One of the great things about France is how easy it is to go from one region to another by train (prices are another topic however as they tend to go up with demand).
With the month of May right around the corner, and the long weekends ahead, it's always a good opportunity to get away. Here are some good destinations that are around three hours away from Paris - all accessible by train and reasonable to visit over a weekend.
If you're planning a trip over one of May's many holiday weekends, it's wise to book your train tickets well in advance.
Saint Malo
French newspaper Le Parisien recently published their roundup of the top 40 destinations close to Paris - based on travel time, weather, environment, tourist facilities and infrastructure.
Top of their list was Saint Malo, Brittany. This destination is around two hours and a half away from Paris' Gare Montparnasse. Its tourism office promotes the town as a "family destination" with activities for everyone.
Some buses can take you to other beautiful seaside towns like Cancale, famous for its oysters. The region is rich in beaches, walks to take along the coast, and culinary specialities like the famous Bordier butter.
It's a fascinating town with its ramparts (fortified walls) due to its historically strategically important port on the northern coast of France.
Although the city was heavily damaged during World War II, the walls were carefully restored along with much of the old town. Today, the ramparts remain one of the city’s most famous features, and visitors can walk along them for panoramic views of the sea, beaches, and historic buildings - although be warned that the old town gets very crowded during the high season.
Honfleur
Honfleur, Normandy, is another destination that many people love. It's around three hours away from Paris, not direct like Saint Malo, but still quite easy - you take a train from Paris' Gare Saint Lazare to Le Havre and then a regional train to Honfleur, only one stop away.
It has a picturesque old harbour, lined with colourful houses, cobbled streets and good restaurants. the town has long been a popular destination for painters, including the Impressionists, and boasts many art galleries.
Deauville
Deauville, the seaside resort on the Côte Fleurie of France’s Normandy region, has beaches, restaurants, shops, and... a casino.
READ ALSO: MAP: Why are so many of France's casinos in seaside resorts?
It is easy to get there from Paris with a two-hour train ride - and you literally step off the train and you're a few minutes away from the sea - and by car, two and a half hours, excluding traffic jams. It's also perfect for a weekend away because it's not too big, so you have time to walk around and do all the tourist things.
If rentals are a little pricey, you can always stay in Trouville, the adjacent town. You just have to cross a bridge to get to Deauville - it's practical, and you have a great view of the ocean as well.
Baie de Somme
The Baie de Somme is a large estuary in the Hauts-de-France region of northwestern France.
Leaving from Paris Gare du Nord, you’ll reach Noyelles-sur-Mer in around two hours, after which a connecting train will take you to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme or Le Crotoy.
It's also very bike friendly - you can bring a bike on the TER (regional train from Paris) or rent one once you get there.
The Lonely Planet guide suggests renting a bike once you get off at the Noyelles-sur-Mer station. Then you can ride along the Vélomaritime cycle route to the bay, which is quite enjoyable.
There's a lot to do in the area, including the Marquenterre Park, which is a dune, marshland and forest reserve with hides for watching migrating birds and nature trails. The park's café is open every day from 12 pm to 3 pm and serves great mussels (moules de bouchot).
You can also explore the bay walking but you must be accompanied by a guide due to the dangerous tides. It takes around three hours for the walk from Le Crotoy to Saint-Valery, and the views are beautiful.
If you're less keen to walk, you can always ride the Baie de Somme steam train. Dating back to the Belle Époque, these steam locomotives have been running the 27-kilometre routes between Le Crotoy, Noyelles-sur-Mer, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and Cayeux-sur-Mer since 1887.
Dunkerque
In third place, on Le Parisien's list is the northern city of Dunkerque (or Dunkirk). The journey takes around two hours by train from Gare du Nord.
It has wide sandy beaches along the North Sea that are much less crowded than those in southern France, great for long walks, fresh air, and a change of scenery. The city also has a rich history, especially tied to the Dunkirk evacuation, and you can explore this at museums and memorial sites.
It's also famous for its carnival during the month of February.
READ MORE: The French carnival that has seagull impressions and herring throwing
Le Havre
Le Havre is about 2 hours from Paris by train, usually with a direct TER service from Gare Saint-Lazare. This definitely makes it another good option for a weekend trip, especially if you want something coastal - it has a great boardwalk near the sea.
The city is also interesting because of its strong link to the Impressionist painters. The nearby Normandy coast, including Le Havre itself, was a major source of inspiration for painters like Claude Monet, and Le Havre has a large and impressive art gallery.
Much of the city was rebuilt after World War II, giving it a bold, modern architectural style designed by Auguste Perret - it is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Reims
Reims is one of the easiest short trips from Paris, as the train ride takes about 45 minutes on the TGV (France's high-speed train) from Gare de l’Est, which makes it even easy for a day trip.
People visit Reims mainly for its historical and cultural significance. It was the traditional site where French kings were crowned in the Notre-Dame de Reims, one of the most important cathedrals in France.
Reims is also the unofficial capital of the Champagne region, so it’s closely tied to the production of Champagne and the famous chalk cellars beneath the city where major houses age their wines - tasting sessions are on offer virtually everywhere.
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