Itinerary Overview

Days 1–3: Paris → Day 4: Versailles or Loire Valley → Day 5: Avignon & Provence → Day 6: Nice → Day 7: French Riviera & Departure. The TGV takes about 2 hours 40 minutes from Paris to Avignon and about 3 hours from Avignon to Nice, with seamless high-speed rail connections throughout.

Days 1–3: Paris – Museums and Landmarks

• Day 1: Arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport and take RER Line B into the city; in the afternoon, visit the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars, then take a Seine River cruise in the evening to enjoy the illuminated cityscape.
• Day 2: The Louvre (book in advance; highlights include the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo) → Jardin des Tuileries → Place de la Concorde → Champs-Élysées → Climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
• Day 3: Impressionist masterpieces at Musée d'Orsay → Saint-Germain-des-Prés district → Notre-Dame Cathedral (reopening at the end of 2024) → Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

Day 4: Versailles or Loire Valley

For a focus on royal history, choose the Palace of Versailles—spend half a day to a full day exploring the Hall of Mirrors and the French gardens. For castle scenery, take a TGV to the Loire Valley to see Château de Chambord and Château de Chenonceau. You can also return to Paris the same day and stay overnight there.

Day 5: Avignon & Provence

In the morning, visit the Palais des Papes and the Pont d’Avignon in Avignon. In the afternoon, hire a private car or join a half-day tour to the Luberon region to see lavender fields (best in mid-June to mid-July), the stone village of Gordes, and the spring town of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, experiencing the sunshine and hilltop charm of southern France.

Day 6: Nice – French Riviera

After arriving in Nice by train, explore the Old Town and Cours Saleya Market, stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, and climb up to Castle Hill in the evening for views over the Bay of Angels. If you have extra time, consider adding a half-day trip to Monaco or the cliffside town of Èze.

Day 7: Wrap-Up and Departure

Spend the morning at Nice Beach or take a short trip to Cannes, then depart from Nice Airport in the afternoon. If you have a longer holiday, add an extra day in either Provence or the French Riviera to slow the pace.

Tips

• TGV tickets are cheaper the earlier you book; prices may be several times higher if purchased close to the travel date.
• The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Palace of Versailles all require booking time slots via their official websites, and popular time slots often sell out in advance.
• Lavender flowering times vary by altitude—check the bloom status for the year before you go.
• Summer in southern France brings strong sunlight, so bring sunscreen and a sun hat.