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Delicate black lace, prestigious horse racing, and decadent whipped cream… Yes, you can enjoy all three in Chantilly!
Just to the north of Paris, Chantilly is a charming town to explore. Here’s your guide on what to do and see in Chantilly, France, including how to visit the Château de Chantilly. All you’ll need to decide is whether to do it as a day trip or stay a bit longer.
Is Chantilly, France worth visiting?
With château-seeking tourists more often opting for the larger, well-known site of Versailles, Chantilly and its castle remain relatively quiet and not particularly crowded. If you want to avoid huge crowds, Chantilly is worth your consideration.
Unlike some of the other bigger must-see destinations, a visit to Chantilly will not leave you feeling exhausted. The town of Chantilly is small and pleasant with a few charming spots to eat. (You’ll need to sample the local chantilly whipped cream, of course!)
The nearby forest and the castle grounds are a lovely breath of fresh air, and the castle itself is manageable to visit in a couple of hours. If you like horses, you’re going to love visiting the stables and seeing a demonstration or show.
As another plus, getting to Chantilly from Paris is easy. In short, it’s a low-key, whipped-cream-filled day trip that I would definitely consider worth a visit.
Things to Do in Chantilly, France
Château Chantilly & Grounds
Visit Chantilly Castle and the beautiful estate. The Musée Condé art galleries within the castle are included in your ticket. Here you’ll find the second largest collection of antique paintings in France, after the Louvre. With numerous gardens, there is plenty to discover on the property, both inside and out.
Grandes écuries du château de Chantilly
The great stables are impressive and a must if you like horses, of which you’ll see a few! The Musée vivant du cheval (Horse Museum) is located in the stables and includes some interactive elements. I loved looking at all the different saddles on display. Your visit to the stables is included in your ticket for the château and most tickets include access to the equestrian shows.
Restaurant du Hameau
Le Hameau restaurant is tucked among a series of small, rustic houses on the property in the Anglo-Chinese garden. Open seasonally from mid-March to mid-November, it’s a popular lunch spot with indoor and outdoor seating. Parasols and tents help protect from the sun and rain. Truth be told, the prices were elevated (as expected) and it certainly wasn’t world-class dining but the setting was idyllic and peaceful.
We were happy to have arrived early on a gorgeous day. Tables can fill up quickly, so consider calling to make a reservation, especially if the weather is nice. There are other dining options on the property as well.
Horseback Riding
Steeped in a history of hunting and horseracing, Chantilly is considered the Equestrian Capital of France. Consequently, it’s no surprise that Chantilly is home to one of the oldest and biggest horse training centers in the country. It’s not likely that you’ll see it until you plan a visit but what you might come across on your walk to the castle is the Chantilly Racetrack.
Horse lovers might be interested to know that the domain of Chantilly partners with Henson-Chantilly-Apremont to offer exclusive, guided horse rides through the castle grounds.
If you plan on staying longer in the area and/or want a more forest-y horseback adventure in nature, check out this riding tour that will take you through the forests of Chantilly and Senlis. Both riding experiences are open to all levels!
Nature Walks
With its large forests, Chantilly is a green lung for Paris. Aside from the plentiful trails on the castle grounds, there are a number of hiking routes in the area, like la Petite boucle en forêt de Chantilly, if you want a bit of a trek.
In search of a green space, shade from the sun, and a short walk, we headed towards Le Grand Canal as we saw a couple of parks nearby. At the Parking du Canal, we stumbled upon the Parcours de santé des bourgognes, which is marked on Google Maps as a green trail. A little, beaten-down trail through the woods, leading past exercise and activity equipment (suitable for older children or adolescents), it suited our needs perfectly as a quiet setting for our son’s stroller nap.
Musée de la Dentelle de Chantilly
The production of lace in Chantilly dates back to the 17th century, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that Chantilly crafters began to specialize in black lace with floral patterns. Showcasing the craft of lace-making, the Chantilly Lace Museum is a delightful, tiny, two-room museum. Here, you can see delicate pieces up close. Unfortunately, the display cards are all in French and there isn’t a lot of information on the creation process but the intricate work is still an exceptional sight.
Crème Chantilly
Your visit to Chantilly will not be complete without trying the famous Chantilly cream. Often falsely attributed to having been first produced in the kitchens of the Château, the link between the cream and the town remains, and I’m not complaining about it. You’ll find whipped cream incorporated into many dessert menus throughout the town. We enjoyed an afternoon treat at L’Atelier de la Chantilly.
How do you get to Chantilly from Paris?
Chantilly is to the north of Paris in the Hauts-de-France region of France.
