21 days Grand Tour of France: Paris, Normandy, Brittany, Southwest, Provence, Alps

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Paris

   Land at Paris-CDG (France's largest airport) or Orly. Easiest link: RER B from CDG (50 min to Châtelet, €11.80) or OrlyBus from Orly (30 min to Denfert-Rochereau, €11.50). Settle in the Marais (3rd/4th arrondissements, medieval lanes, walking access to Notre-Dame and the centre) or Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th, chicer, literary cafés). 3* boutique hotels: Hôtel Saint-Paul Rive Gauche or Pavillon de la Reine (Place des Vosges, €350-500/night). Around 6pm, walk along the Seine banks between Île Saint-Louis and Pont des Arts at sunset (golden light on Haussmann façades). Dinner in a Marais bistro: Chez Janou (Provençal cuisine, €35-45/person) or daily special at Ardoise du XVe (€25).

   Tips

   • · Rechargeable Navigo Easy pass: €2.15/metro ride, or 10-ride carnet €16.90 — RATP also offers Paris Visite 1/2/3/5 days.
   • · Avoid taxi/Uber from CDG (€60-80 depending on traffic) — RER B unbeatable outside rush hours.
   • · Late arrival: most Paris hotels have 24/7 check-in, but warn if arriving after midnight.
   • · First evening: don't overload the schedule — flight fatigue catches up on following days.
   Paris →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Paris: Louvre + Eiffel Tower

   Morning at the Louvre (€22, mandatory online booking for sharp 9am, Pyramid entrance). Essential 3-4h route: Mona Lisa (Salle des États, aim for 9am to dodge groups), Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 19th-century French paintings (Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, David's Coronation of Napoleon). Light lunch at the Tuileries (kiosks along Rue de Rivoli) or coffee at Café Marly under the arcades facing the Pyramid. Afternoon to the Eiffel Tower: walk down the Seine via Concorde and Trocadéro for the iconic photo. Climb the tower to the 2nd floor (€18.80 stairs, €26.80 lift) or the summit (€35.30) — slot 1h before sunset to catch Paris in daylight then illuminated. Dinner in the Marais: Breizh Café (Breton galettes, €18-22) or Robert et Louise (rib of beef cooked over fire, €45-55).

   Tips

   • · Book Louvre + Eiffel Tower 2 weeks ahead (slots packed April to October) — non-refundable tickets.
   • · Louvre: Porte des Lions entrance or Richelieu passage less crowded than the Pyramid at peak times.
   • · Eiffel Tower: the view from Trocadéro is better than from the tower itself — visit at least once.
   • · Eiffel Tower sparkle: every hour of the night for 5 min (until 1am).
   • · 2-day Paris Museum Pass (€65) pays off from Louvre + Versailles + Orsay.
   Paris →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Paris: Versailles

   Full day at the Palace of Versailles. Transport: RER C Versailles-Château line from Saint-Michel or Invalides (35 min, €4.15). Arrive before opening (9am) to enter first — the palace saturates after 11am, 1h-1h30 queues. Passport ticket (€27, €32 with Musical Fountains show): Palace + Hall of Mirrors + Grand and Petit Trianon + Queen's Hamlet. Programme: morning at the Palace (Royal Apartments, 73m Hall of Mirrors, Royal Chapel, 2-3h), sandwich lunch on the estate (Petite Venise kiosk) or smarter at La Petite Venise (Italian cuisine, €25-35). Afternoon: Trianon + Queen's Hamlet (15 min walk or little train €8.50 return) — the estate's most peaceful corner. Return to Paris around 6pm. Saint-Germain-des-Prés evening: aperitif at Café de Flore (€10-15/drink), dinner at classic brasseries Lipp or Bouillon Racine (mains €12-18, Belle Époque atmosphere).

   Tips

   • · Versailles at 9am sharp at opening — anyone arriving after 11am will spend 1h30 minimum in the queue.
   • · Musical Fountains (Tues, Sat, Sun from April to October): fountains set to music in the gardens, €12 supplement.
   • · Rent a bike at the Trianon (€8/h) to ride the Grand Canal — huge estate, 815 ha.
   • · Picnic allowed in the park (but not in the formal gardens) — bakery in front of the station.
   • · Return train: avoid 5-6pm (Paris rush hour), take 4:30pm or 7pm.
   Versailles →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Paris → Mont-Saint-Michel (TGV Rennes + car)

