This food & wine itinerary reshuffles the schedule around food & wine activities — local cuisine, wine tastings, and food tours. A moderate mix of walking and active experiences, with a mix of self-guided and guided activities. Includes 12 must-see landmarks across Paris and Nice and Lyon.
Highlights: Eiffel Tower, Paris, Louvre Museum, Paris, Palace of Versailles Day Trip from Paris, Promenade des Anglais & Vieux Nice, Monaco & Monte Carlo Day Trip from Nice
This 21-day France itinerary is built around food and drink experiences — 24 activities focus on local cuisine, markets, cooking classes, and tastings across Paris, Nice, and Lyon.
Your Route — ordered to minimize backtracking
39+ activities scored and ranked · route optimized across 3 cities
Day-by-Day Schedule — heavy and light days alternate so you don’t burn out
Paris
Paris
Taste artisan cheese, wine, and pastries in Paris's trendiest quarter with a local guide
$92 Verified Mar 2026 Best spring-fall; market open Tue-Sun mornings 📍 Map
Walk Place des Vosges, the Marché des Enfants Rouges, and the Jewish Quarter falafel strip in one half-day
Year-round; Marché des Enfants Rouges open Tue-Sun; Musée Picasso closed Mondays; many galleries closed MonLe Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Eat 100% gluten-free French pastries, eclairs, and croissants at Paris's first dedicated celiac patisserie
$18 Year-round; Saint-Honoré location Tue-Sat; verify current hours via Instagram 📍 MapBrunch or lunch at NoGlu, a stylish 100% gluten-free restaurant and grocery near the Palais Royal
$24 Year-round; Grenelle location open daily; hours vary by branch 📍 MapLe Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Lunch at Le Potager du Marais, a beloved plant-based bistro serving vegan French classics since 2004
$18 Year-round; check current hours — many Paris bistros close Sunday evenings and Mondays[CLOSED 2025] Gentle Gourmet — Paris's acclaimed vegan fine-dining tasting menu restaurant — permanently closed in 2025
$75 PERMANENTLY CLOSED as of 2025 — verify before including in itineraryLe Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Brunch at Biosphère Café, a certified organic, 100% gluten-free and plant-based café near Parc Monceau (8th arr.)
$26 Year-round; dinner Saturdays, brunch Sundays; lunch Mon-Fri 📍 MapStop at Cloud Cakes for Instagram-worthy 100% vegan pastries and cakes in the Marais
$10 Year-round; cakes often sell out by mid-afternoon — visit in the morningLe Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Learn to taste and decode French wine in an atmospheric underground cellar with cheese pairings
$93 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round; ideal for rainy days
Tour Moët & Chandon cellars, sip Champagne in Épernay vineyards, and visit Reims cathedral
$217 Verified Mar 2026 Harvest season in September is especially atmospheric Book this tour →Le Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Master the laminated dough technique for authentic croissants and pain au chocolat with a pastry chef
$132 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round morning classes Book this tour →Float past the illuminated Eiffel Tower and restored Notre-Dame on an evening Seine dinner cruise
$98 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round; outdoor deck seats best in summer Book this tour →Le Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Ride the elevator to the summit of the world's most visited monument for 360° views over Paris
$40 Verified Mar 2026 Open year-round; timed entry required — book online weeks ahead in peak season (Apr-Sep) 📍 MapTaste croissants, aged cheese, éclairs, and wine across Montmartre's best artisan stops
$128 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round; morning tours best for fresh pastries Book this tour →Le Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Walk past the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory at the world's most visited museum
$35 Verified Mar 2026 Shorter queues Oct-Mar; closed Tuesdays; book timed entry online in advance 📍 MapPipe, fill, and assemble French macarons using the Italian meringue method with a pastry chef
$120 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round; great rainy-day activity Book this tour →Le Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Take the RER C to Versailles for the Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments, and Le Nôtre's vast formal gardens
$38 Verified Mar 2026 Garden fountain shows Apr-Oct weekends; pre-booking strongly recommended Apr-Sep; closed MondaysShop at a Paris market then cook Coq au Vin or Boeuf Bourguignon with an expert chef
$229 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round; menu changes with market seasons Book this tour →Le Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Browse Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas in Paris's finest Impressionist museum, a converted railway station
$17 Verified Mar 2026 Closed Mondays; Thursday evenings open until 9:45 pm with reduced €12 admission after 6 pmFriday night Shabbat dinner with the local Chabad community — open to all Jewish travelers and curious visitors
Every Friday year-round. Contact Chabad in advance via chabad.org 📍 MapLe Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Walk Paris's intellectual heart: bookshops, Sainte-Chapelle's stained glass, and the Luxembourg Gardens
$17 Verified Mar 2026 Gardens best spring to autumn; Sainte-Chapelle open year-round daily
Float past the Eiffel Tower, restored Notre-Dame, and the Louvre on a 1-hour Seine cruise
$17 Verified Mar 2026 Best spring-summer 📍 MapLe Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Ride the Eiffel Tower elevator then browse Rue Cler market and Rodin Museum in the 7th
$28 Verified Mar 2026 Book Eiffel Tower tickets weeks ahead in peak season; Rodin Museum closed Mondays
