Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris, Paris Orly Airport and Paris Beauvais Airport are the three airports close to Paris from where you can catch a flight to the South of France. 1. The Orangerie makes a nice stop after spending a few hours in the Tuileries Gardens watching the world go by. For a 10- to 14-day trip that highlights Paris, Provence, and the Riviera, fly into Paris and out of Nice. The city has been a retreat for high-rollers since the 19th century and today offers fabulous markets, glorious architecture, and excellent dining options. Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are our recommended priorities: If you have only a week and it's your first trip to France, do Paris, Normandy, and the Loire. There will also be a visit to two wine estates of the Vouvray Appellation, well-known for its sparkling and white wines. This itinerary covers a boggling number of must-see places and unique excursions for an authentic taste of French life. Thank you! This road trip south of France is one of the best road trips in France. The first day of this tour takes place in Paris where you'll join a walking tour of the le de la Cit and Le Marais district, passing by the oldest square in Paris: Place des Vosges (great for a picnic stop). In addition to museum big hitters like Le Louvre, consider the Muse dOrsays exceptional impressionist collection and the Centre Pompidous cache of modern and contemporary art, not to mention scores of smaller museums which showcase every imaginable genre. "Everything was great. Highlights of the French Riviera: Nice & Cannes - 5 Days. However, there is a way to condense the best French Riviera itinerary into just 5 days and have the chance to visit stunning beaches, explore fun cities, and eat delicious food. The adventure doesn't end herenext, take the train to Paris where you'll spend your last few days! A few times over the years, Ive stayed at soulless chain hotels on the edges of Paris, and each time it was a mistake. You'll discover this seductive art on a visit to one of the premier perfumeries in town, Galimard. Upon arriving at the country home, you can take a stroll around the property and search for wild aromatic herbs. Nice. Your France trip begins in Paris, nicknamed Ville Lumire (City of Lights), the pulsing, yet elegant capital soaked in centuries of history, as well as art, fashion, and romance. Day 3: More time in Paris (sleep in Paris), Day 4: Train* and bus to Mont St-Michel via Rennes (3 hours, arrive in Mont St-Michel about 13:00); spend afternoon and evening exploring Mont St-Michel (sleep on/near Mont St-Michel), Day 5: Train to Bayeux (2 hours, arrive by noon); spend afternoon and evening exploring Bayeux (sleep in Bayeux), Day 6: All day for D-Day beaches by minivan, taxi, bus, or a combination of these (sleep in Bayeux), Day 7: Train* to Amboise via Caen and St-Pierre des Corps (5 hours); spend afternoon visiting Amboise sights (sleep in Amboise), Day 8: All day for touring Loire chteaux by bus, bike, or minivan tour (sleep in Amboise), Day 9: Early train* to Sarlat-la-Canda (6 hours, arrive about 13:00); spend afternoon and evening exploring Sarlat (sleep in Sarlat), Day 10: All day for caves and canoes by train, bike, or minivan/taxi tour (sleep in Sarlat), Day 11: Train or bus to Carcassonne via Bordeaux (7 hours); dinner and evening wall walk (sleep in Carcassonne), Day 12: In early morning, take another wall walk in Carcassonne. Youll have your own private outdoor space and be steps from the pool. You'll even stop at a local chateau to select some great Provenal wine to pair with your meal. Trip was amazing and very thankful we had someone ", "My daughter and I just returned from an exceptional Tur du Mont Blanc hiking trip. Located on Cap Ferrat just to the east of Nice, the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is worth a visit for the gardens alone (and the house is no slouch either). During your visit, you'll take a guided tour of the perfumery Fragonard, for a real taste of Provence. The city is also home to hundreds of dining options ranging from family-owned eateries serving traditional Lyonnaise cuisine to Michelin-starred restaurants from famous chefs like Paul Bocuse. This fast-paced itinerary travels from south to north with a range of unique excursions that capitalize on French culture, cuisine, and scenery ranging from beaches to snow-capped mountains. Day 1: Arrive to & Visit the City of Nice You'll most likely be flying into or arriving by train to Nice, the biggest city in the area (not counting Marseille, which isn't nearby most of these attractions). Drive east from Aix-en-Provence and within two hours, youll see signs to Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Menton and Monte Carlo. Plan for 1-2 a day. You'll spend a few days here exploring ritzy towns like Monaco while also learning how to cook a three-course meal with a French chef. Day 20: Linger in Chamonix or take an early train* to Paris (7 hours) or Annecy (2 hours), finishing your trip in either (the Geneva Airport is 1 hour by bus from Annecy). Suggested Itineraries France Itinerary France Itinerary Discover the best of French life with this spectacular France itinerary. This trip starts in the Normandy region where you'll be based in an attractive town called Bayeux known for beautiful 13th- to 18th-century buildings, and medieval streets offering great cafs and restaurants. Culinary tour in the 7th district (where we were staying). If youre in Paris on a Thursday, visit the museum around 6 or 7 pm (its open until 10:00 on Thursdays), go up the Eiffel Tower to see the sunset and the lights (depending on the time of year), and end with dinner at a restaurant in the area. Travelers with a little more time could add Burgundy and/or the Alps, which are about halfway between Paris and Provence and easy to explore by car or train. If you do want to see her, arrive early, or drop by just before the museum closes. Located close to the Vavin Metro, the hotel is also a short walk to the Luxembourg Gardens where our daughter spent many happy hours in a smartly designed playground. BEAUNE - DAY 3. Perfume Tour of Grasse. France is a large country and best savored by spending at least two days in each place you plan to visit. The area abounds with cool restaurants such as La Rotunde on Boulevard Montparnasse where many artists and intellectuals congregated back in the day. We loved the tours we went on, all the people who were the guides were so personable and knowledgeable! This is a great choice in La Colle-sur-Loup, which is about a ten-minute drive from the Fondation Maeght. Today will start with an early morning visit to the Provenal markets of Aix where you can find plenty of local specialties such as macarons, calissons, goat cheese, olive oil, honey, and fantastic local wines to take home as souvenirsor, instead, shop for clothes in the city's stylish boutiques.Then it's time for an exciting day-trip. Make sure to get a good night's rest before tomorrow's walking tour that covers some of the city's major monuments and museums. To help you get started, we've listed our top picks for where to go in France, and our plan for your best three-week trip. Here are just a few of the highlights. This Southern France road trip itinerary lasts two weeks, and it is a good itinerary for first-timers in Southern France who love history, sightseeing, outdoor activities, and great food. Europe - Help: 9-10 day trip to Paris and South of France - Would appreciate help improving my itinerary, for a first time to France, family of 4, kids ages 16 and 21, first half July. Or stick within a smaller radius, perhaps with a western road trip through Normandy and Bourdeaux. It takes 11 days of train travel to do this trip (also consider the cheaper Ouibus and Flixbus for some trips). Another option is to home base in a village like Saint-Paul-de-Vence or Vence and then drive to the towns on the Mediterrenean. After a lunch break, it's time to explore LeLouvre (the largest museum in Europe), with skip-the-line-access, where you'll have time to get up close to Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. Next is Bordeaux, a pedestrian-friendly city and the largest urban UNESCO World Heritage Site on the planet with a number of gothic and medieval highlights. Dinner cruise on the Seine - relaxing and beautiful. "Aix" and its surrounding villages have an exceptional geographic location, and these picturesque landscapes have been immortalized by painters such as Cezanne, Picasso, and Kandinsky. No matter which way you do it, prepare to be wowed by the views from above. View Itinerary A weeklong foray into Italy's beloved cities. Estimated Finish: 1:28 p.m. Quick Preview: The ceremonial ride into Paris, almost always a day for the sprinters. For an off-the-beaten track adventure, check out Chteau La Coste in the hills north of Aix-en-Provence. This is where you'll join walking tours with local experts who will show you some of the capital's best arrondissements. When you enter the pyramid and descend the escalator to the center of the Louvre, youre faced with three wings: Sully, Richelieu, and Denon. Traveler's Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver's license. You'll also have time to visit the UNESCO-listed Old Town and the Presque lea piece of land surrounded by two rivers. I make time for a