Been there, done that with the Louvre and Eiffel Tower? For adventures beyond the périphérique, here are our top day trips less than an hour from Paris.
From a fairytale châteaux to an artistic enclave. Champagne cellars to the beating heart of the city’s underground scene. You can even live out your Disneyland dreams. The best news? You don’t even need a car for these day trips from Paris.
Discover an artists’ retreat in Barbizon.
Hidden on the edge of Fontainebleau Forest is the pretty village of Barbizon. In the nineteenth century, a cluster of rebellious painters traded the urban chaos of Paris for its forest paths and golden light. Known as the Barbizon School, their revolutionary approach to painting nature heavily influenced the Impressionist movement that followed.
Today, their former studios are galleries and museums, but the creative energy lingers. Wander the single main street and stop by the Musée des Peintres de Barbizon to see where the likes of Jean-François Millet and Camille Corot lived and worked. Then head to Musée Jean-François Millet, where you’ll see his world-famous works including L'Angélus and Les Glaneuses.
Need to stretch your legs? Hike the 7.6km Barbizon painters' trail to admire the landscapes that inspired these artists.
How to get there: Catch a 26-minute train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Melun, then hop on a bus from Gare de Melun to Grande Rue.
Party with the cool kids in Pantin.
While tourists shuffle through Montmartre, those in the know head to Pantin. This former industrial suburb in eastern Paris has reinvented itself as a cultural hotspot, with vast industrial spaces finding new life as galleries and performance venues.
Check out Le27 Pantin, which has transformed a social housing block into a colourful street art initiative. Marvel at works by the likes of Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol at Thaddaeus Ropac gallery. Stroll – or rent a boat or bike and paddle/cycle – along the Canal de l'Ourcq. Try your hand at pétanque in La Cité Fertile’s beer garden. Head to funeral-home-turned-cultural-centre CENTQUATRE-PARIS to catch anything from a hip-hop battle to an experimental art installation. Round off your day at a warehouse party at La Station – Gare des Mines.
How to get there: Jump on the Metro at Saint-Marcel and ride 17 stops to Église de Pantin.
Walk in Marie Antoinette's footsteps in Versailles.
Obviously, we have to mention the trip to Versailles from Paris. Don't let the Palace of Versailles’ popularity put you off – this UNESCO World Heritage site is worth the hype. This 2,300-room, 800-acre (twice the size of Central Park) palace and estate wrote the rulebook for European royal residences.
Sorry, late-owls: it’s worth getting there early to beat the gnarliest crowds. Make a beeline for the Hall of Mirrors, a dazzling gallery lined with 357 mirrors that’s a masterclass in royal excess. Next, lose yourself in the immaculately manicured gardens. Don’t miss the Queen's Hamlet, Marie Antoinette's rustic retreat complete with working farm and dairy. Oh, and the Musical Fountains Show (on weekends from April to October) is nothing short of mesmerising.
Heads up: The Palace isn’t open on Mondays.
How to get there: Catch the RER C train from Saint-Michel Notre-Dame to Versailles - Château - Rive Gauche, then walk 15 minutes
Pop bottles in the Champagne capital.
Only sparkling wine made in Champagne can actually be called that… The question is: does France's most celebrated export taste better in Reims, the region’s unofficial capital? There’s only one way to find out…
The city’s copious Champagne houses offer tours and tastings of the good stuff. Head to a smaller house like Ruinart, whose art deco-style chalk caves are UNESCO-listed and less crowded than the big names. (Their weekend champagne brunch is next-level.) Heads up: Tours sell out, so book in advance.
While you’re in town, tick ‘culture’ off your list with a visit to the magnificent Gothic Reims Cathedral. The grand Palace of Tau is also worth checking out – if you can tear yourself away from the bubbly, that is.
How to get there: Catch a 45-minute TGV train from Gare de l'Est to Reims.
Be a big kid at Disneyland Paris.
We don’t know about you, but we’re still not over not getting to hang out with Mickey when we were a kid. Remedy past wrongs with a trip to this magical wonderland just outside the city. (Fun has no age limit, guys.)
Whether you’re a thrill-seeker heading for hair-raising rollercoasters like Big Thunder Mountain and Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain. Or a more low-key story-fanatic keen on interactive adventures like Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure (seriously: check it out), and the haunted house on steroids that is Phantom Manor. No judgement if you’re headed straight to Fantasyland to get your long-awaited selfie with Mickey. Whatever your vibe, there’s fun to be had for everyone.
Top tip: Don’t miss the Walt Disney Studios Park across the road from Disneyland Paris, which is more geared towards adults with big-thrill rides.
How to get there: Catch the RER A train from Gare de Lyon to Marne-la-Vallée - Chessy.
Where to stay in Paris.
Le Jardin de Verre by Locke is the perfect base for making day trips from Paris. This converted Baroque mansion in the Latin Quarter has 145 serviced apartments, a co-working space, restaurant, cocktail bar, two stunning courtyards and a gym. What more could you need?
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