Day Trip to Loire Valley Castles From Paris with Kids

Loire Valley is the region called the ‘Garden of France’ for a good reason. Countless acres of beautiful woods, vineyards, and farmland that produce some of France’s top delicacies, combined with history and beautiful architecture. It calls for an exploration of the Loire Valley castles.

In my opinion, these castles are a real must-do when you’re in Paris. They’re easily accessible even if you’re staying in Paris and more than worth your time.

There are over 1000 chateaux in the Loire Valley, but unless you’re a castle fanatic with unlimited time, you’re most likely not going to see all of them unless you’re spending an extensive time in the area (which I think is a great idea). I wholeheartedly recommend Loire Valley day tours from Paris with kids if you’re short on time.

NOTE: I’ve done this trip twice: once solo and once with kids. When traveling solo I managed to visit three castles in a day, but with kids we got to see two as we needed more time for everything.

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Day Tours to Loire Valley Castles from Paris: Bus vs Car

Many castles were impossible to visit by public transport. I will admit that some people might say that they don’t like tours, having gone to Loire with a big bus and rental car, I can honestly say that there are advantages to both.

When I was traveling solo, it made no financial sense for me to rent a car. The bus basically drops you off at each castle and tells you the time to return. You can rest and relax on the bus, but you can’t stay in one place longer (and personally I felt like I’d rather have more time in Chambord than Amboise). The tour includes all the parking fees and entrance tickets, so honestly, it’s a pretty good deal (and kids under 5 usually go free)!  This one is the exact tour I did.

With kids we rented a car, and drove ourselves. While driving in Paris is annoying, you could avoid it by getting a car at the airport. We had flexibility, but it might have come down to the same thing as if we had taken the tour – the car was about 100 EUR per day, plus another 50 EUR for gas, another 40 EUR for tolls, 5 EUR for parking at Chambord, and we still had to buy entrance tickets.

It was definitely not cheaper than going with a bus tour… even considering that we were a family of 4.

Getting to the Loire Valley from Paris takes approximately 2-3 hours, therefore the tour started at 7 am from in front of the Louvre Musee. It gave me the unique opportunity to see it without any people in front. From there we proceed to the bus. By car you leave at any time.

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When to Visit Loire Valley Castles?

If you want to see the royal chateaux of the Loire Valley cast in the golden glow of sunlight, spring and summer are your best options. You can have a picnic, cycle, hike, and enjoy the outdoors while the gardens are blooming. But you also need to be prepared for crowds and lines

Not that the chillier months are without appeal. Crowds thin in autumn and winter, leaving only the locals and a few hardy travelers to enjoy the peace. Most of the major chateaux remain open for visitors who want to explore.

Remember that if you visit during the summer, the flowers in the gardens will be in full bloom, which adds to the experience. Surprisingly, when visiting in May, the flowers were not yet blooming at all, and we didn’t see much wisteria.

• Chenonceau Castle with Kids
• Chambord Castle with Kids

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What are the Best Loire Valley Castles to Visit with Kids

If you’re doing a day trip, I advise against visiting more than two castles on the same day when going to the Loire Valley with kids. I personally think that Chambord and Chennonceau are the most entertaining for little kids. They both have big gardens, and kids can run freely around the castles.

Chennonceau has donkeys, a maze, and gardens, all of which can entertain the kiddos. Chambord is impressive with its staircase and views from the top, but it also offers a specific children’s play area and show with real horses and armours – which was 4-year-old proclaimed “was awesome!”.

Another good pick is Cheverny, as it’s home to hundreds of dogs. However, in the past, you could participate in the dog feeding, and these days, you can only see the dogs in the kennels. It’s still entertaining, but not as much as it used to be.

If you have extra time, you could stop by the cute town of Amboise for lunch and visit the small castle as well.

If you’re spending the night, I suggest checking out the evening show at Blois, as it’s entertaining for the kiddos (and adults as well!).

Should You Stay Near Loire Valley Castles?

If you have more time it’s much more relaxing to spend even one night in the area. There are plenty of absolutely gorgeous properties, some of which are castles with outdoor pools.

If you have more than and decide to stay in Loire Valley overnight, instead of taking the day tour.

• Family Luxury Resort – La Borde en Sologne
• Castle Hotel – Hotel Chateau des Arpentis
• Authentic Monastery– Chateau-Monastere de la Corroire

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The region of the Loire Valley, while famous for its wine, fine food, has numerous châteaux associated with royalty and high nobles during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period.

It’s a great place to visit, even for those who want to just relax. As the Loire Valley castles had little strategic value, many were converted into comfortable and less drafty palaces.

It made them eye candy for tourists. A visit to these magnificent Loire Valley castles provides a truly authentic and unforgettable experience. It’s a glimpse of the area’s rich past and breathtaking present.