One of the best ways to experience France’s charm is by car. Whether you’re looking for coastal drives, exploring medieval villages, or wandering through all the vineyards, French road trips offer all of that. To help you plan, we’ve rounded up our 7 favorite 10 day road trips in France. Each one is packed with stunning views, must-see stops, and plenty of local food. No matter which route you choose, you’ll get a taste of France’s best without needing to take weeks off work.
Epic French Road Trips in Under 10 Days
- Why Road Trips Are the Best Way to Visit France
- Bordeaux and Paris Road Trip
- Paris, Versailles and Loire Valley Road Trip
- Provence Road Trip
- French Riviera Road Trip
- Normandy Road Trip
- French Alps Road Trip
- French Pyrenees Road Trip
Why Road Trips Are the Best Way to Visit France
Road trips are hands down the best way to travel in France. You can stop whenever you want, visit places most tourists miss, and take in all the little villages along the way. We cover the main places to visit in these areas, but you’ll also come across plenty of villages as you go. We really encourage you to stop and explore some of them, because that’s what makes a road trip so special, all the hidden gems you find by accident.
Plus, you have the flexibility to change plans on the go, it’s often more cost-effective than flying, and you don’t have to deal with luggage fees or airport rules.
Bordeaux and Paris Road Trip
On this road trip, we’re heading to one of our favourite cities in France: Bordeaux. Plus, some nearby places we think you can’t miss. After this, we’ll make our way to Paris, and we’ve included an optional day trip to Versailles. Day 1 through day 4 we’ll stay in Bordeaux and the last half we’ll stay in Paris, as there is a ton to explore in both areas.
Day 1 & 2 – Visit Bordeaux France
Bordeaux’s old town is full of amazing landmarks to explore. Start with the Place de la Bourse, a beautiful square with stunning classical buildings and a reflecting pool called the Miroir d’Eau, where you can take great photos.
Visit Bordeaux’s Grand Théâtre, a gorgeous 18th-century opera house. Don’t miss Porte Cailhau, a 15th century gate that looks like a castle. Finally, the Basilica of Saint-Michel is a lovely Gothic church with a tall bell tower you can climb for a great view of the city.
While you’re here, we highly recommend having lunch or dinner at Michel’s. We try to eat here every time we visit Bordeaux. Our top suggestion is the french onion soup covered in puff pastry or the duck confit.
As you may know, Bordeaux is one of the world’s most famous wine regions. Bordeaux is known for producing top-quality red wines, especially blends made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It’s also home to the Cité du Vin, a museum dedicated to wine. You definitely need to come here if you want to learn about wine making and its history and enjoy some tastings.
Day 3 – Arcachon & Dune du Pilat
About an hour away, Arcachon is a charming seaside town known for oyster farming, beautiful beaches, and Belle Époque architecture. It’s a popular spot for seafood lovers and those looking to enjoy the French Atlantic coast. The main attraction here is the Dune du Pilat.
Europe’s largest sand dune, Dune du Pilat, is just a 15-minute drive from Arcachon’s centre. Paid parking is available about 5-10 minutes’ walk from the dunes, costing around €7 for the day (the first 30 minutes are free). It takes a little longer to climb up, enjoy the view, and head back down, but it’s totally worth it! You can also rent a bike and cycle to the dunes along the designated bike paths. And don’t forget to have some fun running down the dunes!
Day 4 – Saint Émilion
Just a 40-minute drive from Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion is a peaceful and charming town with a lovely French countryside vibe. We had delicious canelés here. They’re a small pastry from Bordeaux with a crispy caramelised crust and soft, custardy centre. Made with a rum- and vanilla-infused batter, it’s traditionally enjoyed with coffee or wine.
On our trip we stopped at Chateau Hotel Grand Barrail 5 mins away for lunch. It’s one of the most beautiful chateau’s we’ve seen. The food was spectacular. A little but on the pricer side, but totally worth it.
