These day trips from Paris by train have a typical or regularly scheduled rail option of under 90 minutes. Look for medieval lanes in Provins, canal walks in Amiens, Champagne houses in Reims, or a forest beside…
Items 41 The creator’s order
1 Versailles, Yvelines Take RER C from central Paris to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, the station about a 10-minute walk from the palace. You can use the day for the rooms inside, the long garden walks, or both. Check opening hours and the right station on the departure board. 0 2 Reims Cathedral For a Reims day trip, take a direct fast train from Gare de l’Est to central Reims in about 45 minutes. Start at the cathedral, then choose a Champagne house if there’s time for a tour. The Champagne-Ardenne TGV station is a separate stop outside the city center. 0 3 Chartres Take a faster regional train from Montparnasse to Chartres in about an hour. Start at the cathedral for the stained glass, then head downhill into the streets near the Eure River. This is a good one-sight day trip if you would rather spend time looking closely than rush around. 0 4 Rouen A quick direct train from Saint-Lazare reaches Rouen Rive Droite in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Look for the faster departures. In town, walk down to the cathedral and under the Gros-Horloge, then head to the old market square for timber-framed buildings and cafés. 0 5 Amiens Choose a faster direct train from Gare du Nord, about 70 to 80 minutes to Amiens. The cathedral is a natural first stop, then walk downhill to the Saint-Leu neighborhood for the canal-side streets. This is a good trip if you want sightseeing and a slow lunch in the same area. 0 6 Arras Look for a direct fast train from Gare du Nord that puts Arras about 50 minutes away. Walk to the Place des Héros and the Grand-Place to see the gabled buildings close up. The belfry gives the main square a clear place to start exploring. 0 7 Lens, Pas-de-Calais Look for a direct fast train from Gare du Nord to Lens. Some take about 1 hour 5 minutes, while other itineraries change at Arras. At Lens, follow the landscaped path for about 25 minutes to the Louvre-Lens or take a local bus. Pick this if you want art outside Paris without committing to a long… 0 8 Soissons The direct regional train from Gare du Nord is near 1 hour 10 minutes on faster departures. Head toward the remains of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes, where the two towers give you a landmark even before you reach the abbey grounds. The cathedral is another short stop in town. 0 9 Épernay Take a faster direct regional train from Gare de l’Est, around 1 hour 15 minutes to Épernay. Start on Avenue de Champagne for the houses and courtyard gates. If you want a cellar tour rather than just the walk, check the house’s visiting hours in advance. 0 10 Compiègne Direct regional trains from Gare du Nord have faster runs of around 40 to 55 minutes. Cross the Oise and head to the Château de Compiègne from the station side of town. The palace and park give you somewhere to spend a leisurely half day without traveling into the forest. 0 
Versailles, YvelinesTake RER C from central Paris to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, the station about a 10-minute walk from the palace. You can use the day for the rooms inside, the long garden walks, or both. Check opening hours and the right station on the departure board.0
Reims CathedralFor a Reims day trip, take a direct fast train from Gare de l’Est to central Reims in about 45 minutes. Start at the cathedral, then choose a Champagne house if there’s time for a tour. The Champagne-Ardenne TGV station is a separate stop outside the city center.0
ChartresTake a faster regional train from Montparnasse to Chartres in about an hour. Start at the cathedral for the stained glass, then head downhill into the streets near the Eure River. This is a good one-sight day trip if you would rather spend time looking closely than rush around.0
RouenA quick direct train from Saint-Lazare reaches Rouen Rive Droite in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Look for the faster departures. In town, walk down to the cathedral and under the Gros-Horloge, then head to the old market square for timber-framed buildings and cafés.0
AmiensChoose a faster direct train from Gare du Nord, about 70 to 80 minutes to Amiens. The cathedral is a natural first stop, then walk downhill to the Saint-Leu neighborhood for the canal-side streets. This is a good trip if you want sightseeing and a slow lunch in the same area.0
ArrasLook for a direct fast train from Gare du Nord that puts Arras about 50 minutes away. Walk to the Place des Héros and the Grand-Place to see the gabled buildings close up. The belfry gives the main square a clear place to start exploring.0
Lens, Pas-de-CalaisLook for a direct fast train from Gare du Nord to Lens. Some take about 1 hour 5 minutes, while other itineraries change at Arras. At Lens, follow the landscaped path for about 25 minutes to the Louvre-Lens or take a local bus. Pick this if you want art outside Paris without committing to a long…0
SoissonsThe direct regional train from Gare du Nord is near 1 hour 10 minutes on faster departures. Head toward the remains of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes, where the two towers give you a landmark even before you reach the abbey grounds. The cathedral is another short stop in town.0
ÉpernayTake a faster direct regional train from Gare de l’Est, around 1 hour 15 minutes to Épernay. Start on Avenue de Champagne for the houses and courtyard gates. If you want a cellar tour rather than just the walk, check the house’s visiting hours in advance.0
CompiègneDirect regional trains from Gare du Nord have faster runs of around 40 to 55 minutes. Cross the Oise and head to the Château de Compiègne from the station side of town. The palace and park give you somewhere to spend a leisurely half day without traveling into the forest.0