It rained quite a bit during our first summer living in Paris, so we didn’t get around to as many day trips as we had planned. But finally, on a sunny Sunday in late August with clear skies and mild temps, we took the chance to check off a long-standing spot on our list – the Château de Chantilly.
What initially drew me to Chantilly was the famous Chantilly cream. I wanted to try it in the place where it was supposedly invented in the seventeenth century by chef François Vatel. Although, to be fair, some say a version of it may have already existed in Italy a century earlier. Disputed or not, we had to try it, and it was delicious.
The Chantilly cream was definitely a highlight, but the château itself was the real treat. The interiors are sumptuously decorated, and the French-style gardens are stunning.
Chantilly might just be our favorite château near Paris. It is charming, not too crowded, and there’s plenty to do to keep you busy for an entire day. This guide covers everything you need to plan the perfect day trip from Paris to the Château de Chantilly.
Getting to Chantilly from Paris
By train: The easiest way to get to Chantilly from Paris is by taking the direct TER train from Gare du Nord to Chantilly Gouvieux. The ride takes just 26 minutes. Check train times and prices online at SNCF.com.
By RER: You can also take the RER D line from Paris to Chantilly Gouvieux, but this route takes about an hour. I recommend the TER train instead of the RER.
From Chantilly station to the château: Once you arrive at the train station, you can walk to the château. The walk takes around 30 to 35 minutes and we really enjoyed it. The path leads you through a forest, across a grassy field, past the historic horse stables and race track, and then along a road that brings you right to the château entrance.
If you prefer not to walk, there’s also a free shuttle that runs from the train station to the château. Follow the signs for the “Gare Routière” bus area, which is just around the corner from the station. The ride takes about 10 minutes. Check the shuttle schedule online in advance here.
Tickets
We bought the TER pack, which includes round-trip train tickets to Chantilly and entrance tickets to the château. It cost €27 per adult and just €1 for children under 12. You can buy it online or in person at Paris Gare du Nord.
Right in front of the train platforms at the Gare du Nord, there’s a green ticket booth where you can purchase the TER pack for the same price as online. The train tickets are valid for any TER train to Chantilly – Gouvieux on the selected travel day, so you’re not locked into a specific time.
With the TER pack, you’ll need to stop by the ticket booth at the château to pick up your physical tickets. Just show the staff your PDF confirmation and they’ll print them for you. Hold on to your tickets, because you’ll need to show them throughout the day at various checkpoints, including the gardens, stables, and château interiors.
If you prefer to book everything separately, château tickets cost €18 and can be purchased online or in person. Train tickets booked individually can range from €5 to €10 each way, depending on when you book.
Do you need to purchase tickets in advance? No, you can purchase the TER pack at the train station or online on the day of your trip. If purchasing separately, I suggest booking train tickets at least a few days in advance to save money, but tickets for the château can be bought in person on the day of your visit.
How much time in Chantilly?
We spent a full day in Chantilly, arriving around 10:15 AM and leaving at 7:00 PM. I had read online that you need at least eight hours here, and while I was skeptical at first, it didn’t take long to see that we would easily spend that many hours here.
Between the château interiors, the gardens, the stables, and just wandering the grounds, the hours flew by. If you’re planning to visit, make it a full-day trip. For current opening hours, visit the Château de Chantilly website.
Here’s what we did: we took the 9:45 AM TER train from Paris Gare du Nord and caught the 6:57 PM back (train times are subject to change throughout the year). The TER pass gave us flexibility with train times, which was perfect since we ended up spending way more time at the château than expected.
Visiting Château de Chantilly
Once you arrive at the chateau, you have the option to explore the château’s interior or the gardens first. We opted to see the inside first and I’m glad we did, especially because we were visiting on a late summer day, and we wanted it to heat up a bit before enjoying the gardens.
This medieval château was once home to the princes of Condé, and later Henri d’Orléans, the son of France’s last king, Louis-Philippe. Inside, you’ll see ornate rooms filled with art, furniture, porcelain, and books just as he left them. The most valuable work of art in the collection is Raphael’s The Three Graces.
The visit takes you through the grand dining room, a painting gallery, and rooms filled with beautiful period furniture. You’ll also pass through smaller spaces showcasing porcelain, portraits, and other personal collections.
My favorite room was the library. A two-story, Beauty and the Beast-style library with over 13,000 leather-bound books, a balcony, a cozy fireplace, and reading chairs.
Note: If you’re interested in the 19th-century private apartments of the Duke and Duchess of Aumale, those are available only during guided tours. Check the chateau’s website for more details
Lunch
The chateau has several on-site restaurants, which you can find listed here. I recommend eating at one of them so you can try the famous Chantilly cream (whipped cream) in the place where it was invented. We ate at La Capitainerie, located in the old 17th-century castle kitchen.
You can order à la carte or go with the set menu. We chose the set menu and enjoyed everything we had. For dessert, we ordered the cream puff filled with Chantilly cream, both vanilla and praline, yum!
From spring through fall, another option is The Hameau restaurant, located in a quiet hamlet outside the chateau in the gardens. It’s an outdoor dining spot in a really charming part of the grounds.
Exploring the Château Grounds
The chateau grounds are vast, with over 285 acres (115 hectares) of gardens, canals, tree-lined paths, and woodlands to explore. We spent several hours strolling around the different gardens.
We started toward the Hameau, made our way around the Grand Cascade, and followed the Allée des Morfondus back toward the chateau. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the English Garden.
Our favorite spots were the Island of Love near the English Garden and the Hameau. In total, we spent about 4 hours in the gardens, we took it really slow though. At minimum, I suggest 2.5 hours.
Tip: You can bring your own picnic and eat on the lawn. We saw many families doing this around the grounds, a great activity on a nice day!
Great Stables
The Great Stables were built in the early 1700s for Louis-Henri de Bourbon, Prince of Condé. This building is massive. When we first walked toward the chateau, we actually thought the stables were the chateau, just to give you an idea of the scale.
They host equestrian demonstrations throughout the day. We caught one and really enjoyed watching all the tricks the horses could do.
You can also visit the Living Museum of the Horse. We walked through it quickly –I’d probably skip it unless you’re a horse fanatic.
The Great Stables also host full equestrian shows throughout the year. You can check out the schedule and ticket prices on the official website.
Tips for your Day trip to Chantilly
- Arrive in the morning. I recommend getting to the chateau around opening time or within the first hour so you have plenty of time to explore without feeling rushed.
- Reserve lunch ahead of time if you want to eat at La Capitainerie.
- If you’re planning to picnic and don’t want to bring supplies, Boulangerie du Château on Rue du Connétable sells baguette sandwiches.
- Get the TER pack. It’s easy, it saves money, and it gives you the flexibility to take any train throughout the day.
Is Chantilly Worth Visiting?
Chantilly might just be my favorite day trip from Paris. I went in expecting just another chateau, but it completely exceeded all of my expectations. The gardens, the interiors, the food, the setting – everything was even better than I imagined. I highly recommend it!
When to Visit Chantilly
I recommend visiting on a nice weather day, especially if you want to enjoy the gardens. April through September is ideal. If you’re interested in holiday decorations, then December is a festive time to go.