Sample 7-Day France Itinerary

Day 1

Paris & the Seine

Arrive in Paris and settle in before easing into the French way of life. Stroll along the Seine, browse a neighborhood market and enjoy a classic bistro dinner.

▰StayHôtel Saint-André des Arts · Saint-GermainA 4-star, 30-room boutique hotel near Odéon and the Seine, with a colorful bohemian design and an easy walking base for a first Paris stay.

♨EatLe Bon Saint-Pourçain · 10 bis rue ServandoniA small Saint-Germain bistro behind Saint-Sulpice with modern seasonal French cooking; reserve dinner rather than gambling on a walk-in.

◈TryParis bistro classicsLook for terrine de campagne, duck when it is on the seasonal menu, and a proper mille-feuille for dessert.

◎You may knowAmerican writers on the Left BankNearby Hôtel d’Angleterre hosted Ernest Hemingway in 1921, and Saint-Germain is also tied to American writers such as James Baldwin and Sylvia Beach.

◆TransferArrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG); use taxi/RER depending luggage and arrival time. Do not rent a car until leaving Paris.

Day 2

Candes-Saint-Martin

Leave Paris for the Loire and a riverside village where pale stone houses, river views and an unhurried evening become part of the stay.

▰StayChâteau de CandesA 4-star stay above the Loire/Vienne confluence; for a quieter countryside alternative, Domaine de Mestré near Fontevraud is a strong 3-star option.

♨EatLa Table de Mestré · FontevraudSeasonal regional cooking in the historic Mestré estate, with produce from the garden and a relaxed dinner setting.

◈TryFouéesSmall wood-fired breads split hot and filled with rillettes, goat cheese, mushrooms or beans — one of the most distinctive Saumur-area food traditions.

◎You may knowRichard the LionheartAt nearby Fontevraud Abbey you can see the tombs of Richard the Lionheart, Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine — famous figures associated with the Robin Hood legends.

◆TransferTrain from Paris toward Tours/Saumur, then collect a car only when it becomes useful for the river villages.

Day 3

Beynac-et-Cazenac

Continue south to the Dordogne for medieval stone, river views and a base that unlocks several beautiful villages without constant hotel changes.

▰StayHôtel du Château · BeynacA simple village hotel at the foot of the château, useful if you want to park once and explore Beynac on foot.

♨EatRestaurant de l’Hôtel du ChâteauTraditional Périgord cooking from chef Aurélien Bouyssou; a practical first dinner after the long transfer.

◈TryPérigord duck & pommes sarladaisesDuck confit or magret with potatoes cooked in duck fat, garlic and parsley is the regional combination to look for.

◎Cultural connectionJoséphine Baker at Château des MilandesJust across the valley, the château was home to the St. Louis-born American performer and civil-rights figure who made France her home.

◆TransferMake this the longer driving day and arrive early enough to walk Beynac after the day-trippers thin out.

Day 4

River villages at an easy pace

Use one full day for the close-knit Dordogne villages rather than driving across the region. Pick two strong stops and leave the third optional.

⌂MorningLa Roque-GageacWalk the riverfront before the busiest hours, then take a gabarre boat ride if the season and weather cooperate.

♨EatLa Belle Étoile · La Roque-GageacA family-run hotel-restaurant on the riverfront, noted for refined traditional cooking. Book several days ahead in season.

◈TryPérigord ingredients with a lighter touchExpect seasonal duck, mushrooms and local produce rather than another heavy tourist-menu lunch.

★DetourAdd Domme for the hilltop panorama only if the day still feels relaxed; otherwise linger by the Dordogne.

◐EveningReturn to the same Beynac base — no packing, no new check-in, and a genuinely slower day.

French countryside and market-town atmosphere

Day 5

Sarlat, market morning & countryside

Give Sarlat its best hours, then leave the busy center behind for lunch and a quiet afternoon in the surrounding countryside.

▰StayHôtel-Restaurant La HoirieA former hunting lodge in a park about five minutes by car from Sarlat’s medieval center — useful for parking, quiet nights and a character stay.

♨EatLa CouleuvrineA long-running Sarlat hotel-restaurant serving local, inventive food from fresh products; a better target than choosing the most visible terrace on Place de la Liberté.

◈TryFoie gras, duck & walnut countryTry foie gras or magret, then look for cabécou goat cheese, walnuts and pommes sarladaises across the region.

◎You may knowEver After with Drew BarrymoreSarlat’s preserved streets were among the Dordogne locations used for the 1990s Cinderella film Ever After.

✓PaceGo early, eat well, then deliberately leave the afternoon light instead of stacking another major attraction.

Day 6

Monpazier & the quieter Dordogne

Shift from the famous river corridor to a smaller bastide town and let the last full day feel more local, slower and less photographed.

▰StayChâteau Hôtel Edward 1er · MonpazierA 4-star 18-room château hotel on the ramparts with pool, parking and countryside views — a comfortable final rural base.

♨EatRestaurant EléonoreThe hotel’s intimate dinner restaurant works with Périgord flavors and seasonal products; advance reservation is required.

◈TryTruffles when in seasonMenus change daily, but this is the part of the trip to look for Périgord truffle, duck and local wines without chasing a fixed “must-order” dish.

◎History hookKing Edward IMonpazier was founded in 1284 in the name of England’s Edward I — a direct reminder that southwest France and medieval England were once deeply intertwined.

◐EveningPark once, walk the arcaded central square after dinner and let the final full evening stay unhurried.

Day 7

One last French morning

Keep breakfast and the final village walk unhurried, then leave enough margin for the drive to Bordeaux, fuel, rental-car return and station or airport formalities.

☕MorningCoffee, bakery, village walkNo timed attraction on departure day; buy something simple for the road and keep buffer for fuel and rental-car return.

◆DepartureBordeaux airport or stationAdapt the route to your actual flight or train time; an early departure may justify sleeping closer to Bordeaux the previous night.

◎Cultural connectionThomas Jefferson & Bordeaux wineJefferson visited Bordeaux in 1787 while serving in France, studied its vineyards closely, and later helped shape early American enthusiasm for French wine.

★BonDetour ruleIf the flight is early, move the final night. If it is late, keep the morning in the Dordogne — never sacrifice travel margin for one last checklist stop.

Your 7-Day BonDetour Itinerary