Top Île-de-France Day Trips

Head to the coast of Normandy to visit Mont-Saint-Michel on this day tour from Paris. You'll receive an orientation from a guide, and then enjoy time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site independently with an audio guide or by wandering the hilly streets at your leisure. Transportation is by coach from Paris.

Immerse yourself in the opulence and drama of the Palace of Versailles on a guided tour from Paris. With your skip-the-line ticket, breeze past the queue and follow your guide to palace highlights, including the Hall of Mirrors, Grand Apartments, State Rooms, and more. You can also upgrade to stroll through the expansive gardens at your own pace, immersing yourself in the beauty of this historical landscape.

Marvel at the Loire Valley's opulent châteaux and taste its famous locally-made wine during this full-day tour from Paris. First head to Château de Chambord-the inspiration for Disney's `Beauty and the Beast´ for a guided tour. The next stop is the town of Blois, where you´ll have just under two hours to enjoy some free time. Then visit the elegant Château de Chenonceau and embark on a tour through its intricately carved stone walls, rich hanging tapestries and intimate chapel.

Fans of French Impressionism don’t want to miss this half-day trip by luxury coach to the village of Giverny, where Claude Monet and other artists lived and painted. Enjoy priority access to Monet's exquisite 19th-century home, then, with an art historian as your guide, tour the flowerbeds, Japanese bridge, and water lily pond that served as inspiration for Monet's paintings, including the Nymphéas series.

Surround yourself in the grand spectacle of the Versailles palace and gardens on a small-group tour from Paris. Enjoy pickup from your Paris hotel, then breeze past the queue at Versailles and take a small-group tour through the castle’s ornate interior. Discover the rich tastes of Louis XIV, who built the enormous 700-room complex, adorning the space with extravagance and luxury. Then take a leisurely stroll in the palace gardens before returning to Paris.

Visit the former home of one of France’s most extravagant monarchs with this visit to the Palace of Versailles. Timed entry allows you to skip the lines at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the package includes round-trip air-conditioned transport too. Then, instead of following a group, you can explore the palace independently.

Visit the D-Day beaches during this full-day trip from Paris to Normandy. Stop at Omaha Beach to learn stories and historical facts about WWII; stop at the Juno Beach Center; pause at the American Cemetery. Gain fascinating insights from your guide into the sacrifices of Allied soldiers and the French citizens they liberated. Upgrade to a small-group tour when booking for a more personal experience.

Travel through scenic Normandy en route to the medieval Mont-St-Michel on a full-day trip from Paris. Discover the UNESCO World-Heritage-listed island and its iconic Gothic abbey, with a guide, and listen to fascinating history and legendary stories about the site. Enjoy ample time to explore the island, and admire views of the surrounding bay before traveling back to the French capital.

Enjoy an intimate historical look at the D-Day landings on this full-day trip to the beaches of Normandy from Paris. Travel by comfortable van accommodating no more than eight people, and visit Omaha Beach, the Operation Overlord Museum, German bunkers, Pointe du Hoc, as well as the American Cemetery home to 10,000 white crosses. See period-era military maps, plans, and photos, while listening to inspiring stories about June 6, 1944. Sip some of Normandy’s famous traditional cider before returning to Paris.

Many visitors to France make time to visit both the Palace of Versailles and Monet's Impressionist garden at Giverny. This day trip from Paris allows you to do both. First, wander through the lush landscape around the artist’s residence, which served as inspiration for his Nymphéas (Water Lilies) series. After lunch, head to Versailles and visit Louis XIV's lavish royal palace. On particular dates, you see the fountains on display.

Discover the Palace of Versailles—one of France’s most popular attractions—and beat the crowds on this half-day sightseeing tour from Paris. In the afternoon, meet your coach in central Paris and head straight to the palace; upon arrival, thanks to your skip-the-line tickets, you can head right in for a guided tour. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore the palace’s ornate gardens at your own pace before returning to Paris.

Dig deep into history with an underground Paris Catacombs tour. Learn why the bones of more than six million people were deposited under the city in a complex maze of tunnels that you definitely need a guide to navigate.

