20 days in France Itinerary
Created using Inspirock France itinerary maker
Start: Cape Town
Fly
1
Paris
— 5 nights
Drive
2
Blois
— 4 nights
Drive
3
Nantes
— 4 nights
Drive
4
Bordeaux
— 6 nights
Fly
End: Cape Town
Wed, Mar 30 - Mon, Apr 18
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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.Do some cultural sightseeing at Fondation Louis Vuitton and Musee du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac. Explore hidden gems such as Petit Palais and Memorial De La Shoah. Take a break from Paris with a short trip to Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis in Saint-Denis, about 32 minutes away. There's much more to do: see the interesting displays at Musee des Arts Forains, get a sense of history and politics at Hotel de Ville, visit Latin Quarter, and admire the masterpieces at Atelier des Lumieres.
For reviews, maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read Paris road trip tool.
Cape Town, South Africa to Paris is an approximately 14.5-hour flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Cape Town to Paris. Traveling from Cape Town in March, expect Paris to be cooler, temps between 13°C and 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Mon) to allow time to drive to Blois.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Mar 30 — Apr 4:
Highlights from your trip
Blois — 4 nights
©
Town of Art and History
Situated on the banks of the lower Loire river, Blois opens doors to many activities centered along the banks of the river.Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Château de Sully-sur-Loire and Musee du Compagnonnage. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Chateau Royal de Blois and Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau. Get out of town with these interesting Blois side-trips: Musee des Blindes (in Saumur), Orléans Cathedral (in Orleans) and Cathedrale Saint-Gatien (in Tours). It doesn't end there: take in the architecture and atmosphere at Basilique Notre Dame de la Trinité and stop by La Maison des Parapluies.
Planning Blois trip won't be overwhelming when you use Inspirock's itinerary maker.
Traveling by car from Paris to Blois takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In April in Blois, expect temperatures between 18°C during the day and 5°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Nantes.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 4 — 8:
Highlights from your trip
Nantes — 4 nights
©
Venice of the West
Regarded as an art and history city, Nantes is called the Venice of the West.Visit Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul and Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne for their historical value. Museum-lovers will get to explore Manoir de l'Automobile and Le Musee des Metiers. Step out of Nantes with an excursion to Cave Museum, Village Troglodytique de Rochemenier in Louresse-Rochemenier--about 1h 45 min away. There's much more to do: admire the natural beauty at Jardin des Plantes, take a stroll through Village de Trentemoult, and test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms.
To see photos, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read our Nantes trip itinerary planner.
You can drive from Blois to Nantes in 3 hours. Another option is to take a train. In April, daily temperatures in Nantes can reach 19°C, while at night they dip to 6°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 12th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Bordeaux.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 8 — 12:
Highlights from your trip
Bordeaux — 6 nights
©
The Port of the Moon
With a long history of producing regional wines since the Romans brought grapevines here during the first century, so many people consider Bordeaux to be the wine capital of the world.Step off the beaten path and head to Monolithic Church of Saint-Emilion and La ville d'Hiver. Museum-lovers will appreciate Musee des Commerces d'Autrefois and Musee du Vin et du Negoce. Change things up with these side-trips from Bordeaux: Chateau Cantenac (in Saint-Emilion), Citadelle de Blaye (in Blaye) and Amphitheatre de Saintes (in Saintes). And it doesn't end there: get engrossed in the history at Musee d'Aquitaine, admire the landmark architecture of Tour Pey-Berland, test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St. Andre Cathedral.
To find photos, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Bordeaux trip planner.
You can drive from Nantes to Bordeaux in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. April in Bordeaux sees daily highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 18th (Mon) early enough to catch the flight back home.
Side Trips
Saint-Emilion, Citadelle de Blaye, La ville d'Hiver, Amphitheatre de Saintes, Musee des Commerces d'Autrefois
Find places to stay Apr 12 — 18:
Highlights from your trip
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.
