For better or worse, Paris is having quite a year. First, the French icon was dethroned by Istanbul as the most visited city in the world, and now they have fallen out of the top 3 entirely.
Followed by the looming Olympics as the City of Light lays down their welcome mats to the world playing host to this magnificent global event Jul 26, 2024 – Aug 11, 2024.
However, early reports are showing mixed reviews of Paris during this period.
Air France, expecting a gargantuan loss of $193 million, was quoted as saying, “International markets show a significant avoidance of Paris.”.
Taking a page out of Southwest Airline’s playbook, tourists are saying they ‘wanna get away’…or stay away for that matter.
Good news is you can, and very cheap at that. One of the main concerns tourists have visiting Paris during the Olympics is the all but guaranteed surge in pricing.
Fortunately, that doesn’t impact trains outta town, but there’s also great deals extending through fall.
Travel to these 4 underrated destinations from Paris under $30 by train:
Ditch France Entirely! Take A Short Ride To Luxembourg ($27)
Luxembourg is undeniably one of the most expensive destinations in all of Europe and also insanely beautiful.
Don’t let your travel budget deter you from visiting one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, however.
Although pricey for hotels and dining, Luxembourg is worth a splurge for a day-trip or weekend getaway and it’s more than meets the eye with small towns like Echternach, known as “Little Switzerland”.
Everybody likes free stuff, and when it comes to traveling, we all appreciate freebies even more.
Luxembourg offers free transit throughout their small nation and you don’t even need a ticket! Just hop on!
In this case, you would be arriving by train via SNCF Connect, so all you have to purchase is your ticket from Paris (Gare de l’Est) into Luxembourg, totaling 2 hours, 43 minutes after a brief stop in Metz.
Those looking to escape the crowds watching Lebron James light up the scoreboard will have to fork over anywhere from $50 – $100 during the Olympics, but can score $27 tickets various dates Sep – Oct.
Au Revoir, Nice! Hit Up The Northern Coastal Town Of Le Havre ($23)
Paris, Lyon, Nice, Cannes…none of these household names are Le Havre. You may have never heard of it and that’s okay.
The road less traveled, or in this case, the rail, is one of the best ways to explore the world.
Those looking to check out more of France and want to stay close to Paris should check out Le Havre, which is just a 2-hour and 18-minute nonstop journey.
According to Rail Europe, tickets are $27 during the Olympics and $23 in October – the perfect escape for a day trip away from crowds, especially since trains run throughout the day.
Visitors may find Le Havre is a bit quirky, but aren’t we all?
This artsy port city, blending modern architecture and well-preserved structures surviving World War II bombings, has earned itself UNESCO recognition.
Easy to explore with the city’s grid-like layout, Le Havre is full of surprises, from savory beachside seafood restaurants to eye-popping art installations.
If there’s one thing not to miss out on it’s the remarkable Saint Joseph’s Church, a feast for the eyes.
Toast To New Adventures: Visit France’s Champagne Capital ($14)
Reims is a city steeped in history, but its claim to fame is being France’s champagne capital.
We’ll toast to that!
Boasting phenomenal attractions ranging from historic to indulgent, you can visit such sites as the Gothic-style Reims Cathedral to the beautiful Abbey of Saint-Remi, both protected by UNESCO.
Of course, you can’t visit the ‘champagne capital’ without sipping some bubbly.
Feel free to pop bottles at Reims’ renowned Champagne Houses for tours and tasting.
A few of the top-rated are:
- Mumm
- Veuve Clicquot,
- Taittinger
You can reach Reims easily from Paris (Gare de l’Est) as low as $14 during the Olympics on SNCF Connect. Oddly enough prices go up to $19 in fall.
The route takes 2 hours 11 minutes for these fares, but an express route via TGV Inoui will get you there in just 46 minutes for $26.
A Grand Tour Through Tours ($11)
Tours, France is a hidden gem in the Loire Valley and just a stone’s throw from Paris in terms of train travel.
The city is quaint, easily navigable, and underappreciated for authentic French cuisine, but the real draws are the world-class chateaux and wineries outside the city limits.
Explore more of Loire Valley and visit stunning castles like Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry, and Amboise, each with its own unique style and backstory.
But first, you have to get to Tours. Doing so is easy aboard the direct SNCF Connect route from Paris Montparnasse station, reaching Tours in as little as 51 minutes.
Tickets are as low as $17 July 29th during the Olympics and as low as $11 September – November.
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