There are many wine farms in this area. Here is a wine tour we recommend visiting when you’re in the area:
- From Bordeaux: St-Emilion Day Tour with Tastings and Lunch
Day 5 – Driving to Paris
It’s a 6 hour drive from Bordeaux, but you can stop by many beautiful places on the way in the Loire Region, like Châteauroux, Vierzon, Château de la Ferté Saint-Aubin, Orléans or even Tours.
Day 6 & 7 – Visit Paris
We’ve created a 3 day Paris itinerary. Whether you want to travel in Paris on a budget or not, we have itineraries for both options. And we have a whole Paris playlist on our youtube channel you can check out with tons of tips, recommendations and helpful info.
Day 8 – Versailles
Want to feel like royalty? Visit The Palace of Versailles for the day—it’ll take the whole day, but it’s worth it.
To get from Paris to Versailles, take the RER C train to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, which takes 40 mins, and then walk 10 mins to the palace. You can also drive there which takes 30-40 mins.
We recommend booking a guided tour that includes transportation to and from Versailles.
Fun fact: if you’re short on time but want to see similar luxurious decor, head to the Napoleon III Apartments at the Louvre. Before it became a museum, the Louvre was the royal residence until Louis XIV moved to Versailles in the late 17th century. The apartments there feature a similar opulent design.
Paris & Loire Valley France Road Trip
This road trip is all about chateaus, palaces, and everything royal. We start in Paris and finish with a tour of some of the most beautiful chateaus in the Loire Valley.
While you’re in Paris, let’s stick to the theme by checking out spots like Palais Garnier or the Grand Palais. On day 4, head to Versailles. If you missed our previous route, don’t worry. Head to the last day of the Bordeaux/Paris trip, we’ve got all the details on visiting Versailles covered.
Day 5 – Tours France
On day 5, about 2 hours and a half drive away, we arrive at Tours. Stroll through the half timbered houses in the old town, see the gothic architecture of the Tours Cathedral, visit the crypt of Saint Martin, one of France’s most venerated saints, and see all the impressive paintings at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, including works of Rembrandt, Rubens and Monet.
For more info and things to do in Tours France, check out this IG reel.
Days 6 & 7 – Loire Valley Châteaus
The last two days we’ve kept open for you to explore all the beautiful châteaus in this region. We recommend Villandry, Langeais, Château de Chenonceau and the Rochecotte Hôtel Restaurant, where we had an amazing afternoon tea and paid 20€ per person, which is an amazing price for such a beautiful place.
Provence Road Trip
For this trip we will be staying in one place the whole time, Avignon, that way the drives aren’t longer than an hour and a half. The first day you’ll visit Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.
Day 1 – Avignon, Aix-en-Provence
Avignon is all about history—check out the massive Palace of the Popes and the famous Pont d’Avignon. Aix-en-Provence, Nicknamed the city of the fountains, has more than 50 stunning water fountains all over the town. We also suggest visiting the famous painter Cezanne’s studio.
Day 3 – Marseille
In Marseille, start at the Old Port, where you can watch the boats come and go and grab a coffee or seafood right by the water. Visit the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, the city’s iconic hilltop church with amazing views over Marseille and the sea. Then explore Le Panier, the oldest neighborhood, full of narrow streets, colorful buildings, and cool street art.
Day 4 – Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque & Gordes
You can either go to Gordes first and then to the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, just keep in mind it closes at 7pm.
When you’re in Gordes, make sure to stop by the lavender fields near the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. They’re beautiful, especially in bloom (which we’ll talk about a bit later). After all, Provence is known for its lavender fields! Then head to the Airelles Gordes Hotel for a drink with an incredible view of the town. We had a citrusy lavender gin & tonic, but you can get whatever you like (it’s more about the view anyway).
Day 5 – Les Baux-de-Provence & Arles
Les Baux-de-Provence is a beautiful town you shouldn’t miss in France. Wander through its streets and check out the shops selling the town’s famous pottery and lavender-scented soaps. This area is known for its steep limestone cliffs. We had lunch at a restaurant called Hostellerie de la Reine-Jeanne, with a table by the window, right on the edge of a cliff. The view was incredible, and the food was great too!
