Paris for a Week – Looking for a Day Trip Outside the City
Nov 26th, 2014, 06:23 AM
#21
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Honest, if you have only 5 days in Paris, you will be short changing the city if you leave. But as someone will point out, it is your trip and you can do as you want. I again suggest to keep it very flexible and do a day trip if you really feel you've had enough of Paris.
I don't think much can be combined with Versailles. I think someone sometime posted that they booked a tour that did Giverney and Versailles for a day.
I don't think much can be combined with Versailles. I think someone sometime posted that they booked a tour that did Giverney and Versailles for a day.
Nov 26th, 2014, 06:42 AM
#22
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I was going to say about the only possible combination with Versailles I can think of is Chartres. Well, you could go to Rambouillet which is on the same rail line as Chartres, but don't think it would be as pleasing to you. It does have a chateau and a few minor things of interest, but most of the commune isn't "Medieval", just like Versailles is not. You could visit Chartres if you only wanted to spend a couple hours at Versailles and got there right when it opened.
I would definitely take a day trip if I were in a city for five days, myself, and always have when in Paris for that length of time.
I would definitely take a day trip if I were in a city for five days, myself, and always have when in Paris for that length of time.
Nov 26th, 2014, 07:01 AM
#23
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I dislike spending more than 3 days in a city when I am on vacation. Some people just want to see Paris because, well, it's Paris. After they've perused the major sites they want to leave and see elsewhere. I've been with many, many people who feel this way and who really enjoy a day outside of Paris to see the "real France" beyond the tourist sites.
In case it gets overlooked by VeeDubb here is what I said about Versailles/Chartres in my last post:
" None of the small medieval towns I mention are on the same rail line to Versailles or could easily be combined with a day trip to Versailles. Versailles has 3 train stations and the stop Versailles-Chantiers is on the same rail line as Chartres so it is technically possible to see both on the same day but it would be a very long day. I suggest seeing those places on separate days."
In case it gets overlooked by VeeDubb here is what I said about Versailles/Chartres in my last post:
" None of the small medieval towns I mention are on the same rail line to Versailles or could easily be combined with a day trip to Versailles. Versailles has 3 train stations and the stop Versailles-Chantiers is on the same rail line as Chartres so it is technically possible to see both on the same day but it would be a very long day. I suggest seeing those places on separate days."
Nov 26th, 2014, 08:11 AM
#25
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Here is a book suggestion. I have the book and have enjoyed reading it although I still have not used it for a day trip.
http://www.amazon.com/An-Hour-Paris-.../dp/1873429495
http://www.amazon.com/An-Hour-Paris-.../dp/1873429495
Nov 26th, 2014, 12:27 PM
#26
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Another day trip I enjoyed which does not get much ink is to Conflans-Saint-Honore, peniche (barge) central with literally hundreds of active freight barges tied up here, at the meeting of the Oise and Seine rivers - the town itself has some low-key but neat attractions and a unique double-deck RER station.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Nov 26th, 2014, 02:58 PM
#28
After 10 trips to Paris and many train trips outside the city I'll weigh in here.
The 1st choice---easiest and most impressive IMO is Versailles. I guess that's not rural and tranquil though but still my 1st choice.
The 1st choice---easiest and most impressive IMO is Versailles. I guess that's not rural and tranquil though but still my 1st choice.
Nov 27th, 2014, 02:45 AM
#29
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So many great replies. This is very helpful! I am considering extending my trip by two nights. I would stay in Paris for 6 nights and then stay in one of the rural towns for 2 nights. I could also do a day trip to Versailles one of the days that I am in Paris. Which of the rural towns/areas should I stay in for lodging? Lodging recommendations would also be much appreciated! Which areas would it be best to stay in to see as much as possible outside of of Paris. I will be flying in and out of Charles de Gaulle. My wife loves champagne and it would be great to visit a region and vineyard where it is made.
Thanks again and I am looking forward to the responses!
Thanks again and I am looking forward to the responses!
Nov 27th, 2014, 04:34 AM
#30
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If you really like Champagne, Reims or Epernay would be the place to go. They are close enough for day trips, though.
If you really like the impressionists, you could stay overnight in Giverny although two nights may be a bit much.
FMT, it is interesting that you say that. I just enjoyed trip number 17 to France, last month. Up until a few years ago (when Judy, here on Fodors) started inviting me on their family and friend trips to Paris) all of my trips to France were basically about visiting France, with a few days for Paris at the beginning and a few days at the ending - to fly in and fly out.
In traveling with Judy, I've now had two trips which were almost entirely Paris focused - in 2012 I was there 8 nights with them, and in October (last month) I was in Paris 16 nights. I have greatly enjoyed both types of visits and there is really something to be said for picking one spot and really getting to know it - seeing the same cafe waiters, and cheese shops, etc etc.
