3 weeks, itinerary for Nice, Provence, Burgundy, Alsace and Paris

For me, you're short on time at many of your proposed stops. Two nights only gives you one full day and some random hours for exploration.

• Nice: There are lots of great places along the Riviera, and they're easily managed by train (or bus for the hill towns). This area is particularly rich in art museums; Nice alone has at least six. If those aren't of great interest to you, research the options and choose one or two you're most likely to appreciate. A lot of the art museums are fairly small (many focus on a specific painter), so they don't take a great deal of time.

• Avignon: You'd need a full day for a bus tour of some of the small places that are inconvenient (sometimes impossible) to reach by public transportation, but there are larger places you can do on your own, and that will take time--Arles, St. Remy (bus only), Aix-en-Provence, Nimes, etc. I'm not sure Aix is within reasonable day-tripping distance, though. A more typical time allotment here would be 4 or 5 nights, I think.

• Lyon: This is a large city with quite a lot of varied sightseeing options. I'd want a minimum of three nights.

• Dijon: Consider whether you'll want to take a side trip to Beaune, in which case two nights might be short.

• Strasbourg: I'd want a day for beautiful (though touristy) Colmar, so I'd find three nights in Strasbourg short. Check on the origin point of the day tours you're interested in. I think a good bit of the focus may be the picturesque wine villages, and I believe they're closer to Colmar than Strasbourg. I wonder whether it might not be better to stay in Colmar and take a day trip to Strasbourg. I haven't compared lodging costs, but I suspect Colmar might actually be a bit cheaper.

I agree with your husband that, beyond a certain point, many villages within an area begin to look alike. However, the small towns along the Riviera do not look like Provencal villages, and the Alsatian villages are visually very different from both the first two.

I have only traveled in France via public transportation. As is the case in most countries, it's difficult to see more than two small towns on one day. Next time I return, I plan to take a few day-long bus (or van) tours, as you are considering. They are a much more efficient way to see the little places. The trade-off is that you don't have any control over how much time is spent at each stop. I wouldn't, for example, want to take a multi-destination tour that included Colmar, because I'm sure I'd be dissatisfied with the amount of time spent there.

Thank you very much. I was hoping you’d respond as I often peruse this forum and remember you have a lot of good advice and use public transportation. I will take all your comments into consideration
Sharon

Agree with acraven that 2 nights is too short for all of these locations. You need to take travel time/hotel change time into account- most of your transitions will take at least half a day- probably more. Leaving you with just 1 full day- not really much time to "visit other areas"

You won't find any direct flights from DC to Nice so I don't see you getting there very early- it will be a layover/plane change somewhere. We found flying IN to Paris then home from Nice worked well- the flight home from Nice changed in Paris but had to be done! (we prefer direct TO Europe and can handle a change on the way home if needed- at least if you get delayed you have already done the trip)

Figure out how many hours it will take you to move from location to location and which route makes the most sense. I'd probably drop 1 location- maybe Avignon or Lyon? and add those nights to Nice.
We loved Nice, didn't care for Avignon, really enjoyed Dijon/Beaune, stayed in Colmar instead of Strasbourg. Have not been to Lyon (on our list!)

Unfortunately, the new nonstop between Nice and Washington DC won't start until May 24th. You could invert you agenda, if possible, to save a flight connection. As noted, given the wasted time on your arrival day you end up with the shortest amount of time.

I've been to all of the places on your itinerary and it seems challenging for all one trip, especially if you want to add any outdoor time. Given your interest in ruins, I'd plan a day trip to the Pont du Gard and Nimes (arena). Avignon has the papal palace but is less interesting than the countryside (villages, ruins, walks). You could drop a day there --- getting to Lyon is a short leg so travel is more efficient. Our you can venture into the Luberon or hit Arles and St Remy/Les Baux/Glanium.

Dijon can be pretty wine intensive === there is a new museum in fact there. Beaune is reachable by train from either Lyon or Dijon. You could drop Dijon and daytrip to Beaune or do a wine region tour.

Strasbourg and the wine route is beautiful, and the white wines are outstanding. But this leg will be filled with a lot of villages between the city and Colmar. And they may tend to look alike for your husband, and you may only wish to do one wine stop.

Christine:
Thanks for the tip to fly into Paris and out of Nice. Since Gooster indicates there will be a new nonstop starting May 25th from Nice to DC, that is another great reason to reverse my itinerary.
1. Paris 4/5 nights

1. Strasbourg or Colmar (schedule a group tour of the area) 4 nights

3..Dijon/Beaune would be the next stop Then Lyon. I would consider dropping Lyon or Dijon/Beaune. I could add days to Lyon, day trip to Beaune and drop Dijon/Beaune. Or drop Lyon and stay in Burgundy for an extra night? I know it's my trip but any thoughts?

1. Avignon isn't the top choice for Provence region, I was just using it as a base for a guided tour of the region since we won't be driving. The all day tour I was looking at visits Van Gogh's hospital at Saint Paul de Mausole, Les Baux de Provence, Arles and Pont du Gard. I'm sure there are other tours that go other places but that will be a decision for later. 3 nights

2. Nice 4 nights

It looks like the train connections are all very good ranging from 1 hr 10 minutes to 2 hr 15 minutes.. Avignon to Nice is the longest at 3 hr. 17 minutes.

Thank you
Sharon

I have no idea why my itinerary is numbered as such... I tried editing it and deleting it and resubmitting but I give up.

Sorry
Sharon

Thanks for the tip to fly into Paris and out of Nice. Since Gooster
indicates there will be a new nonstop starting May 25th from Nice to
DC, that is another great reason to reverse my itinerary.

I had forgotten about that new flight- and glad to be reminded and we would love to go back to Nice but didn't want to add Paris.

However
I just looked for some dates next spring- United flies non stop from IAD TO Nice starting May 24 but does not fly non stop FROM Nice to DC- you will stop in Newark then change to IAD. That's not the worst thing- at least you are all the way to the US. Just so you know!

Avignon isn't the top choice for Provence region, I was just using it
as a base for a guided tour of the region since we won't be driving.
The all day tour I was looking at visits Van Gogh's hospital at Saint
Paul de Mausole, Les Baux de Provence, Arles and Pont du Gard. I'm
sure there are other tours that go other places but that will be a
decision for later. 3 nights

Avignon is fine- it is the best choice without a car. This tour sounds a bit much for 1 day though? We spent 2 nights in Arles with no day trips, spend better part of a day at Pont du Gard.
We also stayed in St-Remy which was perfect- visited the Van Gogh hospital and Les Baux from there- on same day

Beaune is tiny- 1 night there is enough- or day trip from DIjon. Although we did like Dijon- I think you could skip- give the night to Lyon. I'd pick Lyon to keep just because we've never been!

Would look like this, gets rid of all the 2 night stays
Paris 4 or 5
Strasburg or Colmar 4
Lyon 4
Nice 4