France in 10 Days

Complete Itinerary: Paris, Versailles, Loire Valley & Provence

📸 Best Photography Spots in Paris

Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre + crowd-free hours

Day 1-4: Paris (4 days)

Day 1: Eiffel Tower (€29.40 top), Trocadéro gardens, Champ de Mars. Afternoon: Seine River cruise (€15-20, 1h).

Day 2: Louvre Museum (€22, book ahead!), Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde. Evening: walk Champs-Élysées to Arc de Triomphe (€13 to climb).

Day 3: Montmartre: Sacré-Cœur (FREE), Place du Tertre artists, Moulin Rouge exterior. Afternoon: Le Marais neighborhood, Notre-Dame exterior (reconstruction ongoing).

Day 4: Versailles day trip (RER C train 45min, €20 palace+gardens). FULL DAY needed - palace + massive gardens. Fountains show on weekends summer (€10 extra).

Day 5-6: Loire Valley

Train Paris-Tours (1h, €30-60). Base in Tours or Amboise. Rent car recommended (€40-60/day) - châteaux spread out.

Day 5: Château de Chambord (€16, largest Loire castle), Château de Chenonceau (€16, "Ladies' Castle" over river).

Day 6: Château de Villandry (€13, famous gardens), medieval town Chinon (wine tasting €15-25).

Day 7-8: Lyon or Provence

Option A - Lyon: Food capital! Old town (Vieux Lyon), Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière (FREE, hilltop views), traditional bouchon restaurants (€20-35).

Option B - Provence: Avignon (Palais des Papes €15), Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct (FREE), lavender fields Jun-Jul. Base in Avignon or Aix-en-Provence.

Day 9-10: French Riviera or Back to Paris

Option A - Nice (French Riviera): Promenade des Anglais, Old Town, beaches. Day trip Monaco (30min train €10). Expensive region!

Option B - Return Paris: More museums: Orsay (€16, Impressionism), Rodin (€14), Sainte-Chapelle (€13, stained glass masterpiece).

💰 How Much Does France Cost? It's Pricey But Worth It!

Paris is expensive, but regions more affordable - see real budget

See Costs →

Transportation

Paris Metro: €2.15/ride, 10-ticket carnet €16.90
Paris Museum Pass: €62/2 days (skip lines!)
Train Paris-Loire: €30-60 (book in advance SNCF.com)
Car rental Loire Valley: €40-60/day recommended
TGV high-speed trains connect major cities

Food

Baguette sandwich: €4-7 (cheap lunch!)
Café croissant: €2-4
Restaurant lunch menu: €15-25 (starter+main OR main+dessert)
Dinner: €25-50 per person mid-range
Wine: €3-8 bottle at supermarket, €20-40 at restaurants
Michelin experience: €100+ (splurge one night!)

Language and Culture

Language: French. English spoken in Paris tourist areas, less in regions. Learn basics: "Bonjour," "Merci," "S'il vous plaît."

Tipping: Service included, but 5-10% appreciated for good service.

Pace: Meals are leisurely 2-3 hour affairs - embrace it!

Best Time to Visit

Spring (Apr-May): Perfect weather, flowers, moderate crowds
Summer (Jun-Aug): Hot, very crowded, expensive - but lavender blooms!
Fall (Sep-Oct): Excellent weather, harvest season, fewer tourists
Winter (Nov-Mar): Cold, museums less crowded, Christmas markets Dec