Day trips to Versailles, Famous Castles & the Champagne Region

There’s a lot to do in Paris, but what a lot of travelers often forget is that there is just as much to do around Paris. If you’re visiting the City of Light, you might want to allot some time for a Paris day trip. From the Champagne region to Versailles, the Paris metro area has plenty to keep you occupied.

Day trips to Versailles are popular because of the palace’s fame and also because of its size—it’s so expansive that you run the risk of missing the most interesting details if you only give it a half-day. I found a small-group full-day trip to Versailles that includes lunch and hotel pick-up and drop-off. At $200, it might seem a little pricey, but you’re guaranteed to get the most out of one of the most fabulous residences in human history.

If one famous chateau isn’t enough, then perhaps you’d like the Loire Valley Castles Day Trip. Take a coach to three of France’s most famous castles in the Loire Valley: Chenonceau Castle, the Chateau de Cheverny and the famous the Chateau de Chambord. You’ll get a guided tour of these fantastic chateaus, getting a peek at the lives of French aristocracy and Renaissance life for about $180 per person.

You might not be too into castles, though, which is why I’d like to suggest visiting the Champagne region. From $133 USD, you can take a day trip to the town of Reims and visit a Gothic cathedral, as well as the famous cellar of Mumm. Bask in the natural beauty of the Champagne vineyards and taste the wines at Moet & Chandon cellars.

For a little over $200 USD, you can take a day trip to Mont Saint-Michel, the fairytale island off the coast of Normandy. The centerpiece of the trip is Benedictine abbey of Mont Saint Michel, but you’ll also have plenty of time to walk around the island, listed as a World Heritage site. It’s definitely worth it; Mont Saint Michel is unique and intriguing—not only was the abbey a major European pilgrimage site, it gets separated every day from the mainland when the sea rushes in at high tide and fills the causeway, a captivating spectacle all its own.

Another way to see Versailles is with our exclusive Viator VIP Access: Palace of Versailles Small-Group Tour with Private Viewing of the Royal Quarters!

- Viator Travel Team