Looking for some itinerary help. If you had 10 days in France in May and didn't want to focus on Paris, where would you go? Perfer being able to use the train but that is not seeming very feasible if we want to do things like the Loire Valley. I would love to make it to Switzerland but know the time of year won't be great for many things there, and that France is big and that may be too ambitious. We prefer a slightly slower pace with a chance to relax a bit on the way, not constantly moving (think spending an extra night in some places). Have not seen anything in France except Paris. We love good food, charming towns, and beautiful scenery. History is great too, but probably no need to go to Normandy. Very interested in the Loire Valley. Thank you for any help you can provide! (In our 30's and active, but don't want to spend the whole trip hiking.)
Posted by
northern CA
2812 posts
for charming towns and beautiful scenery you'll want Antibes and the towns in either direction, towards Monaco or towards Cannes. It won't be too too hot in May.
Posted by
Irving
3274 posts
From CDG airport take a train to Blois where you can spend the night: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/. The next day rent a car and drive to Amboise and sleep there to visit Chenonceau and Chambord.
Posted by
Somerville, MA
663 posts
Day 1 arrive at cdg, train directly to st Pierre des corps (Tgv station near Tours), rent car there, drive to home base in or near Amboise. See Amboise.
Day 2 tour 2 chateau, sleep Amboise
Day 3 tour 2 chateau, sleep Amboise
Day 4 wine, mushroom, canoe or other Loire valley activities, sleep Amboise
Day 5 drive to Dinan, tour Dinan, sleep Dinan
Day 6 north coast touring, coastal hikes, mount saint Michel in late afternoon/evening, sleep Dinan
Day 7 Rance river bike ride, dinard, evening in San malo, sleep Dinan
Day 8 drive to Rennes, drop off car, train to Paris, sleep Paris
Day 9 Paris, sleep Paris
Day 10 Paris, sleep Paris (or fly home if day 10 is the end)
Day 11 fly home
Posted by
SoCal
1225 posts
When visiting the Loire Valley, it's a good idea to at least do a day trip to Orléans. Beautiful city. The Loire is crystal clear there, and the citizens spend lots of time on the riverside eating, drinking, exercising and generally enjoying their lives.
Posted by
Chicago
1173 posts
I am linking one of my recent posts for some detail on how I managed some major Loire sites a couple months ago, fall 2024. I had previously visited the area with a car - it is the easiest way to manage as you surmise and others have suggested above. For various reasons, I choose this time to travel by train. Not ideal, but access to some major chateaux can be managed.
With two of you (assuming more than one as you say "we"), you might consider staying in Tours or Amboise and booking day trips to chateaux from Acco Dipso or another day tour company. Acco Dipso picks up both in Tours and Amboise. I wasn't able to join the tour I wanted, as a solo traveler you "join-in" scheduled tours, but was very impressed by my several phone and email contacts with them.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/brittany-and-loire-itinerary