   TGV Paris-Montparnasse → Rennes in 1h25 (€50-100, book 2-3 months ahead for best price). Pick up rental car at Rennes TGV station (Hertz, Europcar, Sixt — count €35-55/day category B, ex-fuel). Drive to Mont-Saint-Michel: 75 km via A84 (1h15, €6 toll). Mandatory parking 2.5 km from the Mount (€15/day) + free shuttle or 35-min walk on Dietmar Feichtinger's footbridge (beautiful approach). Lodging: on the Mount at Auberge Saint-Pierre (€250-450/night) or Mère Poulard (€450-700) — book 6 months ahead in high season — otherwise Pontorson (8 km) or Beauvoir (3 km, hotels €80-150). Catch the sunset over the bay (golden light on the Gothic silhouette), dinner of Mère Poulard's legendary omelette (€30-45) or simpler at Chez Mado.

   Tips

   • · Tide calendar ot-montsaintmichel.com — aim for an equinox spring tide (March/September, coef > 100) to see the Mount surrounded by water, rare sight.
   • · Hotel booking on the Mount: 6 months ahead mandatory for May-September.
   • · Category B car is enough — manual gearbox cheaper than automatic (count +30% for automatic in France).
   • · Fuel: €20-30 tank for Rennes-MSM-Saint-Malo route.
   • · If late arrival: the Mount lit at night from the car park (free) remains stunning.
   Mont-Saint-Michel →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Mont-Saint-Michel: abbey + bay

   Full day at Mont-Saint-Michel. Morning: climb the Grande Rue (commercial, touristy but unmissable) to the abbey (€13, opens 9am, 1h30-2h with HistoPad audioguide €5 — the 13th-century Gothic Merveille, cloister suspended at 80m, monumental refectory, abbey church at the top, exceptional bay panorama). Lunch: light omelette + cider at La Mère Poulard (simple menu €30-45) or more modest Au Petit Mouton crêperie. Afternoon: ramparts walk (free, 30-45 min, abbey garden and wall path), descend to the bay's beach at low tide (bare sands, safe walking only near the Mount). Guided bay crossing with a certified guide (Maison du Guide, Décibaie — €25-40/person, 2-4h depending on route): one of Normandy's most powerful experiences, quicksand and tide rushing in at 6km/h. Sunset on the ramparts or from the outer dyke (light turning stones gold). Dinner on the Mount (rare and quiet once the buses leave at 6pm).

   Tips

   • · Abbey at sharp 9am — after 11am, crowds from Saint-Malo and Caen buses, degraded experience.
   • · Bay crossing: certified guide MANDATORY (quicksand kills, tide rises at galloping horse speed, 14km/h in some sections).
   • · Crossing booking: 2-3 weeks ahead via official sites (chemins-baie.com).
   • · Eat on the Mount after 7pm to grasp the atmosphere without day visitors — the village reclaims its soul.
   • · Iconic photo: from the car park at sunset, or from Mont Avranches (15 km, overlooking view).
   Mont-Saint-Michel →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Mount → Saint-Malo + Cancale

   Drive to Saint-Malo (50 km, 1h via D155 along the bay). Settle intra-muros (within the ramparts — unique atmosphere but tricky parking) or Paramé (extra-muros, Sillon beach, easier with a car). Recommended hotels: Hôtel du Centre or Le Nouveau Monde (€90-160/night). Morning in the corsair city: full ramparts tour (1.8 km, free, 45 min, archipelago and Grand Bé panoramas), Saint-Vincent Cathedral (Gothic, contemporary stained glass), Saint-Malo History Museum in the château (€6). Lunch: galette saucisse + cider at Crêperie Margaux (€15-22) or seafood platter at Bar de l'Univers on the square. Low tide early afternoon to walk to the Grand Bé (Chateaubriand's austere tomb, free, check tide times — 30-min window). Cancale excursion (12 km, 20 min) — French oyster capital: tasting at the oyster market facing the sea (€6-12/dozen + glass of Muscadet €3). Saint-Malo dinner: Le Chalut (Michelin starred, €80-130) or simpler La Brigantine (sea cuisine €30-45).

