23 days in France Itinerary
Created using Inspirock France vacation planner
Start: Melbourne
Fly
1
Nice
— 3 nights
Fly
2
Calvi, Corsica
— 2 nights
Drive
3
Bonifacio, Corsica
— 2 nights
Fly
4
Avignon
— 3 nights
Drive
5
Carcassonne
— 1 night
Fly
6
Bayeux
— 4 nights
Drive
7
Azay-le-Rideau
— 2 nights
Drive
8
Paris
— 4 nights
Fly
End: Melbourne
Fri, Sep 29 - Sat, Oct 21
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View full calendar
Nice — 3 nights
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Nissa la Bella (Nice the Beautiful)
Well-known for the beautiful views of its famous Promenade des Anglais waterfront, Nice is an ethnically-diverse coastal port city on the French Riviera and the fifth most populated city in France.You'll explore and learn at Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild and Musee Escoffier de l'Art Culinaire. Explore hidden gems such as Musée Marc Chagall and Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas a Nice. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Nice: Centre d'Art du Verre PIERINI (in Biot) and Cannes (La Croisette & Le Suquet). There's much more to do: wander the streets of Old Town, take some stellar pictures from Colline du Chateau overlook, and don't miss a visit to Promenade des Anglais.
To see photos, more things to do, maps, and other tourist information, read our Nice visit planner.
Melbourne, Australia to Nice is an approximately 25-hour flight. Traveling from Melbourne to Nice, you'll gain 9 hours due to the time zone difference. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Melbourne in September: highs in Nice hover around 28°C, while lows dip to 21°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Mon) so you can catch the flight to Calvi.
Side Trips
Cannes, Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, Centre d'Art du Verre PIERINI, Musee Escoffier de l'Art Culinaire
Find places to stay Sep 29 — Oct 2:
Calvi, Corsica — 2 nights
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Calvi is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.It is the seat of the Canton of Calvi, which contains Calvi and one other commune, Lumio. Start off your visit on the 3rd (Tue): identify plant and animal life at Vallée du Fango, then identify plant and animal life at Nature Reserve of Scandola, then make a trip to Les Calanche Cliffs, and finally make a trip to Chapelle de Notre Dame de la Serra. Here are some ideas for day two: steep yourself in history at Citadelle de Calvi, take a memorable tour with Tours, and then delve into the distant past at Village abandonné d'Occi.
To find other places to visit, traveler tips, more things to do, and tourist information, read our Calvi trip tool.
You can fly from Nice to Calvi in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry and car; or do a combination of ferry and bus. In October, plan for daily highs up to 26°C, and evening lows to 16°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Bonifacio.
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To find other places to visit, traveler tips, more things to do, and tourist information, read our Calvi trip tool.
You can fly from Nice to Calvi in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry and car; or do a combination of ferry and bus. In October, plan for daily highs up to 26°C, and evening lows to 16°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Bonifacio.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Oct 2 — 4:
Highlights from your trip
Bonifacio, Corsica — 2 nights
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At the southernmost tip of the island of Corsica, Bonifacio is a city with chalk-white limestone outcrops sculpted into unusual shapes by the ocean.Kick off your visit on the 5th (Thu): kick back and relax at Plage du Petit Sperone, then look for all kinds of wild species at Iles Lavezzi, and then steep yourself in history at Bonifacio Citadel. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: enjoy the sand and surf at Plage De Roccapina, then see Off-Road Tours, then stroll the grounds of Cimetiere Marin de Bonifacio, and finally explore the fascinating underground world of Grottes de Bonifacio.
To find other places to visit, where to stay, reviews, and tourist information, go to the Bonifacio trip itinerary planning site.
Drive from Calvi to Bonifacio in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. Expect a daytime high around 28°C in October, and nighttime lows around 14°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Fri) so you can fly to Avignon.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Oct 4 — 6:
Highlights from your trip
Avignon — 3 nights
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City of Popes
An ancient town center surrounded by medieval ramparts, Avignon is a major city of Provence and a Mediterranean city in the Vaucluse department on the left bank of the Rhône River.Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Amphitheatre (les Arenes) and Notre Dame de la Mer - Église fortifiée. Roman Theatre of Orange and Eglise St-Trophime are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Venture out of the city with trips to Le Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau (in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer) and Arles (St-Trophime Cloister (Cloitre St-Trophime) & Musee Departemental Arles Antique). There's much more to do: indulge your senses at some of the top wineries in the area, step into the grandiose world of Palais des Papes, snap pictures at Pont d'Avignon, and do a tasting at Distillerie A. Blachere.
To see other places to visit, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Avignon trip planning app.
Getting from Bonifacio to Avignon by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: do a combination of car, ferry, and train; or do a combination of car and ferry. When traveling from Bonifacio in October, plan for little chillier days in Avignon, with highs around 24°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Mon) so you can drive to Carcassonne.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Oct 6 — 9:
Highlights from your trip
Carcassonne — 1 night
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Medieval Heart of France
Best known as a fortified town, Carcassonne is a walled city that provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" and the location for many scenes in Kevin Costner's movie "Robin Hood." For a daily dose of excitement, medieval jousting tournaments are held twice per day between the two walls--while this may sound like a typical touristy show, it's actually an entertaining display of combative competition and horsemanship.On the 10th (Tue), take a stroll through Cité de Carcassonne, step into the grandiose world of Chateau Comtal, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Eglise Saint-Nazaire, and finally steep yourself in history at Cathar Castles.
