This is true because Paris, the City of Light, is lured by famous sights and crowded streets. Yet travellers looking for that extra adventure off the beaten path will find a whole world just a short train ride from Paris. Some offbeat and secret day trips from Paris are included, allowing you to travel back through stunning landscapes and unforgiving corners of French culture. This list unveils the secret day trips from Paris, offering a chance to journey through stunning landscapes, delve into unique corners of French culture, and create unforgettable memories off the beaten path.
1. Journey Through Time: Medieval Marvels and Wine Country
As this is chosen as one of the first secret day trips from Paris, take a step back to the heart of medieval France with a captivating train journey to Provins, located an hour and a half away. Provins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a remarkably intact fortified medieval city, awaits you: imposing ramparts, cobbled streets, and underground passageways. History comes alive as one explores panoramic views and the 12th-century keep, Tour César; walk around Place du Châtel with half-timbered houses.
After a shot of history, relax in the nearby Champagne region. Drive through undulating vineyards and ancient cellars cut into chalk hills and taste the delicate bubbles of this famous sparkling wine. Taste some at a prestigious Champagne house; discover the precise production of the celebratory drink in a tasting session. Wind up for lunch with a delicious meal of regional specialities that go exquisitely with your glass of bubbly. So plan your accordingly because it is one of the secret day trips from Paris.
2. A Surreal Flight: In Search of Dreams Where Dali Lived
Take off for an unreal adventure in Giverny—an hour away by train—for something more unexpected than the primped-up gardens Monet made famous: the Espace DalÃ. Dedicated to the life and works of the most eccentric surrealist artist of all time, Salvador DalÃ, this museum occupies a 19th-century chateau, plunging visitors into melting clocks, elongated figures, and dreamlike landscapes that unfurl in front of your eyes through sculptures, paintings, and engravings designed to set the imagination on fire but make no sense.
For a truly unique experience of this secret day trip from Paris, consider venturing beyond the usual tourist trail and exploring secret day trips from Paris. Still in the surrounding areas, enter the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent his last days. Discover the Auberge Ravoux, where he stayed, and then walk over to the Musée Daubigny, which hosts many of his works and those of other Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. Feel an outpouring of creativity within these walls and become enchanted with this landscape of van Gogh’s inspiration.
3. A Treat for the Senses: Normandy’s Scenic Coastline and Culinary Delights
This place is from a secret day trips from Paris with a view of the pretty Normandy coastline (only 2.5 hours by train), and it escapes the urban view of the city to breathe in some fresh sea air. At your destination, you’ll discover the town of Honfleur, a key harbour with artistic ancestry. Wander along the tight streets, coloured by many multi-coloured half-timbered houses, and then visit the Eglise Sainte-Catherine, a fine wooden church uniquely constructed without using a single nail, to get that nautical atmosphere.
Feast on the local seafood in one of the seashore restaurants. Sample fresh platters of oysters just taken from the sea, a creamy Normandy milk cheese, and the taste of the region’s much-talked-about apple cider. Later in the afternoon, admire the dramatic cliffs of Etretat, chiselled by wind and waves into an unforgettable natural spectacle. Take panoramic photos of the famous single Needle of Falaise d’Aval, advanced into the sea, and gaze at these dramatic coastlines that have inspired artists through the centuries.
4. A Royal Retreat: Châteaux of the Loire Valley
Head to the Loire Valley, 2-3 hours away by train, for a taste of French royalty in the form of magnificent châteaux that abound in this region, taking one way back into periods of nobility. Each represents an era gone by with its architectural flair.
Marvel at the luxury of Château de Chambord, a striking Renaissance castle containing an intricate double-helix staircase said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Stroll through the expansive gardens at Château de Villandry, known for its immaculately laid-out Renaissance ornamental vegetable garden. Get romantic at Château de Chenonceau, a lovely white château often referred to as the “Château des Dames” because of the influential women in its history.
5. Hidden gem: Fontainebleau National Park forest bathing
For a peaceful refresher and some oxygen, escape to the magical Fontainebleau National Park, a hidden gem just an hour away by train and one of the many exciting secret day trips from Paris. Soak in the beauty of this immense forest—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—famous for its sandstone cliffs, ancient oaks, and varied flora and fauna.