I am especially grateful that I've managed to see so much of the rest of the country, though. There is so so much to see in France. I think I've visited over 30 departements!
If you really like the impressionists, you could stay overnight in Giverny although two nights may be a bit much.
FMT, it is interesting that you say that. I just enjoyed trip number 17 to France, last month. Up until a few years ago (when Judy, here on Fodors) started inviting me on their family and friend trips to Paris) all of my trips to France were basically about visiting France, with a few days for Paris at the beginning and a few days at the ending - to fly in and fly out.
In traveling with Judy, I've now had two trips which were almost entirely Paris focused - in 2012 I was there 8 nights with them, and in October (last month) I was in Paris 16 nights. I have greatly enjoyed both types of visits and there is really something to be said for picking one spot and really getting to know it - seeing the same cafe waiters, and cheese shops, etc etc.
I am especially grateful that I've managed to see so much of the rest of the country, though. There is so so much to see in France. I think I've visited over 30 departements!
Nov 27th, 2014, 06:55 AM
#31
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" Which areas would it be best to stay in to see as much as possible outside of of Paris. I will be flying in and out of Charles de Gaulle. My wife loves champagne and it would be great to visit a region and vineyard where it is made."
With only two nights outside of Paris you won't have time to see very much and the other thing you'll need to consider is that in the rur
With only two nights outside of Paris you won't have time to see very much and the other thing you'll need to consider is that in the rur
Nov 27th, 2014, 06:56 AM
#32
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Epernay and Giverny look really beautiful and I do really like the impressionists. Would it make more sense to stay at the apartment hotel the entire 8 nights and take day trips? It is located close to the metro. Is there a week-long discount pass I can buy that can be used for the metro around Paris and the trains for day trips to places outside of the city?
Nov 27th, 2014, 07:24 AM
#33
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Darn, I got cut off. As I was saying......
With only two nights outside of Paris you won't have time to see very much and the other thing you'll need to consider is that in the rural towns public transport connections are limited.
If it is champagne you want then I'd agree that Reims or Epernay are the places to go. Reims is a decent sized city so not a rural town and Epernay is a town but I wouldn't really describe it is rural. There are direct train connections between Reims and Epernay so you could stay in one place and visit the other.
Reims does have direct connections to CDG from the TGV station a few km outside the city but you'd want to make sure there are trains to CDG at a time that is convenient to arrive at the airport with enough time to get your flight. If you stayed in Epernay you could go through either Reims or Paris to get to CDG, though Paris would likely be easier.
If you are looking for lodging you can always look at the tourist office website for any town as they usually list most, if not all, available accommodation in their respective towns.
http://www.reims-tourism.com/
http://www.ot-epernay.fr/
And the regional Champagne region website is an excellent resource:
http://www.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk/default.aspx
The following website is hosted by a poster on Trip Advisor who as far as I've seen is the most knowledgeable poster in regards to the Champagne region:
http://www.champagnediscovery.com/
I've got other suggestions I could make but you'll need to consider how you'd get to CDG from wherever is suggested if you do your visit at the end of your stay. Alternatively, you could arrive at CDG and head right to your base outside of Paris so that the second part of your vacation is in Paris and you won't have to worry about connections with CDG.
The most charming towns outside of Paris that I would recommend for overnight stays (where you would also have a transport connection with other places) are Senlis, Chartres and Moret-sur-Loing. Senlis has a direct connection by bus to CDG with a 30 minute travel time. From Senlis you can also visit the Château de Chantilly. From Chartres you could visit the Château de Maintenon (the château owned by Louis XIV's wife and where the wedding reception for their marriage was held). From Moret you can visit Fontainebleau or go for a nice walk or bike ride along the canal that runs through town to some adjacent and pretty rural towns.
I haven't mentioned Auvers-sur-Oise or Provins because they really don't h
With only two nights outside of Paris you won't have time to see very much and the other thing you'll need to consider is that in the rural towns public transport connections are limited.
If it is champagne you want then I'd agree that Reims or Epernay are the places to go. Reims is a decent sized city so not a rural town and Epernay is a town but I wouldn't really describe it is rural. There are direct train connections between Reims and Epernay so you could stay in one place and visit the other.
Reims does have direct connections to CDG from the TGV station a few km outside the city but you'd want to make sure there are trains to CDG at a time that is convenient to arrive at the airport with enough time to get your flight. If you stayed in Epernay you could go through either Reims or Paris to get to CDG, though Paris would likely be easier.
