Best order & time needed for Paris, Normandy, and Burgundy?

Doable, yes. Pleasant, I don't think so. I realize the trip is around the corner, but you really need to buy a copy of RS France book to get an idea of methods and means to enjoy your vacation. You're spending a lot of time in transit across widely separated regions of France. Also, do the 12 days include air travel from the US? If so, you only really have 10 days in France, and your pace will be frenetic and disorganized.

Thank you! The 12 days do not include travel. Arrive 7:00am on Monday 30th, Leave at noon on Saturday the 12th. So actually 11 full days.
I just finished reading RS France 2017 yesterday!

A lot of good information, but not exactly the answer to this question. I wish Normandy and Burgundy were on the same side of Paris.My mom really wants to go to Normandy, but I do not think I could spend more than 2 days there or more than 5 days in Paris (not really into museums) so that still leaves 4 days. Also we really love wine...

Hi Riley. "So that leaves 4 days." No, it does not, because it will take you time to get places.

Your problem is to minimize transitions, maximize sightseeing, in the time you have. That means 2 things and a third corollary thing.

Thing 1: Take the train whenever it is quicker than driving. Rent cars as needed to explore locally, not to get across France.

Thing 2: Paris comes last, since that is where your flight home is. Corollary: Do not spend your first night in Paris.

So to answer your question: I would proceed directly to Normandy first thing, by train. It's a close call but the trip to Bayeux is a little shorter than the trip to Beaune. If you are going to a different part of Normandy, go Burgundy second.

Do you need a car in Normandy? There are many tours to the D-Day Beaches, and taking one would be a very good use of your time. On the other hand there is so much more to Burgundy than that, more that a car would help you to see. If you want a car, arrange to pick one up on Day 2.

But, do not keep it. Take the train to Beaune or Dijon to get your car and drive wherever (but Beaune is a great base). Yes this is basically all day and yes you will pass through Paris, but it is faster than driving.

Hey, you want to see both Nornandy and Burgundy? This is what you've gotta do. You can plan a lunch break in Paris. Pick up your car the following day, you will need it to explore unless you both like to bike (also recommended).

Take the train back to Paris for the last part of your trip.

This itinerary can work if you are both nimble and are careful with your time. That means reading guidebooks and figuring out how you will spend each day in advance. If your style is just to show up and wing it, then I am with those who say you've bitten off more than you can chew; add some days or subtract a place.

What do you plan to do in Normandy? A good van-tour of the D-Day sites will take a full day. They mostly originate from Bayeux, which has the Bayeux tapestry, an attractive historic area, and a good-sized WW II museum--that's another half-day, at least. There's a huge (as in full-day-huge) WW II Museum ("Peace Museum") in nearby Caen. Highly recommended if you're seriously interested in WW II; other folks often find it overwhelming. There are charming, though touristy, coastal towns stretching east from Caen: Cabour, Deauville, Honfleur. The city of Rouen has a very handsome historic district (restored/rebuilt post-war) with several interesting museums.

I got around Normandy by train a bus, but a rental car would be more efficient if going beyond Caen and Bayeux.

I agree with everything Adam wrote except the sequence he proposed. The only way to get from CDG to Normandy by train is through Paris (Gare St-Lazare). On the other hand, there is direct train service from CDG to Dijon, in Burgundy and close to Beaune. I'd suggest going there first, getting the car in Dijon, doing your Burgundy thing, then driving, south of Paris, across to Normandy. We did this a few years ago, from Beaune to Bayeux, and it was very scenic and pretty easy. On viamichelin.com it looks like at least a 7-hour drive from Beaune to Mont-St-Michel, plus stops. So that's one of your days. Then back to Bayeux, tour the beaches yourselves or using a guided tour. Drop the car in Caen or Rouen and train to Paris for whatever time you have left. Or drive to Versailles and drop the car, but by the time you get there you won't have much time for the chateaux and gardens.

This seems doable but too rushed for me, You'll be in motion a lot of the time, especially if you go all the way to MSM. I'd suggest Paris plus either Normandy or Burgundy. You like wine, which you can find on menus all over France. It's available but not produced in Normandy. If you want to visit wineries and see vineyards, then look to Burgundy. Or the Loire, south of Normandy -- but that's another story.

I believe the direct deGaulle - Dijon train that Dick refers to has been discontinued. I cannot find it listed anywhere. As I recall, it was a late train anyway.

Consequently, the road to either place, Normandy or Burgundy, is though Paris (though from different train stations).

If you prefer to start in Burgundy, you certainly can, and probably be in Beaune in time for a late lunch. (I'd skip Dijon on such a short trip.) You can get to Bayeux a little sooner, is all.

Timing/availability of a D-Day tour might be a factor in the decision about whether to head north or south initially. I'm not sure the tours necessarily will be running every single day in early May (just a guess on my part). It's something you should check ahead of time by using the links provided on the appropriate website.

Here's a plan that I am toying with that might work for you or you can tweak. I have the same predicament.

Day 1 - Land Paris 8:30 then Train to Bayeux Pick up car

Day 2 - Bayeux - Rest up from Jet Lag - Wing it

Day 3 - Bayeux - Mont St. Michel

Day 4 - Bayeux - Guided Normandy Tour (Overlord)

Day 5 - Train to Burgundy/Beaune - long train ride via Paris, then to Beaune - Rest, Wine, Biking, Hiking, eating, etc - Maybe get car for adventures.