Hike or bike through the dense forest, following well-marked trails that twist and turn through towering trees and serendipitous lakes. Inhale air so fresh it makes you feel reborn. Harmony with nature cloaks the forest’s peace, where you enjoy your lunch. You will explore the stunning Chateau de Fontainebleau afterwards—the rambling residence of kings of France for hundreds of years. These are the opulent state apartments within the palace, frescoed and carpeted in times of grandeur, furnished perfectly. Admire the vast forecourts and gardens that reflect both Renaissance and French styles in their architectural stature.
6. A Journey Underground: An Exploration of Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs are included in the secret day trips from Paris, an experience you will not experience anywhere else in the world than Paris, the unknown world under the city, with the company of a guide. Descend into the streets below the city, passing through a network of tunnels lined with the bones and remains of millions of Parisians who moved there in the late 18th century when cemeteries overflowed. Not for the faint of heart, but bringing you an intriguing insight into the history of the city and a fresh new perspective on death and mortality.
After a caving exploration, ascend to street level and take in the fresh air in one of those pretty Parisian picnics in the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg. On the grass, admire the pretty finds and interesting sculptures while experiencing the typical Parisian park.
7. The Macabre: Musée Fragonard and the Père Lachaise Cemetery
Go to the Musée Fragonard, located in a graceful 18th-century mansion in the middle of Paris, and plunge headfirst into perfume. With interactive exhibitions and workshops, trace back how French perfumery has come down through history and become an art. Learn how delicate it is to create fragrance—from sourcing raw materials to blending notes. This place is from secret day trips from Paris to treat your senses to the different varieties of perfumes and explore more secret day trips from Paris that are hidden; maybe you will even make your own signature scent.
In the afternoon, visit the Père Lachaise Cemetery, the biggest in Paris and one of the most famous cemeteries worldwide. Stroll along labyrinthine pathways flanked by elegant tombs and mausoleums. Pay your respects to the graves of iconic figures like Jim Morrison, Frédéric Chopin, and Oscar Wilde, and appreciate the artistic beauty of part of the funerary monuments.
8. An Adventure Down a Parisian Backstreet: Canals and Street Art
Among these secret day trips from Paris, explore and experience the local, authentic Parisian life in these wildly vibrant neighbourhoods away from mass tourism paths. Rent a boat cruise on the Canal Saint-Martin, a picturesque waterway with boats you can dine in and buildings decorated with street art. Look at the lapping numbers of idlers and their picnic spreads on the banks. Breathe in the bohemian atmosphere.
After lunch, head to the Latin Quarter and make a street art crawl this afternoon. Wander around the web of tiny streets, spying covert murals and graffiti by some of the world’s most famous street artists. A living history plays out here in this ancient district where walls become their canvases for creative expression.
9. Live Like Royalty for a Day: Palace of Versailles and Gardens
It’s not strictly off the beaten path, but a stop by the Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is still de rigueur for the history and architecture buff (1 hour by train). Be impressed by the exquisite luxury of a palace that once was the seat of French royalty. Be sure to visit the elaborate State Apartments with their glittering chandeliers, exemplary tapestries, and precious artworks. Step into the impressive Hall of Mirrors, an incredible gallery that mirrors the palace’s and its gardens’ brilliance.
These gardens are included in the secret day trips from Paris, so spend the afternoon in the lovely, sprawling Gardens of Versailles, a landscaping masterpiece. Wander the beautiful gardens, sit on the manicured lawns, admire the impressive fountains and sculptures, get completely lost in this beauty, and experience the meticulously designed area.
10. A Foodie Paradise: Cheese Tasting in Brie Country
While the day trips featured on our Secret Day Trips from Pairs list are all fantastic, they’re too hard to resist, making it impossible to be a day tripper to Brie Country, a place only 1.5 hours by train away from the city. Soak up this world of world-renowned cheese, including a visit to one of the local cheese makers to see their traditional production methods. Witness how milk becomes creamy Brie cheese, and then learn about the range of these regional specialities.
Taste your friendly cheese with fresh bread and local wines. You will have the opportunity to taste many types of Brie—from the mildest and most buttery, Brie de Meaux, to the most decadent and most intense, Brie de Melun. Learn about terroir and its effect on the taste of the cheese. Break for lunch at a delicious, typical, local restaurant specialising in regional cuisine before returning to Paris with a newfound appreciation for fromage.
Let this mix of eccentric day trips be your passport to a wonderland of quirky adventures, all within easy reach of Paris! Ditch the usual tourist traps, sling on your sense of adventure, and away we go! This curated list unveils the secret day trips from Paris, cleverly combined for the ultimate double dose of French charm. Prepare to uncover surprises and untold treasures just a train ride from the City of Lights.