A practical guide for visiting Paris without spending a fortune.

On a Dime Day Trips

As much as I like Paris, I like getting away too. Here you will find a sample of destinations that are about an hour from Paris by train and make a great getaway from the city.

Day Trips adapted from information provided by Bruce McAleer of French Mystique Bike Tours. Thanks Bruce!

"Local" Day Trips

This first section of trips can be reached from Paris mostly by RER - the local commuter train line, or local bus. No advance ticket purchase is necessary, so trips can be taken at the last minute. You can also use a Navigo Decouverte for transportation at no additional cost.

Auvers-sur-Oise - Van Gogh and other impressionist art history

Trains depart from either Gare Saint-Lazare or Gare du Nord. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules and prices. Zone 5

Click here to read about my visit.

Barbizon - Famous artists village, can be combined with Fontainebleau

Trains depart from Gare de Lyon and arrive in Fontainebleau-Avon. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules. RER zones 5. It is necessary to take a taxi from Fontainebleau to Barbizon.

Crécy-la-Chapelle - Small charming renowned artists village

Trains depart from Gare de l'Est. Transfer at Esbly to the next train for Crécy. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules. RER zone 5

Fontainebleau - Former royal town with famous château

Trains depart from Gare de Lyon arrive at Fontainebleau-Avon. Take Bus 1 from train station to château. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules. RER Zone 5.

Moret-sur-Loing - Charming walled medieval village/artists village

Trains depart from Gare de Lyon and arrive at Moret-Veneux-les-Sablons. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules. RER Zone 5.

Provins - Authentic walled medieval town

Trains depart from Gare de l'Est. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules. RER Zone 5.

Rambouillet - Royal Château now Presidential palace, nearby forest for hiking/biking, pretty downtown. On the same rail line as Versailles and Chartres

Trains depart from Gare Montparnasse. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules. RER Zone 5.

Rueil-Malmaison - Château of the Empress Josephine and a nice old downtown.

On the RER A line and could be combined with a visit to Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Take RER A to La Défense and then bus 258 to Château de Malmaison. Also possible to take RER A to Rueil-Malmaison and then walk 1.5km to 2km to old downtown and then to château. Bus number 144 also available from RER station to get to downtown then walk to château. Use www.ratp.fr for transport info.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Former royal town with a wonderful château now home to the national museum of archaeology. Could be combined with a visit to Malmaison):

Take RER A from Paris to Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Use www.ratp.fr for train info.

Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte - The château after which Louis XIV based his garden renovations for Versailles and IMO one of the most elegant château in France

Trains depart from Gare de Lyon and arrive in Melun. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules, RER zone 5. Take taxi from Melun to château or in high season use the shuttle bus from Melun to château.

Versailles - Famous Château

There are several possible ways to get here by train from Paris. Easiest (least confusing) is to take RER C from Paris to Versailles Rive-Gauche. Use www.ratp.fr for train info. Use www.transilien.com for train schedules.

"Non-Local" - But Set Ticket Price

These trips are on SNCF trains. Slightly more expensive than the RER trips above. Ticket prices are set and there's no advantage for advance purchase.

Giverny - Monet's house and gardens

Trains depart from Gare Saint-Lazare and arrive in Vernon. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices. Click here for information about shuttle bus to Giverny, or walking or renting a bike.

Chartres - Famous cathedral and wonderful old medieval town

Trains depart from Gare Montparnasse. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices.

Malcolm Miller Cathedral Tours:

Daily tours of Chartres Cathedral from Easter until late October are at 12 noon and 2.45 p.m. Not on Sundays, and during the winter occasionally or on request.

E-mail address is millerchartres@aol.com.

Château of Chantilly - Wonderful fairytale château, famous art collection

Trains depart from Gare du Nord and arrive at Chantilly-Gouvieux. Use http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/ for train schedules and prices.

Senlis - Beautiful small medieval town can be combined with a visit to Chantilly

Take train to Chantilly (see above). Take bus number 15 from Chantilly to Senlis.

Bus schedules here: http://www.oise-mobilite.fr/index.asp

Château of Pierrefonds - Magnificent fairytale looking château. Reconstructed in the 19th century but magnificent nonetheless. Can be combined with a visit to Compiègne

Take train to Compiegne (see above). There are shuttle buses from Compiegne to Pierrefonds but they are infrequent. Use www.oise-mobilite.frfor bus info. Easiest means of access is taxi from Compiegne to Pierrefonds. The tourist office in Compiegne will assist with taxi service.

Compiègne - Château with museums, wonderful old town. Can be combined with a visit to the château of Pierrefonds

Trains depart from Gare du Nord. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices.

Auxerre - Lovely small medieval city

Trains depart from Gare de Lyon. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices.

Crépy-en-Valois - Charming little medieval town with 12th century châteaux, abbey ruin, quaint streets, nice park

Trains depart from Gare du Nord. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices.

Advance Planning Day Trips

These towns, while still close enough for a day trip, will require advance planning for the best train fares.

Laon - Medieval hilltop town with a spectacular cathedral

Trains depart from Gare du Nord. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices.

Rouen - Small city, lots to do, wonderful cathedral, medieval old center

Trains depart from Gare Saint-Lazare. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules. Tickets cheapest if purchased 3 months in advance. Last minute tickets cost 22.80€ each way (45.60€ round trip).

Reims - Champagne tours, great historic cathedral, museums

Take TGV train from Gare de l'Est. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices. Train tickets cheapest if purchased 3 months in advance.

Epernay - Champagne tours

Trains depart from from Gare de l'Est. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices.

Troyes - Lovely small medieval city

Trains depart from Gare de l'Est. Use www.capitainetrain.com for train schedules and prices.