Day 6 - Beaune- Rest, Wine, Biking, Hiking, eating, etc

Day 7 - Beaune - Rest, Wine, Biking, Hiking, eating, etc

Day 8 - Beaune - Rest, Wine, Biking, Hiking, eating, etc

Day 9 - Paris - See Paris or any of day trips below

Day 10 - Paris (Possible Train day trips: Giverny, Fountainbleau, Provins, Epernay, Reims, Chatilly, AUVERS-SUR-OISE, Versailles)

Day 11 - Paris (Possible Train day trips: Giverny, Fountainbleau, Provins, Epernay, Reims, Chatilly, AUVERS-SUR-OISE, Versailles)

Day 12 - Paris (Possible Train day trips: Giverny, Fountainbleau, Provins, Epernay, Reims, Chatilly, AUVERS-SUR-OISE, Versailles)

Day 13 - Paris (Possible Train day trips: Giverny, Fountainbleau, Provins, Epernay, Reims, Chatilly, AUVERS-SUR-OISE, Versailles)

Day 14 - Back Home

Let me know what you think, the trip to Normandy really adds a wrench in there. Another option I'm looking at take me a little more south, and moves Normandy to a Paris Day trip. Adding in case you are interested.

Day 1 - Land Paris Train to Lyon - Maybe car while in Lyon

Day 2 - Lyon

Day 3 - Lyon

Day 4 - Train to Avignon - Possible day trips (Arles, Aix-en provence, Marsaille, Montpellier, Nimes) - Maybe get car but I think most of these day trip can be done by Train

Day 5 - Avignon

Day 6 - Avgnon

Day 7 - Avignon

Day 8 - Paris Possible day trips Possible Train day trips: Normandy is Mandatory, Giverny, Fountainbleau, Provins, Epernay, Reims, Chatilly, AUVERS-SUR-OISE, Versailles)

Day 9 - Paris

Day 10 - Paris

Day 11 - Paris

Day 12 - Paris

Day 13 - Paris

Day 14 - Back Home

Good luck, and excuse my spelling. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thank you all for your advice. A few questions though, i was under the impression it is cheaper to rent a car for a whole week and not do little rentals in each town.. however if we did it for a week then the pick up and drop off towns would be different which could make a difference. I still need to look into this.

Also, shouldn’t it be quicker to drive from Beaune to Bayeux? Instead of train.

I will take everything you all said into consideration and run it by my mom. I think if we choose to have a more relaxed trip we will just do Paris and Normandy region.
Here is my rough itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive to Paris 7:00am. Get a train to Dijon. Spend day exploring Dijon. Rent a car and continue to Beaune.

Day 2: Beaune
Day 3: Beaune
Day 4: Beaune

Day 5: leave Beaune early and head to Mont-St-Michel(Drive). Over night here.

Day 6: head to Bayeux(Drive). Rest of the day seeing Bayeux.

Day 7: full day tour of D-Day area

Day 8: Leave Bayeux early and stop for half day in Versailles. (Drop off car somewhere around here?) Continue on to Paris.

Day 9: Paris
Day 10: Paris
Day 11: Paris
Day 12: Paris
Day 13: Leave flight at 12:30 pm

I use Rome to Rio for a lot of my searches and don't ask me why, From Beaune to Bayeux it is 6 hours 29 Minutes. From Bayeux to Beaune 5 hours 34 Min. Driving is 5 hours 24 minutes. So let's say they are the same. For what it's worth, they list Train at $86-$135 and driving at $75-$110 for gas. Add in Rental cost and I'd say this is a wash too.

Just me, but that is a long drive. I prefer the train. I get a nice bottle of wine, maybe some fruit or a charcuterie, a baguette, and make the best of the train ride. Maybe throw in a nap.

For us Bayeux day one makes most sense if the time delta is really an hour more the other way.

Rileyf44 -- I like your plan, basically what I'd suggested earlier, except that I was wrong about the CDG-Dijon train, as Adam pointed out. The (rail)way from CDG to either Burgundy or Normandy lies through Paris. So you'll have to get from the airport to the proper station (Gare de Lyon for Burgundy, Gare St-Lazare for Normandy). The simplest choice is a taxi (50 euros). The cheapest is RER to Gare du Nord and then Metro to either station (not fun with luggage). Le Bus Direct from CDG to Gare de Lyon is a good compromise if Burgundy is where you'll go first.

Unless you're averse to driving, I'd say keep the car and drive between Normandy and Burgundy, in whichever direction. It will be a long tiring day, but so will a day on trains, switching stations in Paris, with luggage. Driving will show you some nice scenery and you can stop for lunch in a nice town. The autoroutes are very easy with all the services you'll need. Don't know whether driving or train costs more, but they're probably comparable. And there won't be a drop-off charge for the car as long as it's in France.

"shouldn’t it be quicker to drive from Beaune to Bayeux? Instead of train. "

"TGV" stands for "train a grande vitesse" train at great speed. Usually between 150 and 200 MPH. So no, driving is not going to beat a grande vitesse train.

Rome 2 Rio aside, there is no way you are going to drive from Beaune to MSM in just 6 hours. Plan for 8.

These online planners always underestimate the actual time.

But if you took the train, it would take you 4:45 to get to Rennes, where you could rent your car for a short drive to MSM. That includes 50 minutes in Paris; you could stay longer, catch a later train to Rennes, and grab a bite to eat.

In my book that beats the highway. More time at MSM, on a very tight itinerary.

But chacon a son goute.

I agree Adam, sounds like an awful drive. Like I said, I'm old and prefer a comfy seat and a nice bottle of wine for the ride :-)