Popular among visitors to the “City of Lights,” Fontainebleau day trips from Paris showcase the grandeur of the destination’s historic palace.
As well as its Renaissance architecture, this town is home to a selection of outdoor activities and culinary gems, which offer a fresh perspective of France when compared to the glamor of Paris, and are bound to entice every traveler.
Among the best day trips from Paris, tours to Fontainebleau are full of excitement, from hiking to castle-hopping, tasting sessions and horse riding through ancient forests.
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Is Fontainebleau worth the trip from Paris?
Fontainebleau is a highlight of any vacation and those staying just a stone’s throw away in Central Paris should definitely carve time out of their itinerary to visit the destination, which still possesses a village-like quality, despite its 19th-century growth into an energetic town.
The most famous attraction in Fontainebleau is its château, which is widely regarded as one of the top 50 must-visit sites in France and is popular among history buffs, art lovers, and architecture aficionados alike. Alongside this ancient jewel, Fontainebleau also features a wide range of other monuments and landmarks, bound to keep you entertained for a day.
Although the town is just 70 kilometers south of Paris, it differs completely from the bustling streets of the capital with vast open spaces, historic attractions and activities that you simply can’t find in a major city.
How to get to Fontainebleau from Paris?
Travelers can reach Fontainebleau via several methods of transportation, depending on their own preferences and budget.
By car
The journey to Fontainebleau by car takes just over an hour, following the A6 in a southbound direction all the way. After exiting at the Fontainebleau turn-off, you can simply follow signs toward the town, making this an easy route, even for nervous drivers.
If you’re heading to Fontainebleau for its château, as many tourists do, you’ll also find signposts directing you to the site.
By bus
There is no direct public bus that connects the two destinations. Those without access to a car can instead book a train to transport them to their destination.
By train
Another option is to catch one of several trains, which connect Paris and Fontainebleau-Avon in approximately 40 minutes. Services operate regularly from Gare de Lyon.
From Fontainebleau-Avon station, you can board the Line 1 shuttle bus heading toward Les Lilas and depart at many stops around the town, including the château.
The shuttle bus takes around 15 minutes to reach Fontainebleau Palace, making the total journey time around an hour.
Organized Guided Tour
Or, let someone else take care of the transportation details for you by selecting a Fontainebleau day trip from Paris. There are a multitude of tours to choose from, with half-day and full-day adventures available, ranging from 4 to 10 hours.
For this type of experience, you’ll typically travel to a meeting point in the city center independently at a predetermined time, where your guide will be waiting for you. They will be wearing or holding something that makes themselves easily identifiable, such as a t-shirt with the company’s name on it. You can find out the exact starting location of each tour by consulting its booking page.
Some private excursions offer a complimentary pickup service, making for a seamless experience. To benefit from this, you’ll simply select your hotel from a dropdown menu upon booking and, on the day of your tour, await collection from a friendly guide in the lobby at a predetermined time.
How much does a Fontainebleau day trip cost?
Price for a day trip by car
Typically, car hire in Paris costs upwards of €110 per day for a small vehicle suitable for four passengers. Those searching for five-seater cars will pay approximately €120 for a vehicle while roomier options, such as SUVs and MPVs, begin at €130 per day.
On top of this rental fee, you’ll also pay for any fuel you use traveling to your destination. While petrol and diesel prices do fluctuate periodically, you can expect to pay roughly €2 per liter.
Consider additional costs, such as entrance fees, lunch and vehicle deposit before confirming your Fontainebleau day trip from Paris by car.
Price for a day trip by train
Arranging your day trip to Fontainebleau by train is the most budget-friendly option, with tickets costing less than €10 per head.
Visitors traveling to the Fontainebleau Palace can expect to pay an additional €2 per person for a shuttle bus from Fontainebleau-Avon Station to the château. Those who prefer comfort and convenience over saving money can instead take a taxi from the railway station to their destination.
Fontainebleau is a walkable town, meaning that you can save an extra pocketful of change by wandering into its center upon arrival. All major sites are accessible on foot, including Fontainebleau Palace.
