# Cerca de Paris

Paris is a base for going almost everywhere by train: Versailles and Fontainebleau by suburban train, Champagne to the east, Giverny, Rouen and Étretat towards Normandy, the Loire to the south and, with one more day, Burgundy, Alsace or Mont-Saint-Michel.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/paris/getaways

## Planes de un día
- [Notre-Dame, the Seine and the Louvre](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/paris/itineraries/notre-dame-seine-and-louvre-day-in-central-paris.md) (0 min en coche): Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle's stained glass in the morning, an hour's boat trip on the Seine from the Pont Neuf, galettes in the Marais and the afternoon at the Louvre. All on foot or one metro stop away.
- [Montmartre, Orsay and Luxembourg](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/paris/itineraries/sunday-montmartre-orsay-and-luxembourg.md) (0 min en coche): Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur first thing, bistro lunch at bouillon prices in Pigalle, Monet and Van Gogh at Orsay and the end of the day among the green chairs of the Luxembourg Garden.
- [Versailles: palace, Grand Canal and Trianon](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/versailles/itineraries/versailles-palace-grand-canal-and-trianon.md) (35 min en coche): The palace in the first time slot, lunch beside the Grand Canal and the afternoon at Trianon and Marie Antoinette's Hamlet. No car, 40 minutes from Paris on the RER C.
- [Disneyland Paris: two parks by RER](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/disneyland-paris/itineraries/disneyland-paris-two-parks-and-arendelle.md) (45 min en coche): RER A from Châtelet, Disneyland Park in the morning, lunch in Ratatouille's Paris, the new Frozen world and Marvel in the afternoon, and dinner at Disney Village.
- [Medieval Senlis and Chantilly](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/hauts-de-france/senlis/itineraries/senlis-city-of-kings-and-chantilly.md) (45 min en coche): Senlis's Gothic cathedral and Gallo-Roman wall, lunch at the Bistrot de la Place, its museum and, a quarter of an hour away, Chantilly château and the Condé museum.
- [Auvers: Van Gogh's room and grave](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/auvers-sur-oise/itineraries/van-goghs-last-days-auvers-sur-oise.md) (45 min en coche): A direct train from Paris-Nord at weekends from April to October, Van Gogh's room, lunch at his inn, the church, the wheat fields and his grave.
- [Chantilly: château, horses and cream](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/hauts-de-france/chantilly/itineraries/chantilly-chateau-stables-and-cream.md) (50 min en coche): A 25-minute train from Gare du Nord, the château and the Condé museum, 18th-century stables the size of a palace and an afternoon snack of chantilly cream at the Hameau.
- [Two châteaux and Christmas at Vaux](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/vaux-le-vicomte/itineraries/fontainebleau-and-vaux-grand-noel-from-paris.md) (1 h en coche): The Fontainebleau palace in the morning, lunch in the centre and, 20 km away, the Grand Noël at Vaux-le-Vicomte, with decorated salons, an ice rink and the illuminated façade.
- [Vaux-le-Vicomte and lunch in Blandy](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/vaux-le-vicomte/itineraries/sunday-vaux-le-vicomte-fouquet-le-notre-and-blandy.md) (1 h en coche): Fouquet's château at opening, Le Nôtre's garden before lunch and a bistro facing the medieval castle of Blandy. An hour from Paris by car, March to October.
- [Chartres: cathedral, stained glass and lights](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/chartres/itineraries/chartres-cathedral-and-lights-from-paris.md) (1 h 10 en coche): Train from Montparnasse, the cathedral of the stained glass and its roof, lunch at the Grand Monarque, the lower town and, from November to January, the lights before the train back.
- [Palace, armistice and fairy-tale castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/hauts-de-france/pierrefonds-and-compiegne/itineraries/compiegne-palace-armistice-wagon-and-pierrefonds-castle.md) (1 h 10 en coche): The apartments of Napoleon III and Eugénie at Compiègne, the Armistice wagon in the forest, lunch facing Lake Pierrefonds and its fairy-tale castle in the afternoon.
- [Fontainebleau: palace and Franchard gorges](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/fontainebleau/itineraries/fontainebleau-palace-and-forest-rocks.md) (1 h 10 en coche): The palace of eight centuries of kings, lunch steps from the Cour des Adieux and an afternoon among the sandstone rocks of Franchard. An hour from Paris.
- [Giverny: train, bike and Monet's gardens](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/giverny/itineraries/giverny-train-bike-and-monet-gardens.md) (1 h 20 en coche): Train from Saint-Lazare, a bike along the greenway, Monet's gardens before the groups and lunch on the terrace of the painters' hotel. April to October.
- [Provins: ramparts, tunnels and knights](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/ile-de-france/provins/itineraries/provins-ramparts-caesar-tower-and-knights.md) (1 h 20 en coche): Line P from the Gare de l'Est, ramparts and Caesar's Tower in the morning, lunch in the upper town and in the afternoon the two medieval shows. No car.
