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Simply France
12 days
Prices from £3,000pp
UK - Paris - Bordeaux - Biarritz - Toulouse - Marseille - Lyon - Strasbourg - via Paris to UK
ABOUT THE TRIP
This 12-day trip takes you through seven unforgettable destinations the elegant boulevards of Paris, the wine-soaked charm of Bordeaux, the Atlantic glamour of Biarritz, the rose-pink streets of Toulouse, the sun-baked energy of Marseille, the culinary richness of Lyon, and the fairy-tale canals of Strasbourg, before looping back to Paris and home. This is a holiday built around slowing down and savouring France, one region at a time.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
1st class rail travel.
All accommodation, including breakfast.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
City taxes for your hotel stays
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 London - Paris
Jump onto the Eurostar to Paris and on arrival head straight for the Eiffel Tower, timing your visit for late afternoon so you can watch it sparkle against the sky from the gardens of the Trocadéro — one of the best free views in Paris. From there, wander down along the Seine, past bouquinistes and bridges, to Notre-Dame and the Île de la Cité, where centuries of history sit quietly in the heart of the modern city. On your final day, if time allows, choose between the Impressionist masterpieces of the Musée d'Orsay or a wander up through the cobbled lanes of Montmartre for one last Parisian view before heading back to your hotel.
Day 2 & 3 Bordeaux
Arrive in Bordeaux from Paris on day 2, and start at Place de la Bourse, where 18th-century elegance meets the Miroir d'Eau — the world's largest reflecting pool, which mists over into a dreamlike cloud every few minutes. Lose an afternoon wandering Rue Sainte-Catherine, one of Europe's longest pedestrian shopping streets, and pass beneath the medieval Grosse Cloche on your way through the old town. No visit is complete without La Cité du Vin, a striking, ship-like museum dedicated to the culture and craft of wine — fitting, given you're in the heart of French wine country. For a change of pace, hop on a short train to Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO-listed medieval village surrounded by vineyards, where you can wander cellar streets carved into limestone and taste the region's famous reds.
Day 4 Biarritz
A 2 hour train journey to Biarritz, allows you to explore the compact city for the remainder of the day. Spend an afternoon strolling the Grande Plage, the grand sweep of sand that turned this former fishing village into a 19th-century royal resort, before making your way out to the Rocher de la Vierge — a rocky outcrop linked by footbridge, with a small chapel and sweeping Atlantic views. The Musée de la Mer offers an engaging look at the region's maritime and surfing heritage, and the elegant Belle Époque architecture around the Hôtel du Palais is a reminder of the town's glamorous past. It's the kind of place where a slow coffee by the sea is as essential as any sight.
Days 5 & 6 Toulouse
Another 2 hour journey to Toulouse, known as "La Ville Rose" for its distinctive pink-brick buildings, Toulouse is a city built for wandering. Begin at the grand Place du Capitole, the social heart of the city, then make your way to the Basilique Saint-Sernin, the largest Romanesque church in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site before making your way to your hotel for the night.
Toulouse is also France's aerospace capital, home to Airbus, so a visit to Cité de l'Espace — part science museum, part space adventure — is a highlight for visitors of all ages. In the evenings, take a walk or a leisurely boat trip along the tree-lined Canal du Midi, another UNESCO listing and one of the great feats of 17th-century engineering.
Toulouse is also France's aerospace capital, home to Airbus, so a visit to Cité de l'Espace — part science museum, part space adventure — is a highlight for visitors of all ages. In the evenings, take a walk or a leisurely boat trip along the tree-lined Canal du Midi, another UNESCO listing and one of the great feats of 17th-century engineering.
Days 7 & 8 Marseille
You'll arrive in Marseille to enjoy the afternoon where it will be a great time to visit the bustling Vieux Port, still full of fishing boats and market stalls, before climbing up to Notre-Dame de la Garde, the hilltop basilica that watches over the city and rewards the climb with panoramic views across Marseille and the Mediterranean.
Marseille is France's oldest city and also one of it's most vibrant.
On day 8 we suggest to lose yourself in Le Panier, the oldest quarter in the city, all narrow lanes, street art and hidden squares, and spend time at the striking MuCEM, a modern museum of Mediterranean civilisation connected to a historic fort by a dramatic footbridge. Save time, too, for the Calanques, the dramatic limestone fjords just outside the city or a boat trip to the postcard-perfect harbour town of Cassis.
Marseille is France's oldest city and also one of it's most vibrant.
On day 8 we suggest to lose yourself in Le Panier, the oldest quarter in the city, all narrow lanes, street art and hidden squares, and spend time at the striking MuCEM, a modern museum of Mediterranean civilisation connected to a historic fort by a dramatic footbridge. Save time, too, for the Calanques, the dramatic limestone fjords just outside the city or a boat trip to the postcard-perfect harbour town of Cassis.
Days 9 & 10 Lyon
Lyon, France's culinary capital is a city for savouring, quite literally. Wander the Renaissance streets of Vieux Lyon and duck into its famous traboules, the hidden passageways that once let silk workers move quickly (and discreetly) through the city — many are still open to explore today. Climb up to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, whose ornate towers watch over Lyon from above, for one of the finest views in France.
On day 10 the true highlight for many visitors is Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a legendary food hall where you can spend hours grazing your way through the region's finest cheese, charcuterie and pastries. This is a city that rewards a long, unhurried lunch. Round things off with a wander through the elegant Presqu'île district and its grand Place Bellecour.
On day 10 the true highlight for many visitors is Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a legendary food hall where you can spend hours grazing your way through the region's finest cheese, charcuterie and pastries. This is a city that rewards a long, unhurried lunch. Round things off with a wander through the elegant Presqu'île district and its grand Place Bellecour.
Day 11 Strasbourg
A quick hop from Lyon to Strasbourg gives you the day to explore this beautiful city. Strasbourg's cathedral dominates the skyline — climb its tower for sweeping views across the city and, on a clear day, to the Black Forest beyond. But it's La Petite France that steals the show: a fairy-tale district of half-timbered houses, canals and flower-lined bridges that feels like stepping into another century. Time your visit for early evening, when the buildings are lit and reflected in the water, for the most magical version of Strasbourg.
Day 12, Strasbourg to London via Paris.
If time allows for your connection, you could fit in a visit to the Musée d'Orsay or a walk through Montmartre, before catching the Eurostar back to London, arriving in the early evening.
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