Best Things to Do in France in 2027: 7, 11 and 14-Day Itineraries From Paris for Winter and Summer
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Quick Answer
The best things to do in France change with the season. In winter, pair the Louvre and Versailles with Strasbourg’s old town and Lyon’s food market.
In summer, head south for Avignon’s Palais des Papes and Riviera day trips to Monaco. Then book every train on SNCF Connect, with at least two nights per base. Download the SNCF Connect app to easily book trains and manage your itinerary.
The Sunset Weekly Connection Reality: Tailoring your French itinerary to seasonal highlights ensures a rich travel experience, whether exploring iconic culture in winter or coastal destinations in summer. Booking trains through SNCF Connect and dedicating at least two nights per stay keeps regional travel smooth and stress-free.
BOOK NOWThe Six Itineraries at a Glance
| Trip | Winter (January to March) | Summer (July to September) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Paris and then Alsace | Paris and then Provence |
| 11 days | Paris, Alsace and then Lyon | Paris, Lyon, Provence and finally Nice |
| 14 days | Paris, the Loire, Lyon and then Alsace | Paris, the Loire, Lyon, Provence and finally Nice |
All train legs checked on SNCF Connect route pages, 14 October 2026.
How I Built These Itineraries
When I plan a trip, I start with what’s worth seeing, and then check that the trains and opening days line up. So every opening day below comes from the attraction’s own website, and every train leg comes from an SNCF Connect route page.
I also followed three simple rules. First, no base gets fewer than two nights. Next, I kept changes to a minimum, although SNCF Connect lists Tours to Lyon with connecting trains only. Finally, winter routes favour cities and museums, while summer routes follow the sun south.
I also checked common travel advice against the official sources, too. For example, Giverny often appears in winter plans, even though Monet’s house and gardens list an opening period from 1 April. Meanwhile, quoted travel times are often well off the official figures. So wherever other advice differed, I followed the official sources.
Winter Itineraries: January to March 2027
Winter suits city breaks, because museums, markets and old towns stay rewarding in cold weather. However, many attractions keep shorter winter hours, so plan your days around them.
7 Days in Winter: Paris and Alsace
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 (Paris) | First, arrive and walk the Banks of the Seine. |
| Day 2 (Paris) | Visit the Louvre, although it’s closed on Tuesdays. |
| Day 3 (Paris) | Then take a day trip to Versailles, just 11 minutes from Paris Montparnasse, but not on a Monday. |
| Day 4 (Paris) | See the Musée d’Orsay, which also opens until 9:45pm on Thursdays. |
| Day 5 (Strasbourg) | Next, take the train in as little as 1h44, then explore the Grande-Île. |
| Day 6 (Strasbourg) | After that, take a day trip to Colmar, 26 minutes away, for the Unterlinden Museum. |
| Day 7 (Paris) | Finally, return in as little as 1h43. |
Sunset Weekly tip: the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar is closed on Tuesdays, so plan your Alsace days around it.
11 Days in Winter: Paris, Alsace and Lyon
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 4 (Paris) | First, see the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Seine, plus a Versailles day trip. |
| Days 5 to 7 (Strasbourg) | Then take the train from 1h44, and add a Colmar day trip. |
| Day 8 (Lyon) | Next, travel on from 3h43. |
| Day 9 (Lyon) | Explore the Historic Site of Lyon, then Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. |
| Day 10 (Lyon) | After that, take a day trip to Annecy, 1h51 away. |
| Day 11 (Paris) | Finally, return in as little as 1h43. |
14 Days in Winter: Paris, the Loire, Lyon and Alsace
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 4 (Paris) | First, enjoy the museums and the Seine, plus a Versailles day trip. |
| Day 5 (Tours) | Then take the train from Paris, and explore Tours. |
| Day 6 (Tours) | Next, take the TER to Amboise, 17 minutes away, for the Château Royal d’Amboise. |
| Day 7 (Tours) | After that, take the TER to Chenonceaux, 24 minutes away, for Château de Chenonceau. |
| Day 8 (Lyon) | Travel on from 3h18, although you’ll need one change. |
| Days 9 to 10 (Lyon) | Explore Old Lyon and the food market, as well as an optional Annecy day trip. |
| Day 11 (Strasbourg) | Then take the train from 3h42. |
| Days 12 to 13 (Strasbourg) | See Strasbourg first, then Colmar. |
| Day 14 (Paris) | Finally, return in as little as 1h43. |
Sunset Weekly tip: in winter, Loire châteaux close early, so plan ahead. In 2026, for example, Chenonceau closed at 4:30pm from January to early April, so start your château days in the morning.
