Normandy offers beautiful beaches and mild temperatures, a lovely combination. In spring, especially later in the season, expect beautiful flowers, sunny days, and manageable crowds, making it one of the nicest times to visit. The pleasant summer weather brings big crowds, especially paired with the D-Day commemorations in June, while autumn is rainy and winter is quiet. Read on for advice and information on the best times of the year to visit Normandy.
With two days to spend in the French Riviera, stick to a couple of key destinations, like Cannes and Nice or Saint-Tropez. You can add some time sailing around islands or hiking in the Alps if you have three to five days, and if you have around a week, detour to Provence. Travelers with ten or more days to spend have lots of options, whether you want to slow down and experience the region at a slower pace or add it on to a wide-ranging trip around France. Read on for advice on how many days to spend on the French Riviera.
The French Riviera is a true pleasure to visit at any time of year. Spring and summer are preferable if you're looking for the classic resort experience: even though you'll encounter festival crowds and vacationers left and right, you'll enjoy beautiful beach weather. Fall is quieter and rainier, though early fall is still. great for swimming in the Mediterranean. And winter is mild in the region, with few crowds, save for the tourist influx around Christmas and Carnaval. Read on for more information about the best time of year to visit the French Riviera.
Follow the classic Tour de Mont Blanc trail on this six-day itinerary, with a twist: you'll be running between villages and alpine passes, maximizing your time in the region. This adventurous trail running trip is perfect for active travelers who want to experience classic Alps views. You'll run between 19 and 28 miles per day as you wind your way around the Mont Blanc Massif, taking in the views of glaciers and spotted alpine cows before relaxing in mountain villages at night.
Most people visiting both Nice and Paris spend about 11 to 14 days in France, which usually includes some time in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille as well. If you're only headed to Nice and Paris, you can enjoy a comfortably-paced trip in 7 to 8 days. A fast-paced highlights trip is possible in 7 to 6 days for travelers with limited time. Read on for the best itineraries including Nice and Paris and beyond.
Explore the City of Lights on this exciting gastronomy and culture tour. You will visit all the Parisian highlights, including the Musée du Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Opéra Garnier, and more. Additionally, you'll go off the tourist trail at St. Ouen Market and the Parisian Catacombs. Food tours and classes are sprinkled throughout the trip, sweetening the experience even more. You will also get to explore the city's surroundings, with day trips centered around famous chateaus.
Our researchers traveled throughout France. Our experts chipped in with their insights. Then we listened to what travelers themselves had to say: where they most want to go, what they most like to see, and what activities most turn them on. Finally, we assessed all their advice, studied all destinations and combinations, and factored in how much time average travelers to France are likely to have. The result? The following ultimate itinéraires française.
Two weeks is an ideal amount of time to spend in Provence: the region's highlights, from wineries to medieval villages to lavender fields, are best experienced at a relaxed pace. Go on a self-guided adventure, driving or riding an e-bike down country roads, or opt for an action-packed tour of the Provençal Alps that features hiking, boating, and kayaking in the mountains. Alternatively, visit Provence as part of a broader trip plan that includes Paris, Lyon, and Nice. The choice is yours—find out more about your options with these unique itinerary ideas.
With ten days in Provence, you can take your time and enjoy the relaxed pace and beautiful scenery of one of France's most famous regions. Opt for a road trip with stops for hiking and a hot air balloon ride, focus on wine country and the beach with a trip plan that includes a detour to the French Riviera, go on a luxury tour that features a private boat outing in Marseille, or explore Provence on an electric bike. Learn where to go and what to do with these unique itinerary ideas.
With a week to spend in Provence, you can tour the region's highlights, focus your time on a sub-region like Upper Provence, or opt for a trip that also includes a few days in the French Riviera or Paris. Take a road trip through wine country, pedal through lavender fields on a bike tour, cruise around Calanques National Park on a boat, hike and swim in gorges and rivers, take a cooking class at a country estate: there's so much to see and do. Learn more about your options with these unique itinerary ideas.
If you have just five days to spend in Provence, consider taking a road trip or a bike tour: both options allow you to pass through small villages and take in the region's famous scenery, stopping whenever you like to taste wines, tour castles, or snap photos of lavender fields. Alternatively, try a gourmet tour of Provence that features cooking classes and winery visits, or combine a few days in Provence with a short visit to the French Riviera. Find out more about your options with these five unique itinerary ideas.