Imagine how the extravagance of Versailles was part of everyday life for Marie Antoinette during a guided tour of the palace with an optional fountain show. Take advantage of skip-the-line access to avoid the long lines at the start of your tour. Gaze in wonder at the Royal Apartments and the Queen’s Apartments, and walk through the glittering Hall of Mirrors to the Salon de la Guerre and the Salon de la Paix. Plus explore the expansive gardens on your own after the palace tour.

Discover the beauty of Bruges on a day trip by luxury coach from Paris. A guide leads you on foot through the UNESCO-listed city center, from cathedrals to palaces. Admire the well-preserved medieval architecture and learn about the history of this picturesque Belgian town. Soak up the sights of the "Little Venice of the North" on a seasonal canal cruise and take time out for a leisurely lunch (own expense).

Travel with a small group—including hotel pickup from Paris—and spend a day touring the Champagne region. Visit a world-renowned Champagne house such as Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Mumm, Lanson, Nicolas Feuillatte (based on availability) as well as smaller estates. Experience multiple tastings and learn how the popular bubbly drink is made as you stroll through sprawling vineyards and enter cellars. Plus, enjoy a gourmet lunch at a family-run winery.

Make sightseeing in the French capital easy with a Big Bus tour of Paris. Pick between 24- or 48-hour passes, and enjoy the convenience of hop-on hop-off access at any stop along the route. See sights like the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the iconic Eiffel Tower as you listen to informative audio-commentary, available in eight languages. You can also upgrade to include a Seine River tour, and tickets to the Arc de Triomphe.

Discover the pleasures and history of Champagne on this full-day winery tour from Paris. In the Champagne wine region, visit two different winemakers. Learn about the growing, harvesting, and bottling process, and sample different types of Champagne. See the resting place of Dom Pérignon, the monk who developed the French bubbly wine. Travel by comfortable van and come away knowing how to properly taste Champagne.

Delve into the creative mind of impressionist master Claude Monet on this small-group (or private) Giverny day trip from Paris, including round-trip transport and tickets. Explore the artist’s home and gardens independently, and stroll through the colorful gardens, which inspired many of his paintings. Next, pay a visit to the Museum of Impressionism (extra cost), see Monet’s grave, or stroll through the village of Giverny.

Visit one of France’s top attractions on this independent day trip from Paris to Mont-St-Michel. Relax on a comfortable coach ride as you travel through the scenic landscapes of Normandy en route to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed island, and spend hours exploring at your leisure with a multi-language audio guide (if option selected). Tour the famous Gothic abbey, wander through the narrow streets of the surrounding village, or admire views across the Atlantic Ocean.

Get out of Paris for a trip to the countryside on this tour to Giverny, the location of Claude Monet's House and Gardens. Travel by bus to the Monet property, where you have free time to wander around the house and grounds independently. An audio guide, available in several languages, is included, which you receive before departure. Select a morning or afternoon departure time when booking.

Explore Paris on your own terms with a customized city visit with a local host. You'll get to spend two to eight hours with an expert Parisian, who can show you all sorts of off-the-beaten-path gems, from restaurants to shops to lesser-known museums. Your guide can also help you plan the rest of your trip, setting you up with itineraries suited to your own needs and interests.

See various parts of Versailles and its palace grounds on this day trip from Paris via a high-speed train. When you arrive, cruise around town and the grounds of the palace on a bike. Then, skip the long lines of the palace and enjoy a guided tour where you walk through the famous gardens and see the fountains. You also stop at the farmers market, visit Marie Antoinette's hamlet.

Stroll through the châteaux of Chenonceau, Chambord, and Amboise on this full-day tour from Paris to the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley. Admire Chenonceau’s amazing floral gardens, and marvel at the sheer grandeur of Chambord, the largest chateau in the valley. At Amboise, see the quarters of King Francois I and the tomb of Leonardo Da Vinci. Learn from an informative guide about each site, and fit in souvenir shopping along the way.