   Tips

   • · Intra-muros parking: paid and tough — prefer Esplanade Saint-Vincent car park (outer, €15/day) then everything on foot.
   • · Cancale: oysters in full season September to April (meatiest), avoid July-August for quality.
   • · Grand Bé: absolutely check tides — you get stuck at high tide (6h wait).
   • · Breton savoury galettes (buckwheat) + sweet crêpes (wheat): always order artisanal dry cider to pair.
   • · Saint-Malo in September: Route du Rhum (1 year in 4, next 2026) — departure from the port, exceptional maritime atmosphere.
   Saint-Malo →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Saint-Malo → Étretat (drive via Honfleur, 380 km)

   Long Brittany → Normandy drive day via the D-Day beaches. Early start (8am) from Saint-Malo. Route via Caen: 300 km, 3h30 on the A84 (€13 toll). Morning-midday stop in Bayeux (express 1h-1h30 visit) — Bayeux Tapestry (€12, 70m 11th-century embroidery telling William's Norman conquest of England) or straight to the beaches. Pointe du Hoc (free, 1h, cliffs scaled by US Rangers on 6 June 1944, landscape frozen in bombings, sober memorial) + American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer (free, 9,387 white graves facing Omaha Beach, powerful moment). Back on the road to Honfleur: 100 km, 1h30 via the Pont de Normandie (€5.40, spectacular architecture, one of the world's longest cable-stayed bridges). Arrive Honfleur late afternoon. Hotel check-in (Maisons de Léa €120-180, La Ferme Saint-Siméon €250-400). Walk to the Vieux Bassin with colourful half-timbered houses, dinner at the port: seafood platter at La Tortue (€45-65) or Norman cuisine at Bistro des Artistes.

   Tips

   • · Pont de Normandie: €5.40, impressive architecture, don't hesitate to stop at the rest area for a photo.
   • · D-Day beaches: private guide recommended (€80-150/group half-day) to grasp complete historical context.
   • · To save time, do Tapestry OR beaches, not both same day if you want a late arrival in Honfleur.
   • · Honfleur: paid parking in centre, free Naturospace parking 10 min walk away.
   • · Fuel: top up before Caen (motorway cheaper than city-centre stations).
   Étretat →
8. 8

   Day 8

   Étretat: cliffs + gardens

   Drive Honfleur → Étretat (75 km, 1h30 via Pont de Normandie + Alabaster Coast). Étretat hotel: Dormy House (€140-220, terrace facing the cliffs) or Le Donjon (€180-280, romantic park). Morning GR21 "Customs Officers' Path" hike from the village: climb to Porte d'Aval (1 km, 30 min, iconic cliff with its arch) then continue to Manneporte (widest of the 3 arches, 3-4h return, 200m elevation gain). View over 3 successive arches — Porte d'Amont (north), Porte d'Aval (centre), Manneporte (south) — painted by Monet, Boudin, Courbet. Lunch at the port: moules-frites at Le Galion (€16-22) or grilled fish. Afternoon: Étretat Gardens (€12, 1h30, contemporary creation by Alexandre Grivko, spectacular topiary art in terraces facing the Channel), Maison du Clos Lupin (€7.50, Maurice Leblanc museum, immersive scenography). Sunset from Notre-Dame de la Garde chapel (free, 20-min walk from the beach, extraordinary viewpoint over the Amont cliff). Norman cuisine dinner at Le Donjon or village bistro (Nordic-style squid, Norman cider stews).

   Tips

   • · Walking shoes mandatory on GR21 — slippery limestone terrain after rain, sheer cliffs.
   • · Evening golden light on the cliffs = best photo moment (1h before sunset).
   • · Étretat saturated July-August (tour buses) — prefer May-June or September.
   • · Tides: at low tide, access to the cliff base and pebbles — check times (falls possible).
   • · Combined visit Étretat + Fécamp (15 km north, abbey, Bénédictine Palace €14) for a second half-day.
   Étretat →
9. 9

   Day 9

   Étretat → Paris → TGV Bordeaux (2h04)

   Transit morning. Drive Étretat → Le Havre (30 km, 40 min) — return car at Le Havre TGV station. TGV Le Havre → Paris Saint-Lazare in 2h (€30-60). Saint-Lazare → Montparnasse metro link (line 14 or 12+4, 30 min, €2.15). TGV Paris-Montparnasse → Bordeaux Saint-Jean in 2h04 (€60-120, LGV Sud Europe Atlantique). Arrive Bordeaux around 5-6pm. Settle in Old Bordeaux (Triangle d'Or, Place Pey-Berland) or Chartrons (former wine merchants' district, bobo). Recommended hotels: Mama Shelter Bordeaux (€130-200, design), La Course (€110-170, boutique). Walk along the UNESCO Port of the Moon: Place de la Bourse, its Water Mirror (world's largest, 3,450 m², spectacular at sunset), neoclassical Grand-Théâtre. Dinner in Chartrons: daily bistro €18-25 or Bordeaux cuisine at Symbiose (creative cuisine €40-55).