Arles, a city on the Rhône River in Provence, is famous for inspiring Van Gogh’s paintings. Once a Roman provincial capital, Arles has well-preserved ruins, including the Arles Amphitheatre (Les Arènes d’Arles), now hosting plays, concerts, and more.
Day 6 – Valensole
The most popular lavender field is Valensole. Just keep in mind, lavender fields are only in full bloom for a short time each year, from mid-June to late August. If you visit too early, you’ll miss the most vibrant purple flowers, and if you come too late, the lavender might already be harvested.
Day 7 – Montpellier
Technically it is not in Provence, but it’s right there and it’s a beautiful place surrounded by beaches and countryside. When in Montpellier, you definitely have to take a stroll through Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle, a gorgeous park lined with trees, little cafés, and restaurants. Speaking of, Montpellier has many amazing restaurants. We talk about a place we had some great French food and a bunch of other things to see and do in Montpellier in this blog post here.
One day is not enough to see everything in Montpellier, but if you wanted to extend your trip this is the perfect place to do so as there are many wine farms in the area and beautiful beaches.
French Riviera Road Trip
For the first five days of this trip, we’ll be based in Nice since it’s close to most of the spots we want to visit and it has an airport. For the second half, we’ll stay somewhere else, but more on that later. We recommend sticking to one or two places per trip (of course, it depends on how big the area is) but usually it’s easier (and probably cheaper) to drive a bit farther than to pack up and move somewhere new every few days. Before we dive into the itinerary, we’ve got a full blog post covering everything you need to know about road trips in the French Riviera, so definitely check that out if you’re interested.
Day 1 – Menton & Montecarlo in Monaco
On day 1 we highly recommend visiting Menton. This coastal town is full of colorful houses, beachfront restaurants, and amazing views from the hilltop, it almost feels like you’ve stepped into Italy. Park at the top of the hill, take in the views, and then walk down to the water. The views on the way down? Absolute perfection. You do have to walk back up, but it’s not too bad, and totally worth it!
And on your way back to Nice, definitely stop by Montecarlo for dinner or a drink by the beach.
Head to Giacomo, part of the Big Mamma group, right on the beachfront. The prices here are super fair for Monaco. We highly recommend their pizzas, seasonal cocktails, and classic tiramisu for dessert! Just keep in mind it’s a different country so this may affect your data plan or if you have an eSim just for France.
Day 2 – Èze, Villa Ephrussi
You can’t miss Èze, a charming hilltop village with incredible views of the French Riviera coast. This the exact spot where we saw one of the most stunning views we’ve ever seen. Èze is full of little streets with boutiques, highly rated restaurants and cute souvenir stores. They also have a small church looking over the cliff called Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Èze, a memorial to those who lost their lives in Èze during the First World War.
Villa: This beautiful pink mansion is right on the French Riviera in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Be sure to check out the French Garden, where the musical fountains put on a show. The villa’s open every day, so you can take your time exploring. Admission is 17€ per adult and includes audio commentary in several languages.
Day 3 – Nice. Take this day to explore Nice.
Nice has an amazing restaurant scene, it almost has a Miami vibe. The beachfront spots were packed, but we went to La Voglia and absolutely loved it. Matisse lived in Nice for nearly 40 years, and you can visit the Matisse Museum for €10.
Day 4 – St Paul de Vence, Antibes
In St Paul de Vence, visit Marc Chagall’s grave for amazing views of the ocean and enjoy a lavender flavoured ice cream at Le Glacier de la Fontaine, by the fountain.
In Antibes, walk along the Promenade Amiral de Grasse and head to the port, where you’ll see a long row of luxury yachts. For stunning turquoise water, take a drive through Cap d’Antibes and stop at the various viewpoints (especially Bay of Antibes Billionaires if you love snorkeling).
For dinner, we recommend going to Le Chromo where you can sit by the pizza oven and they make their pizzas right in front of you.
