Sep 24, 2026
By Goodnight Staff 
Paris is a city to be enjoyed for approximately four days. Then, the crowds begin to annoy you. The lines, the full subway, the noise. You want to be somewhere with a field, a river or a bench where no one else is sitting.
The fortunate part is that it's simple to get out. Ring the city with castles, cathedrals, forests, old market towns and there are many to be found within an hour by train. When planning a day trip in Paris, you simply have to choose what type of day you want to plan. Some people desire palaces. Some people wish for dirt on their boots.
Here are 15 places to get out of town. No booking necessary. Everything on the list is public, from towns to forests to cathedrals to national landmarks and sections of coastline. They're roughly sorted by how close and easily you can find them to the ones that require a very early alarm.
For those who have only half a day, begin with this. Saint-Denis is just north of the city and the metro will bring you there in approximately 20 minutes, which makes it the easiest day trip of this list in Paris. The basilica is their biggest attraction. It is full of the tombs of most of France's kings and queens, and the stone figures upon which they lie are quite emotional when viewed close up. It is also considered by architects to be one of the first true Gothic buildings, meaning that you are about to embark on a whole style. Then, stroll around the old center. If your timing is right, there's a morning market too.
Yes, it's crowded but still worth it. The palace itself served as the residence of French kings for over a century, and the Hall of Mirrors is as gaudy as they claim. Better not to stay inside all day, though, since it is in the gardens of Versailles that it really outshines. Fountains, long tree-lined avenues, and a Grand Canal which you can walk along as long as your legs will carry you. Next, visit the estate of the Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet, a small imaginary village where Marie Antoinette went to get away from court. It's still the archetypal Paris day trip for the first timer, but with the crowds. The RER C line takes approximately 40 minutes. Just head there early, and make sure that Monday is often a closed day there.
Many people overlook this, but you shouldn't. The château has been a royal residence and a summer home for French leaders, and the gardens surrounding it are beautiful for a leisurely stroll. The great Rambouillet Forest spreads out behind them, providing shade and still waters. It's a good place for a picnic, and it's far less busy than the famous palaces. If you have a bike, bring it along as the trails are mostly easy. The journey to Paris by train takes about 35 to 40 minutes from Montparnasse. Autumn is the best time to go, when the leaves turn. Be on the lookout for deer on foot.
This is for the days when you'd honestly rather skip the museums. The Chevreuse Valley is a regional nature park southwest of the city, full of meadows, woods, and marked hiking trails. Take the RER B line out to Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and follow the paths from there. Nearby you'll find the ruins of Port-Royal des Champs, an old abbey that feels peaceful and a bit storybook. Wear proper walking shoes. Some of the trails turn muddy after rain, and you'll be glad you didn't bring your good sneakers. It's a simple, low-cost way to get a proper dose of countryside without going far.
Fontainebleau gives you two trips in one. The palace was a favorite of rulers from Francis I to Napoleon, and the rooms hold around 800 years of French history. Once you've had enough of that, walk out into the forest, one of the biggest near Paris. It's crisscrossed with walking and cycling routes, and it's scattered with huge rocks that climbers absolutely love. The village of Barbizon, right next to it, was a hangout for nineteenth-century painters, and standing under those trees you can see why. Trains from Paris take about 40 minutes, then it's a short bus ride into town.
Compiègne pairs royal history with a huge, calm forest. The château was used by French kings and emperors, and the woods around it are full of walking and cycling trails. History fans should make a stop at the Armistice Clearing, the quiet spot where the 1918 armistice ending the First World War was signed. Trains from Gare du Nord take 40 to 50 minutes. It's a peaceful day, especially if you like walking and you're tired of city noise. Pack a picnic, because the forest has plenty of quiet corners for one.
Coaxing visitors into a slower rhythm, Senlis is a small town. The streets of the tangle of cobbled lanes are encircled by a rampart dating from Roman times, and a Gothic cathedral stands on the rooftops. Spend some time moving back and forth in different places on a bench, and the area seems to be in another century. It is about 50 km from Paris, which will take around 60 minutes by train to a station nearby, followed by a short bus trip to the site. The town can be reached within a few hours, leaving time for a walk along the forest roads in the vicinity. Don't hurry through the lanes; the best parts of them are the little subtle details like old doorways and worn stone steps.
