The city of  Fontainebleau was such a fun town to explore. The city center, as the locals say, is quite small so it’s easy to walk. Mike and I strolled through Chateau de Fontainebleau and caught up on some French history!  Then we walked down the street to grab a bite to eat and have a few drinks. We popped in the little shops and walked down any street we could find looking for anything new. We sat at a cafe outside and just enjoyed the view and our time there taking it all in. Listening to others around us speak such beautiful French, and we even had some fun ordering from our waitress in French.

Fontainebleau is the perfect place to visit for a quick day trip! There are even a few small hotels there if you decide to stay the night. Here a few things I recommend doing in Fontainebleau while you’re there!

How to spend a day in Fontainebleau, France!

Where to Eat

There are so many places to eat in Fontainebleau! There are a few cafes by the carousel that are the perfect place to rest your feet for awhile. I had an Irish coffee (pictured below) that was delicious. I also had a cup of tea and Mike…believe it or not…had a shot. It was tequila and baileys. I think it was called the Orgasmic and it was actually pretty good. We both had a glass of wine and then headed down the street to find a place to eat. Everything on Trip Advisor has 4 stars and the food in France is delicious so you shouldn’t have a problem finding something great to eat! The hardest part is walking past the bakeries and ice cream parlors! Macaroons for days! There are options like burgers, pizza, and even sushi!

Travel tip: Keep track of the time. Bring snacks when you visit Chateau de Fontainebleau because there are no food options there. The surrounding restaurants and cafes are only open from 12 – 2:00, and 7-10pm.  So you only have a few hours a day to grab a meal. Just make sure to check the time and keep track.

What to Do

The main thing you want to do is visit Chateau de Fontainebleau. This portion probably takes a half a day. After you’ve explored the chateau and the grounds and gardens head out into Fontainebleau to check out the town. You’ll only have an hour or so after you’re done eating so take the time to stroll around the town and check out a few local shops. The flower shop I found was by far my favorite! Parisian doors in Fontainebleau were grand scale and the most lovely color of pale blue.

Travel tip: Make sure you have your travel arrangements prepared. Ubers and Taxis will take a little longer than 20 minutes and you’ll need to use your data.  There is a bus but lets be honest, I don’t know a ton about public transportation.

My friend Donna, that lived in Fontainebleau, also told me to mention that INSEAD, the business school of the world,  is there for any MBA seekers! Going to business school internationally means so much travel! Just something to think about.

More France Travel Resources:

33 Photos to inspire you to visit Chateau de Fontainebleau

Regional France Experience: Welcome To Bordeaux

Things To Do In Paris – A Perfect Itinerary For First Timers