Price for a Fontainebleau tour from Paris
Fontainebleau day trips from Paris that take place in groups generally cost between €120 and €190 per adult. In some cases, children benefit from a reduced rate, however, they are often charged the full adult fare.
Many tourists opt for a private excursion, which is usually charged by group size. This means that solo travelers can expect rates of over €1,000 in many instances. However, the price per head reduces with each person added to the party down to as little as €190 each.
Those seeking a luxury experience can participate in a Fontainebleau day trip that includes many activities, such as horse riding and food tasting. This is also led privately and costs between €880, and €1,290 per person, depending on your group size. Child rates also vary depending on age.
Organized tours typically include entrance fees, as well as a guide and in some cases, meals, meaning that the price is all-inclusive. The main benefit of this is that you can focus on enjoying the experience without the added stresses that come from planning an adventure of this nature independently.
How much does Fontainebleau Palace tickets cost?
All visitors are subject to an entrance fee to Fontainebleau Palace, which you can see listed below. Tickets include access to the Grands Appartements and the Napoleon I Museum, and can be purchased at the site on the day of your visit.
Alternatively, for a fuss-free experience, you can book your passes online in advance instead, ensuring you’ll gain access on the day of your choosing and secure the best price.
- Adults: €14
- Children under 18: Free
- EU citizens (aged 18-25:) Free
Those who wish to save money on the general admission fee can travel to the site in the late afternoon where they can embark on a short self-guided tour in the hour before the palace closes for a discounted rate of €12 each.
Persons with disabilities and an accompanying carer can enter the site for free, as well as war veterans, university students, and French citizens receiving benefits.
Admission to the Fontainebleau Palace is waived on the first Sunday of every month, excluding July and August, which is the site’s busiest period for tourism. However, because of this free access, you should expect the site to be especially busy on this day.
How to find the best Fontainebleau tours from Paris?
There are many operators offering Fontainebleau day trips from Paris across several third-party websites. Instead of browsing each one individually, you can use Tourscanner’s convenient search engine, which lists all these tours in one place.
As well as comparing prices, discounts and inclusions, you can also gain valuable insight into each excursion by reading reviews from real travelers, ensuring you select the one that piques your interest.
Best time to visit Fontainebleau – How to avoid the crowd
As one of the most popular attractions in France, Fontainebleau can become overcrowded with tourist groups during the peak summer months of July and August, as well as throughout European school vacation periods.
In order to benefit from both a peaceful experience and pleasant weather, arrange your Fontainebleau day trip from Paris during the months of May, June or September.
From April to September, Fontainebleau Palace is open between 9:30 AM and 6 PM, with the last admission of the day 45 minutes before closing. Throughout the rest of the year, the site closes an hour earlier, at 5 PM.
Whatever time of year you visit, aim to arrive at the attraction as it opens at 9:30 AM when you’ll experience minimal crowds.
What are the main attractions to visit in Fontainebleau?
Fontainebleau Palace
The Fontainebleau Palace, also called the Château de Fontainebleau, is one of the largest castles in France and its roots date back to the 12th century.
This Medieval construct served as a home to several monarchs throughout the following centuries, including Napoleon III and Francis I, and is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The palace is open every day except on Tuesdays and visitors can explore some of its 1,500 rooms either with or without a guide. Among these historic areas are the monarchs’ grand apartments, which offer a peek into the lifestyle of France’s most influential figures.
Must-see corners of the château include the Empress’ Chamber, which has housed the queens of France over the centuries, including Queen Marie de Medici. Fanciful and romantic, this bedroom features gilded wooden ceilings, and its furniture was used by Empress Joséphine Bonaparte — the first wife of Napoleon I.
Another unmissable part of Fontainebleau Palace is the Saint Saturnin Chapel, which was the original place of worship built on the site in the second half of the 12th century. It was dedicated to Saint Saturnin, the patron of bullfighters, by the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain of the time, Thomas Becket.
Travelers should also pay a visit to the Throne Room, as well as the palace’s gardens and Queen’s Gallery, the latter of which depicts the story of the Roman goddess, Diana, through its decor.