If you are looking for lodging you can always look at the tourist office website for any town as they usually list most, if not all, available accommodation in their respective towns.
http://www.reims-tourism.com/
http://www.ot-epernay.fr/
And the regional Champagne region website is an excellent resource:
http://www.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk/default.aspx
The following website is hosted by a poster on Trip Advisor who as far as I've seen is the most knowledgeable poster in regards to the Champagne region:
http://www.champagnediscovery.com/
I've got other suggestions I could make but you'll need to consider how you'd get to CDG from wherever is suggested if you do your visit at the end of your stay. Alternatively, you could arrive at CDG and head right to your base outside of Paris so that the second part of your vacation is in Paris and you won't have to worry about connections with CDG.
The most charming towns outside of Paris that I would recommend for overnight stays (where you would also have a transport connection with other places) are Senlis, Chartres and Moret-sur-Loing. Senlis has a direct connection by bus to CDG with a 30 minute travel time. From Senlis you can also visit the Château de Chantilly. From Chartres you could visit the Château de Maintenon (the château owned by Louis XIV's wife and where the wedding reception for their marriage was held). From Moret you can visit Fontainebleau or go for a nice walk or bike ride along the canal that runs through town to some adjacent and pretty rural towns.
I haven't mentioned Auvers-sur-Oise or Provins because they really don't h
Nov 27th, 2014, 07:28 AM
#34
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Darn it, it happened again......
I haven't mentioned Auvers-sur-Oise or Provins because they really don't have direct public transport connections to other places worthy of a visit.
Fontainebleau and Compiègne are a bit larger but still quaint and would also give you transport connections to other places.
However, of the places I just mentioned only Senlis has a direct connection to CDG.
I haven't mentioned Auvers-sur-Oise or Provins because they really don't have direct public transport connections to other places worthy of a visit.
Fontainebleau and Compiègne are a bit larger but still quaint and would also give you transport connections to other places.
However, of the places I just mentioned only Senlis has a direct connection to CDG.
Nov 27th, 2014, 07:38 AM
#35
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"Epernay and Giverny look really beautiful and I do really like the impressionists. Would it make more sense to stay at the apartment hotel the entire 8 nights and take day trips? It is located close to the metro. Is there a week-long discount pass I can buy that can be used for the metro around Paris and the trains for day trips to places outside of the city?"
Logistically it makes more sense to stay in Paris the whole time and do day trips. However, I think it would still be a nice experience to spend a night or two outside of Paris. You'll have to weigh the pros and cons and make that decision yourself.
The only transport pass you could buy for Paris and some of the destinations mentioned would be a Navigo Pass for zones 1-5 but those are only valid from Monday to Sunday so whether or not it would be a good bargain for you depends on your arrival and departure dates. The Navigo pass will only work for those destinations that are within Île-de-France so it will not work for Giverny or Epernay. Look at the last paragraph of my first post for info about those places that lie within zone 5.
http://vianavigo.com/en/tickets-and-...avigo-semaine/
I'll suggest spending some time learning about public transport and passes in/around Paris so here is some info about that:
To learn how to get around Paris by métro/bus/RER use www.ratp.fr. Here is a link to a route planner:
http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ra...herche-avancee
Here is an interactive map of the system:
http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk
Since parts of this website are only in French you can also use www.transilien.com or www.vianavigo.com. Via Navigo probably has the most complete English website. Keep in mind that all these sites are time and date sensitive and they will use Paris time, not your local time.
Another thing to keep in mind is that they all default to the next available departure. So you may get one route that looks very complicated (multiple métro/bus connections) but scroll forward through the next few departures and you'll often find the simplest connections for your journey.
To learn about the various types of transport passes look here:
http://vianavigo.com/en/tickets-and-fares/
A good website to learn how to use public transport in Paris is www.parisbytrain.com. It will likely answer any of your questions about what is the métro, what is the RER, what kinds of tickets you need, how to buy tickets, what kinds of passes are available etc.
Logistically it makes more sense to stay in Paris the whole time and do day trips. However, I think it would still be a nice experience to spend a night or two outside of Paris. You'll have to weigh the pros and cons and make that decision yourself.
The only transport pass you could buy for Paris and some of the destinations mentioned would be a Navigo Pass for zones 1-5 but those are only valid from Monday to Sunday so whether or not it would be a good bargain for you depends on your arrival and departure dates. The Navigo pass will only work for those destinations that are within Île-de-France so it will not work for Giverny or Epernay. Look at the last paragraph of my first post for info about those places that lie within zone 5.
http://vianavigo.com/en/tickets-and-...avigo-semaine/
I'll suggest spending some time learning about public transport and passes in/around Paris so here is some info about that:
To learn how to get around Paris by métro/bus/RER use www.ratp.fr. Here is a link to a route planner:
http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ra...herche-avancee
Here is an interactive map of the system:
http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk
Since parts of this website are only in French you can also use www.transilien.com or www.vianavigo.com. Via Navigo probably has the most complete English website. Keep in mind that all these sites are time and date sensitive and they will use Paris time, not your local time.
