36 days in France Itinerary
Created using Inspirock France travel planner
Start: Melbourne
Fly
1
Bonifacio, Corsica
— 3 nights
Drive
2
Calvi, Corsica
— 3 nights
+4
Fly to Marseille, Foot to Aéroport Marseille Provence, Bus to Aix En Provence Tgv, Train to Avignon - Gare TGV, Bus to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc
3
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc
— 4 nights
Drive
4
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
— 2 nights
Drive
5
La Rochelle
— 5 nights
Drive
6
Saumur
— 4 nights
Drive
7
Bayeux
— 3 nights
Drive
8
Amiens
— 5 nights
Drive
9
Reims
— 5 nights
Fly
End: Melbourne
Thu, Sep 14 - Thu, Oct 19
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Bonifacio, Corsica — 3 nights
At the southernmost tip of the island of Corsica, Bonifacio is a city with chalk-white limestone outcrops sculpted into unusual shapes by the ocean.Explore hidden gems such as Escalier du Roi d'Aragon and Plage du Petit Sperone. Get outdoors at Grottes de Bonifacio and Boat Tours & Water Sports. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Bonifacio: U Maggiu (in Sartene) and Plage du Lido (in Propriano). There's much more to do: explore the different monuments and memorials at Cimetiere Marin de Bonifacio, pause for some photo ops at Monument aux Morts de Bonifacio, pause for some serene contemplation at Eglise Sainte Croix, and get interesting insight from Tours.
To find other places to visit, traveler tips, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Bonifacio trip planner.
Melbourne, Australia to Bonifacio is an approximately 28.5-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Australian Eastern Standard Time to Central European Standard Time is minus 9 hours. Traveling from Melbourne in September, expect Bonifacio to be somewhat warmer, temps between 32°C and 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Calvi.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 14 — 17:
Highlights from your trip
Calvi, Corsica — 3 nights
Calvi is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.It is the seat of the Canton of Calvi, which contains Calvi and one other commune, Lumio. Visit Citadelle de Calvi and Village abandonné d'Occi for their historical value. Take a break from the city and head to Scuba & Snorkeling and Off-Road Tours. Go for a jaunt from Calvi to Galeria to see Vallée du Fango about 52 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: make a trip to Chapelle de Notre Dame de la Serra, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Catedral St. Jean Baptiste, and identify plant and animal life at Nature Reserve of Scandola.
To find more things to do, traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, use the Calvi trip planner.
You can drive from Bonifacio to Calvi in 4 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. In September, daily temperatures in Calvi can reach 30°C, while at night they dip to 19°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
more
To find more things to do, traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, use the Calvi trip planner.
You can drive from Bonifacio to Calvi in 4 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. In September, daily temperatures in Calvi can reach 30°C, while at night they dip to 19°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 17 — 20:
Highlights from your trip
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc — 4 nights
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Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is a capital of prehistoric and cultural tourism. Get in touch with nature at Gorges de l'Ardeche and Grand Site de l'Aven d'Orgnac. Museum-lovers will get to explore Chateau de Grignan and Centre d'Art Espace Chabrillan. Change things up with these side-trips from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc: Maison Jean Ferrat (in Antraigues-sur-Volane), La Cite du Chocolat Valrhona (in Tain-l'Hermitage) and Musee du Nougat Fabrique Arnaud Soubeyran (in Montelimar). There's much more to do: take in breathtaking views at Base Canyon de la Besorgues, Head underground at Grotte de la Cocalière, take some stellar pictures from Grotte de la Salamandre, and take in the dramatic natural features at Le Pont d'Arc.
To find where to stay, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Vallon-Pont-d'Arc trip maker.
Getting from Calvi to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc by combination of flight, bus, and train takes about 6.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of flight, train, and bus; or do a combination of car and ferry. In September, daily temperatures in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc can reach 30°C, while at night they dip to 16°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Sun) early enough to drive to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle.
more
To find where to stay, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Vallon-Pont-d'Arc trip maker.
Getting from Calvi to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc by combination of flight, bus, and train takes about 6.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of flight, train, and bus; or do a combination of car and ferry. In September, daily temperatures in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc can reach 30°C, while at night they dip to 16°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Sun) early enough to drive to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle.
Side Trips
Montelimar, Grand Site de l'Aven d'Orgnac, Chateau de Grignan, Grotte de la Salamandre, Grotte de la Cocalière
Find places to stay Sep 20 — 24:
Highlights from your trip
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle — 2 nights
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On the 25th (Mon), step into the grandiose world of Chateau de Castelnaud, step into the grandiose world of Chateau de Beynac, and then stroll around Les Jardins de Marqueyssac. On the next day, step into the grandiose world of Chateau des Milandes, then take in the dramatic natural features at Les Grottes de Maxange, then explore the historical opulence of Chateau de Bonaguil, and finally contemplate the long history of Château de Biron.
To see traveler tips, where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, read Castelnaud-la-Chapelle driving holiday site.
Getting from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle by car takes about 6 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus, train, and taxi; or do a combination of taxi and train. Traveling from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc in September, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be little chillier in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, with lows of 12°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 26th (Tue) early enough to go by car to La Rochelle.
more
To see traveler tips, where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, read Castelnaud-la-Chapelle driving holiday site.
Getting from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle by car takes about 6 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus, train, and taxi; or do a combination of taxi and train. Traveling from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc in September, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be little chillier in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, with lows of 12°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 26th (Tue) early enough to go by car to La Rochelle.