Summer Itineraries: July to September 2027
Summer suits the south, so these routes follow the line from Paris to Provence and the Riviera. Also, longer opening hours make day trips easier.
7 Days in Summer: Paris and Provence
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 (Paris) | First, see the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Seine. |
| Day 3 (Paris) | Then take a day trip to Giverny via Vernon, 46 minutes from Paris Saint-Lazare. |
| Day 4 (Paris) | Visit Versailles, where the gardens also open until 8:30pm in summer. |
| Day 5 (Avignon) | Next, take the train in as little as 2h33, then see the Palais des Papes. |
| Day 6 (Avignon) | After that, take a day trip to Arles, just 16 minutes away. |
| Day 7 (Paris) | Finally, return in as little as 2h39. |
11 Days in Summer: Paris, Lyon, Provence and Nice
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 (Paris) | First, enjoy the museums and the Seine, plus a Giverny or Versailles day trip. |
| Days 4 to 5 (Lyon) | Then take the train from 1h41, and explore Old Lyon and Les Halles. |
| Days 6 to 7 (Avignon) | Next, travel on from 52 minutes, then see the Palais des Papes and Arles. |
| Days 8 to 10 (Nice) | After that, take the train from 3h21, with day trips to Antibes and Monaco. |
| Day 11 (home) | Finally, fly from Nice, or else take the train to Paris from 5h44. |
14 Days in Summer: Paris, the Loire, Lyon, Provence and Nice
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 (Paris) | First, enjoy the museums and the Seine, plus a Giverny day trip. |
| Days 4 to 5 (Tours) | Then take the train from Paris, and visit Amboise and Chenonceau by TER. |
| Days 6 to 7 (Lyon) | Next, travel on from 3h18, although you’ll need one change. |
| Days 8 to 10 (Avignon) | Then take the train from 52 minutes, with Arles, Nîmes and Marseille as day trips. |
| Days 11 to 13 (Nice) | After that, travel on from 3h21, with Antibes, Monaco and Menton nearby. |
| Day 14 (home) | Finally, fly from Nice, or else take the train to Paris from 5h44. |
Sunset Weekly tip: according to service-public.gouv.fr, the French summer school holidays begin on 3 July 2027. So book the long southbound legs as soon as they go on sale.
Getting Between Each Stop by Train
| Route | Fastest (average) | Trains a day |
|---|---|---|
| Paris → Strasbourg | 1h44 (2h15) | 22 |
| Strasbourg → Paris | 1h43 (2h14) | 21 |
| Strasbourg → Lyon | 3h43 (4h32) | 15 |
| Lyon → Strasbourg | 3h42 (4h35) | 17 |
| Paris → Tours | 0h51 (1h33) | 24 |
| Tours → Lyon (one change) | 3h18 (4h40) | 15 |
| Paris → Lyon | 1h41 (2h17) | 30 |
| Lyon → Paris | 1h43 (2h14) | 34 |
| Lyon → Avignon | 0h52 (2h04) | 32 |
| Paris → Avignon | 2h33 (3h33) | 28 |
| Avignon → Paris | 2h39 (3h20) | 31 |
| Avignon → Nice | 3h21 (4h24) | 24 |
| Nice → Paris | 5h44 (6h43) | 14 |
Source: SNCF Connect route pages, checked 14 October 2026.