   Tips

   • · Alternative route: direct car Étretat → Bordeaux (700 km, 7h-8h on A28+A10, €75 tolls) — exhausting but no rental break.
   • · Book TGV 2-3 months ahead: Paris-Bordeaux can drop to €30-40 in Prem's, otherwise €80-120 full fare.
   • · Bordeaux: free TBM tram with Bordeaux Métropole CityPass (€29/24h or €39/48h, transport + museums).
   • · Water Mirror at sunset = exceptional golden light on Place de la Bourse.
   • · To prep tomorrow: book Cité du Vin the night before (slots packed May-October).
   Bordeaux →
10. 10

    Day 10

    Bordeaux: Cité du Vin + Saint-Émilion

    Morning at Cité du Vin (€22, 2-3h, opens 10am) — world wine museum in spectacular double-decanter architecture by XTU Architects (opened 2016). Immersive route over 3,000 m²: 19 themed spaces, journeys through global vineyards in augmented reality, sensory workshops. Panoramic tasting at the Belvédère (8th floor): 1 world wine glass included in ticket, 360° view over Bordeaux and the Garonne. Lunch: cannelés at La Toque Cuivrée (€1.50 each) or oysters + Sauvignon blanc at Marché des Capucins (€10-15 in the morning). Afternoon: car rental (€35-50/day at the station or city-centre agency) and drive to Saint-Émilion (40 min, 40 km via D936 + N89). Medieval wine city UNESCO since 1999: monolithic church carved in rock (guided tour €10, Europe's largest), panoramic King's Tower (€2), cobbled lanes. Tasting at a classified château: Château Soutard or Château La Dominique (visit + 3 wines, €30-50/person, booking recommended). Return Bordeaux evening. Dinner at Bistrot du Sommelier or more festive Le Pressoir d'Argent by Gordon Ramsay (starred, €150-250).

    Tips

    • · Cité du Vin: book online in season (slots packed May-October, especially 10am-2pm).
    • · Saint-Émilion: avoid Sat-Sun in high season (château weddings), prefer Tues-Thurs.
    • · Château tastings: book 1-2 weeks ahead for classified estates (Cheval Blanc, Ausone visits nearly impossible).
    • · Alternative organised tour: Bordovino, Rustic Vines (€80-180/person, half-day 3 vineyards + transport + tastings).
    • · Cannelé: Baillardran or La Toque Cuivrée — Bordeaux speciality, €1-1.50 each.
    Bordeaux →
11. 11

    Day 11

    Bordeaux → Arcachon + Pilat Dune

    Drive or TER Bordeaux → Arcachon (60 km, 1h by car or 50 min by TER, €11-15). Morning arrival. Visit Arcachon's 4 historic districts named after seasons: Ville d'Hiver (Belle Époque architecture, holiday villas of tubercular winter residents, 300 classified villas), Ville d'Été (shopping centre, Pereire beach), Printemps, Automne. Walk on Thiers jetty. Lunch: oysters + grey shrimps at the market or Pinasse Café (€35-50). Afternoon: Pilat Dune (10 min by car to la Teste-de-Buch, parking €4-6) — Europe's tallest dune, 110m high, 2.7 km long, in perpetual motion (advances 1-5m/year toward the forest). Wooden staircase climb in summer (15-min breathless ascent) or directly on sand off-season. Exceptional view from the top: Arcachon Bay + Arguin sandbank + immense Landes forest. Sunset at the dune's summit — Southwest's iconic image (light turning the red sand gold). Return to Arcachon, oyster dinner at Cap Ferret (by pinasse boat from the port, €12-18, 30 min) or directly in Arcachon: Chez Hortense (bay cuisine, €40-60) or Le Patio.

    Tips

    • · Sunset on the Pilat Dune = iconic experience — check exact time (varies by season, 9-10pm in summer).
    • · Barefoot walk on the dune at sunset: sand still warm, crowds reduced after day buses leave.
    • · Cap Ferret: bohemian oyster village opposite Arcachon, perfect for a "pinasse + oysters" tasting at €20/person.
    • · TER Bordeaux-Arcachon: 1 train/hour, ticket €11-15 to buy online (12-27 advantage card cuts to €9).
    • · Dune: sledging or sandboarding forbidden (erosion), bring water (little shade, car park without refreshments).
    Bordeaux →
12. 12

    Day 12

    Arcachon → Biarritz (Landes coast)

