France – it’s one of those places people dream about visiting. The fashion, food, culture, and rich history of this ancient yet modern country allures some 85.7 million visitors each year.
You could spend decades in France and still not be able to experience everything this grand place has to offer. That’s why we’ve come up with a seven-day itinerary so that you can hit some of the best hot spots next time you travel to France.
Getting Around France
Getting around France, and all of Europe for that matter, is relatively simple thanks to the extensive railroad lines. Rail Europe is one of the most trusted European rail travel companies out there. Just keep in mind that overnight trains cost the least, and high-speed trains cost the most. Be sure to book both the overnight train and day train ahead of time for the best savings. You can also use the Megabus/Flixbus; it will be cheaper but will take substantially longer.
Paris has one of the best public transportation systems in the world which makes getting around the hub of France very manageable. The Metro, as their subway system is called, is the one of the world’s most extensive underground transportation system and transports over 1.5 billion people each year. What makes it even better is than one metro ticket can be used for all metro lines, so as long as you stay underground, you can travel on the Parisian metro all day long. Sure, you may be deprived of sunshine for a few hours, but it’s a great way to discover underground Paris. There are 301 train stations within Paris’s city limits, and each one has a unique theme.
Time
| Day 1 |
9 AM | Arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris |
9 AM – 10 AM | Take RER B train to Le Village Hostel Montmartre (47 minutes)* |
10 AM – 10:30 AM | Grab breakfast at a local bakery |
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Walk to The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris (Sacre Coeur) – 7-minute walk |
11:30 AM – 12:10 PM | Take Metro to Champs-Elysees |
12:10 PM – 2 PM | Shop and visit Arc De Triomphe |
2 PM – 3 PM | Take Metro to Tuileries Garden (12-minute train ride) and have lunch in park |
3 PM – 6 PM | Walk to the Louvre Museum (15-minute walk) |
6 PM – 6:30 PM | Take Metro back to Montmartre area |
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Dinner |
7:30 PM – 8:15 PM | Walk back to hostel to freshen up |
8:15 PM – 8:30 PM | Walk to Moulin Rogue (15-minute walk) |
9 PM – 11 PM | Enjoy the show! |
11:15 PM – 11:30 PM | Walk back to the hostel |
11:30 PM | Sweet Dreams |
*Certain trips may require train changes which are not listed on this itinerary. Be sure to look up directions using Google Maps for complete route details.
Time
| Day 2 |
9 AM | Good morning! |
9 AM – 10 AM | Walk to The Hardware Société Paris for breakfast (7-minute walk) |
10 AM – 11 AM | Take Metro to Notre Dame (40-minute train ride) |
11 AM – 12 PM | Explore the cathedral |
12 PM – 1 PM | Have lunch |
1 PM – 1:30 PM | Take Metro to Eiffel Tower (25-minute train ride) |
1:30 PM – 3 PM | Climb to the top of Eiffel Tower and take pictures |
3 PM – 5 PM | Walk around, shop, and sightsee |
5 PM – 6:30 PM | Dinner |
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Take Metro back to hostel (50-minute train ride) |
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Pack up because we’re leaving in the morning! |
8:30 PM | Lights Out |
Time
| Day 3 |
9 AM | Good morning! |
9 AM – 9:30 AM | Have breakfast at a local bakery |
10 AM – 11 AM | Take Metro to Palace of Versailles (an hour and 15-minute train ride)** |
11 AM – 1 PM | Explore Versailles and Gardens |
12 PM – 1 PM | Walk to Monument Café for lunch (10-minute walk) |
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Hop aboard train at Versailles Chantiers station and make way to Nantes*** |
5 PM | Arrive in Nantes |
5 PM – 6 PM | Check in at Hotel Amiral.+ |
5 PM – 6:30 PM | Dinner at one of the restaurants listed in “Les Tables de Nantes” |
6:30 PM – 8 PM | Walk around and sightsee |
8 PM | Return to hotel and purchase The Nantes Pass.++ |
**This itinerary operates under the assumption that you will be backpacking (not toting copious amounts of luggage) and requires that you take your pack with you to certain attractions.
***We HIGHLY recommend purchasing a Eurail France Pass from Rail Europe. This allows you unlimited travel on the national rail network of France and can be purchased for three, four, five, or eight days. Be sure to check fares and schedules and note if seat reservations are required.
+When you book a hotel room through the Nantes Board of Tourism website, you get three nights for the price of two!
