Malmaison Day Trip from Paris
Malmaison day trip from Paris brings you to Napoleon and Josephine's private residence - a chateau that feels more like a grand home than an imperial palace. Located in Rueil-Malmaison, 15km west of Paris, this property was Josephine's personal retreat and Napoleon's headquarters during his early years as First Consul. Tickets get you into the Napoleonic museum, personal apartments, and famous rose gardens.
Josephine bought Malmaison in 1799 while Napoleon was fighting in Egypt. He was furious about the expense - she paid over 300,000 francs for a run-down estate. But Malmaison became their "delicious spot," as Josephine's daughter called it. After their divorce, Josephine kept the chateau and lived here until her death in 1814. Napoleon returned briefly after Waterloo before his exile to Saint Helena.
This Chateau de Malmaison from Paris works well as a half-day trip. It's smaller and more intimate than Versailles or Fontainebleau - you can tour the interior and gardens in 2-3 hours. Good for Napoleon enthusiasts, garden lovers, or anyone wanting a calm chateau visit without massive crowds or exhausting scale.
Tip: Malmaison closes Tuesdays and has a lunch break (12:30-1:30 PM). Plan your visit around these closures.
| Factor | Details |
| Distance from Paris | 15 km west |
| Travel time | 30-40 minutes by RER+bus; 25 minutes by car |
| Time needed | 2-3 hours for chateau and gardens; 4 hours with town |
| Best for | Napoleon history, intimate chateau, rose gardens |
| Entry | Ticketed - Napoleonic museum |
| Crowds | Low - off tourist radar |
| Difficulty | Easy - small chateau, flat gardens |
Tickets and How to Book
Entry Tickets
Malmaison requires paid entry. Your ticket covers the Napoleonic National Museum, personal apartments of Napoleon and Josephine, and access to the gardens. Audio guides are available in multiple languages.
Book tickets through the official chateau website or buy at the entrance. Advance booking isn't essential - Malmaison rarely sells out. But booking ahead saves time at the ticket desk.
Paris Museum Pass holders get free entry. If you're visiting multiple museums in Paris, the pass can save money.
Opening Hours
Malmaison opens 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, then 1:30 PM to 5:15 PM (closing time varies by season). It closes Tuesdays and certain holidays (January 1, May 1, December 25). Check the official calendar before visiting.
Plan to arrive by 10:00 AM or after 1:30 PM to maximize your visit time. Arriving at 11:30 AM means you only get an hour before the lunch closure.
Guided Tours
Self-guided visits work fine - the chateau is small and well-labeled. Guided tours are available for groups but not necessary for individual visitors. Audio guides provide good historical context.
How to Get to Malmaison from Paris
RER + Bus
Take RER A from central Paris to La Défense station (10-15 minutes from major stops like Châtelet). From La Défense, catch bus 258 to the Château stop (15-20 minutes). Total journey is 30-40 minutes depending on connections.
Alternatively, take RER A to Rueil-Malmaison station, then walk 20 minutes to the chateau or catch a local bus. Walking is pleasant through residential streets but takes longer.
RER A runs frequently. Bus 258 runs every 15-20 minutes on weekdays, less frequently on weekends. Check schedules ahead.
Rental Car
Drive from Paris via A13 or N13 (25 minutes). Free parking is available near the chateau on surrounding streets. Driving gives you flexibility to combine Malmaison with other destinations or explore Rueil-Malmaison town.
Navigation is straightforward. GPS works fine. Rueil-Malmaison is a quiet suburb - traffic is minimal compared to central Paris.
Organized Tours
Few tours include Malmaison because it's easy to reach independently. Some private tour operators offer Napoleon-themed tours combining Malmaison with other sites. These are expensive and mainly for people who want historical commentary.
One Day Itinerary for Malmaison
9:30-10:00 AM: Travel from Paris
Take RER A from central Paris to La Défense, then bus 258 to the chateau. If driving, leave Paris around 9:30 AM to arrive at opening time. Early arrival means fewer visitors and better light for photos.
10:00-10:15 AM: Arrive and Entry
Arrive at Malmaison around 10:00 AM. Buy tickets at the entrance if you didn't book ahead. Pick up an audio guide if you want historical context. Enter through the main building.
10:15-11:30 AM: Chateau Interior
Start your tour in the personal apartments. Unlike grand palaces, Malmaison feels like a home - granted, a very luxurious home. Rooms include:
Josephine's bedroom with Empire-style furniture and personal items. Her taste for elegance shows in the decor - silk fabrics, delicate furniture, refined details.
Napoleon's library where he spent hours reading. Books line the walls. You can imagine him planning campaigns here.
Music room where Josephine entertained guests. She loved music and hosted salons with artists and intellectuals.
Council room where Napoleon held government meetings. From 1800-1802, Malmaison served as France's government headquarters alongside the Tuileries.
Dining room set with period tableware. Meals at Malmaison were elaborate affairs with multiple courses.
Personal items throughout the chateau include Napoleon's clothing, Josephine's jewelry, letters between them, and furniture they actually used. This intimacy distinguishes Malmaison from larger palaces where everything feels staged.
