Hi, looking for practical suggestions for most efficient and somewhat on the slower pace itinerary. Plan is to fly into Nice end of September and fly out of Paris. Total trip is 12 days, 10 full on the ground. Don't mind renting a car or taking trains. Cities of Interest. Nice, Strasbourg, Colmar and towns around, Paris. Normandy. Planning to give Nice 4 days, but then just really not sure what is best way to add in Strasbourg. Do we drive, 6 adults, do we train? how many days is good for that area? We don't want to rush. Food is important. If we were to drop a location it would be Normandy. Any advice or thoughts?
Posted by
Green Bay
22630 posts
You can take a train from Nice to Strasbourg. Looks like 6 people would cost about 138 EUR per person. One connection is Toulon and it takes about 9 1/2 hours, A bit quicker would be to fly from Nice to Strasbourg on EasyJet. 90 EUR per person with checked luggage, seat selection and priority boarding. Flight time is 1 hours plus minimum check in time of 2 hours, time and cost to/from the airports.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you Sam for that info. Yes, was considering to just fly over to Strasbourg. I am struggling to figure out how to best position our selves in that region. Should we base ourselves in Strasbourg or Colmar is better situated for exploring the area? Or maybe two days here and two days there. Is 4 days a good amount of time in that region to not feel rushed? Is airbnb or hotel option better way to go in this region? Any not to be missed museums, tours, or activities? And any recommendations for restaurants? I keep being told reservations is highly recommended if not a must.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
2239 posts
You're not going to have time for Normandy. Why are you adding in Strasbourg/Colmar if you don't have any idea of what to see and do there? This really doesn't make a lot of sense, because with only 10 days, and four spent in Nice, that's not a lot of time in places that can easily use weeks to visit. I spend 2-3 weeks a year in Paris alone. I rarely drive (or train) to Strasbourg for less than 3 days, and that's all time in that city.
I suggest you pick two places you want to see, and detail what you want to see in those areas, and then put together your plan, especially when places you're considering are a thousand miles apart. (Nice to Paris is further than the distance between Philadelphia to St Louis.)
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8475 posts
You have too many far flung locations
Not seeing how all can fit with just 10 days and definitely not “slow paced”
If you spend 4 in Nice you have 6 left-at least 4 of those should be Paris where you will need to be night before departure
To get 4 days in Nice you need to spend 5 nights
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2467 posts
Jacob,
Good advice above regarding narrowing down your choices. Also, a car that would comfortably seat 6 plus luggage would need to be a van, which can be a pain to drive in some cities and towns. Definitely use the train or plane to change locations and to save some of your limited time. Trying to see what you mention is by far the opposite of a slower pace. You will be in a rush for sure. Normandy, especially, is too far out of the way for this trip. A stop in Alsace, whether Strasboiurg or Colmar will take three full days (counting getting there and then going from there to Paris, with about 1 1/2-2 days to see and do things). That leaves no more than 3 1/2 days for Paris.
With 10 days on the ground, four of which are in Nice, then at least a half-day, minimum, spent in travel, I would opt for Paris for the final 5 or 5 1/2 days. You can use one of those days for a day trip outside Paris if you like, but whether you do or not, you will have more than enough to see and do in that time.
Train or plane, I would check your options. (Also, do you mean this Sept. or Sept. 2026? If this year, best to get cracking.
Best of luck!
Posted by
Nice, France & San Francisco
794 posts
I agree that is a lot to pack in, in one trip. The flight option from NCE to Strasbourg would be most efficient, so you don't lose another full day in yet another crowded itinerary. I do think visiting the small villages and exploring the various wineries can be easier by car or private driver). You can possibly steal a day from this leg to add to the Paris leg, if you have never been there (assuming you are losing a day from the Nice leg on travel on arrival and in transit to Alsace). Train from Colmar to Paris.
In Nice, you can take a train or bus most anywhere. Look at day pass options for the train, as you can take a group very efficiently (Pass Journee, 20E with 5E for up to 8 companions) . Or with six you could take a private mini-bus tour. There is a lot of diversity here, from cities and museums to mountains to offshore islands and coastal and country villages, so you'll need to prioritize. You will get a chance to try a strong shift in food influences from Nicois/Provencal to Alsatian to Parisian. Just do a little research and make reservations to avoid the tourist traps.
Posted by
Somerville, MA
741 posts
You have some work to do here. I would go back to your team and work with them to prioritize. In the meantime I would start looking for accommodation for 6 in the places you are considering and what your rental car options are for 6 people. Working out those logistics might inform your choices of where and how many places to go. Rometorio is a good website to use. As is Autoeurope. And some sort of site where you can examine rental houses. I just use them all (Vrbo, gitesdefrance, Airbnb) to see what is available. Traveling with a group larger than 4 adds a layer of difficulty so you may have to simplify elsewhere.