First Time to France - Suggestions and Tips?

Choose Paris and a more rural destination such as Normandy, Brittany, Burgundy, Alsace.

do the side trip first i.e. arrive in Paris and head that afternoon by train to the region you have chosen. NOrmandy is good. Brittany is good. Alsace. Burgundy. I would save at least 6 nights for Paris. do the side trip first and then finish in Paris where you are then set to get the THalys to Amsterdam and fly home from Amsterdam.

Another way to accomplish this is to spend the whole 10 days in an apartment in Paris and then plan to do 2 or 3 day trips to one of the many small towns or cities in the region. There are literally a couple of dozen great day trips from Paris within an hour or so by train. Take a look at some of these.

https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/day-trips-from-paris/
Also look at Auver su Oise, Chartres, Provins, Reims for Champagne houses, Rouen for interesting architecture different from Paris. For small towns, I'd pick Senlis, Moret su Loing, Crecy la Chapelle and/or Auvers sur Oise. That way you have a base, can cook from the great markets and get to see some countryside and village charm.

Not about where to go, but to answer your Tips? question... in France, always start with bonjour madame/monsieur before you say anything to anyone, no matter who they are. Add a liberal amount of Merçi in there too. Most French people are very nice, but you will be received much better if you follow that simple etiquette.

I love France, and in particular, Paris... i hope you have a wonderful time!

Climb things. Eat (other) things. Visit parks. Do not stint.

rustic country charm -- Alsace.

France has much to offer.
Paris demands 4-5 days minimum.

The other parts of France that I have visited were all great
1) Normandy-great if you like WWII history as well as to see the 900 year old Bayeux Tapestry about the Norman conquest of England.
2) Loire Valley, south of Paris, good for 3 days to visit the many Chateaux.
3) Verdun for a couple of days to visit the site of the famous WWI battle.
4) Alsace, Strasbourg and other great places.
5) Burgundy and Provence. Wonderful, we did a fantastic week long river cruise from Leon up the Saone River into Burgundy, then back down the Rhone to Arles.

6) The French Riveria- Monaco, Nice, St. Paul de Venice and more.

You only have time for one choice outside of Paris, but you can come back. We still want to to SW France and the Bordeaux region.

I prefer limiting long travel legs. I'd plan four or five nights in Paris (won't be enough to see everything), then work toward Netherlands with stops in Normandy and Belgium.

In Netherlands, I enjoy anything but Amsterdam more than Amsterdam. Not saying Amsterdam isn't a place you should see. I'd suggest planning something outside of Amsterdam as well as time in Amsterdam and decide for yourself.

I found the Alsace wine region full of "rustic country charm". Train Paris to Strasbourg. Rent a car in Strasbourg, base yourself in one of the Alsace villages and explore the wine region villages. I would stay at least 4 nights. Take the TGV back to Paris from Strasbourg and spend your remaining nights in Paris. Enjoy.

I suggest five nights in Paris and then the rest in Normandy (Honfleur, Bayeaux). Burgundy is also a good choice, and the Loire. Chartres is tied with Strasbourg as my favorite Cathedral ever.

Hi,

If you have 10 full days, you could spend all that time in Paris too an an option. Or, choose Normandy, or Alsace-Lorraine, Brittany. for day trips and over nighters.

First time to France...I'll say this, I've been there numerous times since 1973, still conceivably, given the time, etc., I could easily spend all my allotted and consecutive Schengen days (87 minus three for the "imponderables") in just in France.

Where? All over...up north, southwest, east, Paris, central, and south too...everywhere is interesting if not fascinating, some more than others, depending on your interests.

Bottom line...look upon this as your first French adventure, to be followed by repeated visits.

"...all over Northern France...umpteen small towns...." Fantastic. What you listed are a few of the places (eg, Metz, Chantilly) I

have visited once or twice, aside from others I've been to once or repeatedly...Vimy, Arras, Amiens, Cambrai, Compiegne, Lens,

Albert, Beauvais, Frevent, St Pol, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Neuville St Vaast, Reims, Meuax, Chateau-Thierry, Douai, ...and there is a lot to see, such as Noyon, Soissions, Troyes, etc.

All good ideas above except, I think, the suggestion to go as far south as Provence or the Riviera in your limited non-Paris time. There's plenty of "rustic country charm" closer to Paris than those regions. You don't want to spend more time than necessary on trains or driving.

I'm not sure whether you'll be starting or ending in the Netherlands, but the Thalys is certainly the best way to get between Paris and Amsterdam (including Amsterdam's airport). There are good rail connections between Paris and the regions others have recommended, though for that "rustic country charm" you might need a car when you get there.

I agree with all the good advice here to see Paris and one other (not too distant) destination. We combined it with Normandy on our first two week trip to France.

I would check out TheParisShortlist.com for some unique tips for Paris especially if first time and want to do some activities. Paris is a big city like any other with something for everyone. That said, it a beautiful city to explore and you cant visit Paris without visiting at least a few tourist spots like the Eiffel Tower.

Take a train to Bordeaux or Lyon or down to Provence in order to express a different France. Brittany is also very different as its has its unique Celtic culture.