23 days in France & Bruges Itinerary

Giverny is a small French village in Upper Normandy, best known as the rural retreat of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet (1840-1926).

For ratings, more things to do, reviews, and tourist information, you can read our Giverny trip generator.

New York City, USA to Giverny is an approximately 17.5-hour flight. You'll lose 6 hours traveling from New York City to Giverny due to the time zone difference. Traveling from New York City in August, expect Giverny to be slightly colder, temps between 74°F and 55°F. On the 20th (Sun), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Mont-Saint-Michel.

Le Mont-Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. Start off your visit on the 21st (Mon): get to know the fascinating history of La Pointe du Grouin and then admire the landmark architecture of Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel. Keep things going the next day: make a trip to Centre Historique, then explore the historical opulence of Chateau de Fougeres, then explore the different monuments and memorials at Brittany American Cemetery, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of Chapelle Saint-Aubert.

To find more things to do, maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the Mont-Saint-Michel itinerary maker.

You can do a combination of train and bus from Giverny to Mont-Saint-Michel in 5.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of train, flight, and bus; or do a combination of bus and train. Expect a daytime high around 71°F in August, and nighttime lows around 55°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Wed) to allow time to travel to Arles.

Remote, uneventful, but definitely not a waste of time, Arles is absolutely steeped in Provençal culture.

On the 23rd (Wed), contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St-Trophime Cloister (Cloitre St-Trophime) and then explore the ancient world of Amphitheatre (les Arenes). Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: delve into the distant past at Arenes de Nimes, then steep yourself in history at Salin d'Aigues-Mortes, then admire the striking features of Tours et Remparts d'Aigues-Mortes, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of Paroisse Saintes Maries de la Mer.

For where to stay, maps, photos, and tourist information, use the Arles itinerary maker.

Getting from Mont-Saint-Michel to Arles by combination of bus, train, and flight takes about 6 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and train; or do a combination of bus and train. Traveling from Mont-Saint-Michel in August, things will get somewhat warmer in Arles: highs are around 85°F and lows about 66°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 26th (Sat) so you can go by car to Carcassonne.

Best known as a fortified town, Carcassonne is a walled city that provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" and the location for many scenes in Kevin Costner's movie "Robin Hood." For a daily dose of excitement, medieval jousting tournaments are held twice per day between the two walls--while this may sound like a typical touristy show, it's actually an entertaining display of combative competition and horsemanship.

Start off your visit on the 26th (Sat): steep yourself in history at Cathar Castles, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Basilica of Saint-Nazaire, and then get to know the fascinating history of Carcassonne Medieval City. Keep things going the next day: pause for some serene contemplation at Carcassonne Cathedral, explore the historical opulence of Chateaux de Lastours, then step into the grandiose world of Cité de Carcassonne, and finally step into the grandiose world of Château Comtal.

To find traveler tips, maps, where to stay, and more tourist information, read our Carcassonne trip generator.

Getting from Arles to Carcassonne by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or do a combination of train and flight. In August in Carcassonne, expect temperatures between 83°F during the day and 62°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Mon) to allow time to travel to Cordes-sur-Ciel.

On the 28th (Mon), take in the spiritual surroundings of Cloitre de la Collegiale Saint Salvy, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathedrale Ste-Cecile, and then get engrossed in the history at Musee Toulouse-Lautrec. Here are some ideas for day two: get engrossed in the history at Musee Charles Portal - Histoire et Architecture and then explore the historical opulence of Forteresse de Najac.

To find traveler tips and more tourist information, refer to the Cordes-sur-Ciel itinerary maker.

You can drive from Carcassonne to Cordes-sur-Ciel in 2 hours. August in Cordes-sur-Ciel sees daily highs of 79°F and lows of 58°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Tue) to allow time to travel to Sarlat-la-Caneda.

Sarlat-la-Caneda is the capital of the former Périgord Noir, now referred to as the Aquitaine region that is home to a historical area consisting of impeccably preserved 14th-century buildings and sites.

Get some cultural insight at Chateau de Beynac and Cite Religieuse. Step off the beaten path and head to Chateau de Castelnaud and Vieux Sarlat. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Sarlat-la-Caneda: Eglise Saint-Pierre (in Carennac), Gouffre de Padirac (in Padirac) and The Maison Forte de Reignac (in Tursac). It doesn't end there: pause for some serene contemplation at Cathedrale Saint-Sacerdos and stop by La Maison du Foie Gras.

To find other places to visit, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, you can read our Sarlat-la-Caneda online itinerary creator.

Traveling by car from Cordes-sur-Ciel to Sarlat-la-Caneda takes 2.5 hours. In August, daily temperatures in Sarlat-la-Caneda can reach 82°F, while at night they dip to 57°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 1st (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Amboise.

Amboise is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. Get some cultural insight at Chateau de Cheverny and Chateau d'Amboise. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Chateau Royal de Blois and Chateau de Troussay. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Amboise: Chateau de Montpoupon (in Cere La Ronde), Domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire (in Chaumont-sur-Loire) and Château de Villandry (in Villandry). The adventure continues: examine the collection at Chateau de Chenonceau.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, more things to do, and other tourist information, read our Amboise trip planner.

Traveling by car from Sarlat-la-Caneda to Amboise takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi, flight, and train; or take a train. When traveling from Sarlat-la-Caneda in September, plan for little chillier days and about the same nights in Amboise: temperatures range from 72°F by day to 53°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Mon) early enough to take a train to Paris.

A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Bénédictines du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre and Musée d'Orsay. Your inner history buff will appreciate Arc de Triomphe and Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. When in Paris, make a side trip to see Chateau de Fontainebleau in Fontainebleau, approximately 1h 05 min away. There's more to do: admire the masterpieces at Louvre Museum and pause for some serene contemplation at Sainte-Chapelle.

To see where to stay, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, you can read our Paris trip generator.

Take a train from Amboise to Paris in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. September in Paris sees daily highs of 70°F and lows of 52°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Thu) early enough to drive to Bruges.

The medieval town of Bruges centers around a canal, and the architecture of its historical district has made it a World Heritage Site.

Kick off your visit on the 8th (Fri): take in the spiritual surroundings of Basilica of the Holy Blood, stop by Carpentier-Goegebeuer, then admire the striking features of Belfry of Bruges, then make a trip to Burg Square, and finally contemplate the long history of Historic Centre of Brugge. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: appreciate the extensive heritage of Beguinage (Begijnhof), steep yourself in history at Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, then admire the masterpieces at Groeningemuseum, and finally contemplate the waterfront views at Minnewater Lake.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Bruges travel itinerary planner.

You can drive from Paris to Bruges in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and flight. Traveling from Paris in September, you will find days in Bruges are little chillier (65°F), and nights are about the same (51°F). Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 10th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel back home.