    Panoramic drive along the Landes coast: 200 km, 2h30 (via faster A63 or the more picturesque D652 along the Landes forest — Europe's largest artificial forest, 1 million hectares of maritime pines planted in the 19th century to fix the dunes). Possible swim or picnic stops: Mimizan-Plage (huge beach, surf), Hossegor (world-class surf spot, Quiksilver Pro France stage in October), Capbreton (picturesque port). Arrive Biarritz mid-afternoon. Settle: Hôtel Le Petit Hôtel (€90-150), boutique Hôtel de Silhouette (€180-280), or Hôtel du Palais (imperial palace, €500-1,200/night, former summer residence of Napoléon III). Walk on the Grande Plage + climb to Rocher de la Vierge (Gustave Eiffel work linking 2 islets, panoramic view over the Basque coast to the Pyrenees). Sunset from Biarritz lighthouse (free, 73m, 248 steps) or Plage du Port-Vieux. Dinner Basque pintxos in the centre: Bar Jean or Bar Bibibon (€5-8/pintxo, Pet Nat or Basque wine), or fancier at Café de Paris facing Hôtel du Palais.

    Tips

    • · D652 more beautiful than A63 (forest + ocean + villages, but 30-40 min longer, fewer tolls).
    • · Hossegor in October: Quiksilver Pro France (WSL surf), unique atmosphere but hotels tripled.
    • · Hôtel du Palais: cocktail at the Napoleon III bar (€25-35) to taste the palace experience without sleeping.
    • · Pintxos: 1 pintxo = 1 bite, order 4-6 per person + glass of Basque wine (Txakoli, Irouléguy).
    • · Biarritz beach: high tide = spectacular waves on Grande Plage, swim with caution (red flag frequent).
    Biarritz →
13. 13

    Day 13

    Biarritz: surf + Basque Country

    Morning surf initiation at Côte des Basques: the most emblematic beach to start (more regular waves than Grande Plage, calmer sea at low tide). Group lesson 1h30, €30-50/person with certified schools: Hastea, Lagoondy, École de Surf de Biarritz. Equipment provided (wetsuit, board), French- and English-speaking instructors. Lunch: beach picnic or Côte des Basques bistro. Afternoon Basque Country excursion: Saint-Jean-de-Luz (15 km, 20 min) — picturesque port, site of Louis XIV's marriage to Infanta Maria Theresa in 1660 (Maison de l'Infante, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church), protected beach ideal for family swimming, taste Basque cake at Maison Adam or macarons since 1660. Then Espelette (25 km, 35 min) — French capital of the AOP pepper, white façades adorned with strings of red peppers in September (harvest and drying), local shops and producers (Pétricorena, Atelier du Piment). If time, Sare or Ainhoa (Most Beautiful Villages, green hinterland) or Rhune train from Sare (35-min rack railway ascent, exceptional 905m panorama over Basque coast and Pyrenees, €19/adult). Return to Biarritz for gastronomic dinner: Le Café de Paris, Sissinou or L'Atelier des Saveurs (€50-90/person).

    Tips

    • · Surf lesson: morning ideal (more regular waves, less wind than afternoon).
    • · San Sebastián (Spain) accessible in 45 min from Biarritz (A63 border toll) — option for Spanish pintxos lunch.
    • · Espelette in September: Pepper Festival (last weekend of October, festive atmosphere but crowds).
    • · Rhune train: 1st ascent 9am (booking essential high season, 3-4 weeks ahead).
    • · Saint-Jean-de-Luz: better for swimming (beach protected by 3 dykes, calmer sea than Biarritz).
    Biarritz →
14. 14

    Day 14

    Biarritz → Carcassonne (5h drive A64)

    Long drive day: Biarritz → Carcassonne via the A64 (480 km, 5h excluding breaks, €35 tolls). Route between Pyrenees to the south and the Garonne plain to the north. Lunch stop in Lourdes (halfway, 240 km from Biarritz, 2h30 drive) — international pilgrimage sanctuary (6 million visitors/year, 25,000-seat Saint-Pie-X underground basilica, Massabielle grotto), express 1h visit, unique atmosphere for believers and non-believers alike. Or alternative Tarbes for a simpler lunch (city centre, cassoulet or garbure). Back on A64 then A61 to Carcassonne. Arrive around 6-7pm. Settle: in the Cité (unique experience but pricey, 5* Hôtel de la Cité €350-700, Hôtel Le Donjon €180-280) or Bastide Saint-Louis (lower city, more authentic, €90-150). Sunset on the ramparts — free, magical: the Cité empties of tourists after 6pm, golden light on the 52 towers and 3 km of walls. Authentic cassoulet dinner at Le Comte Roger (homemade cassoulet €25-30, Cité atmosphere) or La Marquière (terrace with rampart view, €35-50).

