France 2026

Arrive Paris CDG

Terminal 2E · Delta 228

RER B train to hotel — covered by Navigo pass

Check in at Hotel du Vieux Saule

6 Rue De Picardie, Le Marais 75003

Superior Room. 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

Dinner at Chez Janou

2 Rue Roger Verlomme, Le Marais (3rd)

Classic Provençal bistro — famous for the chocolate mousse

Louvre Museum

3–4 hrs

Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory

Breizh Café

Le Marais (3rd)

Excellent Breton crêpes & galettes

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.

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay · 1.5 hrs

Impressionist masterpieces — Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir. The giant clock!

Le Bon Marché

24 Rue de Sèvres, Saint-Germain (7th)

Paris’s oldest department store — stunning food hall La Grande Épicerie

Dinner

Ladurée

Champs-Élysées

Iconic Parisian macarons & pastries

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)

Evening at Jardin du Trocadéro

Eiffel Tower views at sunset & golden hour. Watched the sparkle show from here!

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.

Dinner at Brasserie Bellanger

140 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin (10th)

Classic Parisian brasserie — last dinner in Paris before heading south!

TGV to Avignon

Gare de Lyon. 2hr 40min. Pick up rental car at station. Check in at Hôtel 1770 & Spa (Le Pontet).

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.

Rocher des Doms — Day drinks in the garden

Jardin des Doms, top of Avignon

Hilltop garden above the Palais des Papes with panoramic views of the Rhône. Perfect spot to unwind with a drink.

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.

Le Sentier des Ocres

Roussillon

Walking trail through red and orange ochre canyon. Stunning colours — don’t wear white shoes!

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Market

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Venice of Provence — canals, waterwheels, and a famous antiques market

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.

Château Mont-Redon

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

First winery of the day — one of the oldest domaines in the appellation

Château de la Gardine

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Second tasting — beautiful estate with panoramic views

Castle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Ruined papal castle at the top of the village — sweeping views over the vineyards

Valensole Lavender Fields

Endless rows of lavender to the horizon. Peak bloom early July!

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 — Check in at Hôtel Parisien

10 Rue Vernier, Nice 06000

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.

Check in at Hôtel Leon

40 Bd de Clichy, Montmartre 75018

Elegance Room. Near Sacré-Cœur — perfect for tomorrow's Bastille Day.

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!