Paris is ringed by chateaux, gardens and forests that offer an easy escape whenever the city starts to feel too crowded, most of them within a little over an hour by train. Each of these excursions has its own personality, from the sheer splendor of Versailles to the intimacy of Vaux-le-Vicomte or the wide forested grounds of Fontainebleau, so there is a fitting day trip for almost any mood.
The Chateau de Versailles
Home to the kings of France for more than a century, Versailles remains the essential day trip from Paris, with its Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments and gardens laid out by Le Nôtre stretching as far as the eye can see. Booking a ticket in advance and arriving early are the best ways to dodge the midday crowds.
The Chateau de Chantilly
Quieter than Versailles, the Chantilly estate wins visitors over with its more intimate scale, its French-style gardens and the Musée Condé, home to one of the finest collections of old master paintings outside the Louvre. The nearby Grandes Écuries, among the most impressive stables in Europe, are a treat for horse lovers.
Vaux-le-Vicomte
This 17th-century chateau, whose splendor directly inspired the building of Versailles, can be visited in a far more peaceful and intimate setting. Candlelit evening openings held on certain summer weekends turn the visit into something particularly magical.
The Chateau de Fontainebleau
A favorite imperial residence of Napoleon, Fontainebleau draws smaller crowds than Versailles while offering interiors just as lavish, surrounded by a vast forest well suited to hiking or bouldering.
Disneyland Paris
For a family day out, Disneyland Paris remains a reliable choice, reachable directly by RER from central Paris and easy to combine with an overnight stay if time allows.
Giverny, Monet's House and Gardens
The water garden and lily ponds that inspired Claude Monet are best visited between spring and summer, when the flowerbeds are at their peak. The painter's house, preserved in its original decor, rounds out the visit.
Tips
Versailles is easiest to reach on RER C to the Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station, Chantilly by a Transilien train from Gare du Nord, and Fontainebleau by a Transilien train from Gare de Lyon followed by a short bus ride. Vaux-le-Vicomte is the hardest to reach by public transport, a train to Melun followed by a shuttle or taxi is usually the simplest option, especially outside the season when the summer shuttle runs. Book your Versailles ticket online to skip the ticket line, and aim for a weekday visit rather than a weekend if your schedule allows it. Most chateaux close one day a week and some gardens are only open in the warmer months, so it is worth checking opening hours before you set off.
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