Day 5 – Cannes
Cannes is a gorgeous resort town best known for the Cannes Film Festival. Do yourself a favor and park here, then take a walk along the coast to check out the beautiful beaches, yachts, and iconic hotels, especially the Carlton.
Day 6 – Frejus, St Raphael
This area is a fantastic place to stay. It’s well-positioned, making it easy to explore the remaining places by car, and it’s far more affordable than many other areas. Plus, there are plenty of ancient Roman landmarks to discover. Right next to Fréjus is Saint-Raphaël, where we had the most amazing sunset picnic on Plage Veillat. Grab a bunch of snacks: cheese, champagne, grapes, and a local dessert called Tarte Tropézienne. It’s this fluffy brioche cake with a creamy custard filling, and the one we had was flavored with orange blossom. So good!
Day 7 – St Maxime & Port Grimaud
We highly recommend spending the day on the beach and having lunch here at La Gaudina, especially their fish and chips. For dessert, cross the bridge to a patisserie called 100% Maison by Laveissière. We loved the cheesecake and raspberry tart.
In the evening head to Port Grimaud. Often called the “Venice of Provence,” it’s filled with colorful houses, canals, yachts, and charming little bridges. There are so many beautiful spots to take photos, plus plenty of amazing waterfront restaurants.
Day 8 – St Tropez
When you’re in Saint-Tropez, you’ve got to check out the long row of luxury yachts and grab a drink at one of the many fancy restaurants overlooking the water. You can relax on the beach, wander through the old town, rent a boat, or head up to the citadel for amazing views of Saint-Tropez.
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Normandy Road Trip
As you explore the west of Normandy, we suggest staying in a town like Avranches since it’s close to many must-visit spots. First we’ll visit the iconic Mont Saint-Michel, then explore Avranches and we’ll talk about a little town close by where we had amazing crepes.
Day 1 – Mont Saint-Michel
You have to park at the Mont-Saint-Michel parking lot where you can take the free shuttle bus “Le Passeur” to the island, but we suggest walking the 2.5km, it’s a much better experience and you see much more. You definitely should go all the way up to see the abbey and stop by the different viewpoints. We went to Le Pré Salé and absolutely loved their creamy moules frites (mussels and fries), which is typical in Normandy and a must try.
Day 2 – Avranches & Vains
Really close to Mont-Saint-Michel—it’s one of my personal favourite towns in Normandy. It’s known for the Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs and the Jardin des Plantes, a gorgeous public garden with views of Mont-Saint-Michel in the distance. Right next to the church, there’s a patisserie called Éclat de Fèves—and we’re not even kidding, we had the best caramel éclair of our lives there. We also gave their Brioche Normande a try too (since brioche is originally from Normandy), but honestly, the éclair stole the show.
Vains is a little town close to Avranches that we stopped by for dinner one night at a crêperie we found. They sat us by a table by the fireplace which just made the whole vibe very cozy. We each had a galette for our main meal and they were delicious! For dessert we had sweet crêpes. The most memorable one was the black forest one I ordered. One of the best crepes we’ve ever tasted!
Day 3 – Granville
Granville is known for its seafood. There’s this spot right by the port called Restaurant du Port, and we loved it so much we actually went back a year later on our recent trip just to eat there again. Their creamy moules frites (that’s mussels with fries) were amazing (when they’re in season, of course).
You’ll start seeing them on menus and in markets from mid-July through January.
Day 4 & 5 – D Day Beaches
Omaha Beach was still incredibly moving. There’s a striking monument right on the sand called Les Braves, a tribute to the Allied forces that landed here. Along the beach you’ll also find info boards that walk you through the events of June 6th, 1944.
Further along the shore, there’s a memorial bunker with a strategically placed cannon gun still preserved, a reminder of how close the battle was to the waterline. Just up the hill is the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. It holds the graves of 9,389 soldiers who lost their lives during the D-Day landings.
If you’re planning to visit the D-Day beaches, here’s one important tip: come early. We went to Omaha Beach later in the day and found that all the museums and cemeteries were already closed, totally our mistake for not checking the times, so don’t make the same one.