Forest of Fontainebleau
Officially named the Bière Forest, this deciduous woodland is most commonly referred to as the Forest of Fontainebleau and covers 250 square kilometers.
This area has a broad history, used as both a hunting ground for the monarchy and a calm escape for landscape artists wishing to discover the subject of their next painting.
Traveling further back in time, the forest region has been inhabited for over 40,000 years. Many traces of human life have been discovered here, including stone tools, as well as the bones of animals that are not found naturally in France today, such as rhinos and elephants.
Fontainebleau Forest is also scattered with over 2,000 caves, many of which feature rock carvings from the Mesolithic era, which stretched from 9,000 B.C. to 5,500 B.C.
Today, the area is protected and is beloved by nature enthusiasts who enjoy wandering its many trails. Alternatively, equestrian experts can mount a horse and discover the Forest of Fontainebleau from a unique perspective.
Fontainebleau Market
The lively Fontainebleau Market operates three mornings per week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Held at the Place de la République, this regular event covers more than 4,500 square meters and houses over 100 stalls.
Frequented by both tourists and residents alike, this outdoor marketplace offers all manner of goodies, from local cheeses to sun-kissed fruits, fresh meats, and homemade preserves. As well as produce, visitors can purchase a bottle or two of the town’s very own beer — Font & Bleau — to crack open after a day spent climbing or hiking.
Those searching for souvenirs to take home to their loved ones can discover a range of artisanal beauty products, clothes and liqueurs instead.
Visiting this market is an ideal way to mix with the locals or discover their lifestyle from afar.
Visit Barbizon
Escape the grandeur of Fontainebleau’s opulent palace by heading just 10 kilometers west of the attraction to the quaint village of Barbizon, located on the edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau.
From Théodore Rousseau to Jean-Baptiste Corot and Charles-François Daubigny, a procession of famed 19th-century painters lived in this township, which provided great inspiration with its panoramic scenery. The artistic movement that was established here was generally known as the “School of Barbizon” and masterpieces created in this style are identified by their realism, softness, tonal qualities, and loose brushstrokes.
While the best thing to do on a visit to Barbizon is simply to stroll its maze of historic streets, travelers can also dive further into its creative scene by heading to the Musée Départemental des Peintres de Barbizon. Here, you’ll find approximately 100 sketches from leading artists of the era, including Camille Corot and Jean-François Millet.
What makes this museum so unique is that these drawings have been added directly to the walls themselves by the expressive individuals who gained traction for their works later in life. Alongside artworks, the museum also features a recreation of a 19th-century grocery store and kitchen, which resembles the inn that once operated here.
Go rock climbing
Considered one of the best spots in Europe for bouldering, Fontainebleau is home to hundreds of circuits, ideal for those seeking a more active experience while on vacation. Made from sandstone, the majority of these boulders are located within the forest with others stretching as far as the neighboring towns of Milly la Forêt and Nemours.
Not just for rock climbing pros, the area has circuits suitable for every type of climber, from expert to total novice. Each loop is color-coded, making it easy to identify which one is right for your own skill level.
However, while beginners will find plenty to do here, it’s worth noting that they won’t be in for an easy ride. Rock climbing in Fontainebleau is notoriously slippy and you’ll need great hand-eye coordination, balance, and agility to make your way from one boulder to another.
Explore the forest
If the Forest of Fontainebleau has caught your attention, then you may wish to embark on an invigorating hike through its dense thickets to discover the flora and fauna within. Formed of two forests — Trois Pignons and Fontainebleau — the area is rife with activities to keep any energetic traveler occupied.
There are dozens of hiking trails to suit all abilities, ranging from leisurely 5-kilometer loops for ambling tourists to those that cut through more than 20 kilometers of woodland, which will challenge every visitor with steep slopes and sandstone rocks.
As well as hiking, visitors can partake in a spot of rock climbing, horse riding or cycling. Alternatively, discover the region like the painters of old and step into the forest with a paintbrush, and canvas to unlock your creative side.
If you’re seeking a more unique way to explore Fontainebleau Forest, you can hike alongside a donkey, be pulled through the woodland by sled dogs or participate in the relaxing and enlivening experience of forest bathing.