Superb museums, UNESCO-listed neighborhoods, and the county's best gastronomy scene are just a few reasons why France's third-largest city is worth a visit. For a solid itinerary in Lyon, we recommend at least three days to explore the city's hills, rivers, bridges, and parks. Alternatively, you could squeeze in the top draws in a day or two, or take your time and soak in the culture over a week or more. Let this local guide help decide which trip length is right for you.
On this outdoorsy tour of Provence, you'll mix gourmet experiences with active pursuits. Start the trip in medieval Avignon, then take a tour of the Luberon on an electric bike before learning how to cook (and eat) like a local at a Provençal cooking class. You'll finish with a full-day tour of local wineries. Cheers!
The French region of Provence is made for explorers—and there's a lot of room to explore. For a solid itinerary, we recommend at least four days to experience a few villages and sun-drenched landscapes. Of course, you can get a taste of the elegant Provençal lifestyle in a day or two; better yet, rent a car and take a long, leisurely road trip through lavender fields, ancient olive groves, clifftop roads, and Mediterranean views. Below, find a range of itineraries ranging from 24 hours to a week (or more).
For a solid itinerary in France's wine capital, we recommend at least three days—ample time to explore the city's elegant streets and modern attractions with a day-trip to nearby chateaux. Of course, a fun-filled day or two lets you experience a slice of the urban action while having closer to a week allows more freedom to discover UNESCO-listed treasures and beaches along the Atlantic coast. Let this local guide steer you in the right direction.
Historic, multicultural, and even a bit scruffy—a trip to Marseille in the South of France is a memorable feast for the senses. For a solid itinerary, we recommend at least two to three days so you can explore the city's famous port, its diverse neighborhoods, and the delicious food scene. Tack on more time for Marseille's ancient sites and modern museums, with possible day-trips to the Provençal countryside or Mediterranean coast. Check out some possible itineraries, ranging from 24 hours to a week or more.
With 16 days in France, you have the luxury of time—more than two weeks to explore the country's highlights or take your time in one region, like the French Riviera. See Provence on two wheels on an electric bike tour, sip and swirl your way along the Avenue of Champagne, go on a private boat tour around the Îles d'Or, visit Mont-Saint-Michel at low tide, or cross the border and spend part of your time in Spain. Learn more about where to go and what to do with these unique itinerary suggestions.
With 15 days in France, you can check off a long list of highlights or focus on a particular region, like Provence or the French Riviera. Take a cooking class with a local chef in Nice, ride an electric bike through lavender fields and vineyards, sip bubbly on the Avenue of Champagne, take a sunset cruise on the Seine River: with two full weeks to spend, you won't be in a rush. Learn more about what to do and where to do with these unique itinerary ideas.
Take your time: with 13 days in France, you can slow down and enjoy yourself, whether you're catching the sunset on a riverboat cruise or tasting wine straight from the barrel in the Alps. Go on a grand tour of the French Riviera, explore Provence on an electric bike, see the City of Lights in a chauffeured car, sip and swirl your way down the Avenue of Champagne: there's so much to see and do. Learn more about your options with these unique itinerary ideas.
Savor the tastes of Southern France's Provence region on this six-day road trip itinerary. Take a farm-to-table cooking class, sample the vintages of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region, and stroll across the songworthy bridges of Avignon with your time in this culinary territory.
Provence was once the first Roman territory beyond the Alps, and while you won't be riding in as a conqueror, you'll see why they wanted it for their own after this eight-day self-drive trip. Craft your own soap, cruise around the coast of Marseille, cook with ingredients from local markets, and more as you explore the region.
Twirl around to the catchy tune of Sur le Pont d'Avignon as you cross said bridge and more on this nine-day self-drive trip. In addition to crossing the celebrated bridge of Avignon, you'll stroll down the Mediterranean coast and through markets, vineyards, olive groves, and more to see all that Provence has to offer.
Take 10 days to stop and smell the lavender as you traverse the fields, vineyards, and villages of Provence on this self-drive trip. This popular region of southeastern France has plenty for your senses to enjoy: take in the scents of soapmaking workshops, sights of the Mediterranean coast, and tastes of famous wines and market-fresh cooking on your adventure.
