Looking for something off the beaten path to add to your Paris itinerary? Easily accessible via public transportation from the city center, the surrounding region of Ile de France offers some interesting nooks and crannies relatively untouched by tourist crowds. With many appealing places only 20 to 40 minutes away from the center of Paris, » Read more
Paris Day Trips: Budget Travel Guide
Little medieval secrets dot this wealthy suburb on the Marne River. The medieval chapel houses an elongated Virgin Mary statue that has been venerated since 1328. It was miraculously created, legend has it. (The sculptor claimed that he returned to his workshop one morning to find the statue had been mysteriously completed during the night.) » Read more
If you want to party like it’s the Belle Époque, consider visiting the banks of the Marne river. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, riverside restaurants known as guinguettes hosted revelers over the weekends and on holidays. Wine was cheaper outside of Paris in those days, so many people chose to trek out to » Read more
Auguste Renoir was an artist with a flair for capturing everyday life, including this famous scene of happy-go-lucky partiers out at a riverside restaurant. It turns out that the giddy restaurant he painted still exists today on the “Island of the Impressionists.” This boater-hat happy place, called La Maison Fornaise, serves up traditional French cuisine » Read more
If you just need a brief relaxing moment away from the city, pack up some baguettes, cheese and wine and head to this favorite picnicking spot for Ile de France residents. The Parc de Sceaux is a large French style park designed by landscape architect Andre Le Notre, whose portfolio includes the gardens at Versailles » Read more
For French Empire history buffs, look no further than this countryside chateau. It’s no Versailles, but this quiet, unassuming mansion nestled in the small town of Rueil Malmaison was a favorite country hideaway for Empress Josephine, the wife of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Tour the chateau to learn more about this time period in France, including » Read more
If you’re a fan of the Cathedral Notre Dame, but not so much of the crowds surrounding it at all hours, consider a trip out to Saint Denis. With many famous cathedrals and chapels in Paris, the Saint Denis Basilique is often overlooked by tourists. But this large, awe-inspiring cathedral, with flying buttresses and gargoyles » Read more
This city has one of the largest intact medieval chateaus in France, with the keep and dungeon open to visitors. Fortified with a moat and battlements, it then became a prison in the 18th century, hosting the likes of the hedonistic and cruel Marquis de Sade. Touring this chateau reveals not only various medieval chambers » Read more
If you’re looking for a view of Paris that doesn’t involve bumping elbows with a lot of tourists — plus you like archaeology and French history — Saint Germain en Laye is worth a visit. It’s famous for a 2.4-kilometre stone terrace built in the late 1600s that allows onlookers to gaze over the Seine river valley » Read more
While day tripping from Paris is quick and easy to many destinations like Versailles or Disneyland Paris, it can also be tiring. Sometimes you’ll want to just spend the night and, well, chill. Many dining experiences and other nightlife aren’t always easy when you have to catch the last train back to Paris. With that » Read more
Disneyland Paris—the words that strike fear in so many, and joy in so many others. I’ve been there. And I’d go again. But is it really worth leaving Paris to visit? Before you start rolling your eyes, know that in 2013, nearly 15 million visitors thought it was worth it to make the trip. So » Read more
As Paris begins to blossom, spring fever starts to hit and even the most ardent lovers of Paris may feel the itch to get away for a day and stretch their legs in the countryside. Many visitors will head to the grandiose Chateau de Versailles or even the nearby Chateau de Vincennes just to the » Read more
Whenever I need a getaway from the hustle and bustle of Paris, I usually daytrip it to Le Domaine de Marie-Antoinette. Nestled behind the Château du Versailles is a palace called “Le Petit Trianon,” meshed with a dreamy little hamlet created for the Queen. It’s the perfect spot for a little introspection and super cool » Read more
Looking for an easy day trip from your Paris vacation? Why not visit Reims (oddly pronounced with a nasal “Ranse”), the coronation site of French kings and the epicenter of the Champagne region. Here we’ll explain how to get there and some suggested sights while you’re there–and where to get a great lunch for Cheapo prices! » Read more
Louis XVI’s castle at Versailles is one of Europe’s most awe-inspiring monuments, not to mention one of the most visited tourist spots on the globe. If you’re joining the masses of tourists on the RER C from Paris out to the castle, be sure to visit Marie Antoinette’s estate while you’re there. Yes, this fantasy-park » Read more
