If you fancy an escape from the city and are looking for a little getaway, there are many places to visit in Paris that will suit you!
Paris is wonderful, but during the summer it can be quite unbearable to live in, particularly during its sultry and scorching days. These weather conditions leave little room to explore the city and, to top it all, majestic parks and swimming pools become full of people in a blink of an eye, so even finding a cool place near the canal can be quite challenging.
In this case, you might want to opt for a quiet and relaxing day trip. From Paris, you can get to any destination in the northern part of France within a couple of hours.
There are also many places you can easily get to and not too far from the centre of the French capital.
Let’s check out the best destination for a day trip you can easily visit when departing from Paris!
Destination
About 2 hours away from Paris, you can find Loire Valley. If you love castles you will fall in love with this region located in central France. Here you can enjoy the magnificence of three big fortresses: you can admire an exceptional example of the French Renaissance architecture thanks to Chambord Castle and the grandeur of Castles Chenonceau and Cheverny.
60 minutes away from Paris you find Giverny. Here within the Pays d’Eure, life moves at a quieter pace, just as in Monet’s time. He lived and painted here from 1883 until his death in 1926. It was in his family home that he worked on some of his most known art works, such as the famed water lilies series, Les Nymphéas. Nowadays, thanks to its magical gardens and the nearly located Museum of Impressionismus, Giverny is one of the most fun destinations for day trips as it draws around half a billion visitors every year.
40 minutes away from Paris city center you can find the region of Champagne. Considering that whenever we speak about France, one speaks about champagne, it would be a shame not to visit the region that gave the name to one of best things in the world. Immerse yourself in the history of this region by visiting a vineyard, deeply delve into Moët & Chandon cellars, and visit the royal city of Reims – the unofficial capital of champagne where many French Kings were crowned.
Bois de Boulogne is only 18 minutes away from Paris and it is considered the left lungs of Paris, as it is a place rich with lakes and parks, perfect for a morning walk. Here you can visit three excellent museums: the Museum Paul-Belmondo (a must-see if you love sculpture), the Museum of the Thirties (for those who love Art Deco) and the Museum Albert-Kahn, known for its marvellous gardens and great photography collections of the 19th Century. To get there, you can simply take the line 10 of the underground for Boulogne – Porte de Saint-Cloud.
Chartres is located 30 minutes away from the city centre. It is a must-see if you love gothic and monumental architecture. Notre-Dame Cathedral built in the 13th Century – located in the south-west of the capital – was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site due to its stunning and extraordinary preservation. When walking around the cobbled streets of the medieval city, you will find art and culture, as well as bars and restaurants.
2 hours and a half away from Paris you will find Normandia. We would advise you to visit it only if you plan to stay for more than a day. This coastal region is well-known for its involvement in the Second World War for which it has become an eternal symbol. If you decide to visit it, explore the Caen Memorial Museum and D-Day landings beaches. Do not forget to visit the American Cemetery with its long rows of white crosses.
Finally, not very far from Paris there are other locations that are worth a visit: the medieval palace of Fontainebleau – a massive palace that hosted Napoleon III and Louis VII. It is a palace known as the New Rome due to its rooms being decorated specifically by Napoleon I for Pope Pio VII. You can also visit St. Denis (11 minutes away from Paris), Domaine de Chantilly (25 minutes away), and Montreuil and Vincennes (23 minutes away).