Note for those living in Paris: While Chantilly is very close to Paris, it’s located just outside of Zone 5, so if you’re a Navigo user, you won’t be able to use your metro card to get there.
The most reliable way to get to the town of Chantilly is by taking a regional TER train from Gare du Nord. With regular departures throughout the day, the TER will get you there in about 25 minutes. Although you can purchase tickets at the station, I always prefer booking tickets in advance to save time. You can check timetables, verify prices, and book your tickets with SNCF.
How do you get to Château de Chantilly from the train station?
Getting to Château de Chantilly from the train station is easy!
From the train station, the most straightforward way to get to Château de Chantilly is by walking. Continue straight out of the station and cross Avenue du Maréchal Joffre to find the entrance to a well-marked path that will take you through the woods and into a big field/park. You’ll pass the racetrack and stables on your way. This scenic route is a shortcut and will get you to the castle in about 15-20 minutes.
Otherwise, you can also walk through town by taking a left on Avenue du Maréchal Joffre and then a right on Rue du Connétable. This route is longer and takes about 30 minutes.
If you’re not up for a walk, the next best option is to take the bus. On weekends and holidays, there is a shuttle to the castle. La navette touristique is especially for visiting tourists, bringing you right to the entrance of the castle while stopping at a few interesting sites along the way. The 645 to Senlis (running every day) and the DUC (running Monday to Saturday) also make stops at or near the castle but you’ll need to check which ones will do so. All of these bus options are free. Check out the timetables.
It is possible to take a taxi from the train station to the castle. However, depending on the time and day, there may not be taxis waiting, so it’s not the more reliable option.
Is Chantilly kid-friendly?
Château de Chantilly welcomes children and offers free and reduced ticket prices for children and families. Kids aged 4 to 10 are sure to enjoy exploring the castle grounds in a small electric cart they can drive themselves. (Don’t worry—parents can control it remotely. 😅) Alternatively, the whole family can jump in a golf cart for an adventure. The little train tour around the grounds is also a fun option during the high tourist season.
Strollers and baby/child carriers without frames are allowed in the castle, in the stables, and throughout the grounds. We used our stroller for the castle visit. Carrying our stroller up and down a few stairs was no problem but the cobblestones leading to the castle and the gravel walkways around the grounds were not ideal. (Fortunately, the gravel wasn’t on all the paths!) In general, we like traveling with the Babyzen YOYO² because it’s lightweight and compact, but a stroller with larger wheels would have managed the terrain better on this trip!
Download the Château de Chantilly app to access a children’s audioguide featuring a fun mystery to solve as kids explore the castle. (Traditional handheld audioguides can be rented as well and also include the mystery of the château.) Activity booklets for 6-12 year olds are available on-site. All of these are available in English.
On the castle grounds, there is an outdoor play area and labyrinth. However, this space was in full sun so it could be a bit hot for young ones depending on the season.
Children’s menus are available at both of the castle restaurants—La Capitainerie located in the castle and Le Hameau situated on the grounds. Le Café des Écuries located in the Great Stables offers snacks and drinks. As another option, families can take advantage of pleasant weather by packing food to have in the dedicated picnic areas. We saw some families spread out on the grass as well.
The Musée vivant du Cheval (Horse Museum) includes sensory activities specifically for young learners, and kids will love meeting horses and donkeys at an equestrian demonstration or show.
How long does it take to visit Chantilly?
With its close proximity to Paris, a visit to Chantilly, France could absolutely fit within a day trip. However, the estate and grounds are quite vast. Not to mention, there are other things to do and see besides the castle itself. While you’d have time to see most of the major sites in a day, you might feel a bit rushed depending on your itinerary.
Related: Day Trip Essentials
Since we traveled to Chantilly with our then 5-month-old, we opted to spend one night so that we could fit everything in at a slower pace. This gave us plenty of time to visit the castle and its grounds, the stables, and the town of Chantilly (including a visit to the Lace Museum and a walk through nature) at a leisurely pace.
If you’re looking for a place to spend the night, we really enjoyed our stay at Hotel Le Chantilly. Well-located along the main street in town, this hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the train station and 20 minutes to the castle. The staff was super friendly and attentive and the morning breakfast buffet was excellent. Folding cribs and children’s cots are available upon request.
What do you think? Is Chantilly worth a visit?
What an amazing article ! Thank you so much Ellen, happy with your coming back. I recommend the visit and you give all the good recommendations. Sorry for my English…
Oh, thank you so much, Hélène. We really enjoyed our visit to Chantilly. It was a breath of fresh air 😊