++The Nantes Pass, offered by the Nantes Board of Tourism, can be purchased for either 24, 48, or 72-hours. Within the pass, you will be given free access to top attractions in the area, free tours (usually in French, though -__-), as well as free bike rentals and river cruises. You will also hotel shopping, entertainment, and leisure. Free snacks are also offered at some locations for Nantes Pass holders. Click here for an extensive list of everything you can enjoy with the Nantes Pass. Save 10 percent when you purchase online.
Time
| Day 4 |
8 AM | Walk to Sugar BLUE Café for breakfast |
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Walk to Château des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany) (10-minute walk) Free admission with Nantes Pass |
10:30 AM – 12 PM | Take bus to Galerie of the Machines de L’Île (10-minute bus ride) Free admission and bus ticket with Nantes Pass |
12 PM – 1 PM | Enjoy lunch at The Café de La Branche (1-minute walk) |
1 PM – 2 PM | Take bus to Endre River Cruise (42-minute bus ride) |
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Erdre River Cruise Free admission with Nantes Pass |
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Explore the area and have dinner |
6:30 PM – 6:40 PM | Make way back toward hotel via bus (10-minute bus route) |
6:40 PM – 8 PM | Check out shops at Le Passage Pommeraye |
8 PM – 10PM | Walk to Le Macallan for cocktails and wine (4-minute walk) |
10 PM | Goodnight |
Time
| Day 5 |
8 AM | Walk to Tabl’O Gourmand for breakfast (8-minute walk) |
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Take bus to Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden) (15-minute bus ride) Free admission and bus ticket with Nantes Pass |
10:30 AM – 10:40 AM | Walk to Tourist Train Tour (10-minute walk) Free admission and bus ticket with Nantes Pass |
11 AM – 12 PM | Enjoy tour |
12 PM – 1 PM | Have lunch at local restaurant |
1 PM – 4 PM | Walk to Ville À Vélo and rent a bike (10-minute walk) and tour city Free bike rental with Nantes Pass |
4 PM – 5 PM | Have dinner |
5 PM – 5:30 PM | Return bikes |
5:40 PM – 5:45 PM | Walk back to hotel (5-minute walk) |
5:45 PM – 6 PM | Pack up because we check out from Hotel Amiral in the morning |
6 PM – 7 PM | Rest and freshen up |
7 PM – 8:15 PM | Have drinks at local bar |
9 PM – 9:30 PM | Take bus to train station |
10 PM – 3 AM | Take overnight train to Hotel Bellevue in Brittany (5-hour train ride)* |
lease note that this route will require a couple of train transfers, so look up directions on Google Maps beforehand.
Time
| Day 6 |
3 AM | Walk to Hotel Bellevue and check in (5-minute walk) |
9 AM | Rise and shine. Enjoy free continental breakfast buffet in hotel lobby
|
10 AM – 10:30 AM | Walk to National Maritime Museum* |
10:30 AM – 1 PM | Tour the museum |
1 PM – 2 PM | Have lunch at local restaurant |
2 PM – 2:15 PM | Walk to Le Brestoa for river boat cruise |
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Enjoy river cruise |
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Have dinner at a local restaurant |
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Walk around and explore the town. |
7:30 PM – 9 PM | Walk back to hotel and grab drinks on the way (25-minute walk) |
9 PM | Call it a night because you’re probably tired from your late night / early morning rendezvous from the night before. |
*The public transportation system in Brest is not so great, so unless you want to dish out the cash for a taxi, you’ll be walking for most of the time, so pull out those comfortable walking shoes.
Time
| Day 7 |
9 AM | Wake up, have breakfast at continental breakfast buffet in hotel lobby, and check out of hotel. |
10 AM – 10:15 AM | Take a taxi to Oceanopolis (10-minte cab ride. You could also walk but it’s an hour away if you decide to walk) |
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Explore Oceanopolis |
12:30 PM – 1 PM | Have lunch at local restaurant |
1 PM – 1:30 PM | Take taxi to The Armorique Regional Natural Park |
1:30 PM – 7 PM | Hike, rock climb, and take in the beauty of The Armorique Regional Natural Park |
7 PM – 8:30 PM | Take taxi back to hotel area and have dinner |
9 PM – 9:15 PM | Walk to Brest train station |
9:30 PM – 6 AM | Take overnight train to Aix-les-Bains* |
*Note that you will have to make several transfers while on the train.
