16 days in France Itinerary
Created using Inspirock France planner
Start: Portland
Fly
1
Paris
— 5 nights
Drive
2
Bayeux
— 2 nights
Drive
3
Mont-Saint-Michel
— 1 night
Fly
4
Nice
— 3 nights
Drive
5
Marseille
— 3 nights
Fly
End: Portland
Fri, May 5 - Sat, May 20
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View full calendar
Paris — 5 nights
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City of Light
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.Go for a jaunt from Paris to Versailles to see Palace of Versailles about 48 minutes away. The adventure continues: admire the masterpieces at Louvre Museum, get to know the fascinating history of Montmartre, contemplate the long history of Arc de Triomphe, and examine the collection at Musee Rodin.
For reviews, traveler tips, ratings, and tourist information, read our Paris trip itinerary planning tool.
Portland, USA to Paris is an approximately 16-hour flight. The time zone difference when traveling from Portland to Paris is 9 hours. Traveling from Portland in May, expect nights in Paris to be about the same, around 49°F, while days are a bit cooler, around 64°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Bayeux.
Side Trip
Find places to stay May 5 — 11:
Highlights from your trip
Bayeux — 2 nights
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Most travelers take a trip to Bayeux to see the famed tapestry depicting the legendary Norman Conquest from the 11th century.Kick off your visit on the 12th (Fri): contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Cathedrale Notre-Dame, indulge your taste buds at Cave Cidricole Lecornu, pause for some photo ops at D-Day Monument, then explore the different monuments and memorials at Normandy American Cemetery, and finally steep yourself in history at Omaha Beach. Keep things going the next day: admire the masterpieces at Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, then explore the different monuments and memorials at Bayeux War Cemetery, then contemplate the long history of Remains Mulberry Harbour, and finally examine the collection at Musee du debarquement.
To see photos, reviews, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Bayeux trip planner.
Traveling by car from Paris to Bayeux takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of bus and train. In May, daytime highs in Bayeux are 62°F, while nighttime lows are 46°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Sat) so you can drive to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Side Trips
Find places to stay May 11 — 13:
Highlights from your trip
Mont-Saint-Michel — 1 night
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Le Mont-Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. On the 14th (Sun), take in the spiritual surroundings of Mont Saint-Michel and then explore the different monuments and memorials at Cimetiere Militaire Americain de Saint-James.
For where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Mont-Saint-Michel trip maker website.
Traveling by car from Bayeux to Mont-Saint-Michel takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. In May, daytime highs in Mont-Saint-Michel are 62°F, while nighttime lows are 47°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sun) so you can fly to Nice.
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For where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Mont-Saint-Michel trip maker website.
Traveling by car from Bayeux to Mont-Saint-Michel takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. In May, daytime highs in Mont-Saint-Michel are 62°F, while nighttime lows are 47°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sun) so you can fly to Nice.
Side Trip
Find places to stay May 13 — 14:
Highlights from your trip
Nice — 3 nights
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Nissa la Bella (Nice the Beautiful)
Well-known for the beautiful views of its famous Promenade des Anglais waterfront, Nice is an ethnically-diverse coastal port city on the French Riviera and the fifth most populated city in France.Explore Nice's surroundings by going to Musee Picasso (in Antibes) and La Croisette (in Cannes). There's much more to do: stop by Old Town, take in nature's colorful creations at Le Jardin Exotique d'Eze, take some stellar pictures from Colline du Chateau overlook, and examine the collection at Musée Marc Chagall.
To see more things to do, maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Nice road trip planner.
Traveling by flight from Mont-Saint-Michel to Nice takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and train; or drive. Plan for somewhat warmer temperatures traveling from Mont-Saint-Michel in May, with highs in Nice at 69°F and lows at 57°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 17th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Marseille.
Side Trips
Find places to stay May 14 — 17:
Highlights from your trip
Marseille — 3 nights
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Gateway to Provence
The 2013 European "Capital of Culture," Marseille is the largest port city on the breezy Mediterranean coast and the second largest city in France.You'll find plenty of places to visit near Marseille: Avignon (Wine Safari, Palais des Papes, &more), Trolib (in Cassis) and Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence (in Aix-en-Provence). The adventure continues: don't miss a visit to Randonnees theatrales Marcel Pagnol Cie Dans la cour des Grands, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, and take a stroll through The Panier.
For more things to do, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Marseille online travel planner.
You can drive from Nice to Marseille in 2.5 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. May in Marseille sees daily highs of 73°F and lows of 54°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sat) to allow enough time to fly back home.
Side Trips
Find places to stay May 17 — 20:
France travel guide
France has been the world's most popular tourist destination for decades, and geographically, it is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. Its cities are holiday hot spots and contain some of the greatest treasures in Europe, its countryside is prosperous and well tended, and it boasts dozens of major tourist attractions, like Paris, the French Riviera, the Atlantic beaches, the winter sport resorts of the French Alps, as well as the castles of the Loire Valley, Brittany, and Normandy. The country is renowned for its gastronomy, particularly wines and cheeses, as well as its history, culture, and fashion industry.
You'll find that the French people are very polite and may react coldly to you if you forget this. You might be surprised as you're greeted by other customers and the proprieter when you walk into a restaurant or a shop. Be sure to take your sightseeing off the beaten path in France. Besides the famous Eiffel Tower and the chic resorts of the Côte d'Azur (French Riviera) you'll find many places to visit in the form of museums filled with fine art, crafts, and archaeological relics, wonderful medieval villages and castles, diverse national parks, and local shopping direct from artisans themselves.
Whether you're touring the Christmas Markets or going skiing during winter, viewing the springtime influx of color in Provence, sunbathing on the Mediterranean coast in the summer, or watching the fall foliage against the backdrop of the châteaux in the Loire Valley, you're sure to find just the right place to be. Spring is a time when the tourist attractions are just starting to expand their hours, but it may still be cold in the mountainous regions and the north. Summer is the busiest time in France with the longest hours for many museums and attractions, but it's often when you will experience the most crowds. Winter in France is filled with winter carnivals, Christmas Markets, and of course, skiing. Fall is a time to celebrate the release of Beaujolais nouveau wine in November, as well as experience Nuit Blanche, a day in October when major attractions, museums, galleries, parks, and swimming pools remain open all night.
