10 days in France with kids - Fly into Toulouse, Dordogne, train to Paris - planning help

Bordeaux is also a good airport for arrival when the first real stop is the Dordogne.

I would not drive immediately after arriving from an international flight. The fatigue can be great and rural roads can be twisty. Look into train and bus options to get to Sarlat. Rent a car in Sarlat when you are fresh the next day.

Dropping the car off in Brive and taking the train to Paris is a good plan.

A 5/4 or 4/5 split between the Dordogne and Paris sounds good to me!

Either flying into Toulouse or Bordeaux is good; the driving distance is similar, depending on your destination in the Dordogne. If you fly into Toulouse, I'd recommend staying in Toulouse the first night and renting a car in the morning, or getting a car at the airport and driving to Albi for the night (it's only about 1 hour). If you fly into Bordeaux, I'd recommend spending the first night in Bordeaux and picking up a car at the train station in the morning (it's easy to get on the road and to the Dordogne from there).

Toulouse's historic center is full of pink brick and beautiful. It's walkable from the main train station (for me). I haven't been to Paris recently at all, but going from memory, Toulouse has a distinctly different look. I would definitely recommend spending your first night there. The city has multiple worthwhile sights, but I'd prioritize walking around outside, trying to beat off the jetlag. I found the streets very lively during my 2017 visit; there seems to be a large student population.

Albi's a lot smaller but also attractive. The cathedral and the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum are both worthwhile. I was surprised at how quiet it was; I think I hit town during the afternoon siesta.

Bordeaux is a handsome city with a more Parisian look (to me). A disadvantage is that the oldest sections are quite some distance from the main train station.

Edited to add: Brive-la-Gaillarde is one of several attractive towns I stayed in last year during my attempt to see the Dordogne and Lot without a car. It's worth allowing some time to walk around the historic center if you can. I can't much recommend the small Resistance museum unless you have fluent French. The amount of English there is somewhat limited, though there's an audio guide that covers one floor, I believe.

Weather warning: Toulouse, Albi and Bordeaux could all be quite hot in August.

acraven posts (accurately) that the southwest of France can be hot in August. But Paris can also be hot in August. If that will be a problem, then try to book a hotel (or rent an apartment) that has AC, which is a bit hard to find in France. Your stay in the Dordogne should be okay, as you will have a house with a pool. As for splitting your time between Dordogne and Paris, that is hard to say. It depends a lot on whether you prefer to see beautiful scenery and castles, or focus more on museums and Paris architecture. Everyone has a different preference. Peter

Thank you all for the very helpful suggestions!

Based on your feedback, we will stay a night in Toulouse instead of rushing to get a rental car and drive after our flight.

We are coming from VT and will take hot weather whenever we can get it. : )

I'd say you're set, then!

My 2¢ about something you did not ask about:

1 night Toulouse (a charming city), 6 nights Dordogne (= 5 days, you will not be sorry), remainder Paris.

Why shortchange Paris? Which this does.

Here's why. You will return to Paris. You may not return to the Dordogne. It is hard to get to. But it is an exceptional wonderful place.

So enjoy a full 5 days there while you can.