Allow 60-70 minutes for the interior. It's small enough to see everything without rushing.
11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Rose Gardens
Exit to the gardens behind the chateau. Josephine created one of Europe's most famous rose collections here - she cultivated 250 varieties from around the world. She hired artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté to paint the roses, and those prints still sell today.
Current gardens maintain about 150 rose varieties. Spring and early summer (May-June) are peak blooming times. Even outside rose season, the gardens are pleasant with lawns, trees, and walking paths.
Josephine also kept exotic animals - kangaroos, emus, zebras, gazelles, ostriches. They roamed freely among the grounds. No animals remain today, but the gardens still evoke her vision of creating "the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe."
Walk the grounds for 30-60 minutes. Bring a picnic if you want to eat in the gardens before the chateau closes for lunch.
12:30-1:30 PM: Lunch Break
Malmaison closes 12:30-1:30 PM. Use this time for lunch in Rueil-Malmaison town center (10-minute walk from the chateau). Several cafes and restaurants serve traditional French food. Prices are reasonable - lower than central Paris.
Alternatively, eat before visiting Malmaison or bring a picnic for the gardens.
1:30-2:30 PM: Rueil-Malmaison Town
After lunch, explore Rueil-Malmaison town center if you have time. Cobblestone streets, old buildings, a historic church, and a charming town hall create a pleasant atmosphere. It's a typical French suburb - not touristy, just authentic local life.
Cafes with terraces offer good people-watching. You could easily spend an hour wandering and sitting.
2:30-3:00 PM: Return to Paris
Head back to Paris via bus and RER. You'll be back in central Paris by 3:30-4:00 PM, leaving the rest of the day free.
Things to Do - Extended Options
Bois-Préau Museum
Next to Malmaison is the Bois-Préau museum, covering Napoleon's exile to Saint Helena. It's a separate building with exhibits on his final years, death, and legacy. Entry requires a separate ticket (or combined ticket with Malmaison).
Visit if you're deeply interested in Napoleon's life. Skip if you're short on time or not into detailed Napoleonic history.
Combining with Other Chateaux
Malmaison works well combined with other chateau visits. Vaux le Vicomte is 50 minutes away by car - you could visit Malmaison in the morning, Vaux le Vicomte in the afternoon. This makes a full day of contrasting chateaux - intimate vs grand.
Rambouillet is 40 minutes from Malmaison. Similar combination potential if you have a car and want two chateaux in one day.
Seine River Walk
Malmaison sits near the Seine. Walking paths along the river offer pleasant strolls through nature. Not spectacular scenery but nice if you want fresh air and quiet.
Market Days
Rueil-Malmaison has weekly markets (check current schedule with tourist office). French markets are good for local products, food, and atmosphere. If your visit coincides with market day, it adds life to the town.
Why Malmaison Works as a Half-Day Trip
Malmaison succeeds because it's manageable. You can see everything in 2-3 hours without exhaustion. It's close to Paris - easy to reach, easy to return. And it offers something different from the grand palaces.
Where Versailles overwhelms with scale and crowds, Malmaison charms with intimacy. You see where Napoleon and Josephine actually lived - their bedrooms, their books, their gardens. It humanizes them in a way larger palaces don't.
For Napoleon enthusiasts, Malmaison is essential. For casual visitors, it's a pleasant half-day that doesn't demand the commitment of Versailles or Fontainebleau.
Practical Tips
What to Bring
- Comfortable shoes for gardens
- Camera - gardens are photogenic, especially during rose season
- Picnic supplies if you want to eat in the gardens
- Layers - interior can be cool
Best Time to Visit
May-June for roses in full bloom. Spring and fall have good weather. Summer is warmest but gardens can be dry. Winter is cold but the chateau remains atmospheric.
Weekdays are quieter than weekends. Mornings (right at 10:00 AM opening) have the fewest visitors.
With Kids
Malmaison works for kids interested in history or Napoleon. It's small enough that kids won't get bored walking. Gardens offer space to run. But there are no playgrounds or kid-specific activities. Better for teenagers than young children.
A children's activity book is available at the entrance - it guides kids through the chateau with questions and games.
Photography
Photography is allowed in most areas. Flash may be restricted in certain rooms to protect artifacts. Gardens are perfect for photos, especially during rose season.
Accessibility
Malmaison has stairs and may be challenging for wheelchairs. Contact the chateau ahead if you have specific accessibility needs.
Comparing Malmaison to Other Chateau Day Trips
vs Versailles
Versailles is massive, crowded, and overwhelming. Malmaison is small, quiet, and intimate. Choose Versailles for the iconic palace experience, Malmaison for personal Napoleon history without crowds.
vs Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is larger with centuries of royal history. Malmaison focuses specifically on Napoleon and Josephine's era. Both have excellent gardens. Fontainebleau takes a full day; Malmaison is a half-day.
vs Chantilly
Chantilly has grander gardens and a world-class art collection. Malmaison has more personal Napoleon history. Choose based on whether you want art/gardens or Napoleonic focus.
