Excursions around Paris
Looking for ideas on what to do around Paris this weekend? Discover activities for families, couples or depending on the season, less than 100 km away.
Are you wondering what to do around Paris this weekend, with family, as a couple or depending on the weather? Good news: the areas surrounding the capital are full of ideas that are easy to reach by car or train, often within 100 km. Whether you’re looking for what to do around Paris with children, when it’s raining, when the weather is nice, in summer or in winter, there are activities to suit every preference. In this guide, we have selected practical ideas to help you decide what to do around Paris with family, as a couple, or simply to get away for a weekend.
📌 What to do around Paris: key takeaways
- Ideas for what to do around Paris this weekend
- Activities with family and children
- Outings as a couple or romantic getaways
- Excursions within 100 km around Paris
- Suggestions depending on the weather: rain, sunshine, heat
- Activities suitable both in summer and winter
Around the capital, many excursions make it easy to escape for a two-day break.
If you’re looking for what to do around Paris this weekend, there are plenty of ideas that can be reached quickly, without planning a long stay. Less than two hours’ drive away, it’s easy to find things to do within 100 km around Paris, combining heritage, nature and local discoveries. These destinations are ideal for getting away, even for an impromptu weekend.
For those who love historic sites and beautiful architecture, knowing what to do around Paris by car gives access to remarkable places located within 100 km around Paris.
Here are a few concrete ideas:
- 🏰 Château de Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne): less crowded than Versailles, it offers a majestic route and a vast park to extend your visit
- 🏛️ Vaux-le-Vicomte Estate: perfect for a full day combining château, gardens and seasonal events
- 🏘️ Provins, a UNESCO-listed medieval town: ramparts, towers, historical shows and charming streets
- 🏰 Château de Chantilly: museum, stables, park and forests ideal for a cultural and nature getaway
These destinations perfectly answer the question what to do within 100 km around Paris, while remaining easy to access for a short stay.
When the weather is pleasant, many people wonder what to do around Paris when the weather is nice or what to do around Paris when it’s hot. The surroundings of the capital then offer beautiful natural spaces.
Ideas that really stand out:
- 🌳 Fontainebleau Forest: hiking trails, climbing rocks and shaded areas ideal in summer
- 🚤 Oise riverbanks in Auvers-sur-Oise: a walk combining art and nature, following in Van Gogh’s footsteps
- 🚶 Chevreuse Valley: trails, villages and castles in a green setting
- 🚲 Canal de l’Ourcq: cycling or walking paths, perfect when it’s hot
These places are perfect if you’re looking for what to do around Paris when the weather is nice, while avoiding Parisian crowds.
The areas around Paris offer many activities suitable for both parents and children.
Finding what to do around Paris with family is easy when you know the right places. Whether you’re looking for what to do around Paris with children for a day or a weekend, some destinations are especially popular for their fun and practical appeal.
To clearly answer the question what to do around Paris with children, focus on places designed for them, where boredom has no place.
Ideas that are guaranteed to please:
- 🎢 Disneyland Paris: a must for a magical family weekend
- 🐘 Thoiry ZooSafari: drive-through safari plus walk-through zoo, very popular with children
- 🦒 Paris Zoological Park (Vincennes) for a shorter outing
- 🎠 Jardin d’Acclimatation: rides, attractions and green spaces adapted for younger children
These outings are ideal for those looking for what to do around Paris with family, without too much travel.
It’s also possible to find what to do around Paris with family by combining fun and learning, especially within 100 km around Paris.
Highly appreciated suggestions:
- 🏛️ International City of the French Language (Villers-Cotterêts)
- 🏰 Château de Pierrefonds, spectacular and easy to visit with children
- 🚂 Mulhouse Railway Museum (ideal for a longer weekend)
- 🌿 Royal estates and historic parks with educational trails
These ideas make it easy to vary family experiences while remaining accessible.
For a romantic weekend, the surroundings of Paris offer many experiences for two.
If you’re wondering what to do around Paris as a couple or what to do around Paris for a romantic getaway, some destinations are perfectly suited for a romantic escape.
To step off the beaten path and truly make an impression, here are some concrete ideas for what to do around Paris for a romantic getaway.
Absolutely worth trying:
- 💕 Dinner cruise on the Seine in Paris or nearby suburbs
- 🌅 Giverny, Claude Monet’s house and gardens, in spring and summer
- 🍷 Reims and the Champagne Route for a gourmet escape
- 🕯️ Unusual accommodations (bubbles, cabins, lodges) less than 2 hours from Paris
These experiences are perfect if you’re looking for what to do around Paris as a couple for a memorable moment.
