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6 Captivating Places to Visit Near Paris by Train

With the Eiffel Tower in the distance wherever you go, the smell of fresh baguettes wafting out from bakeries, and intricate architectural details wherever you turn your head, Paris is a stunning city to visit. However, there are a handful of captivating places to visit near Paris by train that should not be overlooked and are definitely worth a day trip or two.

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Disclosure: We were guests of U by Uniworld but all insight and opinions are our own. 


Charming Places to Visit Near Paris by Train

There are a handful of wonderful day trips from Paris to make. Although these places are reachable by train, the train ride might be too long for some as a day trip (average 1.5-2.5 hours). I really enjoyed visitng them with the millenial-targeted river cruise that brings you to each town. Here are all the visually captivating places I visited with U by Uniworld.

Honfleur

honfleur day trips from paris

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Honfleur is a port town in the Normandy region with the most beautiful port that you’ll see. The Vieux-Bassin (old harbor) is lined with historic houses, galleries, and restaurants. Even more charming than the port are the backstreets with quaint little shops to peruse through.

Giverny

Giverny Places to Visit Near Paris by Train
Giverny Places to Visit Near Paris by Train

Giverny is a village in France where Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived andw orked from 1883 to 1926. The most famous site to see here is Monet’s garden, which is a lush, colorful oasis full of different types of flowers and plants.

Les Andelys

les andelys Places to Visit Near Paris by Train

Les Andelys is a commune set right on the Seine. If you’re an active person, it’s worth visting to take a hike up to Château Gaillard where you’ll get sweeping views of the Seine and beyond. Château Gaillard once was a mighty fortress and now is open for public viewing.

Versailles

versailles Places to Visit Near Paris by Train

In Versailles is no other than the infamous Palace of Versailles. As grand as this royal residence of Louis XIV sounds, if you’re pressed for time or enjoy being outdoors, you may want to skip the long lines and head right into the Garden of Versailles to enjoy blooming gardens.

Cliffs of Étretat

cliffs detretat easy day trips from paris

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For nature lovers, a day trip from Paris to the Cliffs of Étretat cannot be missed. Here you’ll find white cliffs and natural rock formations that will take your breath away!

Rouen

rouen Places to Visit Near Paris by Train

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Rouen is a charming city with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and bell towers sprinkled throughout. If you’re a foodie, then you can see where Julia Child discovered her love for cooking, or for history buffs, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

From here, it’s easy to visit the historic Normandy beaches. If traveling with U by Uniworld, you get both a walking and biking tour around Rouen, bar crawl at night, and if you wish to pay for an additional excursion, visit the Normandy beaches.

How to Visit All These Places Near Paris in One Trip

Considering all of these small towns near Paris have so much charm and character, it’ll probably be hard to choose which ones to visit and miss. My best suggestion to visit all these charming places without the hassle of hopping on a train or jumping around hotels is to sail along the Seine with the U by Uniworld Northern France at a Glance cruise. This cruise gives you the best of Paris and the points of interest near it by combining three days in Paris and five days.

Head to U by Uniworld’s website to see what this cruise offers, or read my honest review about the cruise here.


Thanks for stopping by! xo.

Sharon

Monday 15th of October 2018

Oh do you know the names of the street in Honfleur where the little shops are? Love shopping in little shops like this.

Tamara

Wednesday 10th of October 2018

So nice to read about the must-visits around Paris. I would love to pay a visit to Les Andalys and Cliffs of Étretat. I didn't know there was a cruise company, that would be such a nice way to explore the places. However, I think going by car would also be a great way. Thank you for sharing!

Deeptha

Saturday 6th of October 2018

So many lovely places to visit! My top picks would be Les Andelys and the Cliffs of Étretat, the latter for its impressive natural beauty. I can imagine the cliffs and the surroundings being very popular with dog walkers, families and outdoor lovers in general.

Candy

Friday 5th of October 2018

So many beautiful places to visit! I really like the photo at Cliffs of Étretat. The rock formations are gorgeous and it sorta reminds me of the beaches in Malibu :)

Rosie Bell

Thursday 4th of October 2018

Hi there, I love this little list. Versailles has been on my list for years and happy to have found out about the Cliffs of Étretat as I’ll be visiting my best friend in Paris later this year. Beautiful colours and imagery as well

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