Top 5 day trips from Paris
Yes, Paris may have it all – romantic walks along the Seine, the glittering Eiffel Tower and the cobbled streets of Montmartre, but sometimes the endless crowds of tourists and crazy drivers can be too much to handle.
Kiana Salamian was lucky enough to visit a few places in Paris during her time there, and below she shares her list of the top 5 recommendations for escaping the city.
1.Versailles
Versailles (as seen in the picture above) was built in the 16. The eighteenth century by the Sun King Louis XIV. built and is one of the most famous and opulent country estates in the world. Therefore, spending a day here like French royalty is an absolute must!
Highlights here include admiring the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1920, exploring the Trianon estate, Marie Antoinette's former home, and if you're there on a weekend evening in the summer, be sure to stop by the Musical Fountain shows!Both the palace and the grounds can be visited for free by all EU citizens under 26, so this is a great budget day trip.
Directions: like Provins, Versailles can be reached by public transport from Paris, and the easiest way to get there is to take the RER C (the yellow RER line) from central Paris, which will take you directly to Versailles, and the trip takes just 45 minutes.A round trip from Paris costs €7.
2.Provins
This beautiful medieval town with impressive fortifications is a must-see if you've ever wanted to know what France was like in the 16th century. What the eighteenth century looked like.
Must-dos in Provins include exploring the Saint Jean's Gate Ramparts and wandering the quaint cobblestone streets while taking in sights like the Tour Cesar and Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church.If you want to delve deeper into the history of the town, you can't miss Les Souterrains de Provins, as guided tours through these underground tunnels give you a truly unique insight into medieval life in Provins.
Directions: trains leave from Gare de l'Est about every hour and take 1h15m to get there.Since Provins is located in the Isle-de-France region, you can get there with a Navigo Pass.If not, I would recommend buying a Mobilis day pass for zones 1-5, these cost €17.80 and give you unlimited travel on all 5 metro zones for the day.
3.Amiens
Located north of Paris in the Picardy region, Amiens is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Notre Dame d'Amiens Cathedral, and has much original charm, although much of it had to be rebuilt after World War II.
The old town, crisscrossed by canals, gives the city a Flemish feel, and a walk along the hortillonnages, floating gardens, only enhances that feeling.These gardens are best enjoyed on a guided boat tour, which costs €6 per person.An even more quirky tourist attraction is the home of Jules Verne, the famous French author, and here you can discover the inspiration behind his stories such as Around the World in Eighty Days and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Directions: Trains depart from Gare du Nord about every hour and take between 1 hour and 1 hour 45 minutes to get to Amiens.Tickets cost between €15 and €22.50 for a one-way trip.
4.Giverny
Monet's water lily paintings may be in the Musee de l'Orangerie in Paris, but the true source of his inspiration is found in the charming Norman town of Giverny, where his former home and gardens were.
In Giverny, you can stroll through the gardens and admire the lily pond that inspired hundreds of Monet's paintings, visit his former home, and marvel at other Impressionist artworks at the Giverny Museum of Impressionisms.
It's worth noting that Monet's house and gardens are only open from April to October. So if you want to visit Giverny, make sure you are in Paris during these months.
Directions: Trains leave every 1h-1h30m from Gare Saint-Lazare and take 45 minutes to Vernon-Giverny, costing 9€-14,70€ each way.From there, you can either take a cab to his house, which costs about €20 and takes 10 minutes, or the bus, which costs €10 for a round trip and takes about 20 minutes.
5.Rouen
While Giverny offers the natural charm of Normandy, Rouen is all about the region's medieval past with its colorful wooden houses, charming bell tower and grand Gothic cathedral.
However, it is often better known for its darker past and as the city where Joan of Arc was tried and later burned at the stake.If you want to learn more about France's most famous martyr, be sure to visit the Joan of Arc Historial.
However, if you'd rather experience some more obscure things than Rouen's most famous sights, I recommend playing a game of escape at Le Donjon de Rouen or visiting the free and fascinating Museum of Wrought Iron.
Directions: Trains leave every 30-60 minutes from Gare Saint-Lazare and take between 1:10 and 1:40 minutes to get to Rouen.Tickets cost between €10 and €22.40 each way.
General tips for traveling in France
If you're between the ages of 12 and 27 and plan to travel around France by train a lot, consider buying a Carte Jeune, as it gives you up to 25% off all train trips.
Consider using rail services like Ouigo, because although they often have very strict conditions, such as. B. limited luggage and that you arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before your departure, you can get cheap tickets like Paris to Aix-en -Provence for only 18 €!