    Tips

    • · Lunch stop Lourdes or Tarbes halfway (otherwise 5h non-stop = exhausting).
    • · A64 tolls: €35-40 from Biarritz to Carcassonne — possible free alternative via N113 but +1h30.
    • · Fuel: tank up before Toulouse (Southwest motorway stations most expensive in France).
    • · Sleeping in the Cité = unique experience (in the evening, emptied of tourists, intact medieval atmosphere).
    • · Free outer Cité parking (Pont Vieux or Charlemagne car park), 10-min walk up.
    Carcassonne →
15. 15

    Day 15

    Carcassonne: Cité + Bastide

    Full morning in Cité de Carcassonne — Europe's largest fortified medieval city (UNESCO 1997), 3 km of ramparts, 52 towers, restored by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. Programme: Lices tour (free, 45 min, lane between the 2 rampart enclosures), Comtal Château + inner ramparts (€9.50, 1h30 with HistoPad audioguide — 12th-13th centuries, keep, curtain walls, wall paths, view over the lower town), Saint-Nazaire Basilica (free, Romanesque-Gothic gem, exceptional 13th-16th-century stained glass). Lunch in the Cité or descent to the Bastide Saint-Louis (lower city, Place Carnot — often overlooked by visitors, more authentic). Afternoon Bastide Saint-Louis: Place Carnot (organic market Tues-Thurs-Sat morning), Saint-Michel Cathedral, Fine Arts Museum (free, 17th-19th-century paintings), district shops and bistros. If time and energy, Cathar castles excursion: Peyrepertuse (50 km, 1h, most impressive of the Cathar castles, 800m altitude, exceptional view over the Corbières, €9) and Quéribus (10 km from Peyrepertuse, €7). Return to Carcassonne for dinner in the Bastide — less touristy and more authentic: La Cotte de Mailles or Comptoir Saladin.

    Tips

    • · Cité at 9am sharp at opening or after 5pm to avoid worst crowds 11am-4pm (Toulouse and Béziers buses).
    • · Peyrepertuse: walking shoes mandatory (rocky, steep terrain, 30-min climb).
    • · Cassoulet: real version has 3 recognised versions (Castelnaudary pure beans, Carcassonne with partridge, Toulouse with confit) — Le Comte Roger is Carcassonne reference.
    • · Bastide Saint-Louis: organic market Tues-Thurs-Sat morning on Place Carnot (local produce, cheeses, Corbières wines).
    • · Iconic photo of the Cité: from A61 or Pont Vieux at sunset.
    Carcassonne →
16. 16

    Day 16

    Carcassonne → Avignon (3h drive A9)

    Drive Carcassonne → Avignon: 280 km, 3h via A9 (Languedocienne motorway, €20 tolls), through Narbonne, Béziers, Montpellier (vineyards + coastal lagoons panorama). Recommended detour: Pont du Gard (25-min detour from Remoulins, 10 min before Avignon) — 1st-century Roman aqueduct, UNESCO 1985, 49m high, 3 levels of arches (€9.50 site + museum, €6.50 site only, 4-5h for full visit + swim). If no time, save for tomorrow. Arrive Avignon late afternoon. Settle intra-muros (within 14th-century ramparts) — Hôtel Boquier (€90-150, central), Hôtel d'Europe (€180-300, historic palace), La Mirande (renovated 14th-century palace, €400-700). Twilight walk on Place de l'Horloge (city heart, lively terraces, opera). Visit the Palace of the Popes late afternoon (€12, or €14 with HistoPad — 5-6pm, last entry — Europe's largest Gothic fortress, 15,000 m², French papacy from 1309 to 1377). Dinner Provençal cuisine: Christian Étienne (starred, €90-150) or rue des Teinturiers bistro La Fourchette (€35-50).

    Tips

    • · Pont du Gard on the way (25-min detour from Remoulins) — strongly recommended detour, one of the world's most beautiful Roman monuments.
    • · Avignon: Avignon Festival in July (theatre, crowds, hotel prices x3) — visit outside festival unless you love theatre.
    • · Palace of the Popes: opens 9am, last entry 6pm — quiet late afternoon and golden light.
    • · Intra-muros parking: tough and paid, prefer Gare Centre or Italiens car parks (outer, €8-15/day).
    • · Avignon speciality: papalines d'Avignon (Chartreuse chocolates), to taste at Aline Géhant chocolatier.
    Avignon →
17. 17

