and was glad I did it. I got to see Chambord and two other wonderful chateaus. I think my total time in Paris was 6 or 7 days and even with the day trip to the Loire and another excursion to Versailles, I saw a lot and had a blast.

did a Loire chateau day trip tour and was glad I did it.

Can you tell me which tour co you used? My daughter and I will visit Paris for the second time in April. We would like to take one day for a visit to the Loire Valley. Is it possible to to see one or two of the Chateaux and do a wine tasting on the same day?
I did see one tour company LinkParis.com. The cost was $167 + rail of $106. Don't know if this a resonable price or not.

bookmark

I think 6 days is plenty of time to get a good feel of both Paris and a nearby sight or two (no more than an hour in transit each way). There is nothing intrinsically more attractive, historically significant, or interesting <i>inside</i> Paris as there is <i>outside</i> it.

Versailles, Chartres, Fontainebleau, and The Loire are within easy reach by train. The rail company has even packaged some of the sight admissions with train fares: http://www.transilien.com/web/site/a...oisirs/lang/en