Why train day trips from Paris just make sense
If you’re not used to French roads, traffic circles and parking rules, a rental car around Paris can turn a relaxing getaway into a small nightmare. The good news: from Paris, you can reach royal castles, UNESCO cathedrals and quiet countryside villages in under 90 minutes by train, without touching a steering wheel.
As a former hotel receptionist, I’ve seen both versions: guests returning stressed after getting lost on the périphérique, and others coming back from the same places with a simple train ticket and a smile. The second group always slept better.
Below, I’ll walk you through my favorite day trips from Paris by train – the ones I actually recommend to friends and family – with real travel times, approximate budgets, and what to do if Plan A (usually “perfect weather and no crowds”) doesn’t work out.
Versailles: The obvious royal escape (that’s still worth it)
Yes, everyone talks about Versailles. Yes, it’s crowded. And yes, it’s still absolutely worth it – if you plan it smartly and go by train.
Why go: The Hall of Mirrors, grand royal apartments, and gardens that actually feel bigger when you’re there than they do on the map. It’s the classic “I’ve really been to France” experience.
How to get there by train from Paris:
- Line: RER C towards “Versailles Château Rive Gauche”
- Departure: From several central stations: Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel
- Travel time: 35–45 minutes from central Paris
- Frequency: Every 15 minutes approximately
- Walk from station: About 10 minutes, well signposted
Budget for the day (per adult):
- RER round trip: around €8–€10 (within the Île-de-France zones)
- Château + gardens (depending on season/ticket): around €20–€32
- Lunch on site: €15–€25 (more if you eat inside the château complex)
My practical tips:
- Go early, really early. Aim to arrive by opening time (usually 9:00). On a Tuesday at 9:15 once, I entered almost without a queue. At 11:00, the line was already circling the courtyard.
- Buy tickets online in advance. The “timed entry” system is not a joke. Showing up without a ticket can cost you an hour in line.
- Consider skipping the main palace if you hate crowds. The gardens and the Trianon estate are more relaxed and often people’s favorite part anyway.
- If it rains: Focus on the palace in the morning, then the town of Versailles itself – a very walkable center with cafés around the Marché Notre-Dame.
Giverny (via Vernon): In Monet’s footsteps without touching a car
If you’ve ever seen Monet’s water lilies in a museum and thought “this can’t be a real place”, Giverny is your answer. It’s green, busy in season, but still magical – especially on a weekday morning.
How to get there by train from Paris:
- Line: TER or Intercités Paris–Rouen line
- Departure: Paris Saint-Lazare station
- Stop: Vernon–Giverny
- Travel time: About 50 minutes
From Vernon station, you have three options to reach Giverny (about 6 km):
- Shuttle bus (in season, timed with trains) – about 15 minutes
- Bike rental from near the station – 20–25 minutes along a pleasant route
- Taxi – quickest but more expensive
Budget for the day (per adult):
- Train round trip: around €25–€35 (depending on train and booking)
- Shuttle bus round trip: around €10–€12
- Entrance to Monet’s house and gardens: about €12–€13
- Lunch in Giverny or Vernon: €15–€25
On the ground: I like to arrive on one of the first trains from Saint-Lazare, jump straight on the shuttle, and be at Monet’s garden as it opens. By 11:00, tour buses roll in and the famous Japanese bridge becomes a slow-moving queue of selfie sticks.
Plan B if it’s pouring: The house and parts of the gardens are still worth it under an umbrella, but you can also head back to Vernon for:
- The small but interesting Musée Alphonse-Georges Poulain (local art, including some works related to Giverny)
- A long lunch in town, then a stroll along the Seine before catching an earlier train back
Chartres: Gothic calm and real small-city France
Chartres is for those who like their “culture” less crowded and more contemplative. The cathedral is one of the great Gothic masterpieces of Europe, and the medieval lower town is a peaceful change of pace after Paris traffic.
How to get there by train from Paris:
- Line: TER towards Chartres/Le Mans
- Departure: Paris Montparnasse station
- Travel time: About 1 hour
- Walk from station: 10 minutes gentle uphill to the cathedral (you can’t miss the spires)
Budget for the day (per adult):
- Train round trip: around €30–€40
- Cultural visits (cathedral crypt, tower if open, museum): €10–€20 depending on what you choose
- Lunch in town: €15–€25
What to do:
- Visit the UNESCO-listed cathedral (free entry; extra charge for crypt/tower tours)
- Walk down to the lower town along the Eure river – half-timbered houses, quiet lanes, good for photos without 50 strangers in them
- Grab a coffee on Place Marceau or Place du Cygne and just watch local life (you’ll hear far more French than English here)
I once spent a rainy November afternoon in a Chartres café where everyone seemed to know the waiter by name. The pace was slower, but the service warmer than in many Paris hotspots – definitely a different side of France.
Reims: Champagne, cathedral and a very easy train ride
If you like the idea of tasting Champagne at the source but not the idea of driving after a tasting, Reims by train is your friend.
How to get there by train from Paris:
- Line: TGV (high-speed) from Paris Gare de l’Est
- Travel time: 45 minutes on the direct TGV
- Walk from station: About 10 minutes to the cathedral, 15–20 minutes to many Champagne houses (or quick tram/bus)
Budget for the day (per adult):
- TGV round trip: very variable – from around €40 if booked early to €80+ last-minute
- Champagne house visit + tasting: typically €20–€40
- Lunch in Reims: €20–€30
What to do:
- Visit Reims Cathedral (where French kings were crowned) – free to enter, guided tours extra
- Tour one of the big Champagne houses (Taittinger, Pommery, Mumm, etc.) – book online in advance, especially on weekends
- Wander around Place Drouet-d’Erlon for cafés, or the quieter streets around the cathedral
Good to know: Many Champagne houses are a bit of a walk from the station, but everything is still manageable on foot if you’re comfortable walking 20 minutes. Otherwise, the tram is easy and safe.
