Fontainebleau
Go for a royal palace, forest trails and rock climbing, all within reach of Paris by train.
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Fontainebleau is a town in France, about 55.5 km south-southeast of central Paris, reached by train on Line R. People come for the Château de Fontainebleau, which began as a royal hunting lodge in the mid-12th century and was turned into a royal palace by Francis I. About 300,000 people visit the palace each year. On April 20, 1814, Napoleon bid farewell to his Old Guard in the White Horse Courtyard, now called the Courtyard of Goodbyes.
The forest wraps around the town and a number of neighboring villages. It is recognized as a French national park and was once a royal hunting ground, so its paths suit hikers and horse riders. Its bouldering area is described as the largest developed of its kind in the world, and more than 13 million people visit the forest each year. Plan one day for the palace and a forest walk, or two if you want a longer hike or climbing. Spring and autumn suit walking best.
Fontainebleau in five
- Take the Transilien Line R to Fontainebleau-AvonLine R trains run from Paris to Fontainebleau-Avon, the station nearest the town center. The station sits in Avon, close to the boundary with Fontainebleau. Local bus lines from the station run into town.Getting around
- Arrive at the palace early in the dayAbout 300,000 people visit the château each year, so an early start helps you see the rooms and courtyards before the crowds build.
- Give the forest a day of its ownThe forest surrounds the town and dozens of nearby villages, and more than 13 million people visit it each year. Hikers and horse riders use its paths, so a single afternoon will not cover it.
- Save offline maps before you walkThe forest paths spread across many villages, and a town map will not show them all. Set up an eSIM or save offline maps before you leave the station.Phones and eSIM
- Check the climbing rules before you boulderThe forest's bouldering area is described as the largest developed of its kind in the world, so climbers often plan a trip around it. Some areas close at times to protect nature, so check before you go.
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check France-Visas before you travel Read more
- Emergency
- 112 from any phone; 17 police, 18 fire, 15 ambulance
- Tipping
- Service is included; a small extra tip is customary, not required
- Time
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, dampFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, damp
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Spring startsMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Spring walksAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring walks
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Green, mildMayRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Hot, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Holiday crowdsAugustPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Holiday crowds
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, quieterSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Damp, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Damp, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short days
Average daily high and low in Fontainebleau, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Fontainebleau
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 25%
Fontainebleau
09:40 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°4°25%Monday: Rain. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Tue11°4°10%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed10°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu12°1°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°2°8%Friday: Fog. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat9°1°10%Saturday: Fog. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun12°3°32%Sunday: Fog. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 32%.
Updated 09:30 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- MayVillette SoniqueParis, a day trip
- JunSolidaysParis, a day trip
- AugRock en SeineParis, a day trip
- SepFête de l'HumanitéParis, a day trip
Before you go to Fontainebleau
Rules for Fontainebleau, checked
- Many passports need no visa for short stays in France. Check the current rules on France-Visas before you book.Source
- Declare cash when you enter or leave the EU if you carry a large sum. Check the rules on the French customs site before you travel.Source
- Dial 112 from any phone for police, fire or an ambulance in France.
- Some forest climbing areas close at times to protect nature, so check current rules with the National Forest Office (ONF) before you climb.Source
Plan around Fontainebleau
Regions, entry and transport for a France trip
Read the guideGetting around FranceTrains and buses from Paris to Fontainebleau
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical prices for a day in town
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and what to check before you fly
Read the guideWhere to stayWhere to base yourself for the palace and forest
Read the guideTours and ticketsTours from Paris to the palace and forest
Read the guideFontainebleau FAQ
Is Fontainebleau worth visiting?
Yes if you want a royal palace and a large forest for walking or climbing. It is about 55 km from Paris, so it works as a day out, and a second day suits people who want the forest.
How far is Fontainebleau from Paris?
About 55 km south-southeast of central Paris. Trains run from Paris on Line R, so a day trip is practical. Check the timetable before you travel.
Is the Fontainebleau palace worth it?
Yes for its royal history. Francis I turned the hunting lodge into a royal palace, and Napoleon bid farewell to his Old Guard in the Courtyard of Goodbyes on April 20, 1814.
What is the Fontainebleau forest known for?
Hiking, horse riding and rock climbing. It is a former royal hunting park, and its bouldering areas are described as the largest developed of their kind in the world.
How many days do you need in Fontainebleau?
One day covers the palace and a walk at the forest edge. Two days allow a longer hike or time at the bouldering areas.
Do you need a car in Fontainebleau?
Not for the palace, which is in town. A car helps for the forest's farther paths and nearby villages, since the forest surrounds dozens of them.