How to Plan Your First Trip to France in 7 Clear Steps

Step 1: Pick Paris + 1 or 2 Contrasting Regions

With 7 to 10 days, resist trying to circle the entire Hexagon. Pair 4 nights in Paris with either Provence & the Côte d'Azur (via the 2h40–5h45 TGV South), Lyon & Annecy (1h55 TGV to France's food capital + alpine lake), Alsace's Strasbourg & Colmar (1h46 TGV East), or Normandy & the Loire Valley.

Step 2: Book Open-Jaw Flights & Early-Bird TGVs

Fly into Paris CDG and out of Nice (NCE) or Lyon (LYS) to save a full backtracking day. Set a calendar alert 4 months out when SNCF TGV InOui and Ouigo tickets open at €19–€39, then lock in timed entries for the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Musée d'Orsay.