- [Rouen: cathedral, clock and Joan of Arc](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/rouen/itineraries/rouen-cathedral-and-joan-of-arc.md) (1 h 30 en coche): Train from Saint-Lazare, the cathedral and the Historial in the morning, lunch at La Couronne, the Gros-Horloge and the Impressionist gallery in the afternoon. No car.
- [Reims: cathedral and champagne cellars](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/grand-est/reims/itineraries/reims-cathedral-and-two-champagne-houses.md) (1 h 35 en coche): A 45-minute TGV, the coronation cathedral, lunch facing its façade and two champagne houses in Gallo-Roman crayères. No car.
- [Mumm, the avenue and the tower](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/grand-est/reims/itineraries/two-champagne-capitals-by-train.md) (1 h 35 en coche): TGV to Reims, Mumm galleries next to the station, half an hour by train through the vines to Épernay, lunch on the avenue de Champagne, the Castellane tower and the wine museum. Thursday to Sunday.
- [Épernay: cellars and vineyards without a car](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/grand-est/epernay/itineraries/epernay-avenue-de-champagne-and-moet-chandon.md) (1 h 40 en coche): Direct train from Gare de l'Est, the Moët & Chandon cellars, lunch at La Cave à Champagne, two hours through the vineyards in a vintage Estafette and the Castellane tower.
- [Chambord by train and bus from Paris](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/loire-valley/itineraries/chambord-by-train-and-bus-from-paris.md) (2 h 39 en coche): 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.
- [Chenonceau and Amboise by train from Paris](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/loire-valley/itineraries/chenonceau-and-amboise-by-train.md) (2 h 39 en coche): TGV to Tours and TER to Chenonceaux, the château over the Cher first thing, a gourmet lunch at the foot of the château and the afternoon at the royal château of Amboise, where Leonardo is buried.
- [Étretat: both cliffs in a day](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/etretat/itineraries/etretat-by-car-needle-manneporte-and-amont.md) (2 h 42 en coche): An early start from Paris, the falaise d'Aval before the groups, galettes and cider at Lann Bihoué and the falaise d'Amont with the chapel and gardens in the afternoon.
- [Étretat: kayak, Lupin and the Manneporte](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/etretat/itineraries/etretat-kayak-under-the-cliffs-and-lupin.md) (2 h 42 en coche): Kayak or paddleboard facing the Porte d'Aval in the morning, sharing plates at Le Bel Ami, Maurice Leblanc's house and the Manneporte in the afternoon. May to September.
- [Omaha Beach in a day, without a car](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/d-day-beaches/itineraries/bayeux-and-omaha-beach-by-train.md) (3 h 14 en coche): Direct train from Saint-Lazare to Bayeux, the cathedral and old town in the morning, Norman lunch and, in the afternoon, Pointe du Hoc, Omaha and the American cemetery by guided minibus.
- [Gold and Omaha in a long day by car](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/d-day-beaches/itineraries/d-day-beaches-by-car-from-paris.md) (3 h 14 en coche): An early start, the Arromanches artificial-harbour museum, the Longues guns, lunch in Bayeux, Pointe du Hoc and the lowering of the flag at the American cemetery.
- [Beaune in a day, without a car](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/burgundy-franche-comte/beaune/itineraries/beaune-by-train-from-paris-with-caves.md) (3 h 22 en coche): TGV to Dijon and regional train to Beaune, the Hôtel-Dieu in the morning, Burgundy lunch, a six-wine tasting at the Patriarche cellars and the Fallot mustard mill before returning.
- [Burgundy vines by bike](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/burgundy-franche-comte/beaune/itineraries/voie-des-vignes-by-bike-from-paris.md) (3 h 22 en coche): Train to Beaune, a hire bike along the Voie des Vignes to Pommard and Meursault, Burgundy lunch at the Caveau des Arches and the Cité des Climats before returning to Paris.
- [Mont-Saint-Michel: sands, abbey and omelette](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/mont-saint-michel/itineraries/mont-saint-michel-bay-walk-and-abbey.md) (4 h 30 en coche): The abbey mid-morning, the omelette at La Mère Poulard and, in the afternoon, two hours barefoot or in boots over the sands with a bay guide. By TGV and coach from Paris.
- [Mont-Saint-Michel in a day, without a car](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/mont-saint-michel/itineraries/mont-saint-michel-by-train-abbey-and-ramparts.md) (4 h 30 en coche): TGV to Rennes and a direct coach to the mount. The village and abbey in the morning, a walk back along the footbridge and dam, and lunch at a polder farm.
- [Alsace in a day, by train and bike](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/grand-est/alsace-wine-route/itineraries/eguisheim-by-bike-from-colmar.md) (5 h 46 en coche): TGV to Colmar, an e-bike to Eguisheim, a stroll round the village's rings, baeckeoffe or choucroute on the château square and back to Colmar through the vines.
- [Two Alsace villages by bike](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/grand-est/alsace-wine-route/itineraries/kaysersberg-and-riquewihr-by-bike.md) (5 h 46 en coche): TGV to Colmar and a long day by e-bike: Kaysersberg and Alsatian lunch at the Winstub du Chambard, Riquewihr and the Dolder in the afternoon, and back through the vines.