Fontainebleau: A royal château in the forest
If you want a château with less chaos than Versailles and a huge forest attached, Fontainebleau is one of the best train-accessible options from Paris.
How to get there by train from Paris:
- Line: Transilien R (suburban train)
- Departure: Paris Gare de Lyon
- Stop: Fontainebleau–Avon
- Travel time: Around 40 minutes
From Fontainebleau–Avon station, take the local bus (Line 1) to “Château” (about 10 minutes) or walk about 30–35 minutes if you like stretching your legs.
Budget for the day (per adult):
- Train + local bus round trip: around €15–€20 (Île-de-France fare zones)
- Château entry: around €13–€14
- Lunch in Fontainebleau town: €15–€25
Why it’s a great alternative to Versailles:
- Less overwhelmed by tour groups; you can actually pause in front of a painting
- Charming town center with plenty of cafés and bakeries
- The surrounding forest is ideal if you want a short hike or a picnic
On one late spring visit, I grabbed a sandwich from a bakery near the château, walked 15 minutes into the forest, and ate under pine trees while local runners passed by. It felt more like a weekend away than a day trip.
Chantilly: Castle, horses and a very famous cream
Chantilly is compact, elegant and often surprisingly quiet compared to Versailles. If you like art, horses or landscaped gardens, this is an easy win.
How to get there by train from Paris:
- Line: TER or suburban trains (TER Hauts-de-France) from Paris Gare du Nord
- Stop: Chantilly–Gouvieux
- Travel time: 25–30 minutes
- Walk from station: Around 20–25 minutes to the château, or short local bus/taxi
Budget for the day (per adult):
- Train round trip: around €15–€25
- Château + grounds + Great Stables ticket: roughly €17–€20
- Horse show (optional, specific times): extra €10–€20
- Lunch or café stop: €15–€25
What to do:
- Explore the château and its impressive art collection (you’ll find works by masters without Louvre-level crowds)
- Visit the Grandes Écuries (Great Stables) and, if the schedule fits, see one of the equestrian shows
- Walk in the English and French-style gardens – plenty of quiet corners
- Try real Chantilly cream (“crème Chantilly”) with dessert or in a tearoom in town
One detail I like: on the walk from the station to the château, once you leave the main road, the noise level drops suddenly. It’s a reminder of how quickly you can switch from Paris hustle to near-silence with just a short train ride.
Provins: Medieval walls and a different rhythm
Provins is slightly less polished than other destinations, and that’s part of the charm. It’s a real town with medieval fortifications, rose-themed shops and (in season) historical shows. If you want something that feels less like a “palace visit” and more like stepping into another era, this is an interesting choice.
How to get there by train from Paris:
- Line: Transilien P from Paris Gare de l’Est
- Stop: Provins (terminus)
- Travel time: About 1h20
- Walk from station: 15–20 minutes to the upper town and ramparts
Budget for the day (per adult):
- Train round trip: around €20–€25
- “Pass Provins” (access to main monuments): roughly €15
- Shows (falconry, medieval acts) in season: extra €10–€15 each
- Lunch: €15–€25
What to do:
- Walk along or under the medieval ramparts
- Climb the Tour César for views over the town and countryside
- Visit one or two of the small underground galleries and cellars
- Try something with rose (local specialty) – syrup, jam, or dessert
I often recommend Provins to visitors who’ve already done the “big three” (Versailles, Giverny, Reims) and want something a little off the main international circuit, but still completely doable by train.
Practical tips for stress-free train day trips from Paris
To finish, a few things I’ve learned from sending guests (and going myself) on these trips over the years.
Booking your tickets:
- For RER and Transilien (Versailles, Fontainebleau, Provins, Chantilly): You can usually buy tickets on the day from machines, no need to pre-book.
- For TER and TGV (Reims, Giverny/Vernon, Chartres): Book a few days ahead if possible, especially for TGVs. Use SNCF Connect (app or website) or the official SNCF counters/machines.
Seats and comfort:
- On most RER/Transilien trains, seats are open; just get on and sit. Avoid the very last trains back in the evening; earlier is quieter and safer.
- On TGVs, your seat is assigned – check the coach and seat number on your ticket.
Safety and pickpockets:
- Major stations (Gare du Nord, Saint-Lazare, Montparnasse, Gare de Lyon, Gare de l’Est) have pickpockets, like any big city hub. Keep bags closed and phones in a pocket or bag, not dangling in your hand all the time.
- On trains, especially RER C towards Versailles, be aware at doors and exits. I’ve seen more phone snatching than anything else.
Timing your day:
- Leaving Paris before 9:00 can mean slightly busier commuter trains, but you arrive before the tour buses. Worth it.
- Try to be back in Paris before 21:00 unless you’re very comfortable with public transport at night and know your way around your neighborhood.
Food and budget tips:
- Grabbing a simple picnic (sandwich, fruit, drinks) near your accommodation before you leave can save time and money, especially for garden-heavy destinations like Versailles, Giverny or Fontainebleau.
- Outside Paris, fixed-price lunch menus (formules) around €15–€20 are common and often good value.
If trains are disrupted: It happens – strikes, signal problems, “incident de voyageur”. Check the SNCF Connect app or station boards. Usually, the staff are good at proposing alternatives (different line, replacement bus). This is also why I don’t recommend stacking a tight airport connection right after a day trip.
With a bit of planning, a charged phone, and an open mind for small changes, train day trips from Paris offer a lot of reward for relatively little effort. You get the culture, castles and countryside you came for – and you can still be back in time for a glass of wine on a Parisian terrace.