France 2026

Arrive Paris CDG

Terminal 2E · Delta 228

RER B train to hotel — covered by Navigo pass

Check in & freshen up

Early check-in may not be available — leave bags if needed

Lunch in Latin Quarter

Latin Quarter (5th)

Crêpes ~€6, cheap set menus

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Île de la Cité

Stunning facade even under restoration

Conciergerie

Île de la Cité · 45 min

Medieval palace + revolutionary prison. HistoPad AR experience.

Sainte-Chapelle

Île de la Cité · 45 min

Afternoon sun hits the stained glass beautifully. Jaw-dropping.

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay · 1.5 hrs

10 min walk across the river. Top floor first: Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir. The giant clock!

Rest / nap (jetlag!)

You left Toronto at 4:10pm yesterday

Seine River Cruise

Pont de l'Alma · 1 hr

Bateaux Mouches — monuments light up at sunset

Louvre Museum

3–4 hrs

Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory

Lunch

Rue de Rivoli

Jardin des Tuileries

Green chairs by the pond. Optional: Musée de l'Orangerie at the end (Monet Water Lilies, 30 min)

Champs-Élysées

~2km walk up to Arc de Triomphe. Luxury shops.

Dinner

Arc de Triomphe — The Climb

Best view in Paris. 12 avenues + perfect Eiffel Tower view.

Trocadéro — THE Photo Spot

Metro L6 exit. The classic Eiffel Tower photo.

Eiffel Tower Summit

Elevator to the very top. Book months ahead!

Champ de Mars

Relax on the lawn. Optional: Musée Rodin nearby (The Thinker, 45 min)

Watch Eiffel Tower sparkle

Every hour on the hour after dark — 5 min light show

RER C to Versailles

~1 hr. Go early to beat crowds.

Palace of Versailles

Hall of Mirrors, state apartments. 2.5 hrs.

Gardens + Marie Antoinette's Estate

Gigantic gardens. Pack a picnic. Wear comfy shoes.

TGV to Avignon

Gare de Lyon. 2hr 40min. Pick up rental car at station.

Palais des Papes

Largest Gothic palace in Europe. HistoPad AR tablets.

Pont d'Avignon + Old Town

Famous bridge that ends mid-river. Wander the walled city.

Gordes Village

Stop at the viewpoint BEFORE entering for the classic photo.

Sénanque Abbey + Lavender

THE iconic image — stone abbey + purple lavender. Peak bloom!

Roussillon — Ochre Village

Red/orange houses on ochre cliffs. Sentier des Ocres trail.

Les Baux-de-Provence

Medieval hilltop fortress. Stone alleys, dramatic views.

Carrières de Lumières

Immersive art in an old quarry. Van Gogh on 14m walls. UNMISSABLE.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Where Van Gogh painted Starry Night.

Valensole Lavender Fields

Endless rows to the horizon. Peak bloom early July!

Drive to Cassis

1 hr from Avignon. Park at Presqu'île. Arrive early!

Hike: Port-Miou → Port Pin

~45 min each way. Rocky trail, moderate difficulty.

Swim & relax at Port Pin

Turquoise water, white cliffs, pine trees. Bring lunch & water!

Lunch in Cassis harbour

Seafood + harbour views. Try the local Cassis blanc wine.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

350+ vineyards. Castle ruins. Visit 2-3 domaines.

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Venice of Provence — canals, waterwheels, antiques.

Gorges du Verdon

Europe's Grand Canyon. Drive the Route des Crêtes rim road.

Lac de Sainte-Croix

Turquoise lake. Rent a pedal boat or kayak into the canyon.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Beautiful cliff village. One of the prettiest in France.

Arrive Nice

Promenade des Anglais walk + Castle Hill for golden hour.

Grande Corniche drive

Nice → Monaco via D2564

THE most spectacular coastal cliff road in France. Stop at viewpoints along the way!

Monaco — Guard change, Casino & Harbour

Guard change 11:55am. Casino lobby free. No shorts! Walk the yacht harbour.

Lunch

Cheapest food in Monaco — local market.

Èze Village + Jardin Exotique

Drive Moyenne Corniche → Èze · 15 min

Medieval village 400m above the sea. Best view on the entire Côte d'Azur.

Drive to Nice Ville station

Head back to Nice Ville to drop off rental car. ~30 min drive.

Drop off car at Nice Ville station

Return car (~90 min buffer before 6pm close). No more driving!

Cours Saleya Market + Vieux Nice

Flowers, produce, socca (chickpea pancake — must try!)

Train to Menton

35 min scenic coastal train ride.

Explore Menton + Lunch

Colourful Italian border town. Lemon trees, pastel buildings. Walk to the basilica for the view. 2.5 hrs.

Train back to Nice

35 min return journey.

Beach + Castle Hill at golden hour

Pebble beach — bring water shoes. Then Castle Hill for the best view of Nice at golden hour.

Dinner

Vieux Nice

Cannes — La Croisette

Film Festival boulevard. Luxury hotels, celeb handprints.

Antibes + Musée Picasso

Walled town, Provençal market, castle museum by the sea.

Cap d'Antibes Coastal Walk

Seaside path, crystal-clear water, pine trees.

Villefranche-sur-Mer beach

Sandy beach, clear water. Last swim on the Riviera!

TGV Nice → Paris

5.5 hrs. Arrive Paris ~6:30pm.

Welcome back dinner

Saint-Germain

Big day tomorrow — Bastille Day!

Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur

Funicular up. Basilica, Place du Tertre artists. Festive atmosphere!

Le Marais — L'As du Fallafel

Best falafel in Paris. Place des Vosges. Wander + shop.

Le Marais + shopping

Galleries, vintage shops, concept stores. Or revisit anywhere you loved.

Pâtisserie crawl + Petit Palais

Pierre Hermé, Gérard Mulot. Petit Palais secret garden (free!).

BASTILLE DAY FIREWORKS!

Eiffel Tower. The biggest fireworks in France. Get to Champ de Mars / Trocadéro by 9:30pm!

RER B to CDG Terminal 2E

Tax-free refund: validate forms BEFORE checking bags!

Delta 95: Paris → Detroit

8h 37m. Layover 2h 9m.

Arrive Toronto YYZ T3

Delta 5146. Au revoir, France!