    Day 17

    Avignon → Marseille + calanques

    Free morning in Avignon: Pont Saint-Bénézet (€5, the bridge of the song, 4 remaining arches of original 22), Rocher des Doms (free, panorama over the Rhône and the bridge), intact ramparts (4 km, free). Drive Avignon → Marseille: 100 km, 1h-1h15 via A7 (€11 toll). Return car on arrival (preferable as Marseille = hellish traffic, tough parking). Settle: Vieux-Port or Panier (oldest district). Hotels: Mama Shelter Marseille (€120-180), Intercontinental Hôtel-Dieu (€350-600, palace facing Vieux-Port). Afternoon: MuCEM (€11, Rudy Ricciotti's spectacular 2013 architecture, walkway to neo-Byzantine 19th-century La Major Cathedral), walk in Le Panier (colourful lanes, street art, Vieille Charité), climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde ("la Bonne Mère", 19th-century basilica on the hilltop, free 360° panoramic view, Marseille's icon). If time, mini-cruise calanques from Vieux-Port (€15-30/person, 2-4h, Sormiou + Morgiou + Sugiton + En-Vau). Dinner traditional bouillabaisse at Vallon des Auffes: Chez Fonfon or Le Miramar (€60-90/person, 24h-ahead booking essential — long cooking).

    Tips

    • · Traditional bouillabaisse: order 24h ahead at Chez Fonfon or Le Miramar (rascasse, weever, conger, langoustines).
    • · Notre-Dame de la Garde: tourist little train from Vieux-Port (€8, 50 min) or bus n°60 (€1.80) — steep 30-min walk up.
    • · Marseille: aggressive local driving, return car recommended on arrival.
    • · Calanques in July-August: Sormiou + Morgiou require free booking (calanques13.com, max quota).
    • · Le Panier: exceptional street art — book guided "Marseille Street Art" tour €25/person, 2h.
    Marseille →
18. 18

    Day 18

    Marseille → Nice (TER 2h30)

    Free morning in Marseille: Vieux-Port fish market (Quai des Belges, every morning, fishmongers' auction 8am picturesque show), last walk in Le Panier or on the Corniche Kennedy. Lunch navettes (orange-blossom biscuits) at Le Four des Navettes (since 1781) or panisses + pizza marseillaise at the market. TER Marseille Saint-Charles → Nice Ville in 2h30 (€35-50, ~6 trains/day, continuous sea view over 200 km along the Mediterranean coast — one of France's most beautiful train rides, view of Bandol, Toulon, Hyères, Saint-Tropez from afar, red Esterel, Cannes, Antibes). Arrive Nice-Ville station. Settle: Old Nice (colourful Italian lanes, ideal on foot) or Promenade des Anglais (palaces, sea view). Hotels: legendary 1912 palace Hôtel Le Négresco (€450-900/night), Hôtel Boscolo Exedra (€180-280), Hôtel Le Petit Palais Nice (€110-180). Walk on the Promenade des Anglais (7 km along the Bay of Angels, created in 1820 by English winter residents) + climb to Castle Hill (free, iconic panoramic view over the bay, Old Nice and Lympia port). Sunset from the summit. Dinner cours Saleya or Place Rossetti: socca (chickpea pancake, €4 at Lou Pilha Leva), pissaladière, ratatouille, farcis niçois.

    Tips

    • · TER Marseille-Nice: €35-50, continuous sea view — choose left side (south) for the sea.
    • · Book TER on SNCF Connect 1-2 weeks ahead (Prem's at €19-30).
    • · Old Nice: sleep intra-muros to experience morning atmosphere (deliveries, markets, terraces).
    • · French Riviera Pass: €28/24h (museums + Èze + cruise) — pays off from 3 visits.
    • · Niçois: socca eaten hot, from morning to early evening — Chez Pipo (rue Bavastro) or Lou Pilha Leva (Old Nice) are the best.
    Nice →
19. 19

    Day 19

    Nice: museums + Èze + Monaco

    Morning Cimiez museums (residential hill above the centre): Matisse Museum (€5, in a 17th-century Genoese villa, rich collection donated by the artist to the city where he lived 37 years), Chagall Museum (€10, 17 monumental paintings of the Biblical Message exhibited in a purpose-built 1973 building). Access by bus 15 or 17 from the centre (€1.50), or 30-min walk from Old Nice (uphill). Lunch authentic salade niçoise (tomato, hard-boiled egg, anchovies, olives, no potato or corn — the real one) at Café de Turin or Liberation halls. Afternoon double excursion Èze + Monaco: Èze (15 min by bus n°82, €1.50) — medieval village perched at 427m above the Mediterranean, Exotic Garden at the top (€6, exceptional view), cobbled ancestral lanes, Fragonard perfumery. Then Monaco (20 min by train, €7 return from Èze or Cap d'Ail station) — 2km² micro-state, Monte-Carlo Casino (Garnier architecture 1879, €18 entry to visit, proper attire), Rocher with Prince's Palace (changing of the guard 11:55am, free), Cathedral, exotic gardens. Return Nice late afternoon. Sunset from the Promenade des Anglais. Dinner Lympia port (fish restaurants) or starred cuisine JAN or Flaveur (€80-150/person).

