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. 

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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

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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 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 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

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

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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

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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.

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