Alternative destinations near Paris.
Places near Paris that score high on beauty and low on crowding, according to our data.
Gerberoy
This compact commune in the Oise department of northern France holds membership in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, the association recognising the country…
Gisors
Gisors, a compact Norman town in the Eure department within easy reach of Paris, is dominated by a medieval castle that has stood on its mound since the Midd…
Senlis
This compact historic town in the Oise department north of Paris, Senlis preserves a medieval old quarter of ancient lanes and houses enclosed within Gallo-R…
Montargis
Laced with canals and bridges along the Loing and several other waterways, Montargis is a walkable town in the Loiret that markets itself as the "Venice of t…
Maintenon
The Château de Maintenon, built across several centuries from the 12th to the 18th and enlarged by Madame de Maintenon with gardens laid out by Le Nôtre, anc…
Soissons
One of France's most ancient towns, Soissons sits on the river Aisne in the Hauts-de-France region, with a walkable centre full of cafés and a strong archite…
Gaillon
A compact Norman town of half-timbered houses and slate rooftops rising above a river valley, Gaillon pairs a walkable central core of cafés with vineyard su…
Dreux
A town in Eure-et-Loir drained by the Avre and Blaise rivers, Dreux has a compact centre with cafés, restaurants, and several historic churches, including th…
Château-Thierry
Birthplace of the fabulist Jean de La Fontaine and site of both the First and Second Battles of the Marne, Château-Thierry is a town in the Aisne department…
Louviers
This walkable Norman town on the water, Louviers sits in the Eure department of Normandy with a centre well supplied with cafés and restaurants.
Crépy-en-Valois
A walkable town in the Oise department of northern France, Crépy-en-Valois sits at the heart of the Automne valley and served as the historic capital of the…
Chennevieres-les-Louvres
This tiny French hamlet in the Île-de-France countryside, where a stone-built village church with a slate spire rises above tree-lined streets, sitting just…