Culture guide
Paris · France
France Travel Guide
The France guide: Paris, Provence, the Loire and the TGV arithmetic.
8 min read · 7 days · Updated September 12, 2026
- france
- travel guide
- Destination
- Paris, France
- Duration
- 7 days
- Best time
- Apr-Jun
- Style
- Culture · Food · History
- Daily budget
- 150 EUR
France is Paris plus everything Parisians flee to: Provence's lavender and markets, the Loire's châteaux, the Alps, the Riviera. Planning figures: Paris ~€150/day, the provinces ~€110–130. The TGV makes the whole country a day-trip network from the capital.
The classic route: Paris (4) → Provence (3) by TGV, or the Loire (2) by rental car.
What this guide covers
Paris & Provence
The capital and the south.
Day 1
Paris — islands & Louvre
The classic first day.
Day 2
Paris — Montmartre & Marais
The hills and the village.
Day 3
Paris — Versailles
The full-day excursion.
Day 4
Paris — museums
Orsay, Rodin, the passages.
Day 5
TGV to Avignon
The Papal Palace.
Day 6
The Luberon
Gordes, Roussillon, the markets.
Day 7
Aix & the calanques
Cézanne's town; the creeks.
Where to Go
Paris deserves its week (the museums, the neighborhoods). Provence is the south's essential — Avignon, the Luberon villages, Aix. The Loire's châteaux cluster drives well; Normandy's history and cheese run from Paris by train.
- Classic: Paris 4 → Provence 3.
- Châteaux: Paris 3 → Loire 2 → Bordeaux 2.
- Riviera: Paris 3 → Nice 3 → the calanques 2.
The TGV Arithmetic
Paris–Avignon in 2h40, Paris–Lyon in 2h, Paris–Bordeaux in 2h15. Book 2–3 months out for the €30–60 fares; walk-up triples them.
What to know before you go
Money
- Paris ~€150/day, the provinces ~€110–130.
- TGV fares: book 2–3 months out.
When
- May–June and September are the sweet months.
- August is hot and Paris-empty — good for the provinces.
Turn this guide into a trip
The trip planner opens pre-filled with Paris — adjust the dates and interests to fit your trip.
Plan around this destination
Related destinations
More guides
- Paris Travel Budget: The Day-by-Day Numbers for 2026What a Paris day really costs at three tiers — and the formule lunch, Métro carnet and picnic logic that keeps mid-range honest.Paris · 8 min read
- Paris 7 Day Itinerary: A Week in Paris ProperlyA Paris week: the core, Versailles, the second-tier museums, and the neighborhoods that turn visits into residency.Paris · 7 min read
- Best Time to Visit Paris: Seasons, Crowds and the August QuestionParis season by season: the sweet-spot windows, the December lights argument, and the truth about August — half the city closes, half the visitors don't notice.Paris · 6 min read
- Paris Food Guide: Bistros, Bakeries and the FormuleThe food curriculum: bakeries, the formule trick, bistros and the pâtisserie circuit.Paris · 5 min read
- How Many Days in Paris? First-Timer to Food-PilgrimTwo days covers Paris's greatest hits, four is the classic first visit — our recommended baseline — and five or six opens the door to Versailles and the food-pilgrim track. The pacing logic that ties them together.Paris · 9 min read
- Paris 2 Day Itinerary: The Tight WeekendThe 48-hour Paris that works: one museum, two neighborhoods, two booked dinners, and the river at night.Paris · 5 min read
Ready-made trips
Frequently asked questions
Paris only or Paris plus the south?
A week can be Paris alone; ten days adds Provence properly. The TGV makes both easy.
Is France expensive?
Paris is (€150/day); the provinces are kind (€110–130).
How many days for France?
A week for Paris; ten for Paris plus Provence; two weeks adds the Loire or the Riviera.