Planning a Trip to France: The Best 1-Week Itinerary

Last Updated on December 4, 2021 by Nina Ahmedow

Are you thinking of planning a trip to France? This European country is one of my favorites, and because I’ve been there quite a few times people usually ask me questions about what to see and do there.

And although I haven’t been to France in way too long, I thought it was about time I wrote a post about how to plan a trip to France. But since all the posts about planning a trip to France talk about the same things, I want to add a slightly different perspective.

Why You Should Plan a Trip to France

Well, France is the most-visited country in the world so you probably don’t need a reason to plan a trip to France. Or maybe that’s something that turns you off planning a trip to France? You may want something a little more different.

Well, you’re in luck. Because France is a lot more than what you read in books or see in movies.

Even if you’re only starting to plan a trip to France you probably have an idea of what to expect. Cobblestone alleys in picturesque villages, cute cafés with waitresses like Amélie Poulain, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.

You’ve seen it all in some of your favorite movies. So why should you plan a trip to France at all?

Because there’s more to France than wine, fashion, and attractive people.

France is more than its pretty façade and well worth exploring more in-depth. To me, there are three major things you will get out of a trip to France. You will:

• experience France’s multiculturalism,
• visit one of the most geographically diverse countries in Europe, and
• learn about the country’s history.

The first point is what I loved about France from the first time I went there. As someone from a medium-sized German town who went to a school with a very homogenous student body, I have always belonged to a small minority of multi-ethnic people. France was the first really diverse place that I saw where I learned that there are better ways to deal with multiculturalism than what I was used to in Germany.

But even if that’s not important to you I think it’s an aspect that challenges traditional images of France. And when you plan a trip to France you should know that there are all sorts of different people there.

Some Important Facts About France

Before you plan a trip to France you should know a few things:

• You are probably thinking about visiting “Metropolitan France” which is the part of France that is in Europe. However, France still has some overseas regions and territories in South America, the Caribbean, and the Indian, Pacific, Southern, and Atlantic oceans.
• Along with Spain, Portugal, the Dutch Republic, and Britain, France was one of the major colonizer states since the 16th century. Most colonies became independent by the 1960s. Today’s overseas regions and territories have voted to remain part of France.
• The French Revolution was the beginning of one of the first republics in modern history.
• France is a leading member state of the European Union, and its currency is the Euro.

• France is famous for its cheese. But if you’re a vegan planning a trip to France don’t worry! The big French cities also have options for vegan cheese.
• For decades, France has been the most popular tourist destination in the world. More than 80 million visitors make a trip to France every year. And there is something to see for all of them.
• One of the most famous French women of all time is Marie Curie. She was born in Warsaw, Poland as Maria Skłodowska and only moved to France at the age of 24. Even as a naturalized French citizen, she didn’t lose touch with her Polish identity.
• The French Revolution made it illegal for the French state to collect data on its citizens’ ethnicity. That’s why numbers on the ethnic makeup of France are mere estimates. The only thing the government has exact numbers on are the percentages of French-born and foreign-born people among the population. But according to estimates, at least 40% of the French population have some immigrant ancestry. Sadly, this is not to say that there isn’t racism in France. Lily from Imperfect Idealist has a great post on what it’s like to be Asian in France.

Planning a Trip to France

Flights to France

Paris has two major international airports, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly. If you are flying to France from outside of Europe you will probably land at CDG airport, but for European and domestic flights Orly is also quite popular.

But there are various other international airports in France. Make sure to check for direct flights from your nearest airport. There are quite a few different options, especially if you are flying in from Montreal.

If you plan a trip to France from Europe there are also excellent train connections from the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany.

Do You Need a Visa for Your Trip to France?

France is a member of the Schengen region. As such, if you have a valid visa for any Schengen country it’s also valid for France.

Citizens of most of the countries in the Americas do not need a visa to enter the Schengen region for 90 days.

Nationals of most African and Asian countries need a visa. To get your visa, your passport has to have a validity of at least three months after you plan to leave the Schengen area.

Please do the necessary research about the Schengen Visa when you plan a trip to France. Note that France’s overseas territories and regions are not part of the Schengen region.

The Ultimate One-Week Itinerary for Your Trip to France

France has a lot to offer to visitors. Of course, one week can never be enough to see an entire country. But when planning a trip to France, one week is going to give you a good introduction to this West European nation. In this itinerary, I suggest you visit the following places: Paris, Brittany, and the French Riviera. Here’s what I suggest you see and do in each region, but there’s a lot more you can add or stuff you can leave out. When you plan a trip to France you should definitely focus on your personal interests.

What to See and Do in Paris – 3 Days

Paris is, of course, the capital of France and its largest city. There are tons of things to do, and you will not be able to do all of them. But my suggestion is to see and do the following things in Paris:

Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile

Napoleon commissioned this famous monument to honor his own achievements as Emperor of France. It features battle scenes and the famous Départ des volontaires de 1792, commonly known as La Marseillaise (also the name of the French national anthem).

Avenue des Champs-Elysées

I wouldn’t dream of sending you to Paris without walking one of the most famous avenues in the world. While I am personally not a fan of this elegant shopping boulevard, you’re already there as it ends at the Arc de Triomphe. This is also where the biggest military parade in Europe takes place every year on Bastille Day, the 14^th of July.

Canal Saint-Martin

Canal Saint-Martin is the most famous of Parisian canals and has become the perfect place for a weekend stroll when much of it becomes a pedestrian-only zone. You can also take a sunset cruise for a romantic evening typically associated with Paris. Despite its popularity, the Canal Saint-Martin is a lovely place to experience that has inspired many famous French artists.

