Fontainebleau

Royal Château and Enchanting Forest

Fontainebleau sits along France’s southeastern coast, about fifty kilometers south of Paris. The town is known for its sandy beaches and clear water that draws swimmers during summer months. Local forests provide trails for walking or biking, while historic sites like the Château de Fontainebleau attract visitors interested in history and architecture. Markets sell fresh produce and regional specialties such as goat cheese and crusty bread. The area balances quiet countryside with easy access to Paris, making it a practical stop for travelers seeking both relaxation and culture.

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Town in France

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.9

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	9

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in tourist spots like the château, hotels, and some restaurants, but in smaller cafés and local shops, French is preferred. Knowing basic French phrases will be helpful.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Fontainebleau Summary

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Great for palace history and forest hiking. Tour grand royal rooms, walk through landscaped gardens, climb sandstone rocks and explore forest trails.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Historic sites

Castles

Spotless

Climbing

Walkable

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

💻 9

Digital Nomads

🥗 9

Vegetarian

France – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type E Type C: Type E: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in cities and tourist areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is optional but appreciated in restaurants (5-10%) and for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, but restrictions apply in some cities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces but common in outdoor cafes.

Bastille Day (July)	Parades and fireworks occur nationwide.
Easter (March/April)	Cultural celebrations and closures.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 112 (EU emergency), 15 (Ambulance), 17 (Police), 18 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Heetch
Other:	France offers diverse experiences, from art and culture to nature and cuisine. Be cautious in crowded areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Fontainebleau, France

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Apr

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High season:	April - Oct.
Shoulder season:	Jan. - March, Nov.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

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Climate details

Bouldering season runs October to April, when cool, dry rock gives the best grip

Château de Fontainebleau is closed Tuesdays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December

Don't miss

🏰 Tour the grand Château de Fontainebleau palace
🌲 Hike through the scenic Fontainebleau forest trails
🏛️ Visit the ornate Napoleon I apartments and museums
🌸 Explore the lush gardens surrounding the château
🔔 Climb to the top of the bell tower for views

You've been here?

Why travel to Fontainebleau?

Fontainebleau is all about grandeur and nature. The Château de Fontainebleau, a former residence of French royalty, rivals Versailles in beauty but with far fewer crowds. The interiors are lavish, the gardens are stunning and the surrounding forest is a dream for hikers, climbers and photographers. The town itself is small but lovely, with charming cafés and a laid-back vibe. However, it’s not a nightlife destination and public transport within the area is limited, so walking or biking is the best way to explore.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Palace of Fontainebleau
2 Église Saint-Louis
3 Barbizon
4 Théâtre Municipal
5 Cour d'Honneur

🎡Places for activities

1 Fontainebleau Firefighting Museum
2 Le carrousel de Fontainebleau

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Milly-la-Forêt
2 Dame Jouanne
3 Mont Ussy
4 La Mare aux Fées
5 La Cheneviere A Forest
6 Canal du Loing
7 Carrefour des Gorges d'Apremont
8 Gorges de Franchard

🛍️Shopping

1 Les délices du Château
2 Carrefour Market
3 Chemin de la Fromagerie

🎈Events

Festival de l'Histoire de l'Art
Festival Django Reinhardt
Fontainebleau Forest Trail Run
Festival Musique en Seine
Napoleon Days
Christmas Market in Fontainebleau
Antique Book Fair
Rendezvous of the Gardens
Classic Car Show
Summer Music Concerts at the Château

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Knowledge before you go

Pair the château visit with a forest walk or bike ride.
Arrive early for Château de Fontainebleau to enjoy quieter rooms and better photo light.
Bring proper shoes: the forest’s sandy paths and sandstone boulders are surprisingly demanding.
On market days, browse the town center first, then picnic in the forest for a local-style day.

How to travel to Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau is easily reached from Paris via a 40-minute train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon station. From there, local buses or a short taxi ride will take you to the town center and the château. Driving from Paris takes about an hour.

Access summary

From Paris Orly (ORY): Taxi or shuttle via A6, about 45–60 minutes.
From central Paris: Train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon, around 40 minutes.
From CDG Airport (CDG): RER/train via Paris then to Fontainebleau-Avon, about 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau offers charming boutique hotels, cozy B&Bs and a few luxury stays near the château. There are also countryside lodges and camping options for those who want to stay closer to nature.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

La Demeure Du Parc

8.9

Mercure Chateau De Fontainebleau Demeures De Campagne

8.5

Aigle Noir Hotel Fontainebleau - MGallery Collection

8.4

Campanile Fontainebleau

9.2

Campanile Melun Sud Dammarie les Lys

7.3

Kyriad Nemours Darvault

7.3

ibis Château de Fontainebleau

8.6

Enzo Hotels Cannes Ecluse by Kyriad Direct

8.0

Novotel Fontainebleau Ury

7.4

Le Petit Château de Barbizon

9.2

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How to get around Fontainebleau

The town is small enough to explore on foot. Biking is a great way to see the château and the forest. Public buses are limited and taxis can be expensive, so renting a bike or car is ideal for more freedom.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-8 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 8% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Melun, France - 15 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£67	£146	£387
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£30	£75	£165
🍝 Food per day	£29	£62	£190
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£10	£31

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£21
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£10
🍟 Fast food combo	£10.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£9
☕ Cappuccino	£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£6

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.90
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£18
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£8
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£23
🤧 Cold medication	£4
💇 Basic haircut	£19

Safety information overview

General safety

Fontainebleau is very safe, with low crime rates. Pickpocketing is rare but can happen during events. Be mindful when hiking alone in the forest, as getting lost is possible.

Health & Medical

There are small clinics in Fontainebleau, but major hospitals are in nearby cities like Melun. Pharmacies are available for minor health concerns. The forest can have ticks, so check after hikes.

Accessibility

The château has accessible areas, but some sections have cobblestone paths and stairs. The forest trails vary in difficulty and some are wheelchair-friendly. Public transport is limited.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and high-quality. Public fountains are available, but not all are drinkable – look for ‘Eau Potable’ signs. Bring a refillable bottle.