20 days in France
Susan Edwards
Start: Melbourne
Fly
1
Paris
— 2 nights
Train
2
Beaune
— 3 nights
Drive
3
Dijon
— 1 night
Drive
4
Reims
— 2 nights
Drive
5
Sancerre
— 2 nights
Drive
6
Tours
— 3 nights
Drive
7
Chartres
— 1 night
Train
8
Paris
— 3 nights
Fly
End: Melbourne
Tue, Apr 12 - Sun, May 1
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Paris — 2 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.To find ratings, maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the Paris trip planner.
Melbourne, Australia to Paris is an approximately 24.5-hour flight. You'll gain 9 hours traveling from Melbourne to Paris due to the time zone difference. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from Melbourne in April; daily highs in Paris reach 18°C and lows reach 6°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 14th (Thu) early enough to catch the train to Beaune.
Find places to stay Apr 12 — 14:
Highlights from your trip
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Beaune — 3 nights
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Wine Capital of Burgundy
The Wine Capital of the Burgundy region in the Côte-d'Or department, Beaune is a walled city with features remaining from the pre-Roman and Roman eras in eastern France.SAS Museum and musee Vivant Denon will appeal to museum buffs. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Chateau Corton C. and Chateau de Chamirey. There's lots more to do: take in the architecture and atmosphere at Eglise Saint Nicolas, take in the exciting artwork at Galeries Bartoux Beaune, see the interesting displays at Maison des Climats, and learn about winemaking at Domaine Bader-Mimeur.
To find reviews, ratings, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Beaune travel site.
Take a train from Paris to Beaune in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In April in Beaune, expect temperatures between 19°C during the day and 6°C at night. You will leave for Dijon on the 17th (Sun).
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 14 — 17:
Highlights from your trip
Dijon — 1 night
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Gateway to Burgundy
Perhaps best known for its locally produced mustard, Dijon also makes a wonderfully flavorful crème de cassis, or blackcurrant liqueur, and boasts excellent examples of regional architecture with polychrome roofs made of tiles in terracotta, green, yellow, and black placed in geometric patterns.On the 17th (Sun), steep yourself in history at Maison Milliere, then take a memorable drive along Route des Grands Crus, and then learn more about the world around you at Museum d'Histoire Naturelle.
To find more things to do, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, read Dijon planner.
Traveling by car from Beaune to Dijon takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In April, daytime highs in Dijon are 19°C, while nighttime lows are 6°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Mon) so you can drive to Reims.
Find places to stay Apr 17 — 18:
Highlights from your trip
Reims — 2 nights
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City of Kings
Reims is home to Champagne--the most celebrated and celebratory wine in the world.Your list of things to see and do now includes Le 520, Le Chocolat d'Emmanuel Briet, La Cave du Bois Joli, and other attractions. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: look for gifts at Les Grands Vins de France, look for gifts at La Cave du Bois Joli, stop by Le Chocolat d'Emmanuel Briet, look for gifts at Le 520, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Eglise Notre-Dame, and finally take a peaceful walk through Foret Domaniale de Verzy.
To see more things to do, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, read our Reims holiday website.
You can drive from Dijon to Reims in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In April, daily temperatures in Reims can reach 19°C, while at night they dip to 3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Wed) so you can drive to Sancerre.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 18 — 20:
Highlights from your trip
Sancerre — 2 nights
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Sancerre is a medieval hilltop town, commune and canton in the Cher department of central France overlooking the Loire River. Start off your visit on the 20th (Wed): do a tasting at Domaine Philippe Raimbault, then do a tasting at Henri Bourgeois, and then do a tasting at Vincent Grall Vigneron. Here are some ideas for day two: explore the historical opulence of Chateau de Ratilly, then kick your exploration up a notch at Nature Adventure, and then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Cathedrale de Jean Linard.
To see maps, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Sancerre visit planner.
You can drive from Reims to Sancerre in 3.5 hours. Another option is to drive. In April, daily temperatures in Sancerre can reach 19°C, while at night they dip to 6°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Fri) so you can drive to Tours.
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To see maps, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Sancerre visit planner.
You can drive from Reims to Sancerre in 3.5 hours. Another option is to drive. In April, daily temperatures in Sancerre can reach 19°C, while at night they dip to 6°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Fri) so you can drive to Tours.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 20 — 22:
Highlights from your trip
Tours — 3 nights
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Garden of France
Famous for its original medieval district, Tours is famous for its cafes that serve regional wines and interesting architectural bridges crossing the river Loire.Visit Musee Balzac - Chateau de Sache and Chateau de Fougeres-sur-Bievre for their historical value. Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Escalier Denis Papin and Les Halles. Go for a jaunt from Tours to Blois to see Basilique Notre Dame de la Trinité about 50 minutes away. There's much more to do: steep yourself in history at Domaine de Cande, walk around Jardins des Prebendes d'Oe, see the interesting displays at Musee de la Typographie, and admire the masterpieces at Hotel Gouin.
For photos, where to stay, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Tours trip planning app.
Traveling by car from Sancerre to Tours takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In April in Tours, expect temperatures between 19°C during the day and 7°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Chartres.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 22 — 25:
Highlights from your trip
Chartres — 1 night
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Renowned for its medieval cathedral built on a hill by the left bank of the Eure River, Chartres is a small city in the Centre-Val de Loire region and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.Start off your visit on the 26th (Tue): examine the collection at Le Compa, then look for gifts at La Cave Du Marche, and then have fun and explore at Musee de l'Ecole de Chartres et d'Eure-et-Loir.
To find photos, reviews, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Chartres online sightseeing planner.
You can drive from Tours to Chartres in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. In April, daytime highs in Chartres are 17°C, while nighttime lows are 4°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Paris.
Find places to stay Apr 25 — 26:
Highlights from your trip
Paris — 3 nights
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City of Light
Appreciate the collections at National Museum of Natural History and Maison de Victor Hugo. Your inner history buff will appreciate Chateau of Vincennes and Cimetiere de Montmartre. See some other sides of Paris: don't miss a visit to Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, admire the landmark architecture of Luxembourg Palace, take a stroll through Left Bank (Rive Gauche), and contemplate the long history of Paris Military School.
To find photos, more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Paris road trip planner.
Traveling by car from Chartres to Paris takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 29th (Fri) so you can catch the flight back home.
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To find photos, more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Paris road trip planner.
Traveling by car from Chartres to Paris takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 29th (Fri) so you can catch the flight back home.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 26 — 29:
Highlights from your trip
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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.