    Tips

    • · French Riviera Pass €28/24h (museums + Èze + cruise) — pays off from 3 visits.
    • · Lignes d'Azur buses €1.50/ride, or day pass €5 (pays off from 4 rides).
    • · Monaco: Casino requires proper attire (no shorts, t-shirts — jacket recommended for men).
    • · Èze: exotic garden at sunset = exceptional golden light on the Mediterranean.
    • · Nice-Monaco train: 1 train/30 min, spectacular Côte d'Azur view, choose right side (south) for the sea.
    Nice →
20. 20

    Day 20

    Nice → Annecy (TGV via Lyon, 6h or plane)

    Transit day. Two options: Option A train (slow but centre-to-centre): TGV Nice → Lyon Part-Dieu in 5h40 (€60-130) + TER Lyon → Annecy connection in 2h (€15-25) = 8h door-to-door. Option B plane (fast but transfers): Nice-Lyon flight with EasyJet or Air France (1h flight, €80-180) + TER Lyon-Annecy (2h), total 4-5h. Option B recommended if budget allows. Arrive Annecy late afternoon. Settle: Old Town or lakeside. Hotels: Boutique Hôtel des Marquisats (€160-240), Hôtel Splendid (lake view, €250-400), Impérial Palace (5* palace, €400-700). Twilight walk on the Lake Annecy shores (Jardins de l'Europe, Pont des Amours, view of the Bauges and Aravis mountains), cross the Old Town (medieval lanes, Thiou canals — nicknamed "the Venice of the Alps"), pass by Palais de l'Isle (fortified building on the islet in the middle of the canal, the iconic image). Dinner Savoyard cuisine: Savoyard fondue, raclette, tartiflette at Le Chalet Savoyard or more gastronomic at Clos des Sens (3* Michelin, €200-350).

    Tips

    • · Plane faster (3-5h total vs 8h by train) but airport transfers + higher carbon footprint.
    • · TGV Nice-Lyon: Provence-Rhône Valley view — choose left side (east, sun).
    • · Lake Annecy: one of the world's purest lakes (swimming allowed everywhere, translucent water).
    • · Old Town in the morning: organic market Tues-Fri-Sun rue Sainte-Claire (Savoyard produce, cheeses, cured meats).
    • · Hotel booking high season (July-August): 3-4 months ahead (Annecy = one of France's most visited destinations).
    Annecy →
21. 21

    Day 21

    Annecy: lake tour + Palais de l'Isle, then Paris return

    Morning Lake Annecy tour: 3 options depending on fitness. Option A bike: full tour 40 km (3-4h, e-bike recommended €25-30/day, continuous cycle path on west shore) — via Sevrier, Saint-Jorioz, Duingt (peninsula), Talloires (wilder east shore), return Annecy. Option B half bike tour: Annecy → Talloires return (24 km, 1h30-2h, flat). Option C boat: Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d'Annecy (€15-25, 2h, commented lake tour, ideal for non-cyclists). Option D hike: climb to Mont Veyrier (1,291m, 3h return from Annecy, exceptional lake panorama). Lunch perch fillets by the lake at Talloires or Veyrier-du-Lac. Return to Annecy afternoon. Express visit Palais de l'Isle (€5.30, 1h, former prison-court on Thiou islet) and Annecy Château (€5.80, on the hill, panoramic views, regional museum). Drop bags at hotel. TGV Annecy-Paris Lyon in 3h45 (€60-130) late afternoon (departure 5-6pm, arrival Paris 9-10pm). End of trip in Paris.

    Tips

    • · Lake Annecy = one of the world's purest (translucent water, swimming allowed even in the centre — free Marquisats beach).
    • · Bike: e-bike strongly recommended (hills south of the lake), rental at the station or city-centre agencies.
    • · TGV Annecy-Paris: 1 direct train/day via Bellegarde, otherwise Lyon connection (+30 min).
    • · Talloires: exceptional 5* village (starred Auberge du Père Bise), perfect for gastronomic lakeside lunch.
    • · If flight from Paris-CDG the next day: plan 1h30 extra travel from Paris Gare de Lyon.
    Annecy →

Other durations

Frequently asked questions