Notice the Paris to Tours figures, though. The 51-minute train is an OUIGO from Massy TGV to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, so check your departure station before you book.
The Best Day Trips by Train
Day trips let you see more without changing hotels. So here are the best ones from each base.
| Base | Best day trips, with the fastest train |
|---|---|
| Paris | Versailles (11 min), Vernon for Giverny (46 min), Reims (46 min), Chartres (58 min) and Rouen (1h13) |
| Tours | Amboise (17 min) and Chenonceaux (24 min) by TER, plus Blois (28 min) |
| Lyon | Annecy (1h51) |
| Avignon | Arles (16 min), Nîmes (34 min) and Marseille (50 min) |
| Nice | Antibes (18 min), Monaco (22 min) and Menton (41 min) |
| Strasbourg | Colmar (26 min), with 42 trains a day |
Source: SNCF Connect route pages, checked 14 October 2026.
Sunset Weekly tip: Chenonceau’s own website says the SNCF station is about 400 metres from the ticket office, so it’s especially easy to reach by train.
Top Things to Do in Each Region
Paris
Start with the Louvre, although it’s closed on Tuesdays and time-slot bookings are recommended. Next, the Musée d’Orsay is closed on Mondays but stays open until 9:45pm on Thursdays. Also, the Banks of the Seine are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so a riverside walk links many of the main sights.
For a day trip, the Palace and Park of Versailles is another UNESCO site. However, the palace is closed on Mondays.
The Loire Valley
The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes is listed by UNESCO, while Tours makes a practical base. From there, the Château Royal d’Amboise is the burial place of Leonardo da Vinci, according to its own website. Meanwhile, Château de Chenonceau says it’s open every day, all year round.
Lyon
First of all, the Historic Site of Lyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, for food, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse has 55 traders under one roof. Plus, Annecy is close enough for a day trip, at 1h51 by train.
Provence
In Provence, Avignon’s Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge are also listed together by UNESCO. Better still, the Palais des Papes says it’s open every day of the year. Nearby, Arles has its Roman and Romanesque Monuments, while Nîmes has the Maison Carrée, both UNESCO sites.
The French Riviera
Meanwhile, Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera, is a UNESCO site. Better still, Antibes, Monaco and Menton are all under 45 minutes from Nice, with frequent TER trains.
Alsace
Strasbourg’s Grande-Île and Neustadt are listed by UNESCO, so the old town alone fills a day. Then, in Colmar, the Unterlinden Museum displays the Isenheim Altarpiece. Note, though, that the museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Winter vs Summer Opening Hours
Opening hours change a lot between seasons. So here’s what the official websites list.
| Attraction | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Château de Chenonceau | 9:30am to 4:30pm, 5 January to 3 April 2026 | 9am to 7pm, 4 July to 23 August 2026 |
| Château Royal d’Amboise | 9am to 5pm for most of February and March | 9am to 7pm for most of July and all of August |
| Palais des Papes, Avignon | 10am to 5pm from 5 January 2026, then 9am to 7pm from 1 March | 9am to 7pm |
| Versailles gardens | 8am to 6pm off-season | 7am to 8:30pm in summer |
| Monet’s house and gardens, Giverny | Closed until 1 April | 10am to 6pm, from 1 April to 1 November |
Sources: chenonceau.com, chateau-amboise.com, palais-des-papes.com, en.chateauversailles.fr and claudemonetgiverny.fr, checked 14 October 2026. Most 2027 hours aren’t published yet, so check again before you travel.
