If you’re heading to Paris, why not go beyond the City of Lights and explore France’s enchanting villages, towns and cities? You don’t have to go far to experience the country’s spoils: simply hire a car, hop on the train or catch a short flight and you’ll soon be tasting regional delicacies and exploring the country’s storied past. Here’s our pick of the best daytrips to take from Paris during your next visit.

Reims

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Located in the heart of the Champagne region and a 45-minute train ride from Paris, Reims is a wine-lover’s paradise. Wander this walkable city to discover the ruins of La Porte de Mars and the Musee St Remi, which date back to the third and sixth centuries respectively, as well as its champagne houses. Drink your fill of the iconic bubbles with a visit to the cellars of Champagne Taittinger, to reopen in July; the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Champagne Vranken-Pommery with its ornate Art Nouveau architecture and art-filled underground warrens; and the illustrious Maison Veuve Clicquot, where you can learn about the famed Madame Clicquot before nibbling a gourmet picnic in the kitchen garden. When you’re done collecting steps, settle in at the Place Drouet d’Erlon for homemade foie gras terrine and confit duck at Bistrot D’en Face.

Versailles

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A 45-minute drive or hour-long train ride from Paris, the elegant Versailles is a portal into French history, botanical splendour and creative experiences. The commanding eight-square-kilometre Palace and Park of Versailles served as the home of French royalty during the reigns of Louis XIV to Louis XVI, but now it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site housing rotating art exhibitions and an annual Baroque dance demonstration in late May. Visits are free in the first Sunday of each month from November to March, so pick up an audioguide from the Dufour Pavilion (or download the free app for guided audio and interactive maps) and explore the estate and its art collections (including, from July, the 300-piece Majestic Horses at the Heart of Civilisation in honour of Versailles hosting the 2024 Olympics equestrian events). Afterwards, dine like a king at Michelin-starred Le Grand Contrôle, where chef Alain Ducasse’s menu draws inspiration from the royal feasts and cooking techniques of the 18th century.

Lyon

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This UNESCO World Heritage-listed city (just under two hours by train from Paris) is bursting with culture, art and terrific waterway walks. It's also home to more restaurants per capita than any other place in France, making it the undisputed gastronomic capital. Experience it firsthand at the vegetarian Culina Hortus or indulge in hearty classics at Sauf Imprévu. Lyon is also where the satirical French tradition of puppet Le Guignol originated and you can learn all about its history at the The Guignol Little Museum. While Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral is closed until the end of 2024, visit Basílica de Fourvière de Lyon and marvel at its six stained-glass depictions of the Virgin Mary and its soaring gilded altar.

Strasbourg

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A two-hour train trip will take you back in time to this Alsatian town, which shares a border with Germany. Thanks to Strasbourg’s location on the Rhine, gorgeous water views are plentiful and best enjoyed by boat tour or as you meander over cobblestone streets. The city is now home to the European Parliament, but it was once a thriving mediaeval city. In the La Petite France district, timber houses, covered bridges and guard towers offer a taste of yesteryear. Strasbourg brims with museums, too: check out the Alsatian Museum to brush up on local history or the quirky Museum of Seismology and Earth Magnetism. In July, the city welcomes summer with international musicians, flowing beer and camping throughout the mid-month Décibulles Festival. Feast on.

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Amiens

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Literary enthusiasts gather around: Amiens, a little under an hour-and-a-half from Paris by train, was Jules Verne’s favourite part of France. The Around The World in 80 Days author set down roots and lived here for 30 years, claiming it the ‘ideal city’. You can see it through his eyes at the Jules Verne House or take a walking tour retracing his steps. It’ll likely take you over the city’s canals; keep an eye out for the floating maze of lush greenery, the Hortillonnages, including market gardens once maintained for the community. (A dozen families now still toil over the edible produce.) Pack a lunch for the whole family – and stock up on extra cheese, bread and cured meats at the Les Halle au frais market – before settling in to people-watch at Saint Pierre Park.

Fontainebleau

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Escape the bustle of Paris and drive one hour to Fontainebleau Forest, a former royal hunting park that can be explored by foot, on bike or – for the more adventurous – via clambering across its giant boulders. (Keep an eye out for the service tree of Fontainebleau, endemic to this area.) The historic Château de Fontainebleau, which once housed Napoleon Bonaparte, welcomes visitors to 121 of its 1536 rooms, including the Grands Appartements and Turkish boudoir. Access is also free on the first Sunday of the month (except in July or August during some national events). Pick up picnic provisions at the tri-weekly Fontainebleau Market, where 100-plus stallholders ply charcuterie, fromage, honey and other regional delights.

Bordeaux

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Beloved for its wine, this town – a little over an hour from Paris by plane – offers much more than just grapes and their bounty. You’ll get a taste of its history each time you walk under the city’s six mediaeval gates, remnants of Bourdeaux’s origins as a fortified city. Le Miroir d’eau, the world’s largest reflecting pool, is a beautiful modern installation that rests in front of the Place de la Bourse where locals and visitors alike frolic and take in the noteworthy surroundings. The city has 362 historic monuments and you can reach most of them on two wheels, but a leisurely river cruise down the Garonne – with a glass of Bordeaux in hand – is summer done right. If you’re after a book to read in the central Jardin Public park, Librairie Mollat might have what you’re looking for; it’s been run by the same family since 1886.

