16 Days in France - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Cities & Nature on the French Riviera

Take your time on the French Riviera with this leisurely itinerary that takes you to beautiful beaches, picturesque villages, and the wineries of Provence. 

Welcome to the French Riviera! Begin the adventure with a stroll on Nice's waterfront, then take a cooking class with a local chef, shopping in the local marketplace for ingredients. Sip wine as you enjoy the three-course meal you'll help to make, then go on a perfume tour in the afternoon. Side-trip to Menton and browse through the farmer's market in Ventimiglia before going on a wine tasting tour around Bellet and the village of Saint Paul de Vence. Next, you'll take a day trip to Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze. You'll take a perfume workshop in Provence, then travel to Cannes for a private sailing tour around the Lérins Islands. 

Hike to the top of the Esterel Massif: the rewards are gorgeous sunset views and cold aperitifs. Later, take the scenic drive from Cannes to Saint-Tropez. Take a free day to sunbathe and relax in tropical paradise, then go on a private boat tour of the Îles d'Or, going for a swim in the clear blue water. Head back to Saint-Tropez for dinner. You'll spend the last full day of the trip on a scenic drive along the Mediterranean coast. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Discover Provence by Electric Bike

What better way to see the lavender fields, vineyards, and villages of Provence than on a bicycle? Better yet, an electric one: that's exactly what you'll do on this outdoorsy e-bike tour around the region.

Spend the first afternoon and evening in Paris. Then head to Montelimar on day two, where you'll pick up an electric bike, also known as an e-bike—and learn how to drive it. Over the next several days, you'll pedal through lavender fields and vineyards, moving from Grignan to Vaucluse-la-Romaine—you'll have a free day to relax in the medieval village—to Mount Ventoux to Sault, where you'll get off the bike for a well-deserved break. Go for a stroll on the Lavender Road, taste local candy at the Boyer Nougat Factory, visit lavender distilleries, and pick up some sweet-smelling souvenirs at Provence Soap Works.

Continue along the road to Luberon, filled with art galleries and boutiques. Then pedal to Roussillon, located in the middle of one of Europe's biggest ochre deposits. Explore the town and check out the Conservatory of Ochre and Applied Pigments, housed in an old ochre processing factory. Next, ride to Fontaine de Vaucluse, famous for its natural springs, then continue to l’Isle Sur la Sorgue, a traditional Provence town with a lively Sunday-morning market. Finish up the trip in medieval Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "City of the Popes." Spend the last full day of the trip sightseeing and sipping coffee in outdoor cafés. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Road Trip Through Western France

Get in the driver's seat to see some of France's top highlights—including famed Mont-Saint-Michel, the beaches of Normandy, the vineyards of Bordeaux, and the glittering halls of Versailles—on this road trip around western France.

Begin the trip in Paris with an unforgettable evening tour of the Eiffel Tower. You'll sample pastries in Le Marais on day two, then spend the afternoon at the Louvre, before the next day's side trip to Versailles. Back in the city, explore Ile de la Cité and the Paris Catacombs. Leave Paris and begin the road trip to Honfleur and Pays d'Auge. You'll drive along the Atlantic coast next, touring Bayeux and the D-Day sites of Normandy.

Midway through the trip, a photogenic destination awaits you: Mont-Saint-Michel, the famed tidal island off the coast. Continue on to visit wineries and castles, including Chambord and Chenonceau. Then take a day to retrace the steps of Leonardo da Vinci's life and career on a themed tour through Renaissance-era gems in the region. Drive to Bordeaux next, where you'll enjoy a morning market visit, a bike tour, and several leisurely meals, including an oyster tasting with wine pairings in St. Emilion. You'll fly out on day 16. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Spain and France Road Trip

This wide-ranging trip plan proves there's no need to choose between Spain and France: with 16 days, you can see cultural and culinary highlights on both sides of the border.

Kick off the trip in Barcelona with a self-guided tour and a visit to Mt. Montjuic, overlooking the port. You'll focus on Art Nouveau architecture and tapas on day two, then side-trip to Tarragona and retrace the steps of Salvador Dalí, stopping at various landmarks related to the artist's life and career. Continue to Carcassonne, where you'll base yourself while going on day tours to the Cathar Castles and Lastours Castles, stopping for a wine tasting along the way. Move onto Montpellier, then stop to tour Avignon on your way to Aix-en-Provence.

Enjoy a leisurely tour of hilltop villages and wineries in the Luberon. Head back to Aix-en-Provence and connect to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where you'll spend the night, and Verdon Gorges, home to Europe's highest canyon. The trip continues with a drive along the Napoleon Route from Verdon Gorges to Grenoble to Lyon. Spend the last part of your trip taking a food tour, admiring the architecture, and relaxing over traditional Lyonnaise cuisine in one of France's culinary capitals; you'll catch a flight out on day 16. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Highlights of Eastern France

Cruise down the Avenue of Champagne, pedal around Lake Annecy, and explore the Black Forest on this action-packed adventure in eastern France.

The adventure begins in Paris. Take a cruise along the Seine River, enjoying the romance of the City of Lights as the sun goes down. Take a pastry tour in Le Marais the next day, then visit the Louvre in the afternoon. Next, you'll travel to Reims to sip bubbly at several of the famed champagne houses along the Avenue of Champagne. Sharpen your tasting skills during an olfactory workshop in Epernay, then go to Strasbourg and put them to practice: you'll tour the region's wine route in a VW Kombi, visiting wineries along the way. 

Board the train to Colmar, where you'll cruise the canals on a riverboat. Then discover the picturesque villages of Alsace on a guided tour, climbing to the turrets of the Château du Haut Kœnigsbourg for views over the surrounding area. Relax on the lakefront of Lake Annecy with wine and cheese and go on a cycling tour around the lake. Then you'll take an Alpine cheese and wine tour, visiting four historic vineyards before continuing to Geneva. The trip's almost over, but a couple of side trips still await: first, a full day on the coast with stops in Cannes, Antibes, and Saint Paul de Vence, and finally, a day trip to Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze. Learn more

More Great 16-Day France Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your France trip? Check out these other 16-day France itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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