Coming From the UK, US, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany or Within France
| Starting from | How to join these itineraries |
|---|---|
| UK | Eurostar from London to Paris, in as little as 2h22 |
| US | Fly to Paris-CDG, where the airport TGV station serves more than 50 French cities |
| Belgium | Brussels to Paris, in as little as 1h24 |
| Switzerland | Geneva to Paris from 3h14, or Geneva to Lyon from 1h54 to join mid-route |
| Germany | Frankfurt to Paris from 3h43, or Frankfurt to Strasbourg from 1h50 for the winter routes |
| France | Start in Paris, or join at any base, especially with a Carte Avantage |
Source: SNCF Connect route and station pages, checked 14 October 2026.
The Most Common Itinerary Mistakes
- Planning Giverny in winter. After all, Monet’s house and gardens list an opening period of 1 April to 1 November.
- Visiting on closing days. For example, the Louvre closes on Tuesdays, while Orsay and Versailles close on Mondays.
- Ignoring winter hours. For instance, in early 2026, Chenonceau closed at 4:30pm.
- Assuming Tours is 51 minutes away from central Paris. In fact, that’s an OUIGO from Massy TGV, while the average journey takes 1h33.
- Expecting a direct train from Tours to Lyon. Instead, SNCF Connect lists connecting trains only.
- Changing hotels every night. Two or three nights per base works far better, especially with day trips.
Why Book Your Itinerary’s Trains on SNCF Connect
- Every leg in one place: first, SNCF Connect’s route pages cover TGV INOUI, OUIGO, TER, TGV Lyria and Eurostar.
- Clear timings: also, each route page shows the fastest time, average time and trains a day.
- Regional trains too: in addition, TER day trips such as Tours to Chenonceaux appear in the same search.
- Booking alerts: moreover, SNCF Connect can email you when your trains go on sale.
Which Itinerary Is Right for You?
| Your situation | Our pick |
|---|---|
| One week in winter | 7 days in Paris and Alsace |
| One week in summer | 7 days in Paris and Provence |
| You love food and museums | 11 days in winter, with Lyon as well |
| You want the Mediterranean | 11 days in summer, ending in Nice |
| You want châteaux | Either 14-day route, since both include Tours |
| You’re flying home from the south | The 11-day or 14-day summer route, since both end in Nice |
Final Verdict
So, what are the best things to do in France in 2027? In winter, stay north and east, with Paris, Alsace and then Lyon. In summer, follow the line south to Provence and the Riviera instead. Either way, check opening days before you set your train times, and book every leg on SNCF Connect as soon as it goes on sale.
FAQs
What is the best 7-day France itinerary?
In winter, try Paris and then Strasbourg, with a day trip to Colmar. In summer, choose Paris and Avignon instead, with a day trip to Arles.
Can I see Paris, Provence and the Riviera in 11 days?
Yes. For example, Paris to Lyon takes from 1h41, Lyon to Avignon from 52 minutes, and Avignon to Nice from 3h21.
What are the best day trips from Paris by train?
First, Versailles is just 11 minutes from Paris Montparnasse. Also, Reims and Vernon for Giverny are both about 46 minutes away, while Chartres takes 58 minutes.
Can I visit Giverny in winter?
No. Monet’s house and gardens list an opening period of 1 April to 1 November, so save Giverny for a summer trip.
Can I reach the Loire châteaux by train?
Yes, for some of them. For example, from Tours, TER trains reach Amboise in 17 minutes and Chenonceaux in 24 minutes.
Is there a direct train from Tours to Lyon?
No. Instead, SNCF Connect lists connecting trains only, with the fastest journey taking 3h18.
How long is the train from Avignon to Nice?
The fastest train takes 3h21, while the average journey is 4h24.
Is the Palais des Papes open in winter?
Yes. The Palais des Papes says it’s open every day of the year, although winter hours are shorter.
Editorial & Accuracy Standards
- Expert Review:
Ammara Azmat,
Senior Travel Mobility Analyst (12+ years experience) - Status: Verified for accuracy against official 2026 service data and real-time traveller reports.
- Our Process: This content follows our Fact-Checking Policy.