Chantilly Day Trip from Paris – The Chateau, Horses, and Everything in Between
I visited Chantilly as a day trip from Paris and it far exceeded my expectations. As someone who lives in Paris, it’s easy to get caught up in the city and forget that some of the most beautiful places in France are just a short train ride away. Chantilly is one of them. From the moment you arrive you’re treated to incredible views of the château, the vast grounds stretching out in every direction, and you might even see horses (Chantilly has the largest horse stables in Europe)! Visiting Chantilly truly feels like a vacation… the gardens are beautiful, the crowds are manageable, and the whole day has a relaxed, unhurried quality that is hard to find this close to Paris. If you are planning a trip to Paris and looking for the perfect day trip, put Chantilly at the top of your list.
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Why Chantilly?
If you are looking for a reason to escape the busy streets of Paris for a day and actually feel like you are on vacation, Chantilly is it. Just 25 miles north of Paris, it’s one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from the capital – and yet somehow it still feels undiscovered compared to the crowds you will find at Versailles. The Domaine de Chantilly covers a château, vast grounds, a hamlet, formal gardens, and Europe’s largest horse stables (much more than I expected when I arrived!).
Chantilly vs Versailles
A note on the Versailles comparison – if you are looking for a deep dive into French royal history, Versailles is your answer. But if you want art, horses, fewer crowds, and an afternoon that feels relaxed, Chantilly wins every time.
The Chateau de Chantilly
The star of Chantilly is of course, the château. Set in the middle of its own moat with the reflection of the building in the water, it has that fairytale quality that takes your breath away. Allow about an hour inside and go straight for the art. The Musée Condé houses one of the largest art collections in France outside the Louvre – works by Raphael, Botticelli, and Poussin among others – and for an art lover I’d highly recommend it. Make sure to book your tickets in advance – especially in summer – and I would recommend arriving when it opens to beat the tour groups. I arrived at 11:00am and noticed it started to get crowded around 12:00pm. Also note, when you book your tickets ahead of time you are given a time slot that must be observed.
The Grounds
Once you are done inside the château, get outside! The grounds are where Chantilly really comes alive. The Domaine covers a vast area of formal French gardens, an English garden, forests, waterways, and a hamlet that was actually the original inspiration for Marie Antoinette’s famous hamlet at Versailles. There is a lot to cover and you have a few options for how to do it – you can rent a bike, explore entirely on foot, or do what we did and rent a golf cart on arrival – which I highly recommend. We had ours for an hour (after we visited the château) and it was the perfect way to cover the grounds without rushing. (There are limited golf carts so if you show up when it’s already crowded, you might want to get one right away and tour the château afterwards).
Whether you explore on foot, bike, or golf cart, the hamlet in particular is worth seeking out. It was built in 1774, tucked into the landscape, completely charming, and far enough from the main château that many visitors never make it there. Make sure to also keep an eye out for the picnic tables scattered across the grounds and the outdoor restaurant near the hamlet – if the weather is good you might consider stopping for lunch.
The Grand Stables
Your ticket to the château also grants you access to the horse stables, so make sure to give yourself time to go in! You should know that the stables are not connected to the château or in the gardens, they are across the street in a separate building.
The Grande Écuries (great stables) were built in the early 18th century, commissioned by Prince of Condé, who believed he would be reincarnated as a horse and wanted to ensure his next life would be a comfortable one. These stables in Chantilly are Europe’s largest stables – built to house up to 240 horses – and the architecture is extraordinary. We spent about 30 minutes in the Musée du Cheval inside which walks you through the history of the horse in art, culture, and equestrian sport. But the real highlight is simply seeing the horses themselves in their stalls. If you can time your visit to coincide with one of the equestrian shows check the schedule before you go – we did not catch one but I imagine it’s pretty spectacular!
Where to Eat in Chantilly
We ate in town and I would not recommend the spot we chose, so here are some other alternatives that I plan to try next time. For starters, there are two restaurants in the château – one in the gardens near the hamlet, and one instead of the château. However, if you want to make an occasion of lunch, I would lean towards the Auberge du Jeu de Paume hotel which has a Michelin-starred restaurant on site. Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the real, Chantilly cream that was created in Chantilly.
Where to Stay in Chantilly
Most people visit Chantilly as a day trip from Paris, but if you want to slow down and make a proper weekend of it, or if you are flying in or out of Charles de Gaulle Airport which is just 30 minutes away, spending the night in Chantilly is a great option. These are the hotels that I’d recommend…
auberge du jeu de paume
Auberge du Jeu de Paume is the obvious choice for a weekend in Chantilly. It’s a beautiful, luxury hotel just 850 meters from the château with a Michelin-starred restaurant on site. Classic French elegance, antique furniture, and the kind of setting that makes a weekend in Chantilly feel incredibly special.
chateau de montvillargenne
Château de Montvillargenne was originally built in 1913 as the private estate of Baroness Jeanne de Rothschild, this château-hotel sits within a 6-hectare wooded park nestled deep in the Chantilly forest just 10 minutes from the Château de Chantilly. Each of the 119 rooms is individually decorated with vintage furniture and handcrafted details that give the whole place a sense of character rather than corporate luxury. There is a spa, an indoor pool, an 18-hole golf course, free bike rentals to explore the surrounding forest, and the Social Club restaurant with views over the gardens.
How to Get to Chantilly from Paris
Getting to Chantilly is pretty easy (which is why it makes such a great day trip); here are your two options…
by train
The easiest way to get to Chantilly is by train. You’ll take the train (SNCF) from Gare du Nord to Chantilly-Gouvieux, which is about 30-minutes direct. Trains run frequently throughout the day and you can purchase tickets ahead of time on Omio. From the station it is about a 30-minute walk to the château, or a 5-minute taxi ride if you prefer. There is also a free shuttle that runs from the station to the Château called the DUC and the times align with arrivals from Paris.
by car
If you plan to spend to spend the night and explore other areas of this region, a car gives you the most flexibility. The drive from Paris takes approximately 45 minutes on the A1 motorway and parking is available in a parking lot at the château or in the town of Chantilly.
Chantilly is one of those places that reminds you how much France has to offer beyond Paris and how little effort it takes to find it. An hour on the grounds with a golf cart, an hour in the château with some of the most extraordinary art you will see anywhere in France, and an afternoon with the horses across the street. It’s the perfect day trip from Paris and one of the easiest ones you will plan!
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