44 days in Paris & Lyon Itinerary

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.

Popular historic sites such as Chapelle Notre Dame de la Medaille Miraculeuse and La Grange aux Dimes are in your itinerary. Musee De Cluny and Aisne Marne American Cemetery are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Change things up with these side-trips from Paris: Chartres Cathedral (in Chartres), Fontainebleau (Chateau de Fontainebleau & Fontainebleau Forest (Foret de Fontainebleau)) and Réunion des Musées Nationaux et Grand Palais (in Rueil-Malmaison). There's lots more to do: admire the natural beauty at Coulee Verte Rene-Dumont, see the interesting displays at Musee du Verre, step into the grandiose world of Chateau de Gaillon, and identify plant and animal life at Arboretum des Grandes Bruyères.

For more things to do, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Paris online visit planner.

Toronto, Canada to Paris is an approximately 10.5-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central European Standard Time (CET) is 6 hours. May in Paris sees daily highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 18th (Mon) so you can catch the flight to Lyon.

Lyon is a historical city with a vibrant cultural scene as the birthplace of cinema, the silk capital of the globe, and the second biggest Renaissance city following Venice.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Cite medievale de Perouges and Chateau de Chasselas. Get some historical perspective at Jardin des Fontaines Petrifiantes and Fabrique de Biere Les Ursulines. Explore Lyon's surroundings by going to Berger Laurent (in Saint-Vincent-en-Bresse), Col du Beal (in Saint-Pierre-la-Bourlhonne) and Chalmazel - Pierre-sur-Haute (in Chalmazel). Spend the 27th (Wed) exploring the underground world of Grottes du Cerdon -Parc de Loisirs Prehistoriques. And it doesn't end there: take in the dramatic natural features at La Roche de Solutre, explore the fascinating underground world of Grotte de Choranche, explore the striking landscape of Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d'Auvergne, and learn about winemaking at Chateau De La Greffiere.

For maps, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Lyon vacation planner.

Traveling by flight from Paris to Lyon takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. Expect a daytime high around 30°C in June, and nighttime lows around 18°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 8th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel back home.