Highlights
- Learn to bake the perfect Parisian baguette with a hands-on workshop
- Challenge the kids to find all the owls hidden in Dijon's UNESCO-listed Old Town
- Hunt for truffles (accompanied by a trusty dog) in the Burgundy countryside
- Zip between Côte du Beaune vineyards by family-friendly scooters or sidecars
- Play farmers for the day as you learn to make cheese in Beaujolais
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Paris, Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité Mystery Hunt | Paris |
| Day 2 | Parisian Street Art Adventure, Kids' Boulangerie Workshop | Paris |
| Day 3 | Train to Dijon, Discover the UNESCO-listed Old Town | Dijon |
| Day 4 | Explore the Villages of the Burgundy Countryside | Dijon |
| Day 5 | Train to Beaune, Family Truffle Hunting Experience | Beaune |
| Day 6 | Family Winery Trip with Scooters or Sidecars | Beaune |
| Day 7 | Train to Lyon, Guided Old Town Tour | Lyon |
| Day 8 | Day Trip to Beaujolais: Local Cheese & Wine Experiences | Lyon |
| Day 9 | Train to Paris, Montmartre for Kids Tour | Paris |
| Day 10 | Depart Paris |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Paris, Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité Mystery Hunt
Welcome to Paris, the City of Light! After transferring to your hotel, let the kids rest and recharge a bit before the whole family dons their most comfortable walking shoes for this afternoon's family-focused Parisian adventure. Head to the banks of the Seine to meet your guide, then watch as the Île de la Cité turns into a playground of discovery. With a special booklet as your map, you'll follow your engaging, kid-friendly guide across this tiny Parisian island, collecting clues, solving puzzles, and absorbing plenty of medieval history as you visit landmarks like Notre-Dame and the Palais de Justice.
Along the way, you'll learn about Notre-Dame's devastating fire and the thrilling rescue of its many treasures, and pass the mighty Conciergerie to hear about its dark history as a prison during the French Revolution. Wind through the fragrant stalls of the Marché aux Fleurs (the island's colorful flower market), and cross the legendary Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris. Your sleuthing will eventually take you to Sainte-Chapelle, where this Gothic masterpiece's stained glass holds the clues to unlock the treasure chest and solve the mystery!
Day 2: Parisian Street Art Adventure, Kids' Boulangerie Workshop
Creative kids can take their pick of two interactive workshops today, both celebrating iconic Parisian art forms. Artistic families and teens should join a lively three-hour street art tour, following an engaging guide as they lead you to the neon murals and hidden masterpieces of the 13th arrondissement. After learning about the different styles and techniques of Paris' urban art scene, it's time to unleash your creativity with the help of a local street artist, donning protective gear and creating your own masterpiece using colorful spray paints.
Aspiring bakers will want to head to a traditional boulangerie instead, where they can learn to make a perfect baguette or croissant. Under the expert guidance of a Parisian baker, kids and parents can work together to master the secrets of creating a perfect, crispy-crusted baguette or delve into the art of crafting light, layered croissants. Best of all, you'll leave with your freshly baked treats to enjoy later on. Take them to one of the city's many family-friendly parks—like the Jardin du Luxembourg—for an impromptu picnic alongside toy sailboats, a carousel, and pony rides.
Day 3: Train to Dijon, Discover the UNESCO-listed Old Town
You're off to Burgundy this morning, when you pack your bags and catch an easy 1.5-hour train ride to Dijon. Once you've arrived and settled into your accommodation, head back out to explore one of France's prettiest cities. Enjoy the fairy-tale medieval and Renaissance architecture and the traditional patterned tile roofs while the kids follow the "Owl Trail," a series of engraved owls that are a beloved symbol of the town. When they reach the owl at Notre-Dame, they can reach up and make a wish like thousands before them—but don't look up at the black cat, or it may not come true!
Day 4: Explore the Villages of the Burgundy Countryside
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Dive deeper into Burgundy today with a guided day trip along its scenic roads, stopping off in its quaintest villages along the way. Explore Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, one of the most picturesque villages in France, and let the kids pretend to be knights in armor as you stop for lunch in Semur-en-Auxois, a town that's remained largely unchanged since the Middle Ages.
Your first stop in the afternoon is Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, a village made famous by the movie Chocolat. Take the kids to the ancient abbey (founded in 719 CE) and learn how the famous candy, Anis de Flavigny, is manufactured—perhaps even sample a little. From here, you'll go to historic Alesia to see Roman ruins and tour the oldest existing Cistercian abbey, Fontenay—a UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautiful gardens for the kids to play in.