We just went to Omaha, but you can also visit: Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach, and Sword Beach.
Day 6 – Honfleur
From now on, we’ll be staying in Étretat.
The port blew us away with all the boats surrounded by colorful buildings and restaurants. While you’re there, don’t miss the galettes, savoury buckwheat crêpes, at a cute spot called J’en crêpe d’envie. Galettes are originally from Brittany, but Normandy is right next door, so you’ll find them here too. We tried one with typical toppings from Normandy, including apple, Vire sausage, and creamy camembert. It was so good! Other must-see landmarks are the Église Catholique Saint-Leonard and Saint Catherine’s Catholic Church. Here’s a walking tour if you’re interested.
Day 8 – Rouen France
There are many beautiful monuments in Rouen, including the Rouen Cathedral, Gros-Horloge clock, Saint-Maclou Church, and Saint-Ouen Abbey Church. We’ve also linked a walking tour if you prefer to see the city that way.
Day 7 – Étretat
When in Étretat, walk through the town to the beach to see the famous rock formations. These include the Port d’Aval arch and L’Aiguille, the sharp needle-shaped one rising out of the sea. Another great place for the view is from the top, near the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. You can walk up or hop on the little tourist train to get there.
You can also enjoy the view from the Jardins d’Étretat, which is right next to it. The garden is also a great place to visit if you have time. We talk all about it in our Normandy road trip video, where we also reveal where we had lunch and how to avoid tourist traps.
French Alps Road Trip
For the first couple of days to explore Annecy and places close by like Chanaz and Chambery, we recommend staying in Annecy. But to see Chamonix and explore Mont Blanc, we recommend staying in Chamonix.
Day 1 – Chambéry
Some of the main sights here are the Château des Ducs de Savoie and La Fontaine des Éléphants—a stunning fountain with full-sized elephant statues. If you want a fun and easy way to explore the whole town, hop on the little tourist train called Le Petit Train de Chambéry. And if you’re into museums, they’ve got a Museum of Fine Arts with paintings ranging from the Middle Ages all the way to the 20th century.
Day 2 – Chanaz
Chanaz is built around the Canal de Savières, which links up with the Rhône River. We highly recommend taking a boat ride along the canal, it’s such a relaxing way to take it all in. You can also go over the Pont en Arche bridge, watch the boats go by, and grab a drink at one of the canal-side restaurants. We stopped at Le Relais Gourmand and really enjoyed the Kir Savoyard, white wine from Savoie with black current liquor.
Day 3 & 4 – Annecy
For the next two days, stay in Annecy, trust us, there is a lot to explore here. Annecy is famous for its gorgeous lake, Lac d’Annecy, which is the cleanest lake in Europe.
We cannot recommend enough that you hop on a Tour boat or rent your own, a pedal boat or motorboat. We did both the tour boat and the motorboat and highly recommend both. But if you only have the budget for one, the motor boat gives you a lot of freedom to explore at your own pace. Also make sure to walk through the Old Town by the Le Palais de I’Île museum and for great food we recommend Chez Ingalls.
Day 5 – Chamonix
Most people know Chamonix, or Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, because it sits at the base of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe. So if you’re into skiing, hiking, or just want to enjoy a town with beautiful mountain views, it’s a great place to visit.
One of the best parts about Chamonix is how well connected it is. If you have a car, it’s just about an hour to Geneva and around two and a half hours to Lyon.
Our favorite thing we did here was have lunch at the pink restaurant, Rose Du Pont, by the Arve River with a view of the mountains (and we loved it!).
Day 6 & 7 – Mont Blanc.
To get from Chamonix to Mont Blanc, you can take the Mont Blanc Express train which travels through the Chamonix Valley. Or, you can take the the Aiguille du Midi cable car, it’s a popular attraction that takes you from Chamonix town to the summit of the Aiguille du Midi peak. We kept two days open for you to explore this area and try both attractions (the train and the cable car), since you cannot take one there and the other back as they are not connected and allow you to see different parts of Mont Blanc.
