Looking for a quick adventure out of France?
I spent most of June 2023 taking quick one-day trips to some of France's neighboring countries. Preparing to leave Paris and move back to the US, I was struck by how many European countries I had yet to visit! Thanks, COVID. So initially, I was looking at train and bus options to travel to the more obvious locations like Switzerland and Belgium.
Then, on a whim, I checked flight prices. That had me off and running, booking a round trip €47 flight to Dublin - all in one day. Of course, if you're looking for a day trip, you'll have limited time in each of these destinations. But for someone looking to add several new countries to your roster, these can be great, inexpensive sampler trips to see more of Europe! All of my flights and train tickets for these destinations were well under €100. Read on for some travel inspiration, and don't forget your passport!
1. Dublin, Ireland
Neon signs on the street named after the famous Temple Bar.
The Little Museum of Dublin.
Getting to Dublin and back to Paris all in one day takes some doing, and it's not for those unwilling to get up in the wee hours of the morning. That's probably true across the board for this list. Still, it was easily one of my favorite day trips from Paris.
You'll have to take a Ryanair flight from Beauvais (BVA) to Dublin (DUB). Beauvais is a small town north of Paris with an equally small airport. All Ryanair's flights to Dublin leave from there. I'd recommend taking the shuttle that leaves from Paris Porte Maillot and drops you off right at the Beauvais airport. You can book a round-trip ticket online for about €30. I took the 5:45am shuttle for a 7:10am flight.
The Temple Bar Pub, one of Dublin's most famous attractions.
Beautiful facade in downtown Dublin.
Once you land in Dublin, take the Dublin Express bus (you can pre-book your ticket for this as well) into the city. And voila! Welcome to Ireland. I was in the city by about 10am, and left at 4:30pm from one of the Dublin Express bus stops downtown to work my way back to the airport. This might not sound like a lot of time, but I was able to visit two museums, walk downtown (including the famous Grafton Street), have lunch, and explore a few churches and bookshops. More on what to see and do in Dublin coming soon!
2. Switzerland
The flag of Geneva.
Private boats tied up along Geneva's harbor.
Geneva is an easy 3-hour and 15-minute train ride from Paris. Hop on the TGV Lyria from Paris' Gare de Lyon and enjoy your cheap and direct train to Switzerland. The winter holidays are perhaps one of the best times to visit Geneva. Be sure to visit the Christmas market in the English Garden!
If you'd like, you can continue your journey from Geneva on to Lausanne, but cities like Bern or Zurich are likely too far to enjoy your time on a day trip.
Note: Trainline is where I buy all my train tickets - not sponsored, I just really like them. Their cancellation policies seem better than Omio's, and I've gotten full refunds on several occasions due to my last-minute change of plans.
3. Porto, Portugal
These blue tiles can be seen all over in Portugal.
Porto, seen from Vila Nova de Gaia.
Portugal is easily the warmest country on this list. With a little searching, I was able to find a cheap, same-day round-trip flight with TAP AirPortugal to Porto. I took the 5am OrlyBus from Paris' Denfert Rochereau station over to Orly Airport for a 7am flight. Once you arrive in Porto, take metro line E into the city.
I was surprised by how much I was able to see in a day! I visited countless churches, walked the iconic Luís I Bridge, did plenty of souvenir shopping, and walked most of the downtown in both Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia (the town opposite Porto - it has the best views of the city!). If you're looking for lunch recommendations, I strongly suggest trying Barris Do Douro Restaurante. I had an incredible view of Porto from their upstairs dining area, and the food was delicious and affordable. With an 8pm flight home, I left feeling like I had seen and done all the city's highlights.
I've never been to Lisbon, so I can't speak to the city's offerings. But if you'd prefer, it's only a slightly longer flight than Porto and could certainly be done in a day as well.
4. London, England
Big Ben had a face lift recently and it absolutely sparkles now!
Paris to London is one of the most obvious day trip destinations, but it's difficult to imagine seeing all of London in one day. If you've never been to London, I'd recommend spending the extra money to really see the city over a few days. But for those looking to pop up to see the holiday lights or visit a museum or two, it's only a quick flight or train ride away.
Daunt Books in London.
The London Eye Ferris wheel.
Generally, it's much cheaper to fly to London from Paris, but it's also more of a hassle. If you'd rather have a more comfortable experience, take the two-and-a-half-hour EuroStar from Paris' Gare du Nord train station right into London's King's Cross station. For a day trip, this option is much faster. Check out my 36 Best Things to Do in London post for inspiration on how to fill your time.
Note to EU citizens: bring your passport!
5. Copenhagen, Denmark
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.
I lucked out on my trip to Copenhagen. What was meant to be a same-day trip turned into two after my flight home with EasyJet was canceled due to staffing shortages at the Copenhagen airport. I was thrilled. The airline put me up in a nice hotel, fed me well, and I was able to see double the attractions!
