Highlights of France Two-Week Itinerary

Wine, History, and Famous Sights

Thinking about taking an amazing trip around France, but feeling a bit clueless on where to start, where to explore, or how much the whole thing will cost? Dive into this itinerary because it's your roadmap to planning a fantastic 14-day adventure across the region. This route will take you to the big city activities, museums, nightlife, and delicious food along the way, setting you up for an epic journey.

The reasons to visit France are plentiful. You'll find world-famous sights, local wines, delicious food, and colorful cities. Below we'll start with some of the highlights of the area before working through the specifics of the route, budget, things to do, where to stay, and more.

This itinerary will take you through the following destinations:

1. Paris (3 days)
2. Versailles (1 day)
3. Lyon (2 days)
4. Avignon (3 days)
5. Carcassonne (2 days)
6. Bordeaux (3 days)

Pont d'Avignon, France

Itinerary Highlights

• Great for couples
• Family-friendly
• Good for backpackers and budget travelers
• Big City Activities
• Delicious Food
• Historic Sites
• Small Town Charm
• Museums
• Beautiful Locations

This region is also very popular for its world-class cities adorned with sights, attractions, vibrant nightlife, enticing restaurants, shopping, and more. On a trip through the area, you'll be able to spend time exploring these dynamic cities and everything they have to offer. With plenty of big city activities, Paris and Lyon shouldn't be missed.

Delicious food is one of the main reasons why many people travel, and a trip to France is no exception. You'll find so many amazing restaurants and local dishes worth tasting on this trip, so throw that diet plan away when you come. In particular, make sure you visit the restaurants in Paris, Lyon, and Avignon.

You'll also be able to uncover the rich and vibrant history of France. Don't miss the chance to explore the historic architecture, museums, and deep historical culture that permeates the area.

The beautiful and charming small towns of the region are a must-see. They provide an excellent chance to dive into the local culture, history, food, and more. You'll find plenty of small town charm in Avignon.

You'll find plenty of great museums along the way, so make sure you take some time to explore. The museums of Versailles, Paris, and Lyon are particularly good.

The stunning scenery of France is one of the main reasons visitors come to this region. Bring your camera, as it's even better in person. You don't want to miss Lyon, Paris, and Versailles for the beautiful scenery.

Sunrise over the vinyards, Bordeaux, France

When is the best time to visit?

Summer is a great time to visit France. It's a peak travel season here that draws plenty of visitors for a good reason. Although you might encounter bustling crowds, the upside is that everything will be wide open and within easy reach.

Who is this itinerary for?

Let's get into the romantic side of France. This region has a well-deserved reputation as the perfect spot for couples. If you're exploring with your special someone, get ready for a truly delightful experience. For romantic charm, Paris, Versailles, and Lyon especially should not be missed.

France makes for a terrific family-friendly trip. You'll find a good number of kid-friendly activities on this journey. In the sections below, we'll cover this in more detail so that the entire family has an amazing trip. For example, families love all of the activities in Lyon and Paris.

Plenty of budget-friendly and backpacker-friendly travel options are available in the area, too. From affordable hostels and budget-friendly hotels, to free activities, affordable food options, and a great social vibe, you can have a great trip if you're on a shoestring budget. For example, the range of hostels and low-cost activities in Lyon, Paris, and Carcassonne tend to favor budget travelers.

Bordeaux

Transportation

Getting around between these destinations in France isn't too difficult. Most of these places are around 4 hours apart.

We selected Paris as the starting point because it offers plenty of transporation options. At the end, this itinerary loops back around to the start to make it convenient, but you could also arrive or leave from any destination along the way. To get to Paris, you can see flight prices and schedules here.

The train network in France offers a hassle-free and economical way to explore the region. Major cities are well-connected with swift train services, though reaching smaller towns might involve additional time and potential transfers to local buses. Opting for main routes ensures a straightforward journey, allowing travelers to relax and take in the beautiful views from their seats. It's advisable to plan ahead by checking ticket prices and schedules for a smooth travel experience.

