Best way to visit Paris by motorhome

Arc de Triomphe

Paris is our favourite city. We sometimes make a specific trip just to go there but more often than not we try to encompass a visit on the way to or from other destinations. It's a particularly nice way to end a holiday knowing that you are going to give yourself a day in the French capital.

Our first suggestion for a site would be Camping La Belle Etoile in Melun. The town is OK but the main attraction is that the train station is around 20 mins walk or 5 mins by bike to the train station. From here you can get into Paris for around 30 euros return in about half an hour.

The site itself is on the Seine and is quite large and well laid out. It does tend to attract a few migrant workers and younger people among a fairly mixed crowd of campers, caravanners and motorhomers. It's on the Camping Cheque Scheme, which makes it a cheap option low season. It's also the right side of the city for a trip to Fontainebleau, which is easy to get to and park even in your motorhome.

Me at the near the Eiffel Tower with designer bag

We tried a new site this year, Camping Versailles run by Huttopia. This is just outside Versailles in a wood. It's 10 mins by bike to the palaces and only 5 mins walk to the train station. From here you can catch the RER, which means you can get off anywhere you like along the Seine. It's literally 20 mins by train to the Eiffel Tower.

This is not a busy line if you avoid rush hour, so we had a very relaxed trip in and out of the city, which only cost about £6 for a return. The campsite is expensive though. We went in April and the standard rate is around 30 euros a night. However, it is on the ACSI scheme, so you can get it for 18 euros. We stayed for 2 nights to allow a day around in Versailles itself and just one day in Paris. 

Inside Fountainebleau

It's a bit more tricky to get in and out of than Melun, particularly if you are trying to avoid toll roads. The approach is a bit narrow too. However, this has now become our favoured campsite for Paris and we will be heading back there as soon as we can.