Whether you're picking up a single sunflower in the market or shelling out for one of the world's most expensive bottles of rose wine, you're sure to find something worth indulging in on this eleven-day road trip itinerary. From France's oldest city of Marseilles, up to the Luberon's hilltop villages, and down to the former seat of the papacy in Avignon, every destination has something new to offer.
See the scenery that attracted the likes of Rénoir, Cézanne, Picasso, and Van Gogh on this 12-day self-drive itinerary. You may even find some artistic inspiration of your own as you cruise down the glittering coastlines, wander through picturesque villages, and sip the vintages of old-growth vineyards.
Provence gets roughly 2,900 hours of sunshine per year, so you'll have plenty of time to bask in this 13-day road trip through the South of France. You'll make your way from coastal Marseilles inland to experience French farm cooking, hilltop villages, established wine estates and olive oil groves, and even ancient Roman ruins under the southern French sun.
Provence is home to some of France's most populated spots, and you'll soon see why it's so popular with this two-week self-drive itinerary. Start by looking for the perfect angles to capture the city of Marseilles, then learn to cook with some help from the experts of Aix-en-Provence. Sample well-established wines and olive oils, wander ancient stone streets, and you just may be convinced to join the many residents.
As one of France's first wine regions, Provence has been making wine for more than 2,000 years. Taste the fruits of all that historic expertise and more on this 15-day road trip. You'll stay in six different cities in the region, exploring everything from soapmaking to Sauternes, and modern museums to Roman ruins, as you take in all that Provence has to offer.
Consider yourself lucky if you have 12 days to spend in France. With nearly two weeks to explore the country, you don't have to choose between Provence and the French Riviera—or between the wineries of Bordeaux and the pastry shops of Le Marais. Opt for an itinerary that combines wine tasting with scenic drives along the coast, choose a trip plan that takes you through the countryside on an electric bike, try a road trip around Bordeaux and western France, or see the country's highlights on a luxury tour that features private cooking classes, boat rides, and chauffeured rides in a vintage car. Learn more about where to go and what to do with these unique itinerary ideas.
Find your French spirit with a six-day swing through the Verdon Gorge, the largest in Europe. You'll start and finish in Mediterranean Marseille, but head to the Verdon region in between for four nights of horseback rides, rafting, and a search for the gorge's famous vultures.
Get your French kicks on this seven-day adventure trip. After a soap-making experience in Marseille, a city known for its savon, you'll head out to Europe's largest gorge for horseback riding, river rafting, a via cordata climb, and more.
If you have eleven days to spend in France, you have time to visit several destinations or focus on one region. Go trekking through Alpine landscapes in the Ville des Glaciers, motor around Provence on an electric bike adventure, see Paris in a chauffeured vintage car and Marseilles on a private boat during a luxury tour, revel in the culinary pleasures of Basque Country on both the Spanish and French sides, sip bubbly in world-class champagne houses and visit quaint villages in eastern France—learn how with these unique itinerary ideas.
Enjoy eight days of adrenaline with this adventurous itinerary. After exploring the streets of Marseille, you'll head into the mountains to meet the Verdon Gorge from all angles via horseback rides, river rafting, climbing, and canyoneering.
Take a dive into nine days of adventure with this expedition. Start off by exploring Marseille and the French Mediterranean coast, then head inland to the Provençal Alps and Verdon Gorge. You'll ride horses, raft down rivers, climb along the canyonside, and more before you return to Marseille.
Take every matter of transport on this ten-day adventure trip. You'll cruise along the coast of Marseille, ride horses up to Sainte-Croix Lake, and tackle the Verdon Gorge by foot, river raft, and via cordata climb to take in the wild face of Europe's largest gorge.
Capture your perfect angle, even if it's upside-down, on this 11-day adventure itinerary. In addition to two expert photography workshops, set in coastal Marseille and the mountains around the Verdon Gorge, you'll ride, raft, hike, and climb to some of France's most spectacular views.
Tackle 12 days of excitement with this adventure trip. After exploring France's oldest city, Marseille, you'll head out to the Verdon Gorge region. Hike along its edges to discover the wild animals and plants, then descend into the Gorge via climbs and canyoneering to experience it from all angles. You'll end your trip in Aix-en-Provence, home to some of Cézanne's favorite landscapes.
