A day at the Palace of Versailles
You’ve undoubtedly heard of Versailles many times before, and that’s because this place is really worth a visit. You can get to Versailles on RER line C. When you arrive at Gare de Lyon, cross the Pont de Tolbiac bridge and enjoy a bonus view of the River Seine before heading to the Gare d’Austerlitz, where you can catch a train to the palace. When you come out of the station, you’re just a few minutes’ walk from the gates – and voilà!
Obviously, you’ll be super-organised and book your tickets in advance so you can enjoy both the palace and the gardens. Enjoy the Trianon Estate, the Hall of Mirrors, the king’s apartments and the gardens. Plan your trip so you won’t miss out at Versailles. Once you get there, you’ll need a whole day to see everything and make the most of the events and exhibitions on offer. In the evening, head out of the palace and stop for a glass of wine in Versailles, at L’Équilibre. Then you can head straight back into Paris on the RER, your head filled with majestic thoughts!
A cycling micro-adventure to Meaux
Fancy leaving Paris behind for a trip in the countryside? Your best option is to head out to Meaux. But wait – you’re going by bike. Hire your bikes in Paris and hit the road! It couldn’t be easier to get to the home of Brie cheese. All you need to do is follow the route of the Canal de l’Ourcq. Start from the Bassin de la Villette, an artificial lake near Stalingrad metro station that the Canal de l’Ourcq flows into. Along the canal, you’ll cycle past the Philharmonie de Paris concert hall and through the forest, enjoying views of some unique landscapes so close to the city.
Ride at your own pace for two to three hours, for a distance of around 50 km, before arriving in Meaux. Once you’re there, just lock up your bikes by the little beach in Meaux and take a refreshing dip in the River Marne! Invigorated by a short swim, you can then stretch out on your towel on the sand. Relish a moment of peace and tranquillity before enjoying a drink and heading back to the Gare de l’Est on a Transilien train, armed with your supply of Brie!
You’ll find a whole host of environmentally friendly trip ideas starting from Paris on the Chilowé or En Nature Simone websites (in French).
A day at Disneyland®
Looking for a magical experience? Then head to Disneyland Paris! From the Gare de Lyon in Paris, take RER line A to the end of the line, Marne-la-Vallée, where the park is located. You’ll arrive in your magical heaven in less an hour. If you only have one day to spare, get to the park first thing in the morning or, alternatively, stay in a nearby hotel and explore all three parks over a weekend. Start off with something more tame, like Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear’s Laser Blast, Ratatouille or It’s a Small World. Just before lunch (definitely before!), head over to Space Mountain or the Tower of Terror. Grab a bite to eat and round off your visit with some more rides, such as Phantom Manor or Big Thunder Mountain, then wander around the shops on Main Street USA with the family. If you don’t need to catch the RER back to Paris, even better! You can stick around to watch the evening shows and you’ll get to see the kids’ faces light up as they experience the magic of Disneyland Paris all over again the next day.
Whether you are an adrenaline junkie, dream of dressing up as a prince or princess or just want to spend an amazing day filled with family fun, Disneyland® is the place to be.
An active weekend in Fontainebleau
If you love sport, camping and foraging, then Paris is the place to be. Yes, really! Well, actually, you need to head to Fontainebleau, which is just 45 minutes from Paris’s Gare de Lyon station on the Transilien line. Remember to take a sturdy pair of walking boots and a tent, plus all your camping gear, and perhaps even a foraging container or some climbing shoes too. So, are you ready to explore 1,600 km of woodland paths?
You have a number of options for your getaway. The first would be to head along the Sentier des 25 Bosses (‘the 25-mound circuit’), also known as the 16-kilometre GR20 Francilien. The second option is to climb the great rocks of Fontainebleau (with a guide, if you prefer). The final choice is to check out the geological curiosity known as Les Sables du Cul du Chien (‘dog’s bottom sands’!), which is essentially a beach in the middle of the forest. Just without the sea! Our favourite seasons for exploring Fontainebleau are spring and autumn. In springtime, you can enjoy all the new plant growth, as well as climbing, running or hiking. In the autumn, you can gather chestnuts or mushrooms in this surprising woodland environment.
You can also have a more cultural walking weekend, with a visit to the Palace of Fontainebleau, staying in a luxury hotel, or having a browse at the local farmers’ market. There’s a wealth of options for cosy and relaxing breaks in Fontainebleau.
You can get all the way to Paris from Switzerland by train! So, it’s even easier to enjoy an extended long weekend in France and to head out of the city for some fresh air in less than an hour, for a mini getaway, a hiking session or a day trip with your family, that special someone in your life or even on your own. Paris has a number of tricks up its sleeve for a dream break!