But assuming you have one day, you can fly out of Charles de Gaulle Airport and land in Denmark by 8am. I needed to be heading back to the airport around 6:30pm, so despite the distance, this was one of the destinations I had the most time in.
I visited Nyhavn, Rosenborg Castle, the Museum of Copenhagen, saw the Little Mermaid, and took a boat tour. Be sure to check out my two-day Copenhagen itinerary for tips on getting from the airport to the city center and a full list of things to do!
Note: keep in mind that Denmark does not use the Euro. I used a credit card everywhere to avoid the hassle of a currency exchange.
Read this next
A Local's 5 Days in Paris Itinerary
6. Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt, as seen from the top of the old cathedral.
To mitigate cost, I took the train into Frankfurt and splurged on a flight home the same day. One day is plenty of time to see the city's highlights, especially since, as you might imagine, post-World War II Frankfurt doesn't resemble much of its former self. A few buildings remain from the city's earlier style, most notably the Frankfurt Cathedral.
But beyond that, much of the city feels highly contemporary which wasn't my interest. I spent my time in the Städel art museum, climbing Frankfurt Cathedral's spire (NOT for the claustrophobic), and wandering the downtown. I'm happy to have added Germany to my roster, but Berlin (while too far for a day trip) is likely the better introduction to the country overall.
7. Belgium
Grand Place square in Brussels, Belgium.
Belgium is another easy day trip from Paris. It's so close that you can take either the bus or the train to get there. Flixbus can get you up there cheaply and they always leave from Paris' Bercy Seine bus station. This bus station is mildly sketchy and entertaining to get to, but you can't beat the price. Alternatively, the Eurostar train will get you there a touch faster and in style. Trains leave from Paris' Gare du Nord train station.
Canal tour in Bruges, Belgium.
I did two one-day trips to Belgium, first to Bruges and later to Brussels. Brussels has the wow factor, with ornate gold buildings, shopping, fountains, parks, and so on. Bruges, while small, has a far better chocolate selection and an adorable boat tour that gives you a new perspective on the town. I also did a chocolate-making class in Bruges, more on that in another post!
8. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The best time to go is in the fall to see the colorful leaves!
If you've never been to the Netherlands, then Amsterdam is the city to start with. It may be known for its relaxed approach to recreational drugs (yes, you'll smell weed everywhere), but I promise it's also a city stuffed with cultural attractions. To get there, I recommend the direct, high speed Eurostar trains for about €80 roundtrip.
The Eurostar offers the same timetable for these trains each day, and they always depart from Paris' Gare du Nord station. Get up early and hop on the 6:21am train that will have you arriving in Amsterdam Central Station before 10am. For your return, take the latest train back which departs Amsterdam at 7:08pm. You'll be back in Paris around 10:40pm.
There's a ton you can see in Amsterdam in ten hours. Walk the canals, eat pancakes at The Pancake Bakery, and spend hours exploring the Rijksmuseum and the equally extraordinary Van Gogh Museum. If you're into history, take a tour of the Anne Frank House. Finally, in the evening, head over to the Red Light District to get a glimpse at the eccentric nightlife in this small but wonderful city.
9. Luxembourg
Visiting Luxembourg, the capital city of the country with the same name, is one of the easiest international day trips on this list. You can take the train from Paris Gare de l'Est station that leaves around 7:30am and arrive in Luxembourg City by 9:45am. While you could chose to fly instead, taking the train is a much nicer experience, about four times cheaper, and certainly faster when considering airport security.
When you arrive, you'll have a full day to explore medieval ruins, castles, and the sweeping views over the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers. Funny enough, despite all my time living in France, I never made it to Luxembourg. It's high on my list, so please let me know if you have suggestions for things to see and do!
Since the train back to Paris is a small two-and-a-half hours, this is one of the destinations you could spend the most time at. But do keep in mind that Luxembourg is extremely expensive, so a day trip may be the best way to sample the country for the first time!
But wait, there's more! Spain and Italy
My first trip to Venice, Italy was during carnival!
Walking through Milan, Italy. Have I mentioned I love Italy?
While destinations like Spain or Italy are certainly possible to visit by taking a flight in one day, I opted to spend a little more time in these places. However, if you do decide to fly to one of these countries for a day trip...
Spain
Flights to Madrid and Barcelona are usually less than €100 round-trip if you book well in advance.
Italy
Venice, Milan, and Pisa usually have same-day flights to and from Paris for under €100 as well. Pisa is particularly inexpensive.
I am still wrapping my head around how I was able to visit five new countries (Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium were new for me!) in as many days. These condensed trips offered me the chance to get a feel for new countries, and now I can decide which of them I want to visit more in-depth.
Ultimately, with a little digging on Google Flights, Flixbus, and Trainline, you can find round-trip same-day tickets to most of France's neighbors. Some are certainly more expensive than others, but hopefully this list gets you thinking about what's possible in a day!
Is there a country that I missed? Let me know in the comments!
PIN THIS GUIDE!
