At a glance

  • In Paris, divide your plans into museums, the Marais, the Latin Quarter, and Montmartre, using the Seine as a reference point for a smoother route.
  • Mont Saint-Michel is possible as a day trip, but the journey is long, so consider staying overnight in Normandy.
  • Nice and Èze make a good introduction to southern France, combining coastal views, old-town lanes, and nearby villages.
  • On a day when you change accommodations, count checkout, getting your bags to the station, and checking in at the next place as one travel segment. Schedule museums or palaces for which you’ve purchased tickets for a day when you’re staying in the same city, rather than right after a transfer, so you can account for train delays.

Day by day

Suggested itinerary

See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.

3 nights, 4 days · Paris only

Stay in Paris for 3 nights: see the Seine on arrival day, the Louvre and Tuileries on day 2, and the Marais and Île de la Cité on day 3. Set aside day 4 for departure.

6 nights, 7 days · 4 nights in Paris

Arrive on day 1, visit the Louvre on day 2, the Marais and Île de la Cité on day 3, and make a round trip to Versailles on day 4, returning to Paris to sleep. Don’t add another nearby destination to your Versailles day.

Days 5–7 · 2 nights in Nice

On day five, spend the daytime traveling by train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice Ville. On day six, choose either Nice’s Old Town or Èze Village up on the hill. Èze-sur-Mer, the coastal railway station, and the hilltop village are different places, so check the bus or connection you’ll need for your choice first. On day seven, depart from Nice Airport. If your round-trip flight is to and from Paris, choose only a destination near Paris instead of Nice.

History and context

Monarchy and revolution

Versailles and central Paris layer the history of absolute monarchy, civic revolution, and the republic.

A city of museums

The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Musée de l’Orangerie offer a progression from classical art to Impressionism and modern painting.

Pilgrimage and coast

Mont Saint-Michel is a signature Normandy destination, combining a medieval abbey with dramatic tides.

Places and meals

Louvre Museum

For a first visit, choose between ancient art, the Renaissance, and French painting instead of trying to see every gallery.

Google Maps
Musée d’Orsay

A former railway station makes a great setting for focusing on Impressionist painting.

Google Maps
Palace of Versailles

The palace and gardens together require at least half a day.

Google Maps
Mont Saint-Michel

Check the tide times and bus connections to plan your time there reliably.

Google Maps

Food and restaurants

  • In Paris, mix bakeries, brasseries, bistros, and crêperies to balance food costs and atmosphere.
  • In southern France, add seafood, olives, rosé, and market ingredients to your itinerary to get a feel for the region.
  • Popular restaurants may have long waits, so keep a lunch reservation option and a market-style alternative in mind.

How to fit it in

For a first trip, it’s simplest to keep 4 days in Paris and extend your stay to just one of Versailles, Mont Saint-Michel, or southern France.

Reality check

Transport

The 6-night, 7-day example includes 4 nights in Paris and 2 in Nice, arriving in Paris and departing from Nice. A direct daytime Paris–Nice train takes about 6 hours; allow 7–8 hours for the travel day with station and lodging access. Use the SNCF Connect booking screen for actual train times and transfers. Don’t buy timed museum tickets for your arrival day. Mont Saint-Michel is in a different direction from Nice, so it isn’t included in this example.

Time

Set aside at least half a day for a large museum such as the Louvre. On days you visit Versailles or another nearby destination, it’s best to leave your Paris schedule open.

Cost

For a seven-day, six-night budget, allow for four nights in a Paris room and two in a Nice room, one intercity train trip, local transportation, one or two paid museum visits, and seven days of food. If two people share a room, budgeting €80 per person per night for lodging and €35 per day for food comes to €480 for lodging + €245 for food = €725, with transportation and admission tickets extra. These are personal budget assumptions, not market rates or prices on offer. If a high-season lodging quote in Nice exceeds your budget, shorten the trip beyond Paris.

Safety

Around the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre, walk past anyone soliciting signatures or trying to put a bracelet on you. On the metro, don’t hold your phone near the doors.

If plans change

Paris museum tickets sold out

If the Louvre is sold out, visit the permanent collection at the Carnavalet Museum in Paris or take a walk through the Tuileries and Marais. Don’t add another city.

If transport to southern France doesn’t work out

Check your onward or return travel before booking lodging in Nice. If connections are too long or exceed your budget, stay in Paris and choose one nearby destination besides Versailles for a separate day.

Small tip

Museums have different Monday and Tuesday closing days. Fix your museum visit dates first, then add nearby trips around them.

Final check before departure

  • Check confirmed intercity services and change conditions with SNCF.
  • Group overnight stays outside Paris along the rail route.
  • Mark any Sundays or Mondays when multiple places on your itinerary are closed.

The first thing to check is an alternative in case of a nationwide rail strike. Calculate the day’s opening hours and reservation availability alongside the cost of replacement transport and lodging. Don’t attempt a long trip to a distant city. Check the refund and change policies for canceled transport and your next city’s lodging, then ask your current accommodation whether you can extend your stay.

Information checked: 2026-10-03