Paris Things to Do

Can you imagine going halfway around the world, finally catching a train to Versailles to see the massive palace and gardens that you’ve studied in art history and seen in films such as Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, and then finding the gates locked and the place shut for the day? I don’t have to imagine it because that’s what I did.

If you’re a North American, you might find Europe odd for a number of reasons, and one of them might be how easy it is to visit four or five different countries in the time it takes to drive across west Texas. Even if you’re visiting the British Isles, you can still get on a train and be in France in practically no time at all. That’s why, if you’re visiting London, you should budget time to spend the day in Paris.

Say what you want about the feudal system, but it sure made for some truly spectacular buildings. Where there are kings, there are fantastic monuments and palaces, and Versailles is at the top in terms of opulence and splendor. This former hunting lodge was expanded into its current size and grandeur by Louis XIV in the late 17th century, where it would be the seat of French power until the revolution in 1789. It turned what what once a relatively small town into the erstwhile capital of France.

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.