Day Trips from Paris: Giverny, Chantilly or Champagne

Giverny: Claude Monet's house and gardens

Giverny is a village in Normandy about 75 km west of Paris, outside Île-de-France; the drive takes around an hour or a little more, depending on traffic. You visit the painter's house, with its Japanese prints, and two gardens: the Clos Normand, a flower garden in front of the house, and the water garden, with the wisteria-covered Japanese bridge and the water lilies.

The site opens seasonally: in 2026, every day from 1 April to 1 November, from 10 am to 6 pm. The Foundation recommends buying tickets online. Confirm dates and hours on the official website before you go. It suits lovers of art and gardens, and couples.

Fontainebleau: a palace of kings and emperors

The Château de Fontainebleau lies about 70 km south of Paris, around an hour on the A6 motorway depending on traffic. It is the only one of these four trips that stays within Île-de-France. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981, it housed the kings and emperors of France for almost eight centuries.

The ticket gives access to the Grands Appartements and the Napoleon I Museum, where you will find the Francis I Gallery and Napoleon's Throne Room. Around the palace lie 130 hectares of park and gardens. The château is closed on Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; check the official website. It is a good choice for families and anyone with a taste for history.

Chantilly: paintings, gardens and horses

The Château de Chantilly is about 40 km from Paris, in the Oise department, and therefore outside Île-de-France. It houses the Condé Museum, with its painting galleries and the state apartments. The park was designed by André Le Nôtre, and the Great Stables are home to the Museum of the Horse and to equestrian shows.

The château is closed on Tuesdays and has an annual closure in January; confirm the dates on the official website. It suits painting enthusiasts and families with children alike.

Champagne: Reims, Épernay and their cellars

Reims is about 145 km from Paris on the A4 motorway and Épernay about 140 km; both towns are in the Marne department, outside Île-de-France. Allow an hour and a half to an hour and three quarters each way, depending on traffic. In Épernay, the Avenue de Champagne, a World Heritage site since 2015, brings together champagne houses and their cellars dug into the chalk.

Paseo Privado can book a visit and tasting at a champagne house for you, as an option quoted separately; we do not sell alcohol. Your chauffeur drives all day, so you can enjoy the tasting with peace of mind. This is the trip for wine lovers, couples and groups of friends.

How to choose according to the time you have

Day trips are charged by the hour: €80 in a premium sedan and €120 in a luxury van, taxes included. Each destination has a minimum duration, which covers the drive and the time on site:

With a shorter day, Chantilly and Fontainebleau are the closest options. Giverny needs a little more time and is only possible in season. Champagne takes the whole day: an early start is advisable.

• Fontainebleau: 7 hours, that is €560 in a sedan or €840 in a van.
• Chantilly: 7 hours, €560 in a sedan or €840 in a van.
• Giverny: 8 hours, €640 in a sedan or €960 in a van.
• Champagne vineyards (Reims / Épernay): 10 hours, €800 in a sedan or €1,200 in a van.

Arranging your day trip with Paseo Privado

Your chauffeur collects you from your hotel, waits during the visit and brings you back; he is not a licensed tour guide. A qualified guide can be offered as an option, subject to availability.

Booking is made online from the following day onwards, always in advance. The concierge replies on WhatsApp in Spanish, Portuguese and English to adjust your departure time.

Frequently asked questions