Day 5: Train to Beaune, Family Truffle Hunting Experience
Your journey continues today as you transfer to the station and catch a quick 20-minute train south to Beaune. This storybook walled town is the official wine capital of Burgundy, with a treasure trove of well-preserved examples of Burgundian architecture, charming honey-colored houses, and cobbled streets—all surrounded by over a mile of medieval ramparts. Needless to say, the historic Old Town is a delight to explore.
After checking into your hotel (and rallying the kids with a relaxed lunch), it's time to set off into the countryside for an afternoon spent hunting for Burgundy truffles. You'll get a warm welcome from your guide (and their well-trained truffle-sniffing dog) before heading into the shaded forest to watch as the pup hunts for the prized fungi and listen as your guide explains the close relationship between the land, the dog, and the people who work with it. The experience ends with a tasting of truffle-based products, followed by a return to Beaune in time for dinner.
Day 6: Family Winery Day with Scooters or Sidecars
It's time to taste your way through the famous wine country of the Côte du Beaune, with a customized tour that's perfect for families. Active and older kids can hop on electric fat-tire scooters for a fun journey along quiet wine roads to the villages of Pommard, Volnay, and Meursault. There's no effort required—just enjoy the ride while your private guide shares stories about the region's history, grape varieties, and terroir. You'll also stop at a local winery for a cellar visit and a guided tasting of four carefully selected wines—plus glasses of home-pressed grape juice for the little ones.
Families with younger kids might want to opt for a more retro style of transport and step into a vintage motorcycle sidecar. Driven by a private guide, you'll zip around the renowned estates of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, gliding along winding vineyard roads, past stone villages and rolling hills lined with meticulously tended vines. Each parent and child can ride together while your guide handles the driving, leaving you free to soak in the scenery and breathe the fresh country air.
Day 7: Train to Lyon, Guided Old Town Tour
Transfer to the station in the morning for the two-hour train ride south to Lyon, France's third most populous city and the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Banked by the Saône and Rhône rivers, the compact city center features traboules (hidden passageways), a UNESCO-listed Old Town, and a wealth of gorgeous architecture. More even than its scenic beauty, Lyon is famous for being the gastronomic capital of France—no small feat in a country with legendary cuisine.
Drop your bags at your hotel, then meet your guide and head into Vieux Lyon (the Old Town) via the colorful Passerelle Paul Couturier bridge. The kids will love taking the ficelle (cable car) to the top of the hill, where you can visit the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica and enjoy fantastic views. Stop by the city's oldest square, explore a neighborhood full of Renaissance architecture, and follow your guide through secret passages to hidden courtyards. Needless to say, this part of the tour is lots of fun for the kids! You'll also visit a silk workshop and be sustained along the way by tastings of the local specialties.
If you find yourselves with some free time afterward, consider visiting the Parc de la Tête d'Or to let the kids run off that energy—there's also a petting zoo—or popping into one of the family-friendly museums. The Lugdunum Museum has an archaeological flair and a special area for kids (they can even play dress-up as Romans), or try the impressive Musée des Confluences, which focuses on interactive science.
Day 8: Day Trip to Beaujolas: Local Cheese & Wine Experiences
It's time for another day trip, as you meet your guide and set off north of the city and into the rolling vineyards of Beaujolais, a famous wine region often called the "French Tuscany." Your first stop is a small family farm, where the kids will love meeting the goats and cattle and learning how to make cheese the traditional way—by hand! You'll all get a chance to sample some of the farm's delicious produce afterward, and learn more about life on a French country farm from your welcoming hosts.
Afterward, continue to a nearby wine estate, where the winemaker himself will welcome you and start with a chat about the vintages and varieties of wine they produce. Curious kids will enjoy seeing how the wine is made, from harvesting to bottling, and parents will get to sample some of the region's best wines paired with a local cheese for the full Beaujolais experience. À votre santé!
Day 9: Train to Paris, Montmartre for Kids Tour
It's your last morning in Lyon; if you have time, start the morning with a trip to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. Commonly known as Les Halles, this famous indoor food market has a rich history dating back to 1859, and it's the perfect spot to rub shoulders with early-rising locals as you grab some fresh-baked treats for today's train ride. Then, it's time to wrangle the kids and transfer to the station to catch the two-hour train back to Paris.
If the kids still have energy to burn after checking into your hotel, tire them out on the steep streets of Montmartre with a family-focused tour that takes you into the heart of this charming hilltop district. Your guide will escort you through the neighborhood, sharing the history and anecdotes that surround it while entertaining the kids with jokes and riddles. Visit the Basilica de Sacré-Cœur and admire masterpieces by famous painters and writers, then let the kids ride the beautifully preserved carousel at the base of the hill by the church.
Day 10: Depart Paris
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