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Loire Valley as a Day Trip From Paris
Posted on 2/6/26 at 9:51 pm
Posted on 2/6/26 at 9:51 pm
Is this recommended?
I have taken just about every other day trip from Paris.
I know that it is much better to be able to spend a few days in the Loire Valley, but we are planning a trip to Paris for the Saints game in October and our time schedule may not allow us to do that. We could possibly extend the trip if we need to.
I had been to Paris a number of times before I went to Normandy because I knew that I couldn’t do justice to it on a day trip. I waited until we could spend more time there and I am glad we did.
How doable is the day trip from Paris to the Loire Valley? It lasts for 12 hours, from 7am until 7pm.
Do you get to see enough of the major sights, or do you spend too much time getting there and back?
Thanks.
I have taken just about every other day trip from Paris.
I know that it is much better to be able to spend a few days in the Loire Valley, but we are planning a trip to Paris for the Saints game in October and our time schedule may not allow us to do that. We could possibly extend the trip if we need to.
I had been to Paris a number of times before I went to Normandy because I knew that I couldn’t do justice to it on a day trip. I waited until we could spend more time there and I am glad we did.
How doable is the day trip from Paris to the Loire Valley? It lasts for 12 hours, from 7am until 7pm.
Do you get to see enough of the major sights, or do you spend too much time getting there and back?
Thanks.
5
Posted on 2/6/26 at 9:55 pm to geauxpurple
The Loire Valley is huge area. You’re not going to even scratch the surface on a day trip from Paris. Could you hit a few spots on a day trip? Sure. Look at the itinerary and see if it looks worthwhile.
Posted on 2/7/26 at 12:04 pm to geauxpurple
I mean, I think it's doable. But the Loire Valley was my favorite part of France, and I would say that three days would be the proper amount of time to see it. Chambord and Chenonceau are the essentials, but I really enjoyed the much older castle of Chinon (and the town).
Definitely try to spend the night in the region if you can.
Definitely try to spend the night in the region if you can.
Posted on 2/7/26 at 4:03 pm to geauxpurple
I wouldn’t do a day trip. We spent two nights in a town in the Loire Valley as home base for numerous chateau visits.
Posted on 2/7/26 at 6:34 pm to geauxpurple
Generally not advised. It's literally like saying I'm going to be in Atlanta and want to see Tennessee on a day trip. Can you make it there and back? Yes, but you will spend most of your time in transit only to get a taste.
Try to extend your trip a day or two if you can. Get an Air BnB and a rental car.
If you really only have one day to spare consider just going somewhere closer. The Loire Valley is not the only place with Chateaux. Fountainbleau is grand and has Napoleonic history. Chantilly and Vaux-le-Vicomte are also both popular. There are others near Paris as well. I assume you have been to Versailles.
Have you been to Strasbourg/Colmar? I would do that as a day trip on the TGV before I took an all day tour down to the Loire Valley.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 8:48 am to geauxpurple
Are you renting a car? You will be very limited by train. I really don't know the train options, but I'd assume the Chateau's will be very difficult and slow to see with public transportation. You can sometimes catch a train to the nearest town and then there's a bus option or something to the Chateau, but again that's cumbersome especially for a day trip.
You could catch a train somewhere outside of the city toward the valley and then find a stop with a car rental at the train station or nearby. That maybe your best option.
I've rented a car inside of the cities the day before to leave early the next morning, and its always cumbersome to a degree. You have to find parking, go rent it, come back, go back and get the car, navigate inside the city, etc. Not saying its a bad idea, just being realistic.
You could catch a train somewhere outside of the city toward the valley and then find a stop with a car rental at the train station or nearby. That maybe your best option.
I've rented a car inside of the cities the day before to leave early the next morning, and its always cumbersome to a degree. You have to find parking, go rent it, come back, go back and get the car, navigate inside the city, etc. Not saying its a bad idea, just being realistic.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 12:24 pm to baldona
I could rent a car if we spend a few days there.
I was looking at something like Blue Fox Travel out of Paris. They take you on a 12 hour day trip in a minivan from Paris that includes Chenoneau, Chambord and Amboise.
If we decide to spend more time there, is there a better airport to reach it from the US than CDG?
I was looking at something like Blue Fox Travel out of Paris. They take you on a 12 hour day trip in a minivan from Paris that includes Chenoneau, Chambord and Amboise.
If we decide to spend more time there, is there a better airport to reach it from the US than CDG?
Posted on 2/8/26 at 2:59 pm to AUFANATL
I have been to Versailles, Fontainebleau, Chartres,Reims and Giverny as day trips. Never been to Chantilly.
Strausbourg and Colmar sound intriguing. I have never thought of them as being day trips from Paris. I remember being in the Black Forest region of Germany and seeing the sign pointing to Strasbourg 5 km. away. We didn’t seem to be anywhere close to Paris.
Strausbourg and Colmar sound intriguing. I have never thought of them as being day trips from Paris. I remember being in the Black Forest region of Germany and seeing the sign pointing to Strasbourg 5 km. away. We didn’t seem to be anywhere close to Paris.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 3:13 pm to geauxpurple
quote:
I was looking at something like Blue Fox Travel out of Paris. They take you on a 12 hour day trip in a minivan from Paris that includes Chenoneau, Chambord and Amboise.
I wouldn't do that. You're going to spend 8 hours in a cramped minivan just to spend one hour each at a couple of mansions with a stop at some crappy restaurant that gives a kickback to the operator. The chateaux are impressive but it's not worth that. The Loire Valley is a destination, not a sight. You go there to explore at a leisurely pace.
The problem with France is that a lot of the tourist stuff is just out of reach from Paris and spread out. So you have to commit to multi-day regional stayovers or renting a car. Normandy, Brittany, Loire Valley, Alsace, Provence, Burgundy, The Alps, the Riveira, etc... all need at least three days and two nights to properly enjoy.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 7:50 pm to AUFANATL
Okay. I think y’all have talked me out of the day trip. We may try to spend a few days in a place like Amboise or Tours.
Thanks for all the responses. I will start another thread to get more detailed recommendations about an extended trip. .
Thanks for all the responses. I will start another thread to get more detailed recommendations about an extended trip. .
This post was edited on 2/10/26 at 2:18 pm
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