Versailles

The vast Château de Versailles, extravagant home of the Sun King, Louis XIV, and its sprawling parks and grounds, are a must-see for any visitor to Paris. A short RER train ride gets you there, and you can spend as little as two hours or as much as an entire day. More...

Chartres

Though not as well known as Notre-Dame de Paris, the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Chartres is thought by many to be even more beautiful—especially its splendid stained glass. You can visit it in a long afternoon. More...

Giverny

Claude Monet lived and painted in Giverny, 75 km (47 miles) northwest of Paris, for 43 years, and many of the period's greatest artists visited and worked here as well. You can see his gardens, house, and more in a half-day or a day. More...

Fontainebleau
Not as grand as Versailles, but with an even deeper, more eventful history, the royal Château de Fontainbleau on the outskirts of Paris makes an excellent half-day excursion.

Disneyland Paris
Travel purists may dislike it, but Disneyland Paris delights 50 million visitors a year, most of them French. Like California's Disneyland and Florida's Disney World, it can happily fill far more than a day, but considering the cost of admission you probably don't want to go for less than a full day. It's very easy to reach by train or bus.

Châteaux of the Loire Valley

The châteaux near Paris are fine, but the Loire Valley has hundreds more, all different. Whether you go for a day or a week, you must go! More...

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