18 days in France Itinerary
Created using Inspirock France trip itinerary planner
Start: Durham
Fly
1
Rouen
— 3 nights
Drive
2
Colleville-sur-Mer
— 1 night
Drive
3
Mont-Saint-Michel
— 1 night
Fly
4
Saint-Raphael
— 3 nights
Drive
5
Nice
— 4 nights
Fly
6
Paris
— 5 nights
Fly
End: Durham
Wed, Aug 31 - Sat, Sep 17
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Rouen — 3 nights
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City of a Hundred Spires
Rouen is situated on the River Seine, about 90 minutes from Paris.Explore Rouen's surroundings by going to Honfleur (Saint Catherine's Catholic Church, Vieux Bassin, &more), Fondation Claude Monet (in Giverny) and Etretat (Chemin des Douaniers & Falaises d'Etretat). And it doesn't end there: admire the striking features of Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, see the interesting displays at Ecomusee de la Pomme et du Cidre, take a stroll through Rue du Gros-Horloge, and explore the world behind art at Musee des Beaux-Arts de Rouen.
For photos, ratings, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Rouen online itinerary planner.
Durham, USA to Rouen is an approximately 13-hour flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 6 hours traveling from Durham to Rouen. Expect a bit cooler temperatures when traveling from Durham in August; daily highs in Rouen reach 73°F and lows reach 54°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 3rd (Sat) early enough to drive to Colleville-sur-Mer.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Aug 31 — Sep 3:
Highlights from your trip
Colleville-sur-Mer — 1 night
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Colleville-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandie region in northwestern France.HistoryIt was originally a farm owned by a certain Koli, a Scandinavian settler in the Middle Ages. On the 4th (Sun), contemplate the long history of Pointe du Hoc, pause for some photo ops at D-Day Monument, then take in the history at Omaha Beach, and finally explore the different monuments and memorials at Normandy American Cemetery.
To see other places to visit, reviews, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Colleville-sur-Mer day trip planning tool.
Drive from Rouen to Colleville-sur-Mer in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and bus; or do a combination of bus and train. In September, plan for daily highs up to 68°F, and evening lows to 52°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Sun) so you can go by car to Mont-Saint-Michel.
more
To see other places to visit, reviews, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Colleville-sur-Mer day trip planning tool.
Drive from Rouen to Colleville-sur-Mer in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and bus; or do a combination of bus and train. In September, plan for daily highs up to 68°F, and evening lows to 52°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Sun) so you can go by car to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 3 — 4:
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 5th (Mon), admire the striking features of Mont Saint-Michel and then explore the different monuments and memorials at Cimetiere Militaire Americain de Saint-James.
To find reviews, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, refer to the Mont-Saint-Michel trip itinerary planning tool.
Traveling by car from Colleville-sur-Mer to Mont-Saint-Michel takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and train; or do a combination of bus and train. In September in Mont-Saint-Michel, expect temperatures between 69°F during the day and 53°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Mon) early enough to fly to Saint-Raphael.
more
To find reviews, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, refer to the Mont-Saint-Michel trip itinerary planning tool.
Traveling by car from Colleville-sur-Mer to Mont-Saint-Michel takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and train; or do a combination of bus and train. In September in Mont-Saint-Michel, expect temperatures between 69°F during the day and 53°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Mon) early enough to fly to Saint-Raphael.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Sep 4 — 5:
Highlights from your trip
Saint-Raphael — 3 nights
©
Saint-Raphael vacations have so much more to offer than an indulgent splurge on a beach.Change things up with these side-trips from Saint-Raphael: Chapelle de Saint-Cassien des Bois (in Tanneron), Marines de Cogolin (in Cogolin) and La Croix-Valmer (Plage de Vergeron, Plage de Sylvabelle, &more). There's lots more to do: see majestic marine mammals with TakSea, don't miss a visit to Massif de l'Esterel, let the kids burn off some steam at Jardin Bonaparte, and trek along Les Balcons du Cap Roux.
To see other places to visit, reviews, and more tourist information, you can read our Saint-Raphael trip planner.
You can fly from Mont-Saint-Michel to Saint-Raphael in 3 hours. Other options are to do a combination of taxi, train, and bus; or drive. In September, Saint-Raphael is somewhat warmer than Mont-Saint-Michel - with highs of 78°F and lows of 59°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Thu) so you can go by car to Nice.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 5 — 8:
Highlights from your trip
Nice — 4 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.You'll find plenty of places to visit near Nice: Village de Mougins (in Mougins) and Lérins Islands (in Cannes). Spend the 9th (Fri) exploring the fascinating underwater world at Marineland. Next up on the itinerary: take some stellar pictures from Colline du Chateau overlook, don't miss a visit to Promenade des Anglais, appreciate the extensive heritage of Old Town, and pause for some serene contemplation at Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas a Nice.
To see traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, use the Nice trip itinerary maker site.
Traveling by car from Saint-Raphael to Nice takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Saint-Raphael in September, expect somewhat warmer with lows of 65°F in Nice. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Mon) early enough to fly to Paris.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 8 — 12:
Highlights from your trip
Paris — 5 nights
©
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.Take a break from Paris with a short trip to Palace of Versailles in Versailles, about 48 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: explore the world behind art at Louvre Museum, take a stroll through Le Marais, get a taste of the local shopping with Champs-Elysees, and admire the striking features of Arc de Triomphe.
To find reviews, maps, and tourist information, go to the Paris trip itinerary planner.
Traveling by flight from Nice to Paris takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Nice in September: high temperatures in Paris hover around 70°F and lows are around 53°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Sat) early enough to fly back home.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Sep 12 — 17:
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.
