10 things to do in the Region Ile-de-France

Marne-la-Vallée is a new city located in the east of Paris, inside the Île-de-France region. It is famous for having a dense Asian population. This place, which is mostly suburban, still has some interesting activities.

In this article, we will give you our opinion on the best activities for a Paris suburbian living in the Ile-de-France region.

1. Go to Paris

Paris is obviously the main attraction in this region. This cosmopolitan city is one of the most beautiful in the world, which explains why it attracts so many tourists.

Activity-wise, there are unlimited options in the capital: sight-seeing, museums, food, shopping, nightlife, etc.

Going there by transport or parking your car won’t be easy, but once there, you’ll be able to find interesting things to do until dawn.

2. Bicycle along the Marne

If you love nature and want to exercise a bit, we would highly recommend you to try bycicling around the Marne. You’ll find dedicated roads for you to enjoy an afternoon while breathing some fresh air.

You’ll even be able to stop in some spots to enjoy some scenery, wild animals and some beautiful front river housing.

The Noisiel Parc also offers tons of green space for you to enjoy an afternoon with you friends playing ball or picnicing.

3. Go to Fontainebleau Forest

If you love nature and want to exercise a bit, we highly recommend you try biking around the Marne. You’ll find dedicated roads for you to enjoy an afternoon while breathing some fresh air.

You’ll even be able to stop in some spots to enjoy some scenery, wild animals, and some beautiful front river housing.

The Noisiel Parc also offers tons of green space for you to enjoy an afternoon with your friends playing ball or picnicking.

4. Go to Disney Village or Disneyland

Disneyland Paris is located in Chessy, a city 30–40 minutes away from Paris and easily reachable by car or train (RER A).

There’s no need to introduce you to the PARK since it’s already known worldwide. Just know that they have two parks: Disneyland and Disney Studios.

There are also some activities to do near the hotels. Inside the Disney Village, you’ll find some restaurants, an Imax cinema, and some Disney franchise stores. If you want to enjoy an American escape, look no further.

5. Golf in Guermantes or Ozoir-la-Ferrière

If you are a golf amateur, the region has tons of options. If like us, you live in the east of Paris, then you’ll have Guermantes, Ozoir-la-Ferrière, or Crecy la Chapelle to practice your swing.

You can get a starter kit for around 140 euros for the clubs and 60 euros for the bag, and practice on the range, where you’ll pay according to the number of balls. You can even take some lessons if you are looking to practice on the green.

6. Go for a Swim in a Lake or River

In the region, you’ll find plenty of spots where you can swim, whether it’s a nautical center or a spot in the river. You can also find some activities such as kayaking, canoeing, wakeboarding, or even jet skiing.

The Seine has some nice spots in the small town of Soisy-sur-Seine, while the Marne has the Noisiel Parc but also some hidden gems like Crécy-la-Chapelle.

7. Go shopping in Val d’Europe or Galerie La Fayette

Val d’Europe is one of the biggest malls, if not the biggest, in France. You’ll find in this shopping center all traditional commodities, like clothing stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and even an aquarium.

One particularity of this mall is that they also have a dedicated space for Premium Brand Outlets. So it’s quite a prized location for tourists looking for luxury goods.

Galerie La Fayette, Printemps, and Le Bon Marché, on the other hand, are definitely the real deal when it comes to the luxury shopping experience, but only in Paris.

8. Enjoy some Asian restaurants

If you love Asian food, you’ll find plenty of it in this region. If you are keen on Japanese food such as sushi or ramen, Saint-Anne Street in Paris is the perfect location.

On the other hand, if you love Vietnamese and Chinese food, you will find what you are looking for not only in the 13th District of Paris but also in the cities surrounding Lognes. Which is the most Asian-populated city in France.

9. Take some pictures in Cergy or La Défense

If taking pictures, whether landscape or portrait, is your thing, Obviously, Paris is quite a special location.

But there are also some other hidden gems, such as Axe Majeur de Cergy if you’re into nature photography or La Défensequarter if you love modern architecture.

It’s also a nice place to walk around and enjoy the day in the spring or summer.

10. Visit a Castle

France is well known for its castles, and this region is no different. In the IDF, you’ll obviously find the most famous of all castles: Versailles, the home of Louis XIV, aka the Sun King.

Many luxury commercials have been shot there. It’s pretty hard to have a higher standard of luxury. But there are also some other smaller castles, such as Vaux le Vicomte, which are still quite interesting.