Another thing to keep in mind is that they all default to the next available departure. So you may get one route that looks very complicated (multiple métro/bus connections) but scroll forward through the next few departures and you'll often find the simplest connections for your journey.
To learn about the various types of transport passes look here:
http://vianavigo.com/en/tickets-and-fares/
A good website to learn how to use public transport in Paris is www.parisbytrain.com. It will likely answer any of your questions about what is the métro, what is the RER, what kinds of tickets you need, how to buy tickets, what kinds of passes are available etc.
Dec 3rd, 2014, 08:18 AM
#36
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Based on the very helpful links and information provided, along with the research that I have done, I have narrowed down our trip to focus on the following. Please let me know your thoughts:
Extend the trip plan so that we 8 full days to spend in France (accounting for the two additional travel days)
Stay in Paris at the same apartment hotel for all 8 nights
Focus on seeing Paris for 4 of the days that we are in France
Use public transportation exclusively
Take day trips from Paris to the following locations outside of the city for the remaining 4 days
Day trip 1: Epernay and Reims (champagne tours) – Should we try to combine these in the same day?
Day trip 2: Provins (authentic walled medieval town)
Day trip 3: Versailles
Day trip 4: Giverny (Monet house and gardens)
Thanks
Extend the trip plan so that we 8 full days to spend in France (accounting for the two additional travel days)
Stay in Paris at the same apartment hotel for all 8 nights
Focus on seeing Paris for 4 of the days that we are in France
Use public transportation exclusively
Take day trips from Paris to the following locations outside of the city for the remaining 4 days
Day trip 1: Epernay and Reims (champagne tours) – Should we try to combine these in the same day?
Day trip 2: Provins (authentic walled medieval town)
Day trip 3: Versailles
Day trip 4: Giverny (Monet house and gardens)
Thanks
Dec 3rd, 2014, 08:39 AM
#37
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I think that itinerary looks fine. The only thing I would say is that if you want to do Reims and Epernay on the same day then you need to know that the TGV runs between Paris and Reims and you need to buy those tickets 3 months in advance for the cheapest prices (use www.capitainetrain.com). The trains that run between Reims and Epernay and Epernay and Paris are local trains with fixed prices so you can buy those at the train station on your day of travel. You can also check schedules and prices for that journey on www.capitainetrain.com.
I also think doing both Reims and Epernay on the same day will be a very full day so if you do it leave Paris early and study the train schedules to know when you can make connections. I'd also say start with Reims because that ticket requires booking and if you overstay in Reims you can just take a later train to Epernay or back to Paris.
One other note about trains to Reims is that the TGV arrives at either Reims Gare (direct train arriving in the center of Reims) or the Champagne-Ardenne TGV terminal, which is 8km outside of Reims center. From there you take the local train (?or a tram?) to the stop Reims Gare in the center of Reims. You can book that transfer all on one ticket.
To check train schedules and prices for Giverny you can also use www.capitainetrain.com. These are fixed price tickets so no need to buy in advance. The trains arrive in Vernon and you take a shuttle bus from there to Giverny.
I also think doing both Reims and Epernay on the same day will be a very full day so if you do it leave Paris early and study the train schedules to know when you can make connections. I'd also say start with Reims because that ticket requires booking and if you overstay in Reims you can just take a later train to Epernay or back to Paris.
One other note about trains to Reims is that the TGV arrives at either Reims Gare (direct train arriving in the center of Reims) or the Champagne-Ardenne TGV terminal, which is 8km outside of Reims center. From there you take the local train (?or a tram?) to the stop Reims Gare in the center of Reims. You can book that transfer all on one ticket.
To check train schedules and prices for Giverny you can also use www.capitainetrain.com. These are fixed price tickets so no need to buy in advance. The trains arrive in Vernon and you take a shuttle bus from there to Giverny.
Dec 6th, 2014, 02:43 AM
#38
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Bookmarking for some AMAZING information!! I clicked through on the two bike tour options and was intrigued. FrenchMystique couldn't tell from your website if you had biking options for younger riders 8,11,14.
Dec 6th, 2014, 02:46 AM
#39
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Bookmarking for some AMAZING information!! I clicked through on the two bike tour options and was intrigued. FrenchMystique couldn't tell from your website if you had biking options for younger riders 8,11,14.
