I am planning a 10 days trip in France and is in need for itinerary suggestions for the route/days we should spend in each city. I have been to Paris two times before (never been to other French cities) and this time I am bring my parents to Europe the first time (they are both in their mid 50s) We are flying in-out Paris, and will start the trip in Paris and end the trip in my friend's wedding in Grenoble. Bellow are the itinerary I have: Day 1 arriving Paris, 6am Day 2 Paris Day 3 Paris Day 4 Versille Day 5 TGV to Avigon Day 6 Provence Day 7 nice Day 8 Lyon Day 9 Lyon/Grenoble Day 10 Grenoble (wedding)
Day 11-train back to Paris to catch the flight 1. I don't know how many days I should spend in Paris including Versille? Or is it another castle around Paris that's more amazing than Versille? (I personally been there and found it amazing 6 years ago) 2. Will it be smart to pick Avigon/Provence/Nice as one of the base (hotel/staying) instead of moving our luggage around? If it, which one will be the best lodging location and most convenient to reach all of it? 3. Is it better itinerary route or place we should see instead? (We are going in mid July) Should I go to Cannes instead of Nice? 4. Should I purchase a Euro-rail pass? and museum pass? Thank you very much for your help!
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
With only ten days, I would drop Nice and (assuming temperate weather) maybe Lyon, though you could look into flying home from Lyon instead of Paris. If your schedule is flexible you could leave a few days later than planned relative to the wedding and fly into Marseilles (or Nice if it is a must), spend a few days in Provence, then Grenoble > Paris, flying home from Paris.
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
If your flight is day 11 you are placing too much trust in the public transport system. You should get back to Paris the day before your flight. I agree that Nice should be dropped. Make Avignon a base for exploring western Provence, then it's an easy trip back to Lyon.
Posted by
Dallas, Texas, USA
501 posts
While in Grenoble area, you will not be that far from Annecy and Chamonix/Mt. Blanc . IF....you have access to a car, this would be a consideration. Rick covers both areas quite well.
Posted by
New York, NY, 10025
392 posts
I consulted my husband, who has spent a lot of time in France, and he agrees with the suggestion to drop Nice. It seems like the kind of place you'd want to linger anyway. Tack any extra time on to Paris. Versailles is amazing but if you have been there and want something else try Fontainebleau. Some people prefer it to Versailles.
Posted by
OP
Chicago
3 posts
Thank you so much for all of your suggestions! I agreed that I should drop Nice and spend at least 4 days in Paris, 3 days in Provence, and 2 days in Lyon, and last day at Grenoble for the wedding. I am crossing my fingers hoping the public transportation (the train system) will run smoothly. When I purchased the ticket it was round trip flights flying into/out of Paris. A new question I have, After some research and reading Rick's book. I'd love to made Avigon or Arles as a base (I thin personally I'd like Avigon more) but after some research last night, almost 92% of the hotels have been booked (the good ones are gone) and very over-priced for July season. I found hotels in Nimes and Orange both right by the train stations (from orange we mostly has to connect through Aigon to go to other Provence cities.) Do you have any suggestions, which city will be a better base other than Avigon and Orange and good for stay. I thought about Axe-en-Provence too, but learned that it isn't that easy to travel by train. This leads to my next questions, when traveling around Provence for 3-4 days, is it so much better to rent a car than relying on train? Rick's book have suggestions for both ways. Lastly, I'd like to seek for your suggestions for how many days we should spend in Lyon. Rick's book say half to a full day. Do you think I need longer than that? Thank you so much for all of your help again! This suggestions are really helpful and I really appreciate it!
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
"I am crossing my fingers hoping the public transportation (the train system) will run smoothly." And if not? First of all, what time is your flight? Is it from CDG? You are very lucky that your particular train connection from Lyon can take you straight to CDG TGV station, but be careful - not all do. You need to be at CDG 3 hours before your flight.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Without a car and with a priority to sightsee, I would stick to towns on the main rail line. That rules out L'Isle sur la Sorge. It's been a while but I recall Orange as a depressing, sightly shabby place. Well worth a visit because of the Theater but I would not want to overnight there. That leaves Arles, Nimes, and Avignon. I think Arles has the greatest charm. Avignon is most central. Faced with a shortage of hotels, you can consider (1) paying more, (2) settling for less, and/or (3) reordering your itinerary to see if there are vacancies at other times. Or I suppose (4) renting a car, which will open up many other venues.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I agree that while the Roman theater in Orange is great, the rest of Orange is a bit depressing; I wouldn't stay there. I loved Nimes, liked Arles a lot, and was cool to Avignon, but I'd stay in any of these. If you want to see the cities in my first paragraph, trains and buses work fine. You can also see a few other places in Provence this way (Pont du Garde, Marseilles, Aix en Provence, Cassis). But to see the lavender fields, small villages, and the like, a car is required. This is different from the Riviera, where almost everything is easily and cheaply accessible by bus or train from Nice.