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Brussels, Belgium

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For an out-of-country daytrip, jump on a train and head to Brussels. You’ll be devouring its famous mussel-centric dishes in around 90 or so minutes by train from Paris. Walk off a lunch of saucy steamed seafood by taking in over 80 massive comic book-inspired murals featuring Tintín, Astérix and more. (The Belgian Comic Art Museum can also help you delve deeper into the stories behind your favourites.) For family fun, pop into Mini-Europe, a theme park where the entire continent is on miniature display. For older members of the crew, the Jeu de Balle flea market – open every day – is a treasure trove of vintage finds and quirky antiques.

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Loire Valley

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Just over two hours from Paris by car, the Loire Valley offers wine tastings, divine architecture and gorgeous landscapes. Take yourself on a self-guided exploration of the region’s cellar doors or opt into a wine tour with a seasoned operator, such as Blue Fox Travel or Link Paris, and learn about the origins of Sauvignon blanc in its birthplace. For history buffs, pop into one of the valley’s sumptuous palaces, including Château de Chenonceau, the lavish Château de Chambord or the Château de Langeais, which was built in the 1460s and is replete with lush tapestries and a wax-figure tableau. Slightly smaller in physical scale, Le Clos Lucé was once home to Leonardo da Vinci and his bold ideas. Picnic on the grounds then get up close with scale models of his inventions.

Nice

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Venture to the Cote d'Azur by hour-and-a-half flight and maximise your time by the ocean. Frolic in the glittering Mediterranean sea, explore the region’s unique Belle Epoque and Mid-Century architecture and the pedestrian-friendly Old Town, or settle in for a weekend of literary delights at the Nice Book Festival (held at the end of May). A 24-hour French Riviera Pass will grant you access to local sites, including the Picasso Museum, the Jardin Exotique D’eze – one of the city’s most picturesque spots – and a tour of the storied Galimard perfumery. At Michelin-starred Onice, dinner is a seven-course haute cuisine tasting menu that changes with the seasons.

Alabaster Coast

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A three-hour drive from Paris will bring you to this stunning strip of the French coastline, which carries wartime scars with reverence. Learn all about Normandy’s past at the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, located right near Bayeux train station. This region is also home to four cheeses that carry a PDO (protected designation of origin), and you can taste them all on a self-guided tour through the villages of Camembert, Livarot, Pont-l’Evêque and Neufchâtel. Explore the Alabaster coastline on foot or by bike and make a point to stop at the white cliffs of Etretat, where you can comfortably settle in with a snack as the wind whips your hair and the ocean roars below.

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Giverny

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It won’t take long to see why the regional village of Giverny, an hour’s drive from Paris, inspired French impressionist Claude Monet and resulted in the creation of Water Lilies. Step into his art at the Fondation Monet and its gardens – including the Japanese-inspired, bridged water garden where Monet planted wisteria and the flower garden that’s seasonally ripe with tulips – and then saunter through the artist’s former residence, which was bombed after WWII and loving restored in the 1970s. A short walk from there will bring you to the Ancien Hotel Baudy, where you can take lunch in the tea room or shaded terrace much like Cézanne, Renoir and Sisley did during Monet’s tenure in this town.

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Rouen

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The capital of Normandy is just an hour-and-a-half from Paris by train and bursting with history. The Historial Jeanne d'Arc is where Joan of Arc was condemned to death and now serves as a testament to this challenging part of French history. It’s also a UNESCO Creative City – the first French city awarded as such for its gastronomic excellence, especially in regional baking – and home to the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles (a museum dedicated to wrought ironwork). Explore the local food scene on a Saturday food tour or pick up regional cheeses at Les Halles Agrivin Biltoki, then devour your spoils in the sunshine at the Seine-side Rouen Botanical Gardens.

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Auvers-sur-Oise

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Artist Vincent Van Gogh’s final resting place is less than an hour from Paris by car, with the post-impressionist painter’s impact felt across this charming village. It’s a walking town with narrow cobblestone streets and it's only a short stroll from Maison de Van Gogh (now both a museum showcasing Van Gogh’s final living quarters, which have remained untouched since 1890, as well as a working restaurant at the Ravoux Inn) to the park that also bears the Dutch artist’s name. For a change of pace, experience the Absinthe Museum, where you can take a guided tour to learn about the favourite drink of Belle Epoque-era creatives.

Colmar

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The quaint Alsatian town of Colmar – a little over two-and-a-half hours from Paris by train – is rich with Germanic influences, from the colourful timber framed buildings to the elegant waterways, which are best explored by intimate guided riverboat tour. Venture to the brick-and-steel covered market, Marché Couvert Colmar, to snag a serve of kougelhopf, a local Alsatian specialty: brioche baked in a ring shape. Afterwards, sample the region’s top notch riesling and gewürztraminer on the Alsace Wine Route, which includes the Colmar Wine Museum. The sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, Auguste Bartholdi, was born in Colmar and a replica of his famous sculpture is here, too.