Day Trips & Excursions in France

Enjoy a seamless way to discover Versailles - one of Europe's largest and most lavish palaces - on this full-day tour from Paris. Meet your Spanish-speaking guide at the Les Invalides M etro station in the morning, and set off via train to Versailles. Upon arrival, you'll tour its exterior, visit its sprawling gardens, and will learn more about the palace's history from your guide. Then, go for an immersive tour of Versailles' interior, including the Hall of Mirrors, accompanied by an audio guide.

A DIY tour of Normandy's American Sector World War II D-Day sites may mean you miss out on the stories behind the beaches and battles. Tour with a guide to get a full rundown at each site and hear facts you'd otherwise miss on this day trip from Bayeux. Travel between locations by air-conditioned minivan and visit Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and more, all more easily than exploring independently.

Nice is not only the gateway to the French Riviera, it's also a popular starting point for exploring the countryside of Provence. On this private full-day tour, visit the Provencal town of Vence; admire the Matisse Church, the artist's self-proclaimed masterpiece; and browse the art galleries and crafts workshops of St Paul de Vence.

Take a day trip to Giverny to see the garden depicted in so many of Claude Monet's masterpieces. Tour the artist's former home, now a museum, and explore his beautiful gardens at your leisure - the water lily garden is particularly famous. Visit the nearby Mus ee des Impressionnismes to see more great works from the Impressionists. This half-day, small-group tour from Paris is unguided, which means you get to see Giverny's attractions at your own pace. Pickup and drop-off from your central Paris hotel is included.

Luxuriate in the atmosphere of the French Riviera with a small-group day trip from Cannes. See the most famous coastal towns, from Antibes to Monaco, while the transportation is taken care of so you can relax and enjoy the ride. Shop in fancy boutiques, admire historic town centers and watch for celebrities. A small group size of no more than eight people ensures a personalized experience.

Immerse yourself in local life as you roam the lush landscapes, rolling hills and picturesque villages of the Luberon National Park on this full-day small-group tour from Avignon. Mingle with the locals and sample regional specialties like wine and honey as you browse the village markets in Gordes or Roussillon. Then, keep your camera to hand as you journey through the lavender fields to the Senanque Abbey and follow the ochre path of Roussillon, before winding your way back to Avignon.

Leave Arras to trace the fates of Canadian soldiers on World War I's Somme battlefields on this private day trip. With an expert guide providing in-depth commentary, visit Vimy to experience the tunnels and trenches of the famous Canadian offensive in April 1917. Walk around the Canadian Cemetery No 2 and Courcelette Memorial, and pay tribute to the lost at the Thiepval Memorial and Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park, where a 1916 attack by the Newfoundland Regiment saw terrible losses. Air-conditioned transport, entrance fees and a light lunch are included.

Follow in the footsteps of France's most iconic Impressionist painters on a full-day, private tour from Paris to Honfleur and Giverny with an experienced guide. Explore Honfleur's historic waterfront and colorful homes, and discover ancient cobblestone paths that lead to the Norman coast. See a riot of color and blooming flowers at Giverny, where you'll learn about Monet's life in his beloved home and garden, then return to Paris through the stunning Seine river valley.

Travel back in time on the beaches of Normandy. This moving half-day tour takes you to major D-Day landing sites. Over the course of 5 hours, learn about the battles that took place here, visit the American Cemetery, and stop at a museum to deepen your knowledge of wartime events. Small group size guarantees an intimate experience with ample opportunity to ask questions.  

Provence is the heart of storybook France, made famous in Peter Mayle's bestselling novel 'A Year in Provence'. For those short on time, this full-day discovery tour from Aix-en-Provence takes in the highlights, including picturesque hilltop villages such as Baux-de-Provence and Gordes, the Ochre village of Roussillon, the lavender fields of Luberon, and Van Gogh's former home of Saint-Remy de Provence.

See all the highlights of the French Riviera, from Cannes to Monaco, with this small-group day trip from Nice. Soak in the scenic beauty of the road that snakes between cliffs and towns and the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy pretty coastal towns like Eze, Cannes and Juan-les-Pins as well as the glamorous city-state of Monaco. A small tour group size of no more than eight people ensures plenty of personalized attention from your guide.

