Paris is a fantastic city to explore with kids, and one of its biggest advantages is how easy it is to take short train trips beyond the city. Within an hour or so you can reach a variety of stunning sights, from castles and historic towns to peaceful countryside escapes.
France’s rail network makes these day trips simple and convenient for families, with direct trains and easy connections that take the stress out of travelling. It’s a great way to add variety to a Paris trip and see a different side of the region.
If you’re planning a family stay in Paris and want to explore further afield, here are seven of the best easy train trips from the city.
Essential Tips for Family Train Travel from Paris
Taking the train out of Paris is very easy but a little preparation goes a long way when managing kids and gear:
- Know the Child Fare Rules: This is where you can save a lot of money! On the Paris Metro and RER, children under 4 travel for free (as long as they don’t occupy a seat), and kids aged 4 to 9 get a 50% discount. For longer SNCF trains (TER and TGV), children under 4 are free on your lap, or you can pay a nominal fee to guarantee them their own seat. Kids 4 to 11 get reduced fares.
- Ditch the Bulky Stroller: Paris train stations are infamous for their lack of elevators. You will inevitably have to carry your stroller up and down flights of stairs. A compact, lightweight travel stroller that folds with one hand is absolutely essential. We have used a Babyzen Yoyo for a number of years and it is fantastic in cities like Paris.
- Download the Right Apps: Use Citymapper or Île-de-France Mobilités for navigating the Metro, RER, and local buses. Use SNCF Connect or Trainline to book your longer regional and high-speed train tickets.
- Understand Booking Windows: For RER and commuter trains (like going to Versailles, Disneyland Paris or Provins), ticket prices are fixed, and you can buy them at the station on the day of travel. For TGV and some TER routes (for Giverny, Chantilly and Rouen), prices operate like airline tickets—they go up closer to departure. Book those as far in advance as possible.
- Avoid the Rush Hour: Whenever possible, avoid starting your day trip on weekdays between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM, or returning between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM. Rush hour on the RER and Metro can get intense so it’s worth avoiding it with kids and strollers if you can.
1 | The Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles)
Journey Time & Route: About 30 to 45 minutes from central Paris via the RER C train to the Versailles Château Rive Gauche stop.
The legendary, opulent former royal residence of King Louis XIV is a must-see, featuring the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors and perfectly manicured, sprawling estate grounds.
While the interior of the palace can be crowded and exhausting for little ones, the true magic for families lies outside in the massive gardens. Kids can run freely along the wide, stroller-friendly paths.
Due to its vast size, we highly recommend renting a golf cart to explore the grounds. We had a lot of fun in the golf cart and it allows the entire family to see all the grounds.
2 | Disneyland Paris
Journey Time & Route: About 40 minutes from central Paris (Châtelet–Les Halles or Gare de Lyon) via the RER A train straight to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy. The station is located right at the park gates.
As Europe’s premiere theme park resort, this destination features two parks (Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World) packed with classic Disney magic, thrilling rides, and character encounters.
It is the ultimate crowd-pleaser and extremely easy to reach from central Paris as a day trip. The parks are incredibly accessible and offer a perfect balance of attractions for every age group—from the gentle magic of Fantasyland for younger ones to the more adventurous coasters for older siblings. The train logistics couldn’t be simpler, dropping you literal steps from the security checkpoints at the entrance to the parks
Train Tip: The RER A requires a special point-to-point ticket and a standard central Paris Metro ticket will not cover it. Buy your return tickets in the morning at the Paris station to avoid the ticket machine queues when leaving the park at night.
Book your Disneyland Paris tickets now
3 | Giverny (Monet’s Gardens)
Journey Time & Route: About 45 minutes from Gare Saint-Lazare via train to Vernon-Giverny, followed by a quick shuttle bus
This beautiful estate is the former home of painter Claude Monet and features vibrant, flower-filled gardens and the iconic Japanese bridge spanning the famous water lily pond.
The explosion of colours, the charming green bridge and the frogs hiding in the lily ponds easily capture children’s imaginations. We’ve visited the gardens a number of times as a family and every time it’s been an amazing experience.
4 | Provins
Journey Time & Route: About 1 hour 20 minutes from Gare de l’Est via the Transilien Line P direct train.
A beautifully preserved UNESCO World Heritage medieval town, Provins features ancient fortified walls, underground tunnels, and a towering keep.
The town feels like stepping straight into a fairytale or a history book. It puts on spectacular, highly engaging medieval shows during the spring and summer, including The Legend of the Knights (featuring jousting and sword fighting) and The Eagles of the Ramparts (a brilliant falconry display). It provides an action-packed, immersive day out that easily holds the attention of young kids.
5 | Château de Chantilly
Journey Time & Route: About 25 minutes from Gare du Nord via the direct SNCF TER train, alighting at Chantilly-Gouvieux.
This picture-perfect castle sits seemingly floating on water, surrounded by vast parklands and is home to Les Grandes Écuries, the largest aristocratic stables in Europe. Like Versailles, Chantilly also offers golf carts for rent to explore the grounds and there is also a small train ride that runs during the summer months.
Château de Chantilly is a much quieter, more relaxed alternative to the Palace at Versailles. Les Grandes Écuries feature an interactive Museum of the Horse and live equestrian demonstrations that children love. The grounds also feature a fun wooden playground and a maze.
6 | Rouen
Journey Time & Route: About 1 hour and 15 to 30 minutes from Paris Gare Saint-Lazare via a direct TER train.
The historical capital of Normandy, Rouen is a highly walkable, largely pedestrianised medieval city famous for its stunning Gothic cathedral, cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses.
It feels like stepping into a movie set and is incredibly easy to navigate with young children. Kids love climbing the tower of the Gros Horloge (a giant, ornate 14th-century astronomical clock) to see the inner workings and get a panoramic view of the city.
7 | Fontainebleau
Journey Time & Route: About 40 minutes from Gare de Lyon via the Transilien Line R to Fontainebleau-Avon, followed by a 15-minute local bus ride to the castle.
This massive, architecturally diverse royal château served as a residence for French monarchs from Louis VII to Napoleon III, bordered by one of the largest and most famous forests in France.
The château offers ample space without the intense bottlenecking of Versailles. Outside, the magnificent forest—the Forêt de Fontainebleau—is a massive draw for active families. The forest floor is scattered with giant, smooth sandstone boulders that function like a huge natural playground, making it incredibly fun for kids of all ages to clamber and climb.
