Paris is extraordinary — but France is even more so. If you're spending more than two or three days in the capital, escaping for a day to the surrounding region is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Royal palaces, Impressionist villages, Norman cliffs, D-Day beaches, ancient forests, champagne cellars — all within two hours of Paris. Here are eight destinations that are genuinely worth the journey.
The most visited site outside Paris — and for good reason. The Palace of Versailles is simply one of the most extraordinary buildings ever created: the Hall of Mirrors, Marie-Antoinette's private apartments, and 800 hectares of Le Nôtre's formal gardens. Arrive early and spend the full day. The musical fountain shows (spring to autumn) in the gardens are one of France's great spectacles.
The village where Claude Monet lived for 43 years — and the garden that inspired the Water Lilies series. Monet designed the garden himself, diverting a river to create the famous pond, planting species from around the world. In spring and early summer, when the wisteria blooms and the water lilies cover the pond, it is one of the most beautiful places in France. Best experienced with a guided day tour from Paris.
One of the most dramatic and iconic sights in France — a medieval monastery perched on a tidal island between Normandy and Brittany, rising 155 metres above the sea. At high tide, the waters surround it completely; at low tide, you can walk across the sand. The main street, the abbey, and the views from the ramparts are extraordinary. Allow a full day.
Five beaches where the Allied landings of June 6, 1944 changed the course of history — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword. The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, with its 9,387 white crosses overlooking Omaha Beach, is one of the most moving places in Europe. The beaches themselves are striking, and the many museums throughout the Calvados region bring the events of D-Day to vivid life.
Europe's most visited tourist attraction — and genuinely magical regardless of age. Disneyland Park offers the classics (Space Mountain, Sleeping Beauty's Castle, Pirates of the Caribbean), while Walt Disney Studios Park is better for thrills (Avengers Campus, Tower of Terror). Book tickets in advance, arrive at park opening, and tackle the most popular rides first.
The forest that Parisian climbers, hikers, and nature lovers have been escaping to for centuries. 25,000 hectares of ancient oak, pine, and birch forest around the royal Château de Fontainebleau — one of the most beautiful palaces in France. The castle's interior is more personal and less visited than Versailles; the forest walking trails are extraordinary in autumn.
The most photographed cliffs in France — the white chalk falaises of Étretat, rising dramatically from the Channel, inspired Monet, Maupassant, and countless painters after them. The two natural arches (the Aiguille and the Porte d'Aval) are among the most striking natural formations in Europe. The clifftop gardens, opened recently, are a spectacular modern addition.
The capital of Champagne — the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay is lined with the grand maisons (Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger) whose cellars extend for hundreds of kilometres beneath the city. A guided cellar visit — tasting included — is one of the most pleasurable experiences you can have within two hours of Paris. Pair it with a visit to the Reims Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