Best places to eat in Fontainebleau
After all of your adventuring, you’re bound to need a meal to refuel before heading back to Paris. Luckily, Fontainebleau is dotted with a number of superb restaurants where you can enjoy top-class French cuisine.
One of the most popular restaurants in Fontainebleau is L’Atelier du Goût, the interior of which combines cozy pub with industrial chic, through exposed brick walls, and metal beams. An upscale bistro, you’ll find comfortable indoor and outdoor seating areas here, allowing you to soak up the sun during the summer months or seek refuge from the icy blows of the winter season.
On the menu are French staples, such as foie gras and profiteroles, as well as mouthwatering burgers, fish, and steak. Alternatively, visitors can participate in a tasting workshop and sample a myriad of flavors through a four-course dining experience.
Another option for hungry travelers is La Petite Ardoise. Located near the palace, this humble restaurant serves exquisite home-cooked fare through its range of seasonal menus. Using only the best ingredients, this establishment focuses on simplicity, easing visitors to the French gastronomic scene.
Play it safe with the beef of the day or, if you wish to dive into the country’s culture through its food, try escargot instead. Desserts include decadent options, such as molten chocolate cake and chestnut cream, and cheeseboards are available for those with slightly more savory leanings. Set menus enable travelers to secure the best value while enjoying a range of treats.
Those seeking a fine dining experience can instead head to L’Axel Restaurant. With a Michelin star, this restaurant is among the best in the world and travelers rate it for its friendly atmosphere, and idyllic setting.
However, the real highlight of L’Axel Restaurant is its Asian-fusion menu, which is both creative and comforting. The chef, Kunihisa Goto, is constantly inspired by his home country of Japan with bold flavors, such as yuzu, lemongrass, and wasabi featured in his dishes.
Le Patton is another must-try restaurant while in Fontainebleau. Set in a 19th-century stately home near the center of the town, Le Patton has been modernized enough for its guests to enjoy a comfortable experience while still maintaining its 200-year-old charm.
A casual dining option for those seeking a leisurely lunch or relaxing dinner before heading back to the “City of Lights,” the restaurant serves elegant plates of foie gras, guinea fowl and langoustines in an unpretentious environment.
And last, but certainly not least, on this list of recommended restaurants in Fontainebleau is Le France. An authentic brasserie, Le France is the perfect spot to reminisce on your vacation over a crisp glass of white or a regional cocktail.
Alternatively, enjoy a meal from the restaurant’s extensive menu, which features burgers, steak tartare and parmesan-crusted salmon. Whether you’re looking for a light bite or a hearty meal, you’ll have options to suit your hunger levels, including salads, Asian-inspired dishes and starters to nibble on.
Consider visiting Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle
If you’re looking to extend your experience, you may consider visiting Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle, approximately 20 kilometers north of Fontainebleau in the town of Maincy. Easy to navigate to on the return journey to Paris, this 17th-century château is worthy of a visit while in this corner of France.
Built for the Marquis de Belle Île, Nicolas Fouquet, the Baroque palace offers a step back in time with its original decor and furnishings. The castle was designed by Louis Le Vau, who was considered the king’s principal architect during the middle of the 17th century, in the first of a series of stately homes and grand palaces, which sparked a design movement that spanned 150 years.
Visitors can discover Foquet’s own living quarters, as well as the Baroque decor that stretches across the ground floor, and the servants’ areas throughout the basement, showcasing the differences in lifestyle between the rich, and poor over one site.
There are plenty of Vaux-le-Vicomte tours from Paris that include this hidden gem, as well as Fontainebleau, from group excursions to private experiences, suitable for every type of traveler.
Travel Tips
- The weather in this area of France can be unpredictable depending on the time of year you visit, so ensure you’re prepared for every eventuality with raingear and a sunhat.
- If visiting the palace on your Fontainebleau day trip from Paris, you should bear in mind that flash photography is prohibited inside the venue.
- Fontainebleau is an outdoor lovers’ paradise, so wear appropriate clothing and footwear on your tour. Comfortable and loose clothing is a must while hiking boots or sneakers with grips are the preferred choice of footwear.