Les Armes du Château
What to order: the set menu of the day, a slate dish and dessert for €19.90, with a glass of Cheverny for €3 more
Open every day; meals from 12:00 to 15:00
geocalia
Day itinerary · 47.40° N · 0.98° E
Chambord in a day from Paris, train to Blois, a 35-minute bus and the biggest château on the Loire.
Train from Paris to Blois, a 35-minute bus to Chambord, the double-helix staircase and terraces, lunch on the château square and a walk in the forest before returning.
Leaving from
Direct flight to París fromAsturias 1 h 45Barcelona 1 h 45Bilbao 1 h 45Santander 1 h 45Madrid 2 hPalma de Mallorca 2 hSantiago de Compostela 2 hValencia 2 hAlicante 2 h 15Ibiza 2 h 15
Part of Loire Valley
Add to my trip
Total time12 h
By car2 h 45 each way
From ParisTrain to Blois · 1 h 30
Bus to ChambordLine 2 · 35 min · €3.40
Admission€21 EEA residents
DifficultyEasy
Cost€50–70 pp without the train
Best timeApr · May · Jun · Sep · Oct
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
-
Leave Paris 1 h 30 by train
train from Paris Austerlitz to Blois-Chambord; choose one that arrives before 9:20
- 30 min by bus · Rémi line 2 at 9:20 from the station · €3.40 or €6.80 return
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1
Château de Chambord
€21 EEA residents · free for under-18s · double staircase and terraces · 2 h 30
+33 2 54 50 40 00
- 3 min on foot
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2
Les Armes du Château
place Saint-Louis · set lunch €19.90 · every day
Place Saint-Louis, 41250 Chambord · +33 2 54 81 01 01
Restaurant €€Book -
Back home 30 min by bus
Rémi line 2 back to Blois station
- 1 h 30 by train · train to Austerlitz; check the day's timetable
Approximate cost
About €40–55 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Château de Chambord
Chambord can be done in a day from Paris without a car, and it is the most relaxed way: train to Blois, a regional bus leaving from the same station and dropping you at the château, and back on the afternoon bus. It is about three hours' travel in total, but the day is well used: you arrive at ten, see the château before noon, eat on the square and have the afternoon for the forest.
The day, hour by hour
7:30 · Train to Blois. From Austerlitz station, an hour and a half according to the Blois tourist office. Choose a train that arrives before 9:20; timetables change with the season, so check SNCF Connect the day before.
9:20 · Rémi bus line 2. It leaves from the bus station, next to the Blois-Chambord railway station, every day of the year. It takes about 35 minutes and costs €3.40, or €6.80 round trip, paid to the driver by card or cash.
10:00 · The château. €21 with ID, free for under-18s. Climb the double-helix staircase to the terraces, among chimneys and lanterns, and then go down through the rooms and the French gardens. Allow two and a half hours.
12:45 · Lunch at Les Armes du Château. On place Saint-Louis, a few steps away. Open every day; the formula of the day costs €19.90 and there is a children's menu.
14:30 · The forest. The estate, surrounded by a wall, is open day and night and can be toured free. Walk the paths around the château and the River Cosson; in autumn, with luck, you will hear the deer rut.
17:00 · Bus back. The last on line 2 leaves Chambord at 17:00. In Blois, train to Austerlitz.
Is it for me?
If you want to see the biggest château on the Loire without driving, yes. With children it works: the staircase and the roofs appeal to them, under-18s do not pay admission and there is a children's menu. If you prefer a day with more châteaux, hire a car in Blois or Tours.
Time3 h
Change the route
If you want to stay the night facing the château:
Relais de Chambord
If you prefer a day cycling the Loire from the same Blois station:
La Loire à Vélo from Blois to Chaumont-sur-Loire
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Le Choiseul
What to order: the Roi Rose de Touraine pork belly as a starter and the raspberry soufflé with Chambord liqueur
Lunch and dinner every day according to the tourist office; book online
Auberge du Bon Laboureur
What to order: the €72 Découverte menu, with three seasonal courses, or the €58 Végétal
Thursday to Monday, lunch and dinner; closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Loire Valley
All year; the château closes only on 25 December and the line 2 bus runs every day. In autumn, the deer rut in the forest; in summer, more daylight but more people.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Bring ID
The €21 rate is for residents of the European Economic Area and they ask for proof.
- 2Do not miss the 17:00 bus
It is the last of the day to Blois.
- 3Check the return train before you set out
The bus reaches Blois around 17:35; choose the train to Paris from that time.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you go to Chambord from Paris without a car?
Yes: train to Blois and Rémi bus line 2, which runs all year.
How much does the trip cost?
€21 admission, €6.80 round trip on the bus and lunch for €20 to €35, plus the train.
What time does the bus from Blois to Chambord leave?
At 9:20 and 12:20, from Blois-Chambord station.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/loire-valley/itineraries/chambord-by-train-and-bus-from-paris
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.