I have 3 weeks (22 nights) plus travel not including travel days and will train travel between each location. Overnight flight into CDG and leve from CDG. Also, I will be returning to Paris in the spring.
Originally planned:
Reims 2 nights
Strasbourg 2 nights
Colmer 3 nights
Dijon 5 nights
Lyon 7 nights
Paris 3 nights
Possible adjusted plan: skip Reims
Strasbourg 3 nights
Colmer 5 nights
Dijon 5 nights
Lyon 7 nights
Paris 3 nights
I will be taking some day trips from Colmer, Dijon & Lyon by train. Second option less changing hotels. Would you change any of these days?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
988 posts
What is your thinking on Lyon, where you have the most nights? Day trips from there?
Have you traveled to Paris before? I see you are returning there next spring.
Have you been to France before?
Answers to those questions might help others give you suggestions, as well as telling us what interests you. Wine? villages? Art? History? (BTW, I assume Colmer means Colmar)
In terms of day trips, you’re likely thinking of train or bus, but let me ask whether you’ve considered cycling or e-bike and if that is of any potential interest. Are you travelling with a companion? My wife and I like to include e-bike travel. You’ll be able to find bike rentals or tours in Strasbourg, Colmar and Dijon if that’s of interest. (LATE NOTE - I see from your other posts that you are travelling alone, in October. Still, a day trip with an e-bike tour from Strasbourg, Colmar, Dijon or Beaune, if the weather is good, might be great.)
FWIW, last fall we covered much of the same ground, starting in Strasbourg and finishing in Paris (our third trip to Paris) in 2-1/2 weeks; 7 of 18 days on bikes. Our Trip Reports are at
and
Hopefully, some idea, restaurant, wine-tasting spot or sight in there will be of interest to you.
Posted by
Coral Gables, Florida
682 posts
For the Reims to Dijon portion, I would do this:
Reims 1 night
Strasbourg 3 nights
Colmar 4 nights (2 day trips)
Dijon 4 nights (2 day trips, including Beaune)
I wouldn’t skip Reims, the cathedral is a must-see and the champagne caves are worth visiting. I don’t usually like one night stays, but unless something else in Reims really excites you, I wouldn’t spend a second night there.
For Lyon, I think about 5 nights is good for Lyon without day trips, so 7 nights with day trips seems about right. But if you need 5 nights in Dijon, I would take a night from Lyon instead of Strasbourg or Colmar. Both Strasbourg and Colmar have great attractions, are nice to just walk around, and there’s a few small towns in Alsace worth visiting.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
12021 posts
Three interesting day trips by train from Lyon: Vienne a former important Roman city, Bourg-en-Bress for its Medieval center and famous food, and Perouges another Medieval town on a hill. If interested in wine, Lyon is next to the beginning of the Côte du Rhône labeling.
Without knowing your interests and why you have chosen these place, it's difficult to know what you plan to do. I'm not sure what other day trips would keep you in Dijon so long, except one to Beaune and another on the route du vin. Same with Colmar. I've been to all of these places.