The cathedral at Chartres is one of the most impressive Gothic buildings in France and is only an hour by train from Montparnasse. Its stained glass is the highlight, more than the deep blue windows, which have lit up the building for centuries. Keep your head down as well, as there is a stone labyrinth inlaid into the floor of the nave. After completion, head down to the old lower town, with their narrow lanes and small footbridges following the river Eure. The outing requires very little effort, but offers plenty of rewards, making it an excellent option for companions who don't like long trips.
Vincent van Gogh spent the final months of his life in this village, and it still feels close to the way he saw it. You can walk past the church he painted, then continue up to the wheat fields above town where he made some of his last works. In the small village cemetery, Vincent and his brother Theo are buried side by side. It's a quiet, thoughtful place and a nice change from busy sightseeing. The train ride is about an hour. Pack a picnic and eat it by the river Oise before you head back. This is one of those places that stays with you longer than you expect.
Reims is around 45 minutes away on the high-speed train, so it works when you're short on time. The star is Notre-Dame de Reims, the cathedral where French kings were crowned for centuries. Spend a while looking at the carved figures across the front, because there are hundreds of them. From there, stroll through the old town to the Porte de Mars, an ancient Roman gate that's still standing. You're in Champagne country here, and the countryside on the ride in is pretty in its own right. It's an easy walking day, and you'll be back in Paris in time for a late evening by the river.
For a quiet day trip in Paris that feels like time travel, head to Provins. This UNESCO-listed town once hosted some of Europe's biggest medieval trading fairs, and the old upper town still looks the part. Walk along the ramparts, climb Caesar's Tower for a view over the rooftops, and wander the old stone streets. Provins is also known for its roses, a tradition that goes back centuries. The town is calm, slightly sleepy, and rarely packed. Trains leave from Gare de l'Est and take a little over an hour. Give it a slow afternoon and you'll leave feeling like you've had a proper break.
Amiens is a calm stop with one huge highlight. Its cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in France by interior volume, and the front is covered in incredible carvings. After that, stroll down to the Saint-Leu district, where quiet canals and old brick houses line the river Somme. The writer Jules Verne lived in Amiens for many years, so you'll be walking the same streets he did. Trains from Gare du Nord take roughly an hour and 20 minutes. It's also a good pick for a rainy day, since the cathedral alone can fill a few hours.
Rouen is a proper Normandy city with wonky half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and a cathedral that steals the show. Claude Monet painted its front again and again at different times of day, and once you stand in front of it you'll understand the obsession. Don't miss the Gros-Horloge, a big medieval clock that stretches right across a street. Rouen is also where the story of Joan of Arc ended, and you can visit the old market square tied to her memory. It's about an hour and 15 minutes by train from Saint-Lazare, which is enough distance to feel like a real escape but short enough to do in one unhurried day.
Now for the sea. Étretat is known for its white chalk cliffs, its natural stone arches, and a tall rock needle rising out of the water. Climb the cliff paths on either side of the pebble beach and the views are spectacular, especially close to sunset. It's a long way from Paris, around two and a half to three hours each way, and it's easiest by car. If you're relying on public transport, take a train to Le Havre and continue by bus. Give yourself time to walk both cliffs, since each side has a completely different view. Bring a windbreaker. The wind off the water can be sharp even in summer.
We'll be honest, this one is a real haul. Mont-Saint-Michel is about four hours each way, so you need an early start and plenty of stamina. But the payoff is huge. A medieval abbey sits on a rocky island in a wide bay, and the tides here are among the biggest in Europe, so the whole scene changes hour by hour. Climb the steep lanes to the top and look out over the sand flats. If you can spare the time, staying overnight makes it far more relaxing. If you can't, go by car or coach and bring snacks for the road.
Start early. The trains are full on the weekend, and many areas are very busy by late morning, so if possible a weekday is better.
Before leaving the train, check the train you are returning to. There are less trains on smaller towns at night and no one wants to wait in an empty platform.
Be prepared for the weather to change outside of Paris, particularly in the forests and near the coast, wear layers of clothing. Don't forget a water bottle and a few dollars either; small villages do not often have a lot of open.
Just don't overstuff it. One place done slowly beats three places done in a rush.
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