26 days in France Itinerary
Created using Inspirock France trip planner
Start: Buffalo
Fly
1
Paris
— 4 nights
Drive
2
Epernay
— 2 nights
Drive
3
Chablis
— 3 nights
Drive
4
Beaune
— 4 nights
Train
5
Avignon
— 4 nights
Drive
6
Aix-en-Provence
— 4 nights
Drive
7
Nice
— 4 nights
Fly
End: Buffalo
Thu, Sep 14 - Mon, Oct 9
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Paris — 4 nights
©
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. Get a sense of the local culture at Louvre Museum and Montmartre. There's much more to do: admire the striking features of Arc de Triomphe, contemplate the long history of The Paris Catacombs, stroll through Île de la Cité, and take in the architecture and atmosphere at Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre.
For reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Paris tour builder.
Buffalo, USA to Paris is an approximately 13.5-hour flight. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central European Standard Time (CET), which is usually a 6 hour difference. In September, plan for daily highs up to 70°F, and evening lows to 53°F. On the 18th (Mon), you'll have the morning to explore before heading off to Epernay.
Find places to stay Sep 14 — 18:
Highlights from your trip
Epernay — 2 nights
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Capital of Champagne
Best known for its Champagne production, Épernay is a small town featuring several famous brands, including Moët & Chandon, that have been aged in the miles of tunneled cellars carved from chalk rock beneath the town.Kick off your visit on the 18th (Mon): do a tasting at Champagne Janisson Baradon et Fils, then learn about winemaking at Champagne G. Tribaut, and then pause for some serene contemplation at Abbaye Saint-Pierre d'Hautvillers. On your second day here, learn about winemaking at Moet et Chandon, learn about winemaking at Champagne Collard-Picard, do a tasting at Paul-Etienne Saint Germain, then learn about winemaking at Champagne De Castellane, and finally appreciate the extensive heritage of Avenue de Champagne.
For more things to do, ratings, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Epernay road trip website.
You can drive from Paris to Epernay in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. Traveling from Paris in September, expect a bit cooler with lows of 48°F in Epernay. Cap off your sightseeing on the 20th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Chablis.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Sep 18 — 20:
Highlights from your trip
Chablis — 3 nights
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Golden Gate of Burgundy
Chablis is a town and commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Abbaye de Fontenay and Abbaye de Pontigny will appeal to history buffs. Get a sense of the local culture at Chateau Ancy-le Franc and Wine Tours & Tastings. Venture out of the city with trips to Quarre de Chocolat (in Quarre-les-Tombes), Chateau de Bazoches (in Bazoches) and Vezelay (Musee Zervos & Basilique Sainte Madeleine). And it doesn't end there: learn about winemaking at Domaine Celine & Frederic Gueguen, contemplate the long history of La Fosse Dionne, and step into the grandiose world of Chateau de Tanlay.
To find ratings, reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, refer to the Chablis tour itinerary builder.
Traveling by car from Epernay to Chablis takes 2.5 hours. September in Chablis sees daily highs of 70°F and lows of 50°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Sat) so you can go by car to Beaune.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 20 — 23:
Highlights from your trip
Beaune — 4 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.La Cave de l'Ange Gardien and Cathedrale Saint-Benigne de Dijon are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Popular historic sites such as Saint-Philibert de Tournus and Abbey of Cluny are in your itinerary. Get out of town with these interesting Beaune side-trips: Chateau de Cormatin (in Cormatin), Cave de Vire (in Vire) and Dijon (Wine Tours & Tastings, Musee des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, &more). There's still lots to do: examine the collection at Hôtel-Dieu Museum Musée de l'Hôtel-Dieu, learn about winemaking at Patriarche Pere & Fils, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Collegiale Notre Dame, and explore the historical opulence of Chateau Corton C..
To find more things to do, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read Beaune attractions website.
You can drive from Chablis to Beaune in 2 hours. September in Beaune sees daily highs of 71°F and lows of 52°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 27th (Wed) to allow enough time to take a train to Avignon.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 23 — 27:
Highlights from your trip
Avignon — 4 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.Get some historical perspective at Palais des Papes and Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Wine Tours & Tastings and Distillerie A. Blachere. Explore Avignon's surroundings by going to Roman Theatre of Orange (in Orange), Arles (Amphitheatre (les Arenes) & Eglise St-Trophime) and Les Baux de Provence (Chateau des Baux de Provence & Carrieres des Lumieres). And it doesn't end there: snap pictures at Pont d'Avignon, make a trip to Place de l'Horloge, explore the world behind art at Musee Angladon, and do a tasting at Chateau Fortia.
To see traveler tips, reviews, maps, and tourist information, use the Avignon online route planner.
You can take a train from Beaune to Avignon in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. When traveling from Beaune in September, plan for somewhat warmer days and about the same nights in Avignon: temperatures range from 79°F by day to 57°F at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 1st (Sun) early enough to go by car to Aix-en-Provence.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 27 — Oct 1:
Highlights from your trip
Aix-en-Provence — 4 nights
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City of a Thousand Fountains
Aix-en-Provence is a small, classically Provençal town, famous for being home to Cézanne.Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde and Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. Popular historic sites such as Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence and Cathédrale La Major are in your itinerary. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Aix-en-Provence: Marseille (Room Escape Games, Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, &more). There's still lots to do: take a stroll through Cours Mirabeau, take in the exciting artwork at Street Part, steep yourself in history at Paul Cezanne’s Studio, and see the interesting displays at Musee Granet.
For traveler tips, where to stay, more things to do, and more tourist information, refer to the Aix-en-Provence online tour itinerary builder.
Drive from Avignon to Aix-en-Provence in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus; or take a train. October in Aix-en-Provence sees daily highs of 72°F and lows of 55°F at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 5th (Thu) early enough to go by car to Nice.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Oct 1 — 5:
Highlights from your trip
Nice — 4 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.Old Town and La cité médiévale will appeal to history buffs. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild and Rue d'Antibes. Step out of Nice to go to Cannes and see Le Suquet, which is approximately 42 minutes away. The adventure continues: don't miss a visit to Promenade des Anglais, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas a Nice, steep yourself in history at Palais Lascaris, and explore the world behind art at Musee d'Art Moderne Et d'Art Contemporain.
To find ratings, traveler tips, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Nice online trip itinerary builder.
You can drive from Aix-en-Provence to Nice in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. In October, plan for daily highs up to 70°F, and evening lows to 58°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Mon) early enough to fly back home.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Oct 5 — 9:
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.