## Three airports, six stations and the RER

Paris has three airports with direct flights from Spain. Charles de Gaulle is flown to from Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Gran Canaria, Tenerife South, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Orly adds Alicante, Asturias, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza to almost all of those. Beauvais, much further north, receives flights from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Seville.

Once in the city, a car is almost surplus: each railway station leads in one direction. From the Gare du Nord leave the trains to [Chantilly](/en/france/hauts-de-france/chantilly), to Compiègne and, at weekends from April to October, the direct to [Auvers-sur-Oise](/en/france/ile-de-france/auvers-sur-oise). The Gare de l'Est leads to Champagne, with a TGV to [Reims](/en/france/grand-est/reims) in about 45 minutes and a direct train to [Épernay](/en/france/grand-est/epernay) in 1 h 20; also line P to [Provins](/en/france/ile-de-france/provins) and the TGV to Colmar. Saint-Lazare is the Normandy station: [Rouen](/en/france/normandy/rouen) in 1 h 15 and Bayeux in about 2 h 20. Montparnasse serves [Chartres](/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/chartres), Rennes for [Mont-Saint-Michel](/en/france/normandy/mont-saint-michel) and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps for Chenonceau; Austerlitz, Blois for Chambord, and the Gare de Lyon, Dijon for [Beaune](/en/france/burgundy-franche-comte/beaune). For the nearest places the RER is enough: line C to [Versailles](/en/france/ile-de-france/versailles), A to [Disneyland Paris](/en/france/ile-de-france/disneyland-paris) and line R to [Fontainebleau](/en/france/ile-de-france/fontainebleau).

A hire car pays off in four cases: the cliffs of [Étretat](/en/france/normandy/etretat), touring the [D-Day beaches](/en/france/normandy/d-day-beaches) at your own pace, [Vaux-le-Vicomte](/en/france/ile-de-france/vaux-le-vicomte) and the weekend in the Oise between Senlis, Compiègne and [Pierrefonds](/en/france/hauts-de-france/pierrefonds-and-compiegne). If you leave for Normandy on the A13, note that the Saint-Cloud tunnel is closed in the direction out of Paris from 16 November 2026 until the end of August 2027.

## The court's palaces, all but Vaux by train

**Under an hour by road** are the court's palaces and parks: Versailles, 35 minutes away; Disneyland, Auvers, [Senlis](/en/france/hauts-de-france/senlis) and Chantilly, between 45 and 50, and Vaux-le-Vicomte, an hour. All except Vaux can be done by suburban train and fit in a day with room to spare.