visit every time I go to Paris. Also know as theMuse du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac, the Muse Quai Branly deserves a place on your Paris itinerary if you are interested in art and objects created by indigenous cultures from around the world. Your guide will share the town's secret places and intimate beaches before you choose a spot for lunch at the main port where you can enjoy a view of the sea. We first conside", Traveled to France as a couple in May, 2023, "We gave a bit of an unusual order to Joel, asking him to find and plan a 4 days advanced intensive cooking class in Lyon with some ability to have a bit of E", "Amandine & team were great at building an itinerary that was packed, but at a manageable pace. View Map You can cover some serious ground with two weeks in France, spending multiple days in up to three different regions (plus time in Paris). A private guide at the Louvre with David was a must as no time", "Many thanks to Kimkim and Simon for helping us to plan our two-week tour of France to celebrate my wife's 60th Birthday. Make sure to ask your guide for the best restaurants in town before you explore the dining scene on your own. The full itinerary brought in all t", "We loved all aspects of our trip. DAY: BORDEAUX HALF-DAY WINE TOUR 3. We would like to then head south to relax and get a 'taste of the south of France' for 5 days including wine country and maybe a beach. Read more about the Muse du Quai Branly in my postParis for Art Lovers: Cool Art Museums You May Not Know. I suggest checking out two or at the most three each day and then leaving plenty of time for wandering around your new neighborhood, sipping coffee in cafs and going out for dinner. Avoid the areas near the train station. Bienvenue! The South of France is heaven on earth. Honfleur, for instance, became an artist colony where Monet and his painter friends used to meet. With six castles on both sides of the riverand three villages classified as the most beautiful villages of Francethis unforgettable route will have you reaching for your camera often. At sunset, it's time to visit the 1050-foot (320-m)-tall Eiffel Tower, conceived by Gustave Eiffel as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World's Fair. Buy tickets in advance from the official website. Heres an overview of an itinerary that provides you with a taste of fabulous Paris (just enough to make you want to return! On your way to Aix-en-Provence from the Luberon, consider stopping for an afternoon to see Avignon. For me, a perfect Parisian evening starts with a 7 pm concert at Sainte Chapelle followed by a walk across le de la Citto enjoy dinner on medieval le Saint Louis. Get ticketsin advance to book your time slot and avoid lines. Day 1: Fly into Paris (save Paris sightseeing for your trip finale), pick up your car, and visit Giverny en route to Honfleur (sleep in Honfleur), Day 2: Morning in Honfleur, afternoon in Bayeux to see its tapestry and cathedral (sleep in Bayeux), Day 3: Spend day touring D-Day sights: Arromanches, American Cemetery, and Pointe du Hoc and Utah Beach Landing Museum, if you're moving fast (sleep in Bayeux), Day 4: Drive to Dinan and see its sights. Air Travel . She wore a silky . Theres a great deal of art in the Louvre, and while all of it is amazing, some pieces are more amazing than others. Should be the final Tour stage for Cavendish and Peter Sagan, who both plan to retire from road cycling after this season. This local legacy since the 18th century is defined by luxury, refinement, and the supreme quality of ingredients used to make Grasse's famous fragrances. Read more about road tripping in France: France by Car Guide France Road Trip Planner Just make sure to save some energy for what comes next. A good place to start is by visiting Nice's old town, or Vieux Nice. Start your trip in beautiful Paris and let the train carry you down to the sunny Mediterranean, while cruising through hillside vineyards and endless lavender fields. For example, pair the South of France and the Provenal countryside with a few days of hiking in the French Alps. Following the tour, you'll have the rest of the day to continue enjoying Paris however you'd like. If you have about 810 days, consider a loop linking Paris, Normandy, and the Loire. We had a few issues pop up and they handled them immediately. Check the SCNF website to buy tickets. We fell in love with France- South of France in particular. A better and less headache-inducing option is to head for the far end of the Denon wing and work your way back. Day 1 - Paris - Admire the glittering cityscape of Paris, past grand boulevards and iconic sites like the Champs lyses and the Arc de Triomphe.