Is 14 days enough time in France?

Yes, 14 days is generally enough time to see the major destinations of France. We have planned out this itinerary in such a way so that you can take in these destinations in 14 days while having a relaxing and enjoyable trip. You could always spend more time in the area if you want to visit more of the local sights, or spend even more time in each destination. Plenty of day trip options are available, after all. On the other hand, if you have less time, you can modify this suggested itinerary to make it shorter. Cutting out a few places would save you time, although we don't recommended it as you really need around 14 days to see everything.

The Louvre, Paris

How much does a 14-day trip to France cost?

Let's break down the estimated budget for this specific 14-day adventure in France, assuming you stick to the plan outlined below. Drawing on actual spending data from travelers and cost data from major travel companies, the daily average costs below are per person. They exclude transportation, as that can vary depending on your choices. Consider this breakdown as a financial roadmap, with mid-level hotels, regular dining, and key attractions aligning with these estimates. Anyone seeking cheaper options can opt for hostels, budget hotels, and more affordable food options. On the flip side, embracing luxury hotels, upscale dining, and private tours will make you go well beyond this budget.

The estimated cost for this 14-day adventure in France is approximately $4,679 per person, according to our calculations. It's worth noting that this does not cover transportation between destinations. That part is entirely dependent on your chosen mode of travel.

Accommodation Costs

Trying to figure out how much you'll pay for hotels on this trip? Below is the expected cost for accommodations for this trip through France based on calculated averages.

Hotel Prices

The average price for a hotel room in each destination is outlined below. Sourced from Kayak's hotel data, it's crucial to recognize that these figures exclude taxes and fees. Think of these averages as representative of mid-range hotel experiences, yet, keep in mind, that it's possible to spend more or less, particularly if you opt for budget-friendly lodgings or indulge in high-end luxury hotels. These prices will usually be higher during peak travel season, too.

Hostel Prices

If you're all about smart spending on your adventure, hostels are an enticing option, especially for younger or solo travelers. The prices outlined below show the average expenses for a dorm bed in a hostel at each destination. Despite sacrificing a bit of privacy in a hostel dorm, the lively atmosphere often cultivates a social setting, creating fantastic opportunities to build new connections. It's worth noting that many hostels also offer private rooms at a slightly higher cost than dorms, along with additional perks like kitchens, social activities, and prime locations. These average prices are computed from available hostel data shared by HostelWorld.

France Itinerary

1. Paris

3 Days

Paris is not only the capital city of France, but it is one of Europe's most iconic cities. For many visitors, its a dream destination that is filled with wide boulevards, charming cafes, and world class landmarks. The food is widely recognized as some of the best in the world. The city sits along the River Seine, and a stroll down the river at night is a quintessential Parisian experience.

Paris offers big city activities, museums, nightlife, delicious food, and beautiful locations. It's also a great place for couples, families, and backpackers due to all of the activities.

Travelers visit Paris from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. You'll probably have trouble prioritizing what to see with so many options, so it's best to make a plan.

The theater and performance venues in Paris draw crowds from around the world.

Eat your way through Paris, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from.

This is one of the most popular destinations in the world for nightlife. It's considered by many to be a fun party-oriented city, and is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once to experience.

The music scene here is popular and famous around the world. Make sure to take some time to see a show.

Since Paris is one of the premier shopping cities in the world, make sure you spend some time perusing the local shops.

Notice: Undefined index: beauty in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/include/template/templategenerator.php on line 206

Warning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/include/template/templategenerator.php on line 207

Fatal error: Uncaught DivisionByZeroError: Modulo by zero in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/include/template/templategenerator.php:207 Stack trace: #0 /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/itineraryarticle.php(1106): TemplateGenerator->getContent() #1 {main} thrown in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/include/template/templategenerator.php on line 207