8 Days in France - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Highlights of the French Riviera: Nice to Saint-Tropez

See the best of the French Riviera, from Nice and Cannes to Monaco and Saint-Tropez, on this leisurely itinerary.

Your trip begins on the French Riviera. Begin in Nice, where you'll stroll along the waterfront on the first evening, then take a cooking class and a perfume tour on day two. The following day, you'll head to Provence for a full-day excursion through wine country. Taste local varietals in the tiny wine-making region of Bellet, then go for an elegant lunch at one of the many restaurants in the medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence. 

The itinerary takes you to Monaco—one of the world's smallest countries—next. Tour Monte Carlo and see Prince Rainier's car collection, then continue to the medieval village of Eze. Round out the trip with a private sailing tour around the Lérins Islands and a scenic drive along the Mediterranean coast to Saint-Tropez, where you'll spend the last night of the trip before flying out the next day. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Culinary Rhône Valley Tour

Eat and drink your way through France's Rhône Valley on this foodie adventure that takes you to wineries, marketplaces, lavender fields, and fine restaurants.

The adventure begins in Lyon, considered a cultural and culinary center of France. Walk around the historic center and sample traditional Lyonnaise cuisine before side-tripping to the Northern Rhône Valley to taste local wines. Continue south through the lavender fields and olive trees of Montélimar and the Drôme Provençale, stopping in the hilltop village of Grignan with its impressive Renaissance castle.

The next day, you'll explore the region on a bicycle and taste local specialties like nougat in Montélimar, olives in Nyons, black truffles in Tricastin, and wine in Gigondas. Continue to Avignon and the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on day five, then see Roman ruins in Arles. Finish your trip in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, where you'll toast with a nice pastis (a locally produced anise-flavored spirit) and dine on fresh seafood near the port. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Tour du Mont-Blanc Trek

Trek to the highest summit in Western Europe, passing through the Chamonix Valley and the classic resort town of Courmayeur, on this outdoorsy itinerary.

Arrive in picturesque Chamonix Valley, where the adventure begins in the resort town of Les Houches. Catch a ride from the Bellevue cable car station to a trailhead, where you'll start your hike to Bionnassay glacier. Descend to Les Contamines Montjoie, the village where you'll spend the night. Trek for six hours the next day, past Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme, offering a beautiful panorama of Mont-Pourri, before stopping for the evening in the hamlet of Les Chapieux. 

Hike through the alpine pastures and farms of the Ville des Glaciers to Courmayeur, an Italian resort town known for its gourmet dining scene and mountain views. After a laid-back day, you'll overnight in Champex, then trek through the Swiss meadows of Bovines, one of the most famous cheese-producing regions in the Alps. On the last full day of the trip, continue to the French border at Col de Balme and catch the ski lift down to Le Tour, where you'll connect to Argentière. Spend one last night relaxing and dining on traditional Alpine cuisine in the Chamonix Valley. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Local Flavors of France - Paris & Loire Valley

Wine, cheese, chocolate, repeat: this gourmet journey through Paris and the Loire Valley is a dream trip for foodies.

Work up an appetite before you hit the ground in Paris, where the trip begins. You'll walk around Le Marais on day two, sampling the neighborhood's best chocolates and buttery pastries. Day three is devoted to the pleasures of wine—you'll explore the Palais Royal, once the personal residence for Cardinal Richelieu, before enjoying a leisurely lunch with wine pairings in a 19th-century wine cellar at the Galerie Vivienne, one of the city's famed covered passageways.

Finish up the Paris portion of the trip with a visit to the district of Les Batignolles in the 17th Arrondissement for a hands-on cooking class and lunch in a private home. Then catch the train to the Loire Valley, where you'll learn about the production of organic wine and have lunch in the vineyards. Taste more red wines in Bourgueil and spend the last day of the trip outdoors—with plenty of wine offered along the way, of course—on a bike tour and hot air balloon ride over one of France's top wine regions. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Western France Road Trip

After a few days in Paris, hit the road for a self-guided adventure through the beautiful landscapes of Normandy and the Loire Valley.

Your trip begins with an iconic experience in Paris: on your first evening in France, you'll go on an after-dark Eiffel Tower tour and have the chance to see the City of Lights from above. Go on a pastry tour of Le Marais, followed by a visit to the Louvre, on day two. You'll explore pretty Ile de la Cité and descend into the Paris Catacombs on your last day in the capital.

On day three, you'll drive from Paris to Bayeux, the first French town to be liberated after D-Day. After a city tour, you'll venture to other relevant landmarks in Normandy on day five, including Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery. Switch gears the next day, visiting castles and wineries around Tours, then day-tripping to Chambord, one of France's most extravagant chateaus, and the Château de Chenonceau, the second-most visited chateau in France (after Versailles). Return to Tours for a relaxed meal with wine pairings before flying out the next day. Learn more

Itinerary #6: Highlights of Eastern France

On this whirlwind tour of eastern France, you'll sip Champagne in Reims, learn about Germanic influence in Strasbourg, and cruise the canals of Colmar.

After arriving in Paris, you'll be whisked off to Reims for a champagne tasting. You'll sip a variety of bubbles on day two as you travel along the so-called Avenue of Champagne, stopping at Moët & Chandon and Perrier Jouët along the way for tastings and tours. Then take the high-speed train to Strasbourg, where you'll tour the historic center before moving on to Colmar, where you'll board a boat for a cruise along the Lauch River.

On day five, enjoy a guided tour through the picturesque villages of Alsace. The following day, you'll drive to Annecy and relax on the lakefront and rent a bike to pedal through the streets of the old city. You'll explore the alpine region and its gourmet products, including local cheeses (like Tomme and Reblochon) and white wine, on the last full day of the trip. Stop at four historic vineyards—Parc de Chartreuse, the Chaîne de l'Epine, the Parc des Bauges, and the Combe de Savoie—before heading to the village of Talloires for dinner. You'll fly out the next day. Learn More

More Great 8-Day France Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your France trip? Check out these other 8-day France itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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