The second ring is **between one and two hours**: Fontainebleau, Chartres and Compiègne with Pierrefonds (70 minutes), [Giverny](/en/france/normandy/giverny) and Provins (80), Rouen (90), Reims (95) and Épernay (100). Here the train usually beats the car, and several destinations also have a night written up: [Fontainebleau and Barbizon](/en/france/ile-de-france/fontainebleau/itineraries/weekend-palace-and-barbizon), [medieval Provins](/en/france/ile-de-france/provins/itineraries/a-medieval-night-from-paris) or [Reims and Champagne](/en/france/grand-est/reims/itineraries/champagne-weekend-from-paris).

**Between two and a half and three and a quarter hours** the day stretches: the [Loire Valley](/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/loire-valley), 159 minutes away, with [Chambord by train and bus](/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/loire-valley/itineraries/chambord-by-train-and-bus-from-paris) or [Chenonceau and Amboise](/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/loire-valley/itineraries/chenonceau-and-amboise-by-train); Étretat (162), D-Day Normandy (194) and Beaune (202). They are possible day trips, but more bearable with a night: [two in Étretat](/en/france/normandy/etretat/itineraries/two-nights-in-etretat-from-paris), [two in Bayeux](/en/france/normandy/d-day-beaches/itineraries/two-nights-in-bayeux-from-paris) or [two in Beaune with the Côte by bike](/en/france/burgundy-franche-comte/beaune/itineraries/two-nights-hotel-dieu-and-cellars).

**Further off**, Mont-Saint-Michel is about four and a half hours by road and the [Alsace Wine Route](/en/france/grand-est/alsace-wine-route) almost six, but by train they shorten: about three hours by TGV and coach to the Mont, and between two and two and a half hours by TGV to Colmar.

## Vaux-le-Vicomte's Grand Noël

In winter the covered and lit plans work. Chartres is illuminated at dusk, which from November to January arrives before the last comfortable train back; in December Reims has a Christmas market and Chantilly its equestrian show. From 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 there is the [Grand Noël at Vaux-le-Vicomte with Fontainebleau in the morning](/en/france/ile-de-france/vaux-le-vicomte/itineraries/fontainebleau-and-vaux-grand-noel-from-paris), and until 6 January, the [Disneyland](/en/france/ile-de-france/disneyland-paris/itineraries/disneyland-paris-two-parks-and-arendelle) Christmas season.

Spring is the season of the gardens. [Giverny](/en/france/normandy/giverny/itineraries/giverny-train-bike-and-monet-gardens) only opens from April to October, with May and June as the months of wisteria, irises and roses; Auvers has a direct train at weekends from April to October, and in those months Versailles schedules musical Grandes Eaux days.

In summer the coast draws: the [kayak beneath the Étretat cliffs](/en/france/normandy/etretat/itineraries/etretat-kayak-under-the-cliffs-and-lupin) goes out from May to September if the sea allows, and on Saturdays from mid-May to late September Vaux is lit by [the candles of the Soirées aux Chandelles](/en/france/ile-de-france/vaux-le-vicomte/itineraries/a-night-by-candlelight-from-paris). Rouen projects lights onto the cathedral façade at night.

In autumn wine and forest rule: the grape harvest in Épernay, the [Voie des Vignes by bike through the Côte de Beaune](/en/france/burgundy-franche-comte/beaune/itineraries/voie-des-vignes-by-bike-from-paris), [Alsace by bike for two nights](/en/france/grand-est/alsace-wine-route/itineraries/two-nights-e-bike-from-paris), with September and October among its good months, and the deer rut in the Chambord forest.

## Versailles on the RER C, any day except Monday

- **Without a car, in a day:** [Versailles from Paris](/en/france/ile-de-france/versailles/itineraries/versailles-palace-grand-canal-and-trianon). RER C in about 40 minutes, the palace first thing and the gardens in the afternoon; any day except Monday.
- **With one night:** [Mont-Saint-Michel](/en/france/normandy/mont-saint-michel/itineraries/a-night-with-the-bay-from-paris). TGV to Rennes and a direct coach: the abbey and the walkway on the first day, the almost empty village at night and, in the morning, the bay with a guide.
- **With two nights:** [the Loire Valley without a car](/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/loire-valley/itineraries/two-nights-car-free-with-bike). Train to Blois in an hour and a half, Chambord, a day by bike and Amboise, based next to the station.