Trip feedback? 2025 Cruise plus Paris plus Scotland

We went to Puglia in 2023 and I asked where to go. A lovely lady gave suggestions which we followed and she was absolutely correct... so...

We are on a cruise with Celebrity going to Italy and Croatia.

At the end of the cruise we've decided to stay in Paris for four nights but we are now wondering if we should take longer. Reason being is that Edinburgh (where we come from) is ridiculously expensive (even in September) and Paris is cheaper.

We've seen all the usuals, eg Eiffel tower, Louvre, trip up the Seine, Musee d'Orsay, Rodin, etc. etc; but we've never been to see Monet's house or other things further afield.

So the question is:
1. What do any of you mob suggest around Paris?
2. We've never been to Versailles. Is it worth the trip?
3. Any suggestions for maybe taking a train trip to somewhere outside Paris; even if it means staying for a couple of nights somewhere?

Any suggestions will be taken with gratitude.

Thanks

Iain and Liz

[ Edit: Edited on 1 Apr 2025, 06:59 GMT by ClashCollins ]

I find it hard to believe that Paris is cheaper than Scotland. I do think that Monet's garden and also Versailles and possibly Fountainbleu and Rheims might be worthwhile side trips.

You aren't limited to train trips though - you could take a wine cruise on AmaWaterways from Lyon to Arles called the Colors of Provance or one called The Taste of Bordeaux

Thanks great. You have to believe me but Paris IS CHEAPER than Edinburgh.

We stayed in Arles for a week yonks ago but Fountainbleu and Rheims sounds decent..

Bordeaux is a good suggestion as the last time we tried it was full up and we had to stay ion the outskirts.

thanks again

You can take an easy day trip to Chartres on the train. It's about an hour ride through the lovely French countryside. It is an easy walk from the train station to the famous Cathedral. The Old Town area is just past the Cathedral. The Beaux Arts is behind the Cathedral and a really nice stained glass museum is right beside the Cathedral. Then stop at the Tourist Office and get a walking map of Chartres. There are beautiful buildings, a river with a river walk, an Iron market. It's one of our favorite day trips from Paris.

Fontainebleau is another easy day trip by train. You do need to take a bus from the train station to the Chateau but the bus is right beside the train station. The Chateau is fabulous and there is a wonderful park. We liked it much better than Versailles. If you haven't seen Versailles though, you could make that another easy day trip. It's about a 45 minute train ride. We've never used the main entrance but if you do , you may want to get your tickets ahead of time. We have seen very long lines there.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye is another easy day trip by train. It's a lovely suburb of Paris with the National Archeology Museum in the Chateau, beautiful gardens with an amazing view of Paris in the distance, a lovely church and charming Old Town area.

Have you visited the Marmottan-Monet Museum? It has a huge collection of Monet's works and the building is also interesting. They have a room of ancient manuscripts that is a real treasure and there is a park across the street that is lovely. Walk through the park and down through Passey, a charming local Paris district.

The Petit Palais Museum is excellent and it's also free.

We spend a month in Paris on our five-year anniversaries and have never run out of things to see and do. Honestly, it's cheaper than California too . . .

Crumbs beauty, I didn't expect such a detailed reply. Brilliant and we'll definitely do at least one of those things. I've extended Paris to six nights and reduced Scotland to 14. Edinburgh to 3 nights as although it's one of the most beautiful cities in the world (and beats Paris hands down) it's awfy expensive and, although I lived there for 32 years (I was in the tattoo one year), I've seen most of Edinburgh and Scotland so it's always just going back over the places I used to know.

The Monet gardens and museum is a certainty this time but you have to take into account that (even although my wife is a teacher) we went to Rome the first time yonks ago and hadn't realised that The Forum was right next door to the Colosseum.