Time
| Day 8 |
6 AM | Walk to Golden Tulip Hotel from train station (2-minute walk) |
6 AM – 9 AM | Nap time! |
9 AM – 10:30 AM | Have breakfast at Au Clos Des Bauges (10-minute walk) |
10:30 AM – 12 PM | Walk through the city and explore. There’s much to see in Aix-les-Bains! |
12 PM – 3 PM | Walk to Casino Grand Cercle. Play slot machines, have a few drinks, and enjoy lunch in the casino’s restaurants. |
3 PM – 6 PM | Take a cab to Xavier Jacqueline Winemaker for wine tour and tasting (7-minute taxi ride) |
6 PM – 8 PM | Take taxi back to hotel area and have dinner |
8 PM – 9:30 PM | Grab a drink at a local bar and explore a bit |
9:30 PM | Walk back to Golden Tulip Hotel and sweet dreams! |
Time
| Day 9 |
8 AM | Wake up and have breakfast in hotel restaurant. |
9 AM – 2 PM | Walk to Spirit of Adventure for canyoning, zip lining, ropes courses, and more (10-minute walk) |
2 PM – 3:30 PM | Have lunch at local restaurant |
4 PM – 6 PM | Get pampered at the spa at Golden Tulip |
6 PM – 8 PM | Dinner and explore the town |
9 PM – 12 AM | Drinks and dancing at Le Continental (4-minute walk from hotel) |
Time
| Day 10 |
9 AM | Wake up, check out of hotel, and have breakfast at local restaurant |
10 AM – 2 PM | Make your way to train station and set off for Chamonix (4-hour train ride) |
2 PM – 2:30 PM | Check in at Saint Antoine Hotel |
2:30 PM – 3 PM | Have lunch at Le Saint Antoine Pizzeria |
3 PM – 5:30 PM | Take a taxi to Paint Ball Cham for paint balling (13-minute cab ride) Reservations required |
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Take train back to Saint Antoine Hotel area (50-minute train ride) |
6:30 PM – 8 PM | Have dinner at a local restaurant |
8 PM – 9:30 PM | Explore the town |
9:30 PM | Sweet dreams |
Time
| Day 11 |
8 AM | Wake up, check out of hotel, and walk to Super U Supermarket to grab breakfast (7-minute walk) |
9 AM – 12 PM | Take taxi to Aiguille du Midi Cable Car (10-minute taxi ride) |
12 PM – 1 PM | Have lunch at a local restaurant |
1 PM – 5 PM | Walk to O’Shop for ski rentals (3-minute walk) |
5 PM – 6 PM | Take train back to Saint Antoine Hotel area (40-minute train ride) |
6 PM – 7:30 PM | Dinner at a local restaurant |
7:30 PM – 6 AM | Walk to train station (17-minute walk) and take Eurail to Nice, France |
Time
| Day 12 |
6 AM | Arrive in Nice
|
6 AM – 9 AM | Walk to Hotel Brice Garden Nice (10-minute walk). Check in and take a nap. |
9 AM – 10 AM | Have breakfast in the gardens of the hotel |
10 AM – 12 PM | Walk to Basilique Notre-Dame de Nice (15-minute walk) |
12 PM – 2 PM | Walk to Marche aux Fleurs Cours Saleya for shopping and lunch |
2 PM – 3:30 PM | Walk to Castle Hill (15-minute walk) |
3:30 PM – 4 PM | Take the train to Blue Beach (20-minute train ride) |
4 PM – 6 PM | Soak up the sun and watch the sunset |
6 PM – 7:30 PM | Have dinner at a local restaurant |
7:30 – 9:30 PM | Walk back toward Hotel Brice Garden Nice and explore the town (8-minute walk) |
9:30 PM | Sweet dreams |
Time
| Day 13 |
9 AM | Wake up and have breakfast in the Hotel Brice gardens
|
9 AM – 12 PM | Walk to Glisse Evasion for parasailing (7-minute walk) |
12 PM – 1 PM | Walk back to hotel to freshen up (7-minute walk) |
1 PM – 2 PM | Have lunch at a local restaurant |
2 PM – 5 PM | Walk to Musee National Marc Chagall (25-minute walk) |
5 PM – 7 PM | Take train to Olivera for dinner (15-minute train ride) |
7 PM – 9 PM | Explore Vieille Ville and check out local bars for drinks |
9 PM - 9:15 PM | Take train back to hotel |
9:15 PM – 9:30 PM | Get back to hotel, shower, and pack up |
9:30 PM | Sweet dreams |
Time
| Day 14 |
9 AM | Wake up and have breakfast in the Hotel Brice gardens. Check out of hotel
|
10 AM – 10:30 AM | Take train to Nice Cote d’Azur Airport
|
Bon voyage, mon ami! |
