Working on a Paris to Nice Itinerary for two weeks. Has some one done this before? Figuring two days in Paris, we've been there before and seen the major sites, then Chartres, then Loire Valley. Its the after Loire I'm attempting to piece together down to Nice. Definitely going to Nimes. Its the part between Loire and Nimes I can't figure out. Any one done this before? What worked, and what didn't? Travel is Train and Bus, only. Thank you in advance it you have an itinerary I can work off of. This is entirely different for us. We usually just stay in one place and take day trips. This is an on the move sort of trip and we are out of our element. :)
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1097 posts
Hello Francis, it would help if you listed your interests, your schedule and your style of travel.
Why "definitely" Nimes? What is your criteria for a great place to visit?
Lyon is an easy suggestion as France's third largest city and its gastronomical center and you probably can't avoid going through it on the train. Nimes is one of many cities in and around Provence which has cities of different sizes and interests from hiking to Roman or medieval ruins and plenty of wine.
Antibes is a charming seaside town on the way to Nice. But how many days do plan on being in Nice and how many days do you have between the Loire valley and Nice?
More information will probably result in better advice,
=Tod
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2707 posts
Chartres is a simple train ride from Paris. Extend your time Paris and add Chartres.
In the Loire Valley, stay in Tours which is the transportation hub of the region. Specifically, stay in the area of Tours broadly defined as between the train station, Tours Centre, and Place Plumereau. This gives you easy access to visit regional points of interest either by train or minibus tours from the nearby Office de Tourisme.
Reaching Nîmes from Tours will consume almost 6 hours and effectively require your returning to Paris as there are no easy connections. Considering the time to change hotels and making your way through the stations, plan on this move consuming most of 1 day.
Personally, I find Avignon more centrally located to visit the surrounding points of interest. Nîmes or Uzès/Pont du Gard, could be easily done as a day trip from Avignon. Depending upon when you are traveling, the Avignon summer music festival could affect hotel availability.
Eventually reaching Nice from western Provence/Occitane is relatively easy with many possible stops in between.
From Nice back to Paris I would fly.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4592 posts
I don't know what the train and bus situation would be from place to place if doing it on your own, but here is a Rick Steves tour from Chartres to Nice that may help you plan a route. We're doing this tour in May. https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/france/south-france
Posted by
Central Connecticut, USA
1103 posts
We took the RS Loire Valley/South of France tour last May, starting and ending with time in Paris on our own.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
If possible, I would try avoid going back through Paris (where you have to change stations by metro or taxi) upon departing the Loire Valley. Schedules do vary on weekends and in summer, so check your actual travel date, but this is one example of a schedule to Nimes with a single-station change point:
St-Pierre-des-Corps dep 08:03, TGV 5260, Direction: Lille Flandres
Marne la Vallée-Chessy arr 09:27
Marne la Vallée-Chessy, dep 10:10, TGV 9812, Direction: Montpellier Saint-Roch
Nîmes arr 13:33
There are also a few direct trains per day from St-Pierre-des-Corps to Lyon, similar to this:
St-Pierre-des-Corps, dep 08:24, InterCity, Lyon-Perrache, arr 13:25
St-Pierre-des-Corps, dep 12:04, TER, arr Lyon Part Dieu 17:48 (can connect in this station to Avignon 18 minutes later or to Nimes 2 hours later)
St-Pierre-des-Corps, dep 17:32, TGV, arr Lyon Part Dieu, 20:30
Posted by
OP
Eugene, Oregon, USA
959 posts
This will be two people, I and my wife. We are in our late 50's. Two or two and 1/2 weeks in September 2019. I've never rented a car over seas before. I've rented motorcycles before, but since we will be traveling with lots of luggage --- I know... I Know... traveling light just doesn't work for us. Maybe I can get a trailer with a Motorcycle? This as planned, is an entirely open jaw trip. Paris to Nice. Staying about two/three days in any particular location. This will be an entirely different mode of travel for us. We normally have a base and do day trips with one hotel. We are trying to break that method with this trip and be more spontaneous. Maybe even NOT have reservations from Ambrios to Nimes. After Loire Valley we are looking more towards Limoges, Brive and Montauban, then coastal route to Nimes. I likes the Roman Ruins. Then to Nice to fly out. Maybe rent a really small car? Fiat 500? Or smaller. Thanks for all the other suggestions. I'll be looking those up. Happy travels!
Posted by
Paris
10210 posts
What time of year is your trip?
Posted by
North Carolina
318 posts
I'm doing the reverse - Nice to Paris - this summer, though I'm taking four weeks to do it.
I prefer relying on trains and buses in Europe, but I decided to rent a car for my last two days on the Riviera and my first three in Provence (in both cases, I'll also spend some days relying on public transportation). Then I'm going to Lyon via TGV, and from there to Tours, where I'm renting a car to tour the Loire Valley. Then on to Paris for a few days and back home.