France Travel Insights

Insights, ideas and itineraries from kimkim's trusted network of Local Travel Specialists and Experts in France

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2 Weeks in Provence - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

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.

10 Days in Provence - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With 10 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.

The Pont d'Avignon, was a medieval bridge across the Rhône in Avignon, southern France

1 Week in Provence - 5 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.

5 Days in Provence - 5 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.

How Many Days to Spend in Lyon

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 you decide which trip length is right for you.

Food & Wine Tour of Provence: Avignon & Bonnieux - 5 Days

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!

Dining outside on warm summer nights is a Provencal staple

How Many Days to Spend in Provence

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).

Walk along Pont de Pierre, Bordeaux's first bridge

How Many Days to Spend in Bordeaux

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.

Marseille's romantic port draws boaters in summer months

How Many Days to Spend in Marseille

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.

16 Days in France - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

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.

15 Days in France - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas

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.

Kaysersberg, one of the prettiest villages in Alsace

13 Days in France - 5 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.

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 6 Days

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.

Church of the Holy Ghost, Aix-en-Provence

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 8 Days

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.

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 9 Days

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.

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 10 Days

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.

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 11 Days

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.

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 12 Days

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.

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 13 Days

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.

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 14 Days

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.

France Road Trip: Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Provence - 15 Days

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.

Enjoy some time exploring Monaco's glitzy Monte Carlo

12 Days in France - 7 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With nearly two weeks to explore France, 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.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille & Verdon - 6 Days

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.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille & Verdon - 7 Days

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.

Explore the "Monte Carlo of France's Basque CountryBiarritz

11 Days in France - 7 Unique Itinerary Ideas

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.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille & Verdon - 8 Days

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.

Lavender fields along the Moustiers road

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille & Verdon - 9 Days

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.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille & Verdon - 10 Days

Take every manner of transport on this 10-day adventure trip. You'll cruise along the coast of Marseille, ride horses up to Sainte-Croix Lake, visit lavender fields, and tackle the Verdon Gorge by foot, river raft, and via cordata climb to take in the wild face of Europe's largest gorge.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille & Verdon - 11 Days

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.

Sunset in the Verdon Regional Nature Park

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille, Verdon, & Aix-en-Provence - 12 Days

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.

Spend time exploring the famous Château de Versailles

9 Days in France - 7 Unique Itinerary Ideas

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. 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.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille, Verdon, & Aix-en-Provence - 13 Days

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.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille, Verdon, & Aix-en-Provence - 14 Days

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.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille, Verdon, & Aix-en-Provence - 15 Days

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.

Hike on the famous Tour du Mont Blanc near Chamonix, France

8 Days in France - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas

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 itinerary suggestions.

Provençal Alps Adventure: Marseille, Verdon Gorge, & Aix-en-Provence - 16 Days

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.

Family Road Trip in Western France: Paris, Normandy, & Brittany - 8 Days

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

Family Road Trip in Western France: Paris, Normandy, & Brittany - 9 Days

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.

Family Road Trip in Western France: Paris, Normandy & Brittany - 10 Days

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 journey in the capital city to explore highlights like the Louvre and Versailles, then rent a car and head west. Sample fresh seafood, try sand yachting, and learn about D-Day history on the beaches of Normandy.

Tour du Mont Blanc Self-Guided Trek - 12 Days

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.

Tour du Mont Blanc Self-Guided Trek - 10 Days

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.

Tour du Mont Blanc Self-Guided Trek - 9 Days

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.

Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis

Parks of Provence: Calanques National Park, Alpilles, & the Luberon Valley - 5 Days

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.

Luxury Food and Wine Tour: Paris & Bordeaux - 5 Days

Find some of your new favorite spots with five days in western France. Stroll through the streets of Le Marais, ascend the Eiffel Tower, and experience the fabulous wine and food scene in Bordeaux to leave you feeling relaxed and refined.

Discover one of Paris' must-see neighborhoods, once inhabited by master artists like Matisse and Van Gogh

Luxury Food & Wine Tour: Paris & Bordeaux - 6 Days

Savor six days amid scenic and savory sights on this luxury food and wine-focused itinerary. You'll take in the beauty of Paris first, tasting fine cheeses in Le Marais, strolling the cobblestones of village-like Montmartre, and watching twilight settle over the Seine from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Then it's off to Bordeaux to discover its famed gastronomy, with fine dining and a full day of wine tasting among the vineyards of Saint-Émilion.

Luxury Food and Wine Tour: Paris & Bordeaux - 7 Days

Spend a full week savoring the food and wine of France on this itinerary. Sit in the sidewalk cafés and stroll the markets of Paris before you catch the train to Bordeaux, where you'll cruise through historic towns and vineyards that date back hundreds of years.

Luxury Food and Wine Tour: Paris & Bordeaux - 8 Days

Enjoy eight days of epicurean indulgences against the backdrop of two of France's most famous cities. In Paris, you'll hear from cheese masters, market vendors, and expert cooks as they impart their wisdom to you. Then travel on to Bordeaux to sample the region's famous food and wine amid historic architecture.

Luxury Food and Wine Tour: Paris, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux - 9 Days

A French lunch break can be up to two hours long, but you get nine full days to sample the country's food and wine on this itinerary. Visit the artsy alleys and markets of Le Marais and Montmartre, then travel to the Loire Valley and Bordeaux to tour the vineyards that made French wine famous.

Luxury Food and Wine Tour: Paris, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux - 10 Days

There are enough French cheeses that you could eat a different one every day for a year. This itinerary only takes you as far as 10 days, so you'll have to eat a little faster than that. Start by consulting a cheesemaker in Le Marais, then ascend the Eiffel Tower to see Paris from the sky. You'll then head to the castles of the Loire Valley, followed by three nights in Bordeaux to sample vintages dating back centuries.

Luxury Food and Wine Tour: Paris, Loire Valley, & Bordeaux - 11 Days

France is the world's second-largest exporter of wine, but you can sample the bottles they keep for themselves on this 11-day itinerary. Start off in Paris, strolling the Palais Royal and covered markets, before you travel to the Loire Valley to relax under the vines where da Vinci spent the last years of his life. Then finish your trip in Bordeaux to compare the wines of the left and right river banks, just to make sure you've tried them all.

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