Palais-Royal

This former royal palace played an important role in French history as the place where Camille Desmoulins called on the crowds to take up arms. Two days later these riots would lead to the storming of the Bastille.

Barbès

When planning a trip to France you should absolutely include things that are not mentioned on every blog post. The reason that Paris is my favorite city in the world is that it’s so multicultural. And Barbès with its popular market frequented by West and North African residents is a prime example of that.

Belleville

The neighborhood where legendary singer Édith Piaf grew up is another one of my favorites in Paris. As a working-class neighborhood, Belleville played an important role in the Paris Commune which had some of its most fervent supporters here. Large-scale immigration turned Belleville into one of the city’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods. And if you’re a street art enthusiast you can’t miss this part of the city.

Now, if you plan a trip to France with children, you might also want to consider a trip to Disneyland Paris.

What to See and Do in Brittany – 2 Days

Brittany is France’s only Celtic region and home to some of the world’s oldest architecture. If you want to get to know a completely different side of France I highly recommend spending a few days in this region. While US citizens, in particular, favor Normandy for historical reasons, I believe Brittany is a must when planning a trip to France.

Menhirs and Dolmens

Menhirs (what the cartoon character Obélix carries) and dolmens are ancient standing stones and table stones that were used as funeral and worship sites. The gulf of Morbihan is an excellent place to see them, and the cities of Carnac and Vannes even have museums that explain more about these stone structures.

Atlantic Coast

I absolutely loved the rough Atlantic coast in Brittany! Sure, I’m from the north of Germany, and stormy, rainy weather somehow makes me feel at home. But the gorgeous coastline made it so much more impressive here. With the changing weather, you never know what you’re going to see here. And I’m sure if you’re a surfer planning a trip to France you’ll have the most amazing time in the region. Brittany is one of France’s major surfing destinations.

La Jument Lighthouse

Now, this is a little more particular but could well be worth a trip if you want to see something absolutely spectacular. The lighthouse of La Jument stands on a rock 2km from Ouessant island which is itself located 20km off the coast of Brittany. You will need to take a boat to the island, but the fact that there are five lighthouses surrounding the island is pretty impressive.

What to See and Do on the French Riviera – 2 Days

I really want this one-week itinerary for France to be as interesting as possible so let’s head to the French Riviera next. And as you can imagine from the rest of the post, I’m not talking about the flashy parties and yachts.

Nice and Cannes

As a port city, Nice has always been quite diverse, and many street signs are bilingual (French and Occitan). You can also take a day trip to another country, Monaco, from Nice. And Cannes is not only glitz and glamor; you don’t have to be rich to enjoy a stroll through the Old Town. But, of course, you could plan a trip to France that coincides with the annual film festival if you wanted to!

Vence

Take a walk through the narrow alleys of the old town of Vence. There’s a reason creatives such as Chagall, Matisse, and D. H. Lawrence all loved Vence. This small town in the hills is absolutely gorgeous and well worth a day trip from Nice. And although the town is popular with tourists it has kept its unspoiled and untouched character.

Èze

Travel guides often separate Èze into the village and the seaside resort. The hike up to the village is extremely rewarding because you get incredible views of the coast. Once you’re there you must walk through the medieval village. But there’s also a gorgeous garden, the Jardin Exotique, from where you have splendid views again.

Suggestions for Where to Stay in France

Planning a trip to France can be frustrating when you see the prices for accommodation, but there are some tricks I’ll share with you.

• Paris has plenty of hotels, but finding one that is decently priced, well-located, and clean can be difficult. Even before the days of Airbnb, I was a big proponent of renting an apartment when visiting Paris. It also makes you feel more like you experience the real Parisian life.

• I would suggest you do the same in Brittany. Keep in mind that an apartment with a kitchen gives you the advantage of self-catering. And with France not being a cheap country, cooking your own meals from time to time can save you quite a bit of money. Money that you can spend on things like transportation.

• I think Nice is the perfect city to splurge on a hotel. Since you’re going to do day trips from here you want to stay close enough to the train station or a bus stop.

Suggestions for Vegans Traveling to France

France isn’t the worst country for vegans, but planning a trip to France as a vegan does require some research. In Paris, Nice, Cannes, Antibes, and even Menton you will find vegan eateries. Check out this vegan guide to Paris that is sure to make your mouth water! While you may be better off self-catering in Brittany, the town of Concarneau has a vegan restaurant you can visit as part of a day trip. For day trips to Èze and Vence on the French Riviera, pack your own lunch.

Moving Between Destinations

I suggest taking the high-speed train from Paris to Brittany and then flying from Rennes to Nice which can be as cheap as €32. To get around in Brittany, the regional trains are an easy and fast option. Public transport on the French Riviera is surprisingly cheap (€2 for a bus ticket, €6 for the train) and can take you to many of Nice’s surrounding villages and towns.

Plan a Trip to France and See a Different Side of the Country

Of course, with this itinerary, you can only scratch the surface of France. But I wanted to mention some parts of France (or things to see in Paris) that are not on every France itinerary online.

France may be the most popular tourist destination in the world. But that doesn’t mean that you only have to do the super touristy things everyone does.

I love combining some of the main attractions and some experiences that delve deeper.

So while there are tons of things you could potentially see in a week in France, I think this itinerary provides an interesting introduction and a good starting point for planning a trip to France. You get to see the capital Paris (with its popular landmarks but also the places where everyday life happens), the rough beauty of Brittany, as well as the French Riviera beyond the glitz and glamor.

Have you been to France yet? What are your tips for planning a trip to France? Let me know in the comments!