City: Ile-de-France
Top Things to do in Ile-de-France
Top Hotels in Ile-de-France
The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Ile-de-France, France
Île-de-France (English: /ˌiːl də ˈfrɑːns/, French: [il də fʁɑ̃s] ( listen), "Island of France"), also known as the région parisienne ("Parisian Region"), is one of the 18 regions of France and includes the city of Paris. It covers 12,012 square kilometres (4,638 square miles) and has its own regional council and president. It has a population of 12,005,077 as of January 2014, equivalent to 18.2% of the population of France.
Restaurants in Ile-de-France
1. The Royal Opera (L'Opera Royal)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 358 reviews
Reviewed By theredhat
Amazing architecture, incredibly opulent.I am so glad that I visited. The entrance to the building is a bit confusing, you have to go all the way around the building before it is evident where to enter. It really is a site to put on your list. However, the staff is outrageously RUDE , unhelpful and could care less if you see the building or not.
2. Arboretum de la Vallee-aux-Loups
3. Musee Marmottan Monet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,953 reviews
Located in a 19th-century mansion, this museum's fabulous collection of Impressionist paintings ranks second only behind the Musée d'Orsay.
Reviewed By JanA764
Beautiful museum a little way out of the city near the Bois de Boulogne, well worth the short trip, the Monets and the Morisot paintings are just a few of the lovely exhibits
4. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,060 reviews
This elevated park in the northeast section of the city features an artificial lake and waterfall as well as impressive views of the surrounding area.
Reviewed By fionaa860 - Toronto, Canada
What a lovely place to go and sit in the shade on a hot day. It is a park with its fair share of tourists getting a good view from the mini temple, but it also has many, many Parisians just enjoying the park. There are paths to walk, benches to sit on, a little stream, and a pond with fish, ducks, geese, and we even saw a turtle. We didn't make use of the children's rides or the cafes, but they are there for those who want.
5. Fontainebleau Forest (Foret de Fontainebleau)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 693 reviews
This 49,000-acre forest is one of the biggest in France.
Reviewed By Voyageurdumonde7
La Foret de Fontainebleau is wonderfully beautiful. It's a great place to walk for hours and just get lost in your thoughts as you go through the forest. The forest is beautiful all throughout the year, weather you visit in Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, it'll always have something to offer. There are many boulders and rocks to climb and it's a great place for hiking as well. I recommend visiting for a pleasant walk through this magical forest.
6. Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,441 reviews
Vaux le Vicomte is the creation of three men brought together by Nicolas Fouquet, Louis 14th's finance minister, the landcape architect Andre le Nôtre, the architect Louis le Vau and the painter-decorator Charles le Brun. The perfect harmony between architecture and landscape is the result of their collaborative genius. From its unveiling at the famous fête of august 17th, 1661, Vaux le Vicomte aroused the envy of the Sun King and became the model that inspired the whole of Europe, including Versailles.Vaux le Vicomte can be visited during the day or at night with 2000 candles (on Saturdays from may to beginning of october)Easy access by train or by bus from paris.
Reviewed By dbcof58 - Hastings on Hudson, United States
Breathtaking chateau SE of Paris reached by train and free bus.Finished in 1661 by architect Fouquet in Louis IV style, it blends magnificent landscaping and interior design with the classic architecture. An audible tour is available and worthwhile. Most of the chateau including the top tower and the ornately decorated rooms can be accessed. Much of chateau at Versailles was copied from here. There were not too many visitors when we went. A quaint little cafe and a tempting shop are also available.
7. The Trianons & The Hamlet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,981 reviews
Reviewed By chrislN392IZ - Sumter, United States
The Grande Trianon was a stunning “little” house that is worth visiting while at the Palace of Versailles. You can walk there, rent a golf cart, rent a Segway, even run there if you choose. This place has a very homey feel, like you could picture yourself sitting there enjoying a book and some coffee. Well worth the visit.
8. Chateau de Malmaison
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 647 reviews
Reviewed By Deluxpinion - New York City, United States
The chateau is actually more like a mansion, it’s impressive and looks chateau-like but it’s small and intimate in the inside. The colors have been brought back to the originals in a recent restauration and it looks great. I went specifically to view how it looks now after not having visited in many years but also they were having an exhibit on Contemporary American artist Kehinde Wiley in conversation with the famous Jacques Louis David that recorded all the major events of the Napoleonic monarchy in heroic sized canvases. The viewing if Kehinde’s take on Napoleon crossing the Alps in front of the David Masterpiece made the visit worth it, there was also a most interesting video featuring the artist explaining his atttaction for heroic historical painting. The rooms are still bearing witness to the unique elegance and gracefulness that made empress Josephine the taste maker for her time. Relaxed beauty is the best way to describe it and the simplicity of the furniture, the great fabric treatments, the details in the refined ormolu fittings all recalling the style of the ancients and particularly the influence of Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign on the decorative arts. It is a must see for designers or any one interested in good classical decor; but also for those interested in the First Empire. Some of the best paintings you’ve seen in book illustrations are here, and the rooms are packed with personal items from Napoleon and Josephine as well as Prince Eugene.
9. Villa Savoye
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 322 reviews
The Villa Savoye is an internationally-renowned masterpiece built by architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret – better known as Le Corbusier – and Pierre Jeanneret, between 1928 and 1931. The villa, designed for the Savoye family (hence its name), is acknowledged as one of the founding examples of the modern architecture movement. Open:> 1st March to 30th April: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.> 2nd May to 31st August: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.> 1st September to 31st October: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.> 2nd November to 29th February: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed:> Mondays.> 1st January, 1st May, 1st November, 11th November and from 25th December to 1st January. Admission fees: Adults : 7,5€; Concessions (18 to 25) = 4,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups
10. Chateau de St-Germain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 437 reviews
Reviewed By LIKAYLA - Topanga, United States
We made an unplanned trip to Saint-Germain as my son's best friends happened to be in Paris for the World Cup finals. Their father was born and raised in Saint-Germain, so we spent the day there at his parent's home, after vising Versailles in the morning. It's a lovely town outside of Paris and is the birthplace of Louis XIV! It's built on a hill with beautiful views down toward Paris. If you're looking to get out of the city and experiencing a bit of the country, this is a great destination that's easily accessible by RER (the metro that travels outside of Paris City Centre).
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