5 Cities to Visit Around Paris by Train This Summer: The Expert's Guide

Every summer, the same question comes up in conversations with our international clients staying in Paris: "What can we visit outside the capital, without renting a car?" The answer is often richer than people expect. In just under an hour by train, from four different Parisian stations, a whole range of destinations opens up that have nothing to envy from overpriced organized tours. After years of directing our travelers toward these getaways, here are the five destinations I consistently recommend — with the practical details that no standard travel guide bothers to verify.

Cities to Visit Around Paris

1. Chantilly: The Château, the Forest, and a Secret Few Visitors Know

Départ : Gare du Nord → Chantilly–Gouvieux

Durée : environ 25 à 30 minutes en train direct (ligne H du Transilien / TER Hauts-de-France)

Fréquence : un train toutes les 20 à 30 minutes en journée

Departure: Gare du Nord → Chantilly–GouvieuxDuration: about 25 to 30 minutes by direct train (Transilien line H / TER Hauts-de-France)Frequency: a train every 20 to 30 minutes during the day

Chantilly is probably the most underrated day trip for international tourists, simply because it's overshadowed by Versailles' fame. Yet the Château de Chantilly houses, in the Musée Condé, the second-largest collection of old master paintings in France after the Louvre — and unlike the Louvre, you can genuinely stroll through without ever running into a tour group.

A point I always make sure to clarify for travelers: the station is called Chantilly–Gouvieux, not simply "Chantilly" — a frequent mix-up that has made more than one hurried visitor miss their train. Once there, it's a 20-minute walk to the château, or you can take the local shuttle in summer. The estate also includes the Grandes Écuries, a horse museum housed in 18th-century stables considered, at the time, more sumptuous than some royal palaces.

Insider tip: avoid Saturdays, race day at the nearby racecourse, which packs both trains and parking lots. Tuesday and Wednesday see the lowest crowds.

2. Fontainebleau: The Forest That Inspired the Impressionists

Departure: Gare de Lyon → Fontainebleau–Avon

Duration: about 40 minutes by direct train (Transilien line R)

Frequency: a train roughly every 30 minutes

Fontainebleau suffers from a misleading reputation: many travelers assume it takes a full day just for the château, when the real richness of the site lies in its 25,000-hectare forest — larger than Versailles' — which directly inspired the Barbizon School, the painting movement that preceded Impressionism.

A detail few visitors anticipate: the station is called Fontainebleau–Avon and sits about 3 km from the château itself. You'll need to take the local bus (line 1) from the station rather than attempt the walk in summer heat. For climbing or light hiking enthusiasts, the forest's sandstone boulders (notably in the Trois Pignons sector) form a world-renowned bouldering ground — a fact almost entirely unknown to the general public.

Insider tip: arrive before 11am to enjoy the château without the crowds of organized tour groups that arrive by coach mid-morning.

3. Giverny: In Monet's Footsteps, But Not Only

Départ : Gare Saint-Lazare → Vernon–Giverny Durée : environ 45 à 50 minutes en train direct (ligne J du Transilien) Correspondance nécessaire : navette ou bus jusqu'à Giverny (environ 15-20 minutes, 7 km)

Departure: Gare Saint-Lazare → Vernon–Giverny

Duration: about 45 to 50 minutes by direct train (Transilien line J)

Connection required: shuttle or bus to Giverny (about 15-20 minutes, 7 km)

Giverny is undoubtedly the best-known destination on this list, but also the one visitors prepare for the least. The confusion comes from the fact that the train stops in Vernon, not Giverny itself: you then need to take the shuttle that connects directly from the station exit, rent a bike (the route is flat and pleasant), or walk about 45 minutes along the greenway if weather permits.

Something few guides mention: Vernon itself is worth a visit, with its medieval center, its old mill on stilts, and its Gothic collegiate church — most visitors head straight for Giverny without even glancing at it.

Spending 30 minutes in Vernon before or after Monet's house helps avoid the massive midday rush at the gardens.

Insider tip: Monet's house and gardens sell out by 11am in high season. Book your timed ticket online several days in advance without fail.

4. Provins: Île-de-France's Least-Known Medieval City

Departure: Gare de l'Est → Provins

Duration: about 1h20 to 1h30 (direct trains or with a connection at Longueville depending on schedule)

Frequency: roughly one train per hour

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Provins remains surprisingly under-visited compared to destinations like Chantilly or Fontainebleau — likely due to the slightly longer travel time. That's exactly what makes it, in my view, the most "authentic" destination on this list: nearly 5 km of intact ramparts, visitable medieval underground passages, and the famous Tour César that has overlooked the town since the 12th century.

A point I always raise with our travelers: Provins hosts open-air historical shows in summer (jousting tournaments, the ramparts' eagle show) that require separate booking and only run on certain days of the week — checking the calendar before heading out avoids plenty of disappointment.

Insider tip: aim for an early departure, before 9am, to catch beautiful raking light on the ramparts before school groups and tourists arrive mid-morning

5. Auvers-sur-Oise: Van Gogh's Last Village

Departure: Gare Saint-Lazare (via Pontoise) or direct trains on weekends from Gare du Nord

Duration: about 1 hour on weekdays with a connection; about 45 minutes on a direct weekend train

Frequency: limited — check schedules, reduced service on weekdays

Auvers-sur-Oise is the most intimate destination on this list, and paradoxically the one requiring the most logistical planning: direct trains only run on weekends, which often surprises travelers used to the frequency of standard suburban lines.

This is where Vincent van Gogh spent the last 70 days of his life, painting over 80 canvases in barely two months — a creative pace that art historians still find difficult to fully explain today.

The village has retained a rare rural atmosphere so close to Paris: the Auberge Ravoux, where Van Gogh lived and died, is still open to visitors, as is the town cemetery where Vincent and his brother Théo rest side by side beneath simple ivy. Unlike Giverny, Auvers-sur-Oise remains largely untouched by mass tourism — an ideal choice for travelers seeking calm rather than crowded sites.

Insider tip: always check return train times before leaving, as the reduced weekday service can catch out visitors who mistakenly expect the same frequency as standard RER lines.

What to Remember Before You Go

One thing all five destinations have in common: most travelers underestimate the time it takes to get from the station to the actual site (Fontainebleau–Avon, Vernon–Giverny) rather than the train ride itself, which is generally quite reasonable. Always budget an extra 20 to 30 minutes for that last local leg, whether on foot, by bus, or by shuttle.

Another habit worth adopting: book your tickets through the SNCF Connect app rather than at the counter on the day of travel, especially for Provins and Giverny, where TER fares can rise significantly as departure approaches during peak season.

And While You're in Paris, Who's Looking After Your Accommodation?

These day trips are all the more enjoyable when they're part of a well-organized Parisian stay. That's exactly the role of Even Gestion: we support our international travelers throughout their stay in the capital with quality furnished accommodations, personalized welcome, and insider advice — like the tips shared in this article — to help them make the most of Paris and its surroundings.

And if you're a Parisian property owner yourself, know that these same travelers, curious to discover Chantilly, Giverny, or Provins from a comfortable base in the city, make up a particularly loyal and well-reviewed clientele on short-term rental platforms.

Want your Parisian property managed to welcome this kind of traveler? Contact Even Gestion today for a free rental potential estimate.