Wine tasting in Bordeaux, sailing around the Lérins Islands, sightseeing in Paris, sunbathing in Saint-Tropez: with nine days to spend in France, you'll have time for a wide range of activities. The itinerary depends on your interests—you could focus on major highlights like Paris and Provence, take your time exploring the laid-back French Riviera, or road-trip through the gorgeous scenery of western France, visiting castles and crossing the border to Switzerland, to name just a few options. Learn more about where to go and what to do with these unique itinerary ideas.
Find both adrenaline and inspiration on this 13-day adventure trip. You'll explore both city streets and wooded paths with professional photographers, ride horses and rafts through Europe's largest gorge, and see the natural sights and urban landscapes that inspired famous Impressionists over the course of your adventure.
Hop into a heart-pumping two weeks with this exciting itinerary. Whether you're cruising along the Mediterranean coastline outside Marseille, hiking up mountains, descending into the Verdon Gorge, or taking a bike ride around Aix-en-Provence, you're sure you find something that thrills you.
Indulge all of your senses, especially your sense of adventure, on this 15-day trip. You'll cruise to isolated islands in the Mediterranean, inhale the fragrant flower fields of Provence, scope out sunset summits, and more, frequently accompanied by expert guides and professional photographers to make sure you absorb the experience from every angle.
With eight days in France, you have time to visit more than one region, or you could choose to focus on one area, like the French Riviera. Combine a visit to Paris with a few days in the wine-growing region of the Loire Valley or a tour of Normandy's historic sites, or go on a food-focused journey around the Rhône Valley or a hiking trip in the Alps. Learn more about where to go and what to do with these unique itinerary suggestions.
Sink your teeth into 16 days of Southern French sensations with this itinerary. You'll experience the markets of Marseille along with a cooking class in a local chef's home, then find your courage to tackle Europe's largest gorge via hiking, horseback riding, canyoneering, climbing, and more. Wind down with more hikes and a bike ride through charming Aix-en-Provence before you head home.
Pack the family and hit the road for a self-drive trip through western France. Spend eight days seeing art in Paris, learning about history in Normandy, and vacationing on the seaside like the French. See Paris from the eyes of your kids with a treasure hunt at the Louvre, tour D-Day sites, and get an adrenaline rush when you try sand yachting
See the Eiffel Tower in Paris, explore tidal pools on the beaches of Normandy, and learn about pirates and seafaring history in the walled city on this packed 9-day family road trip. From delicious French pastries in the capital city to fresh-caught seafood in the neighborhood brasserie, there's no shortage of culinary delights. For young travelers, treasure hunts, sand yachting, and more up the adventure.
From the big city lights and historical museums of Paris to the quiet beaches of Western France, there's something on this 10-day road trip to delight everyone in the family, regardless of age. Start your trip in the capital city to explore highlights like the Louvre and Versaille, then rent a car and head west. Sample fresh seafood, try sand yachting and learn about D-Day history on the beaches of Normandy.
Follow this famous alpine route on a 12-day traverse past glacial peaks. Along with enjoying showstopping mountain scenery, you'll get to search for wildlife, sample alpine cheeses, and stroll through scenic towns while you put your trekking skills to the test.
Traverse over high mountain passes and through small alpine villages on this 10-day trek around Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest peak. Start and end in Chamonix, the self-proclaimed "French capital of Alpinism". See why this town got its nickname as you explore the Alps on foot, wandering through peaceful meadows and taking in the sweeping views.
Traverse alpine passes, feast on local cheese, and breathe in the crisp mountain air on this 9-day trek around Mont Blanc. Start in Chamonix—the French capital of alpinism—before hitting the trail for a week of sweeping views, snowy peaks, and meadows full of wildflowers. Top things off with cozy nights spent in rustic alpine huts or guest houses.
On this quick itinerary, you'll spend five days seeing the highlights of Provence, including the charming village of Aix-en-Provence, the natural parks of Calanques, Alpilles, and Luberon, and a number of other historic and cultural sites. Take a cooking class, cruise around scenic coves on a boat tour, stroll down the streets of France's oldest city, and more: this trip plan takes you there.
