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First week of April / Easter Itinerary

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We’re taking a 12-day trip to France with our 2 children during their Spring Break / Easter holiday. We fly into Paris and will spend the first part of our trip touring Paris (March 24-29). For the second part of our trip, we’d like to take the train or rent a car, and explore another region - either staying in one location, or possibly 2 (approx March 29 - April 5).

Where would you go in early Spring? I love any & all suggestions!

  • We are very comfortable driving but also happy to consider taking the train, our children are great travellers
  • We love food & wine, prefer less “touristy” places but do NOT speak French
  • We enjoy hiking & the outdoors
  • We have been to the Loire Valley (before children) and I’m considering revisiting, but my husband prefers to see something “new”
  • If this was summer weather, I wouldn’t struggle nearly as much but because we’re looking at cold/possibly rainy weather I’m unsure about everything!

Thank you!

Posted by
6713 posts

How about Burgundy? Train to Dijon, then rent a car, base in Beaune. Or Provence -- train to Avignon, rent a car, base in Arles or one of the smaller towns. Both are great food/wine destinations with plenty to do outdoors. I'd suggest Normandy but it's likely to be colder and wetter that time of year.

Posted by
254 posts

I will be in Provence March 1-31 so over Easter (March 31). There is also a time change that day.

I was in Paris last Easter April 9, 2023. I had tickets for Monet's Garden as I had checked the train schedule before I bought the tickets. On Thursday I reconfirmed the train schedule and unfortunately the train scheduled had changed and there was no return train from Giverny-Vernon. No bus either. Bummer. Fortunately for me had plans to return to Paris 1 November 2023 which was the last day of the season for the Garden and was allowed to use my April 9 ticket.

Lots of activity in Paris that Easter but changes might occur.

Sweater weather in Paris that first week in April. I was in Amsterdam the last week in March and equally sunny and delightful. To me that means high 52-65 degrees.

Just spent the month of November in Paris so feel there is a lot to see and some FABULOUS small towns to visit by train. Not a hiker or nature lover, so love markets, medieval towns but think anywhere you go in France will be delightful.

Depending how old your kids are, consider a canal cruise. Leboat has cruises in various parts of France starting in March and that would be outstanding. We've visited over 72 countries and have lots of wonderful trips and we consider the Midei Canal cruise in the top 5. Issue here is the number of locks and whether they are maned or not.

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