France 10-Day Itinerary: Complete Day-by-Day Plan

France 10-Day Itinerary 2026: Complete Day-by-Day Plan

A 10-day France itinerary covers Paris (4 days) + Loire Valley + Provence + French Riviera — the perfect first-time France trip combining history, food, landscapes, and Mediterranean glamour.

Quick Itinerary Summary

A 10-day France itinerary covers Paris (4 days) + Loire Valley + Provence + French Riviera — the perfect first-time France trip combining history, food, landscapes, and Mediterranean glamour.

10

Days

10

Day Plans

2026

Updated

France 10-Day Itinerary: Day-by-Day Plan

Day 1

Paris Arrival + Latin Quarter

Land at CDG, train to city, settle in Le Marais. Stroll Notre-Dame area + Île de la Cité + Latin Quarter cafes. Sunset at Eiffel Tower (best from Trocadéro).

Daily spend: €80-120/dayNote: Le Marais 4-star

Day 2

Louvre + Tuileries + Champs-Élysées

Louvre opens 9am — book skip-line ahead. Lunch Tuileries. Walk Champs-Élysées to Arc de Triomphe. Dinner Saint-Germain.

Daily spend: €100-150/dayNote: Walking 12+ km

Day 3

Montmartre + Sacré-Cœur + Musée d’Orsay

Sacré-Cœur sunrise. Montmartre artists’ square + Place du Tertre. Afternoon Musée d’Orsay (Impressionist heaven).

Daily spend: €90-130/dayNote: RER A

Day 4

Versailles Day Trip

RER C from Saint-Michel, 45 min. Skip-the-line ticket essential. Hall of Mirrors + gardens (rent bike). Return Paris evening.

Daily spend: €60-90/dayNote: €20 RER + €27 entry

Day 5

TGV to Loire Valley + Chambord

TGV Paris-Tours 1hr. Rent car, drive Chambord (Renaissance masterpiece). Stay Amboise château hotel.

Daily spend: €140-200/dayNote: TGV €40-80

Day 6

Chenonceau + Villandry + Wine

Morning Chenonceau (river-spanning château). Afternoon Villandry gardens. Vouvray winery tasting. Sunset Amboise.

Daily spend: €110-160/dayNote: Car rental needed

Day 7

TGV to Avignon (Provence)

Drop car Tours, TGV to Avignon 3.5hr. Pope’s Palace + Pont d’Avignon. Dinner Place de l’Horloge.

Daily spend: €120-180/dayNote: TGV €70-110

Day 8

Provence Drive: Gordes + Roussillon

Rent car. Lavender fields if June-July. Hilltop villages Gordes + Roussillon (ochre cliffs). Wine tasting Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Daily spend: €130-180/dayNote: Lavender peak July

Day 9

TGV Avignon to Nice

Drop car, TGV to Nice 3hr. Stroll Promenade des Anglais + Old Town. Sunset Castle Hill. Dinner Cours Saleya.

Daily spend: €110-160/dayNote: TGV €40-70

Day 10

Monaco Day Trip + Departure

Train Nice-Monaco 25 min. Monte Carlo Casino + Prince’s Palace + Cathedral. Return Nice, fly home or extend.

Daily spend: €90-140/dayNote: Train €4 OW

Budget Breakdown

Style | Daily | Total Trip Cost
Budget | €90/day | €900 total + €600 transit
Mid-Range | €150/day | €1,500 total + €700 transit
Luxury | €350/day | €3,500 total + €1,200 transit

Pro Tips for this itinerary:

Book Eiffel Tower + Louvre + Versailles 60+ days ahead — sell out daily

TGV bookings open 90 days ahead — prix.com prices best

Rent cars at TGV stations (Tours, Avignon) not airports

Lavender fields peak last 2 weeks of June + first 2 weeks of July

Provence villages closed Mondays + Sunday afternoons (Catholic tradition)

Tip 5-10% in restaurants if service excellent (service compris included)

Planning your France trip? See our France travel guide, visa requirements, trip cost, packing list, or the Ultimate Bucket List.

France 10-Day Itinerary FAQ

How much does 10 days in France cost?

Mid-range $1,800-3,500 USD per person including flights. Budget $1,200-1,800. Luxury $4,500-8,000+.

When is the best time for 10-day France trip?

May-June or September. Avoid August (peak crowds + locals on vacation, many shops closed). Lavender peak late June.

Should you rent a car in France?

Yes for Loire + Provence. No for Paris/Nice (use Metro/walking). Drop cars at TGV stations between regions.

Is 4 days enough for Paris?

Yes for highlights (Louvre, Versailles, Montmartre, Eiffel, Latin Quarter). Add 1-2 days for deeper neighborhoods (Le Marais, Saint-Germain).

Best route: Paris → Provence → Riviera or reverse?

Paris first (jet lag recovery in walkable city). End in Nice for direct flights home + relaxing finale.