Paris is just two hours by train from London, but visiting on a group tour can mean limited time to explore. This full-day self-guided tour offers the best of both worlds, with round-trip transport by Eurostar, a Paris map and welcome pack, and a Seine River sightseeing cruise, plus plenty of free time to take in the sights that interest you most.

There's more to France than legends dare to unveil. Get used to this royal feeling as you'll visit Château de Fontainebleau is one of the most visited areas and one of the largest French royal châteaux. It has everything that a tourist needs; a touch of history, a touch of art and a lot of other things that are ready to be discovered. The Palace dates from the medieval age and served as a royal residence for the French kings. Now it is a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village of Barbizon owes its fame to the 19th-century landscape painters Th eodore Rousseau, Jean-Baptiste Corot, Charles-Francois Daubigny and Jean-François Millet who lived there. Their artistic movement, the Barbizon School (1830 to 1875), was considered a precursor of Impressionism.

Exploring the idyllic villages of the French Riviera is a popular day trip from Nice, and this small-group tour offers a more intimate experience. Visit the Fragonard perfumery in Grasse, take in the views from hilltop Gourdon, browse the art galleries of St-Paul-de-Vence, and follow in the footsteps of Hollywood's greatest in glamorous Cannes.

Make the most of your time on the Côte d'Azur on this full-day, small-group tour. Meet your guide directly at your Nice accommodation; you'll travel by air-conditioned vehicle to the medieval village of Èze. Take in the panoramic, hilltop views before venturing to the Fragonard Perfumery (own expense), where you'll discover how fragrances are made. Then, cross the border into glitzy Monaco. Explore the Rock of Monaco old town, make a lap of the Formula 1 circuit, see the Prince's Palace, and much more.

Discover the gorgeous landscapes, culinary finesse, and artistic heritage of the French Riviera countryside on this small-group tour from Nice. Travel inland with a professional driver and guide, visiting the picturesque villages of Gourdon, Tourettes sur Loup, and Mougins. Stroll through charming medieval streets, taste French olive oil and tapenade at an olive mill, and admire colorful works of art at the International Gallery of Glass. It's a great way to experience regional culture beyond the coast.

Gain insight into World War I history and visit famous battle sites around the Somme on this full-day Canadian WWI battlefield tour from Ypres. Delve into tunnels used by British and Canadian soldiers before the Battle of Vimy with your guide. Gaze over the battle-torn landscape, where mine and shell craters dot the terrain. Visit the Neuville Saint Vaast Canadian N°2 Cemetery and the Courcelette Canadian Memorial, and honor the fallen soldiers. Afterward, visit Thiepval Memorial to the Missing then finish at the Beaumont Hamel New Foundland Memorial Park.

Experience the French Riviera like a VIP on a private day tour with your own chauffeur who worries about navigating hairpin turns while you simply admire the coastal scenery. Traveling by private vehicle (with Wi-Fi), visit locations like Antibes old town, Cap d’Antibes, Biot old town and glass factory, Grasse and the perfume factory Fragonard, the Matisse Chapel in Vence, and St Paul de Vence. Choose where you’d like to end the day—Cannes, Nice, St Tropez or Monaco.

Enjoy the ultimate hassle-free day exploring Versailles Castle. No need to arrange transport as a hotel pickup and drop-off is included. You'll travel in a comfortable vehicle, and you won't have to worry about waiting in long lines as skip-the-line entrance tickets are included. A private tour of Versailles Castle will ensure you get taken to the castle highlights such as the garden,  and Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon.

Explore the serene landscapes, historic villages and UNESCO World Heritage sites of Provence on this full-day tour from Aix-en-Provence. Enjoy a guided walking tour of historic Avignon, the medieval city of the Popes, then tour the Provencal villages of the Luberon National Park. Stop at the Cistercian Abbey of S enanque, visit landscapes immortalized in Peter Mayle's 'A Year in Provence' and stroll around the hilltop villages of Gordes, Lourmarin and Bonnieux.