French Pyrenees Road Trip
If you’re flying in from outside Europe, or really from anywhere by plane into France, you’ll most likely land in Paris. From there, you can rent a car at the airport, or you can hop on a train to Pau and from there rent a car, where you’ll be based for the first five or six nights.
Day 1 – Pau France
In Pau, take a walk along the Boulevard des Pyrénées, a pretty 1.8 km stretch with palm trees, historic buildings, and amazing views of the Pyrenees on a clear day. Stop by the Château de Pau, where Henry IV was born, to see its Renaissance rooms, tapestries, and paintings, then relax in the park outside. To get between the lower station and the upper town, hop on the old 1908 funicular — it’s quick, scenic, and free.
Day 2 – Lourdes France
Lourdes is one of our favourite places in the French Pyrenees, famous for being one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, and it’s incredibly beautiful with an amazing vibe. Here you have to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, including the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception next to the river, the Rosary Basilica, and the Underground Basilica of St. Pius X. Walk 20 mins from here to Château Fort de Lourdes, a medieval castle with panoramic views of the Pyrenees and a small Pyrenean museum.
Easter Sunday brings the Torchlight Marian Procession (every year on Easter Sunday), where everyone walks through the streets with candles, singing together. It’s calm, moving, and really beautiful with the mountains in the background.
We go over more things to do in our Lourdes blog post.
Day 3 – Oloron
Oloron-Sainte-Marie is a quiet little town in the French Pyrenees that’s perfect for a slow day of exploring.
The main highlight is the Sainte-Marie Cathedral, a UNESCO site with beautiful Romanesque architecture. Walk through the old town to see the pastel houses and small squares, then stop by the riverside where the Aspe and Ossau rivers meet, it’s one of the prettiest views in town.
If you like food, try the local chocolate and cheeses, and if you have time, visit the Lindt chocolate factory shop. It’s also a great base if you want to drive into the Pyrenees for hiking or mountain views.
When we were in Oloron, we stopped by Maison Laulhère, a shop that’s been making traditional French berets for generations. It’s a fun place to visit if you want to see how these iconic hats are made and maybe even take one home. Head here to learn more about the history.
Day 4 – Village hopping, picnic in the mountains
There are many charming little villages in the Pyrenees. Our top suggestion is to grab a few things at a supermarket or local market like baguette, cheese of the region, strawberries or fresh fruit of the season and a bottle of local wine and have a picnic at a beautiful spot you find along the way with views of the mountains.
Day 5 – Bayonne
For the next couple of days you can stay in Bayonne because it’s a bigger city, although we recommend trying Saint Jean de Luz, we love the coastal vibes there.
Bayonne’s Fêtes de Bayonne (usually the last week of July) means the whole town dresses in red and white, there’s music everywhere, and the streets turn into one big party.
Day 6 – Biarritz
In Biarritz, start with the Grande Plage, the main beach right in the heart of town, perfect for a swim, a surf, or just relaxing by the water. Walk over to the Rocher de la Vierge, a rocky viewpoint connected by a bridge with incredible ocean views. There is also a very famous aquarium here you can visit. And don’t miss the Port des Pêcheurs, a charming fishing port lined with restaurants serving great seafood.
Day 7 – Saint-Jean-de-Luz
We absolutely fell in love with St Jean de Luz. It’s a gorgeous coastal town where we recommend walking along the promenade by the beach full of half timbered houses, great restaurants, and there are a ton of ice cream trucks along the promenade where we highly recommend ordering the salted caramel flavour, it was so good! Also walk up the hill towards the little white house for stunning views of the town.
hotel
More French Getaways, Road Trip Inspo & Budget Hacks You’ll Love
If you’re looking for more ideas on where to go in France, make sure to check out our blog post “8 Top French Holiday Destinations” for some seriously beautiful spots. And if the south of France is on your list, don’t miss our full French Riviera Road Trip — it’s packed with dreamy stops and practical tips. Traveling on a budget? We’ve got you covered. Head over to our Top Budget Travel Hacks to learn how to plan the trip of your dreams without spending a fortune.
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