30 days in France Itinerary
Created using Inspirock France travel route maker
Start: Sydney
Fly
1
Mont-Saint-Michel
— 2 nights
Drive
2
Bayeux
— 3 nights
Drive
3
Etretat
— 1 night
Drive
4
Giverny
— 1 night
Drive
5
Paris
— 6 nights
Fly
6
Carcassonne
— 2 nights
Fly
7
Marseille
— 3 nights
Drive
8
Saint-Raphael
— 4 nights
Drive
9
Nice
— 6 nights
Fly
End: Sydney
Wed, May 17 - Thu, Jun 15
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Mont-Saint-Michel — 2 nights
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Le Mont-Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. Kick off your visit on the 18th (Thu): admire the landmark architecture of Mont Saint-Michel and then don't miss a visit to Terrasse de l'Ouest. On your second day here, explore the different monuments and memorials at Cimetiere Militaire Americain de Saint-James, then hike along Chemins de la Baie du Mont Saint-Michel, and then surround yourself with nature on L'Aigrette, Pauses Natures en baie.
To see maps, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Mont-Saint-Michel trip planner.
Sydney, Australia to Mont-Saint-Michel is an approximately 28-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train. The time zone difference when traveling from Sydney to Mont-Saint-Michel is minus 9 hours. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from Sydney in May; daily highs in Mont-Saint-Michel reach 19°C and lows reach 9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Bayeux.
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To see maps, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, refer to the Mont-Saint-Michel trip planner.
Sydney, Australia to Mont-Saint-Michel is an approximately 28-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train. The time zone difference when traveling from Sydney to Mont-Saint-Michel is minus 9 hours. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from Sydney in May; daily highs in Mont-Saint-Michel reach 19°C and lows reach 9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Bayeux.
Side Trips
Chemins de la Baie du Mont Saint-Michel, Cimetiere Militaire Americain de Saint-James, L'Aigrette, Pauses Natures en baie
Find places to stay May 17 — 19:
Highlights from your trip
Bayeux — 3 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.Change things up with these side-trips from Bayeux: Honfleur (Saint Catherine's Catholic Church & Vieux Bassin), Pegasus Memorial (in Ranville) and Airborne Museum (in Sainte-Mere-Eglise). And it doesn't end there: stroll the grounds of Normandy American Cemetery, appreciate the history behind D-Day Monument, take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathedrale Notre-Dame, and steep yourself in history at Pointe du Hoc.
For where to stay, maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, use the Bayeux travel itinerary planner.
You can drive from Mont-Saint-Michel to Bayeux in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. In May, plan for daily highs up to 19°C, and evening lows to 9°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 22nd (Mon) early enough to go by car to Etretat.
Side Trips
Find places to stay May 19 — 22:
Highlights from your trip
Etretat — 1 night
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Etretat is a small coastal village on the Alabaster Coast in Normandy.Start off your visit on the 23rd (Tue): make a trip to Chemin des Douaniers, then take some stellar pictures from Falaises d'Etretat, and then explore the striking landscape at Porte d’Aval.
To find reviews, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Etretat trip itinerary planner.
Traveling by car from Bayeux to Etretat takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and bus. Expect a daytime high around 18°C in May, and nighttime lows around 11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Tue) so you can drive to Giverny.
Find places to stay May 22 — 23:
Highlights from your trip
Giverny — 1 night
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Giverny is a small French village in Upper Normandy, best known as the rural retreat of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet (1840-1926).On the 24th (Wed), take in nature's colorful creations at Fondation Claude Monet and then see the interesting displays at Musee de Mecanique Naturelle.
For maps, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Giverny online journey planner.
Traveling by car from Etretat to Giverny takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and train; or take a bus. In May in Giverny, expect temperatures between 20°C during the day and 9°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Wed) so you can drive to Paris.
Find places to stay May 23 — 24:
Highlights from your trip
Paris — 6 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. There's much more to do: admire the masterpieces at Louvre Museum, contemplate the long history of Eiffel Tower, take a stroll through Montmartre, and appreciate the history behind Arc de Triomphe.
For other places to visit, maps, more things to do, and other tourist information, read Paris visit planner.
Getting from Giverny to Paris by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a train. In May, daily temperatures in Paris can reach 20°C, while at night they dip to 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 30th (Tue) early enough to fly to Carcassonne.
Side Trip
Find places to stay May 24 — 30:
Highlights from your trip
Carcassonne — 2 nights
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Medieval Heart of France
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.Kick off your visit on the 31st (Wed): take in the views from Le Pont Vieux (The Old Bridge), then take a stroll through Cité de Carcassonne, then don't miss a visit to La Porte D'aude, and finally learn about winemaking at O'Vineyards. On the next day, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Eglise Saint-Nazaire, then steep yourself in history at Cathar Castles, and then appreciate the extensive heritage of Place Carnot.
For traveler tips, reviews, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Carcassonne online travel route builder.
Traveling by flight from Paris to Carcassonne takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a train; or drive. May in Carcassonne sees daily highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 1st (Thu) so you can catch the flight to Marseille.
Find places to stay May 30 — Jun 1:
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.Venture out of the city with trips to Trolib (in Cassis), Aix-en-Provence (Paul Cezanne’s Studio & Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence) and Avignon (Pont d'Avignon & Palais des Papes). Next up on the itinerary: make a trip to Randonnees theatrales Marcel Pagnol Cie Dans la cour des Grands, take in the waterfront at Le Vieux Port, take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathédrale La Major, and visit The Panier.
For more things to do, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Marseille online road trip planner.
Traveling by flight from Carcassonne to Marseille takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 33°C in June, and nighttime lows around 20°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 4th (Sun) early enough to go by car to Saint-Raphael.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Jun 1 — 4:
Saint-Raphael — 4 nights
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Saint-Raphael vacations have so much more to offer than an indulgent splurge on a beach.Get out of town with these interesting Saint-Raphael side-trips: Eco Gliss (in Les Issambres), Scuba & Snorkeling (in Bormes-Les-Mimosas) and Collobrieres (Chartreuse de la Verne & Confiserie Azureenne). The adventure continues: don't miss a visit to Massif de l'Esterel, indulge your senses at Wine Tours Provence & Riviera, learn about winemaking at Domaine Terres Destel, and pause for some photo ops at Notre Dame d‘Afrique.
To see where to stay, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Saint-Raphael attractions planner.
You can drive from Marseille to Saint-Raphael in 2 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. In June, daytime highs in Saint-Raphael are 34°C, while nighttime lows are 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Nice.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Jun 4 — 8:
Highlights from your trip
Nice — 6 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.Change things up with these side-trips from Nice: Azur Wine Tours (in Vence), La Croisette (in Cannes) and Be Free 2 Dive (in Villeneuve-Loubet). Spend the 11th (Sun) exploring the fascinating underwater world at Marineland. There's much more to do: get to know the fascinating history of Old Town, make a trip to Promenade des Anglais, examine the collection at Musée Marc Chagall, and relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas.
For photos, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Nice trip planner.
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 June, expect nights in Nice to be a bit warmer, around 22°C, while days are a bit cooler, around 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 14th (Wed) to allow time for the flight back home.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Jun 8 — 14:
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.