For a calmer weekend, many prefer what to do around Paris as a couple by combining relaxation and discovery, often by car.
Ideal ideas:
- 🏘️ Gerberoy, one of the most beautiful villages in France
- 🌿 Rambouillet Estate, combining nature and heritage
- 🏛️ Chantilly, for an elegant day between château and forest
- ☕ Barbizon, an artists’ village in the heart of Fontainebleau Forest
These getaways perfectly match the desire for what to do around Paris by car, while offering a romantic and relaxing setting.
Even in the rain, there are plenty of outing ideas around Paris.
Wondering what to do around Paris when it rains doesn’t mean giving up on going out. On the contrary, the areas around the capital offer many indoor, interesting and refreshing places, perfect for a rainy day. These ideas also work very well if you’re looking for what to do around Paris in winter, when the weather is more unpredictable.
When it rains, it’s best to choose places where you can spend several hours without depending on the weather. These outings are ideal for answering the question what to do around Paris when it rains, while remaining enriching and enjoyable.
Concrete ideas to try:
- 🏛️ Château de Fontainebleau: majestic interiors, vast galleries and royal apartments allowing for a long sheltered visit
- 🖼️ Royal Estate of Marly Museum: perfect for a calm, uncrowded cultural outing
- 🎭 La Piscine – Museum of Art and Industry in Roubaix: a spectacular museum housed in a former Art Deco swimming pool
- 🛍️ Grand Marché Stalingrad: friendly atmosphere, gourmet stalls and local products, ideal when it rains
- 🎧 Immersive experiences and temporary exhibitions in nearby suburbs or outer areas
These places are particularly suitable for those looking for what to do around Paris in winter, when rain and cold make outdoor activities less enjoyable.
On sunny days, the surroundings of Paris are perfect for outdoor activities.
As soon as the sun comes out, many people wonder what to do around Paris when the weather is nice or what to do around Paris when it’s hot. The surroundings then offer a real breath of fresh air, with nature, water and charming villages, without going far.
When the weather is favorable, outdoor outings become essential. These ideas are perfect for those looking for what to do around Paris when the weather is nice or what to do around Paris in summer.
Specific ideas with a strong “wow” effect:
- 🌳 Fontainebleau Forest: shaded paths, rocks, clearings and picnic spots
- 🚶 Chevreuse Valley: easy hikes between castles, rivers and villages
- 🚲 Canal de l’Ourcq: cycling or walking, ideal when it’s hot
- 🚤 Cruise or boat rental in Meaux or Nogent-sur-Marne
- 🏡 Auvers-sur-Oise: artists’ village, riverside walks and sunny terraces
These outings make it possible to fully enjoy sunny days while clearly answering what to do around Paris when it’s hot, without dealing with Parisian crowds.
Summer is the ideal season to explore the surroundings of Paris and enjoy long days.
If you’re looking for what to do around Paris in summer, it’s the perfect time to multiply getaways. Higher temperatures encourage choosing airy places, outdoor activities and late-afternoon outings. These ideas are also ideal for those wondering what to do around Paris when it’s hot.
In summer, focus on:
Concrete ideas to try:
These destinations perfectly answer the search what to do around Paris in summer, while making the most of the season.
In winter, focus on cultural, indoor or cozy getaways.
When temperatures drop, many look for what to do around Paris in winter. The areas around the capital remain very interesting during this period, especially for cultural or gourmet outings. These ideas also answer the question what to do around Paris when it rains, which is common in winter.
Ideal ideas for the cold season:
Concrete suggestions:
These outings make it possible to continue exploring the region without depending on the weather, while clearly answering what to do around Paris in winter.
Find out if your question has been answered in the list below
When the weather is nice, choose Fontainebleau Forest, the Chevreuse Valley or a walk in Auvers-sur-Oise. On the other hand, if you’re looking for what to do around Paris when it rains, opt for indoor places such as the Château de Fontainebleau, the Royal Estate of Marly Museum or the Grand Marché Stalingrad, all perfect in bad weather.
For what to do around Paris in summer, focus on the banks of the Marne, the Chantilly Estate or Jablines Leisure Island when it’s hot. In winter, if you’re wondering what to do around Paris in winter, prioritize castles, museums and covered markets, ideal when it’s rainy or cold.
For a romantic stay, what to do around Paris as a couple includes Giverny, Gerberoy or a getaway to Chantilly. On the other hand, if you’re looking for what to do around Paris with family or with children, choose Disneyland Paris, Thoiry ZooSafari or the Jardin d’Acclimatation, designed for all ages.