7 Amazing Day Trips From Paris By Train

Paris is a city where one can never run out of things to do while in the city, and never run out of places to visit from the city. And I don’t say this as the Paris-obsessed woman that I am. It’s the truth. There are more amazing day trips from Paris by train than I can count, but I’ll give you seven of the best.

Paris Day Trips

There are several train stations throughout Paris where one would start a day trip. The metro of Paris is also fairly easy to navigate, in my opinion, with google maps or something similar. Because of that, it’s easy to get to major railway stations that will connect you to both domestic and international trains.

Champagne

I was a fully grown adult when I realized that Champagne is a region in France that champagne comes from, and that there are many other sparkling white wines. This province was founded in 1065 and as a champagne lover, I’m grateful.

Champagne is only 100 miles east of Paris and that makes it one of the best day trips from Paris by train. There are about 22 trains per day to Champagne from Paris and the ride is only 2.5 hours.

Champagne Tours

This Guided Tour of a Champagne Cellar comes complete with tastings. You get to explore the Vollereaux Champagne cellar and learn all about the champagne making process. It’s located in the Marne Valley so you will definitely be off the beaten path of typical champagne tours.

I’ve always wanted to go on this Full-Day Champagne Tour from Paris with Moët. It lasts 10 hours and allows you to visit the Moët & Chandon champagne house. You also get to see where Dom Pérignon lived in the 17th century. On top of all of that, tastings are definitely included.

London

I often see Londoners take a day trip from London to Paris, but those visiting Paris rarely do the same. If London has been on your radar but you don’t want to visit for a few days, I highly recommend popping over (via high speed train, of course) during a visit to Paris.

The train from Paris to London can take as little as 2 hours and 17 minutes, which is not long at all considering you’re going from France to the United Kingdom. Sometimes the tickets can be pricey so book as far in advance as possible.

Activites in London

If you’ve been to London before you may be more interested in things to do in London that are off the beaten path. I came up with the perfect list for you.

Harry Potter Tour

I too am a Potter-head and stan all things Harry Potter. Book a Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour and get sorted into your house before wandering around London to see popular locations from the move.

Tina Turner Musical

I want so bad to see the Tina Turner musical but it’s currently in London only and I’ll have to wait until it comes to Broadway. The Tina Turner Musical is your chance to view the life story of the Queen of Rock n’ Roll in person. I have heard nothing but great things about this musical so if you have the chance to check out it, do it for me.

Jack the Ripper Tour

If you’re as morbid as I am then a walking tour centered around one of the worlds most known serial killers is right up your alley. The Jack the Ripper Walking Tour takes you around London to retrace the steps of the infamous murderer whose identity is still unknown to this day.

Marseille

Marseille happens to be the second largest city in France while Paris is the largest. This port city is located in southern France and was founded by the Greeks in 600 BC. It is definitely one of the longer day trips from France and because of this, a lot of people may want to spend more time in the city. Because of that, I’ve included where to stay in Marseille below.

The quickest train route from Paris to Marseille is 3 hours and 5 minutes.

What to See in Marseille

The Calanques National Park is one of the top activities to check off of your bucket list when visiting Marseille. With this particular tour you not only get to visit the park, but snorkel and swim along the way. Lunch is included.

Another popular stop in Marseille is the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde. This basilica offers gorgeous views of the city. Construction of it lasted for 21 years after beginning in 1852.

Where to Stay in Marseille

Bruges

When I’m in a country, I like to knock another off of my bucket list. You can definitely do that with France and Belgium. Bruges is a 2.5 hour train ride from Paris’ Gare du Nord station.

Bruges is known for its canals, cobblestoned streets, and medieval architecture. That makes it more than Instagram-worthy in my book.

Here’s a full day guided tour of Bruges.

Bruges Christmas Market

You will find Bruges on any “Best Christmas Market” list, and for good reason. The Bruges Christmas Market is open from November 25th until January 2nd. If you’re in the area during these times, you won’t want to miss it.

At the market you’ll find everything from Christmas decorations to yummy foods to sample. I recommend trying the beer as well.

Reims

One of the best day trips from Paris by train has to be to Reims, which is located in the Champagne region. It’s just a 45 minute train ride from Paris which means you’ll either have ample time to explore Reims, or be able to explore it quickly and head back to the city.

What to Do in Reims

In addition to sampling all of the champagne possible, try these activities:

Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral

I never realized how many Notre Dame cathedrals were sprinkled around France, but you learn something new every day. A 1.5 hour tour of Reims’ Notre Dame Cathedral will allow you to learn the history of the cathedral from your personal guide.

See the Palace of Tau

After a fire in 1210, the Palace of Tau was rebuilt and expanded. This is where the Archbishop of Reims would live. It is now on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list which definitely makes it something to see when visiting Reims.

Disneyland Paris

When people say that Disney is the happiest place on earth, I’m sure they’re talking about all of the Disney’s all over the globe. Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, France and just 35 minutes east of Paris.

The train from Paris to Disneyland Paris takes about an hour, which makes it not only a convenient day trip, but a fun one. Remember, you don’t have to have a kid in tow just to enjoy this memorable theme park.

Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is just a 2 hour drive from Paris but the high speed train only takes about an hour and 15 minutes. The central part of this valley became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

If you enjoy seeing castles around the world, then this is a stop you’ll want to make during your time in France. This is where French royalty used to come and play, which explains the numerous castles in the area.

The Loire Valley is also known for its wine, so be sure to indulge in a bottle or three when you visit.

7 Amazing Day Trips From Paris By Train

Paris Day Trips