Side Trips
Château de Biron, Les Grottes de Maxange, Chateau de Beynac, Chateau de Bonaguil, Les Jardins de Marqueyssac
Find places to stay Sep 24 — 26:
Highlights from your trip
La Rochelle — 5 nights
©
White City
Driving on the narrow streets can be difficult in La Rochelle so walking or biking will give you the best view of the pale stone buildings that give the Vieux Port, or old port, a distinctly Mediterranean quality.Get in touch with nature at Grottes du Regulus and Vieux Port. Discover out-of-the-way places like Phare des Baleines and Quartier de l'Ile de Penotte. You'll find plenty of places to visit near La Rochelle: Le Remblai (in Les Sables-d'Olonne), Le phare de chassiron (in Saint-Denis d'Oleron) and Saint-Pierre-d'Oleron (Eglise Saint-Pierre & Le Port de la Cotiniere). And it doesn't end there: delve into the distant past at Amphitheatre de Saintes, see the interesting displays at Musees des Automates / Modeles Reduits, learn about all things military at Musee Maritime de La Rochelle, and get great views at Clocher Observatoire.
To find other places to visit, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the La Rochelle trip itinerary planning app.
You can drive from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle to La Rochelle in 4 hours. Other options are to do a combination of taxi and train; or do a combination of taxi, bus, and train. In September, daytime highs in La Rochelle are 26°C, while nighttime lows are 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Sun) early enough to drive to Saumur.
Side Trips
Les Sables-d'Olonne, Saint Martin de Re, Saint-Pierre-d'Oleron, Château de Talmont, Le phare de chassiron
Find places to stay Sep 26 — Oct 1:
Highlights from your trip
Saumur — 4 nights
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Pearl of Anjou
Saumur is a famous historic town known for its locally grown mushrooms and for their production of a number of regional wines and celebrated Combier liqueurs.Explore hidden gems such as Musee des Blindes and Cave Museum, Village Troglodytique de Rochemenier. Le Cadre Noir and Chateau de Brissac will appeal to museum buffs. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Saumur: Chateau de Villandry (in Villandry), Chateau du Rivau (in Lemere) and Chateau de Langeais (in Langeais). There's lots more to do: make a trip to Château de l'Islette, steep yourself in history at Chateau de Breze, explore the historical opulence of Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Fontevraud L'Abbaye Royale.
To find where to stay, traveler tips, photos, and tourist information, read our Saumur driving holiday app.
Getting from La Rochelle to Saumur by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or take a bus. Traveling from La Rochelle in October, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be slightly colder in Saumur, with lows of 10°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Thu) to allow time to drive to Bayeux.
Side Trips
Azay-le-Rideau, Cave Museum, Village Troglodytique de Rochemenier, Chateau de Villandry, Chateau de Brissac, Chateau du Rivau
Find places to stay Oct 1 — 5:
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.Do some cultural sightseeing at Pointe du Hoc and Airborne Museum. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Omaha Beach and Cimetiere Militaire Allemand de La Cambe. Step out of Bayeux to go to Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and see Musee du Debarquement Utah Beach, which is approximately 44 minutes away. There's still lots to do: see the interesting displays at Musee du debarquement, admire the landmark architecture of Cathedrale Notre-Dame, learn about all things military at Memorial de Caen, and browse the exhibits of Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie.
Make your Bayeux itinerary with Inspirock to find out what to see and where to go.
Drive from Saumur to Bayeux in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. In October, daily temperatures in Bayeux can reach 19°C, while at night they dip to 9°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Sun) early enough to go by car to Amiens.
Side Trips
Arromanches-les-Bains, Cimetiere Militaire Allemand de La Cambe, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Memorial de Caen
Find places to stay Oct 5 — 8:
Highlights from your trip
Amiens — 5 nights
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City of Canals
Lovers of literature will adore Amiens as the hometown of author Jules Verne, along with the Somme canal linked to the Canal du Nord that runs through the town to the English Channel.You'll discover tucked-away gems like Cathedrale Saint-Pierre and Musee Somme 1916. Appreciate the collections at La Coupole and Maison de Jules Verne. Get out of town with these interesting Amiens side-trips: Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial (in Beaumont-Hamel), Lochnagar Crater (in Ovillers-la-Boisselle) and Rouen (Room Escape Games, Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, &more). On the 12th (Thu), enjoy a perfect day by the water at Le Touquet Beach. And it doesn't end there: learn about all things military at Carriere Wellington, take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathedrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens, don't miss a visit to l'Hotel de Ville de Calais, and admire the natural beauty at Les Hortillonnages d'Amiens.
To see ratings, photos, where to stay, and more tourist information, use the Amiens trip website.
Getting from Bayeux to Amiens by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. In October in Amiens, expect temperatures between 18°C during the day and 9°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Reims.
Side Trips
Rouen, Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, Carriere Wellington, Cathedrale Saint-Pierre, La Coupole
Find places to stay Oct 8 — 13:
Highlights from your trip
Reims — 5 nights
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City of Kings
Reims is home to Champagne--the most celebrated and celebratory wine in the world.Verdun Memorial and Museum of the Surrender will appeal to museum buffs. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin and Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Laon. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Reims: Fort Douaumont (in Douaumont), Fort de Vaux (in Damloup) and Epernay (Avenue de Champagne & Moet et Chandon). Dedicate the 16th (Mon) to wine at some of the top wineries in the area. It doesn't end there: contemplate the long history of Basilique Saint-Remi and do a tasting at Champagne Taittinger.
To see ratings, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, read our Reims trip planner.
Traveling by car from Amiens to Reims takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a train. In October in Reims, expect temperatures between 20°C during the day and 9°C at night. On the 18th (Wed), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly back home.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Oct 13 — 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.