To find other places to visit, reviews, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Carcassonne day trip planning website.
Drive from Avignon to Carcassonne in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 24°C in October, and nighttime lows around 13°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Tue) early enough to fly to Bayeux.
Find places to stay Oct 9 — 10:
Highlights from your trip
Bayeux — 4 nights
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Most travelers take a trip to Bayeux to see the famed tapestry depicting the legendary Norman Conquest from the 11th century.Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux and Memorial de Caen will appeal to museum buffs. Explore hidden gems such as Cathedrale Notre-Dame and Pointe du Hoc. Get out of town with these interesting Bayeux side-trips: Eglise Saint-Come-et-Saint-Damien d'Angoville-au-Plain (in Angoville-Au-Plain), Airborne Museum (in Sainte-Mere-Eglise) and Musee du Debarquement Utah Beach (in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont). There's still lots to do: examine the collection at Musee du debarquement, explore the different monuments and memorials at Cimetiere Militaire Allemand de La Cambe, learn about all things military at Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie, and take in the history at Omaha Beach.
For maps, reviews, photos, and tourist information, read Bayeux travel route app.
Traveling by flight from Carcassonne to Bayeux takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Carcassonne in October, with highs in Bayeux at 19°C and lows at 9°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sat) so you can drive to Azay-le-Rideau.
Side Trips
Arromanches-les-Bains, Colleville-sur-Mer, Cimetiere Militaire Allemand de La Cambe, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc
Find places to stay Oct 10 — 14:
Highlights from your trip
Azay-le-Rideau — 2 nights
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As the center of the Touraine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) for the Loire Valley, Azay-le-Rideau produces dry, white wines and red wines rich in tannins.Kick off your visit on the 15th (Sun): explore the historical opulence of Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau, then admire the natural beauty at Chateau de Villandry, and then make a trip to Château de l'Islette. Keep things going the next day: step into the grandiose world of Chateau de Loches and then examine the collection at Chateau de Chenonceau.
To find ratings, photos, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Azay-le-Rideau trip planner.
You can drive from Bayeux to Azay-le-Rideau in 3 hours. Another option is to take a train. In October, plan for daily highs up to 20°C, and evening lows to 10°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Mon) early enough to drive to Paris.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Oct 14 — 16:
Highlights from your trip
Paris — 4 nights
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City of Light
A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.Visit Eiffel Tower and Sainte-Chapelle for their historical value. Do some cultural sightseeing at Louvre Museum and Musee d'Orsay. There's much more to do: pause for some serene contemplation at Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre, shop like a local with Champs-Elysees, admire the striking features of Arc de Triomphe, and walk around Luxembourg Gardens.
To find photos, maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Paris visit planning app.
Traveling by car from Azay-le-Rideau to Paris takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. October in Paris sees daily highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 20th (Fri) to allow enough time to fly back home.
Find places to stay Oct 16 — 20:
Highlights from your trip
France travel guide
France has been the world's most popular tourist destination for decades, and geographically, it is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. Its cities are holiday hot spots and contain some of the greatest treasures in Europe, its countryside is prosperous and well tended, and it boasts dozens of major tourist attractions, like Paris, the French Riviera, the Atlantic beaches, the winter sport resorts of the French Alps, as well as the castles of the Loire Valley, Brittany, and Normandy. The country is renowned for its gastronomy, particularly wines and cheeses, as well as its history, culture, and fashion industry.
You'll find that the French people are very polite and may react coldly to you if you forget this. You might be surprised as you're greeted by other customers and the proprieter when you walk into a restaurant or a shop. Be sure to take your sightseeing off the beaten path in France. Besides the famous Eiffel Tower and the chic resorts of the Côte d'Azur (French Riviera) you'll find many places to visit in the form of museums filled with fine art, crafts, and archaeological relics, wonderful medieval villages and castles, diverse national parks, and local shopping direct from artisans themselves.
Whether you're touring the Christmas Markets or going skiing during winter, viewing the springtime influx of color in Provence, sunbathing on the Mediterranean coast in the summer, or watching the fall foliage against the backdrop of the châteaux in the Loire Valley, you're sure to find just the right place to be. Spring is a time when the tourist attractions are just starting to expand their hours, but it may still be cold in the mountainous regions and the north. Summer is the busiest time in France with the longest hours for many museums and attractions, but it's often when you will experience the most crowds. Winter in France is filled with winter carnivals, Christmas Markets, and of course, skiing. Fall is a time to celebrate the release of Beaujolais nouveau wine in November, as well as experience Nuit Blanche, a day in October when major attractions, museums, galleries, parks, and swimming pools remain open all night.
