I often harp on about how much bigger France actually is than how it looks on the map. Perhaps to the extent that you might feel annoyed, even spammed. I’m sorry for that.
I’m also not sorry: This simple fact is at the core of many of my top recommendations, never mind the reality of experiencing France as a traveler.
To put a finer point on this, it is possible to spend one week in France (though probably not any less than that), and leave feeling fulfilled. The key is to be realistic about how much you can (or, rather, can’t) see and do with this amount of time, and not to bite off more than you can chew.
Is a Week in France Enough?
I’ll be perfectly frank with you: A week in France is not enough to cover a significant amount of ground. In addition to needing to curtail the number of destinations you visit pretty severely, you will only be able to explore each place superficially. You should therefore think as your week-long trip to France as an introduction or an appetizer, at least assuming that you haven’t yet done a comprehensive journey around the country.
And if you already have? Well, then you can use a follow-up week in France to dive deep into certain regions of France. For example, some people will visit mainland France for 2-3 weeks, and then come back in the future in order to explore Corsica for a week. Likewise, a week is the perfect amount of time to go off the beaten path in regions ranging from Provence (which is relatively mainstream) to Brittany or Normandy (which tend to be slightly less crowded, even at peak times).
How to Structure Your Week in France
Start in Paris
You’ll almost certainly be landing at CDG airport, so why not begin your trip in Paris? This kills two birds with stones, allowing you to tackle your jet lag with a day (or two) of fast-paced sightseeing, and to tick iconic sites like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral off your bucket list. Plus, depending upon how long you stay here, you can day trip to Versailles or into the Loire Valley.
(But don’t stay long)
Of course, you really shouldn’t hang around in Paris for more than a day or two, unless you want it to eat up your one week France itinerary. Rather, plan on heading out on the morning of Day 3 at the latest, which will give you four more full days to play with. If you really think you’ll end up wanting more of the capital, you can simply arrange to stay here the night before you fly home.
Stick to one direction
As far as where to go from Paris is concerned, I suggest pointing in one direction. If you go west of southwest, you can ride TGV trains from Gare Montparnasse in the directions of Brittany, Bordeaux and the French Basque Country. Prefer heading southeastward via Gare de Lyon? If you don’t get off the train in Lyon, you can continue to Avignon, Marseille or even all the way to Nice.
(But necessarily one destination)
Don’t be too disappointed by the fact that you need to choose a direction, however. In terms of a shorter France itinerary, 7 days is plenty of time to do some exploring once you get to your non-Paris destination. Once in Bordeaux, you can continue to Biarritz or Bayonne, or use the city as a base to tour wineries in Saint-Émilion or Margaux. Lyon, meanwhile, is as good a base for day trips to Burgundy and the French Alps as it is an appetizer from Provence and the Côte d’Azur.
Move quickly—but with intention
I’ve never been a huge fan of the “slow travel” trend, even if I understand its appeal. The reality, of course, is that a week-long trip to France simply isn’t conducive to this travel style, even if you’re partial to it. At the same time, you don’t necessarily need to run around France like a chicken with your head cut off. You do need to have a clear plan, however, and to stick to it as strictly as you can.
Longer Trips to France
If reading about possibilities for a 1 week France itinerary has you thinking that you might have more time after all, not to worry. I’ve got plenty of recommendations for longer trips to France. The most common amount of time to spend in France is two weeks, which allows you not only to take your time in Paris, but to explore the areas around Bordeaux or Lyon (but probably not both). You’ll definitely be able to visit the Côte d’Azur; you may even be able to see Provence.
Want to spend even longer in France? Well, this site obviously provides a wealth of information that will allow you to take a trip of any length and plan it out yourself. Want more of a white glove touch? Consider hiring me to plan your trip to France. When you do, I’ll leverage my decades of experience to provide you with personalized daily recommendations for activities, meals and accommodation, plus detailed transportation advice throughout.
Other FAQ About Spending a Week in France
What to do with 7 days in France?
With seven days in France, you can touch down (and beat your jet lag) in Paris, before moving onto other destinations. One common way to enjoy a week in France is to take a TGV from Paris to Lyon and then, after a few days in and around that city, continue to Avignon, Marseille or Nice, in order to enjoy Provence and/or the Côte d’Azur.
Is $1,000 enough for a week in France?
Not including the cost of flights from your home country, it is theoretically possible for a single person to spend a week in France for $1,000—that breaks down to about $140 or €120 per day. However, this will require staying in simple accommodation, limiting meals out and almost certainly using a rail pass.
How much does a week in France cost?
Traveling in France can cost you as little as €100 per person, per day (if you’re a budget backpacker) and has no real limit on the high end. In general, however, I suggest a starting point of around €200 per person, per day—so €1,400 for a week in France—if you want to stay in a quality hotel with two meals out per day.
The Bottom Line
The good news? It is possible to spend one week in France and see more than just Paris. The bad news? Some travelers use this reality to try and see way more in a week than is actually possible; they leave not only physically exhausted, but having failed to achieve their core travel goals in a fundamental way. The key is being realistic: Unless you neglect the capital entirely, a week allows you to visit just 1-2 other cities or regions at most, and almost certainly limits you to cursory explorations of everywhere you go. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course, particularly if you plan to return to France in the future. Or if you hire me to plan your France itinerary, so that you don’t leave a single minute of it to chance.