Walk through the Louvre in 3 hours, hitting Mona Lisa, Tuileries, and Musée de l'Orangerie
$35 Verified Mar 2026 Shorter queues Oct-Mar; closed TuesdaysLe Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Spend a full day inside the Louvre to cover its 9 wings and 35,000 artworks at a relaxed pace
$35 Verified Mar 2026 Closed Tuesdays; open late on Wednesdays and FridaysLe Marais / Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter
Nice
NiceTaste socca, pissaladière, and panisse at nine stops through Vieux Nice's specialist eateries
$86 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round; morning tours best for market freshness at Cours SaleyaDrive into Provence for a full day of tastings at three wineries, local lunch, and winemaking history
$199 Verified Mar 2026 Harvest season September-October is most atmospheric Book this tour →Promenade des Anglais / Old Nice / Port
Cycle Provençal hills on an electric bike to a family winery for tastings and a picnic lunch
$90 Verified Mar 2026 Spring and autumn most pleasant; grape harvest in September Book this tour →Hit four bars with a complimentary shot at each, then get free nightclub entry at the Riviera's best spots
$23 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round; busiest in summer season Book this tour →Promenade des Anglais / Old Nice / Port
Walk the 7 km Riviera promenade then dive into Vieux Nice's Baroque lanes and Cours Saleya market
Best May-Jun and Sep; avoid August crowds; Cours Saleya flower/food market Tue-Sun mornings; Mon is antiques/brocante day 📍 Map
Take the 25-minute train to Monaco for the Prince's Palace, Monte Carlo Casino, and a yacht-filled harbour walk
$5 Verified Mar 2026 Best spring/autumn; avoid Monaco Grand Prix weekend in late May (2026: May 21-24); Prince's Palace guard change daily at 11:55 am 📍 MapPromenade des Anglais / Old Nice / Port
Spend a day on the pebble beaches of Nice and the Côte d'Azur — free public beaches and private beach clubs
Swimming best June-September; beach clubs close OctFriday night Shabbat dinner with the local Chabad community — open to all Jewish travelers and curious visitors
Every Friday year-round. Contact Chabad in advance via chabad.org 📍 MapPromenade des Anglais / Old Nice / Port
Lyon
Lyon
Browse Lyon's legendary indoor food market with 60+ vendors, then lunch at a traditional Lyonnais bouchon
Open Tue-Sun 7am-10:30pm; food stall activity peaks 8am-1pm; bouchon reservations recommendedVisit Beaujolais wineries for tastings and drive through the best-preserved medieval village in France
$122 Verified Mar 2026 Beaujolais Nouveau released third Thursday in November — a festive time to visit Book this tour →Presqu'île / Vieux Lyon / Croix-Rousse
Walk Lyon's UNESCO-listed Renaissance district and duck through the famous traboules — hidden silk-merchant passageways
Year-round; Fête des Lumières light festival in December transforms the old town 📍 MapCycle through Vieux Lyon, the Presqu'île, and La Croix-Rousse with a local guide and regional tastings along the way
$80 Verified Mar 2026 Best spring-autumn; also runs in dry winter weather Book this tour →Presqu'île / Vieux Lyon / Croix-Rousse
Walk Vieux Lyon's UNESCO streets in 3 hours: traboules, Fourvière basilica, and the Cathedral of Saint-Jean
Year-round; Fête des Lumières light festival in DecemberStroll the peninsula between two rivers: Place Bellecour, the Opera, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts
Year-round; ice rink on Place Bellecour in December; Musée des Beaux-Arts closed TuesdaysPresqu'île / Vieux Lyon / Croix-Rousse
Check out of your hotel, grab a final breakfast, and head to the airport. Safe travels from Lyon!
Where You’ll Stay
Estimated total: €2,096–€3,144
Trip Budget Estimate
Estimates based on listed activity prices and hotel rates. Actual costs vary by season, availability, and personal spending.
Typical range for France
$1,890 – $10,500 per person for 21 days
Similar Destinations
Similar vibes, fewer crowds — destinations our algorithm rates as close matches to France.
🧳 Practical Info for France
- Visa
- Schengen Area — visa-free for up to 90 days for US, UK, CA, AU citizens. EU/EEA nationals have freedom of movement.
- Tipping
- Service charge included by law (service compris). Round up the bill or leave 1–2€ for good service.
- Currency
- Euro (€ EUR). Cards accepted almost everywhere; some markets and small vendors prefer cash.
- Power
- 230V, Type C/E plugs. US/CA travelers need a plug adapter.
- Connectivity
- SIM cards at airport shops (Orange, SFR, Free Mobile). Good 4G/5G coverage nationwide.
- Emergency
- 112 (general emergency), 15 (medical/SAMU), 17 (police)
🚄 Getting Around France
TGV high-speed trains via SNCF Connect link Paris to Lyon (2h), Marseille (3.5h), and Bordeaux (2h). Book early for best fares.
TER regional trains cover shorter routes without reservation. Buy at the station.
Car rental recommended for wine country, Provence, and the Loire Valley where trains are infrequent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 5 days enough for France?
5 days works for Paris (3 days) plus one region — Normandy, Loire Valley, or Provence. For the French Riviera and wine country, plan 7-10 days.
What is the best way to travel around France?
TGV high-speed trains connect major cities in 1-3 hours. Book on SNCF Connect for best prices. Renting a car is better for wine country and rural Provence.
What is the best time to visit France?
May-June and September are ideal — warm weather, fewer crowds than July-August. Lavender blooms in Provence peak late June to early August.
How much does 5 days in France cost?
Budget: $90-120/day. Mid-range: $200-350/day. Luxury: $500+/day. Paris is 30-40% more expensive than the rest of France.
Do I tip in France?
Service is included in the bill (service compris). Rounding up by a euro or two for good service is appreciated but not expected.
