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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Grand Tour of France

Independent 14-day rail circuit through France, Paris to Bordeaux

Illustration of Grand Tour of France

Railbookers operates this independent, 14-day rail vacation across France, starting and ending in Paris with stops in Strasbourg, Lyon, Avignon, Nice, Marseille and Bordeaux. Most stops get two nights, giving time to settle in rather than rushing straight back to a train the next morning. Days open with sightseeing on foot: a Hop On Hop Off pass and Eiffel Tower tour in Paris, a look at Strasbourg's 1439 cathedral and half-timbered streets, a three-hour food tour through Vieux Lyon, and included entry to Avignon's Palais des Papes. Travel between cities is by SNCF train in First Class, described in the itinerary as high-speed or direct services. The later stops trade museums for coastline and vineyards, with a full-day Cote d'Azur tour from Nice and a visit to Bordeaux's Cité du Vin. Because it's independent rather than escorted, most of each day beyond the handful of small-group tours is left for travelers to fill on their own, which suits people who prefer to set their own pace in each city.

What to know before you look closer

  • Accommodation is chosen from 40 options across price tiers and cities (for example the Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra or the Holiday Inn Paris Gare De Lyon Bastille), so which hotel you get depends on the tier and city you pick.
  • This is an independent tour: outside the small-group tours in Paris, Lyon and Nice, there's no guide with you between cities or during daily sightseeing.
  • The evidence gives no current departure dates; confirm availability and pricing with Railbookers before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    Your Journey Begins in Paris

    Welcome to Paris! When you arrive, check into your hotel and begin exploring using your Hop on Hop off Pass. Perhaps pop into the Louvre for a glimpse of the Mona Lisa, and visit the Champs-Élysées and Sacre-Coeur Basilica.

  2. Day 2overnight: Paris

    Paris

    Visit Musée Picasso, stroll through Père Lachaise, and Parc des Buttes Chaumont. Other must-see places include Cathédrale de Notre-Dame, Marché des Enfants Rouges, and Rue des Martyrs. Today you will also enjoy 2 different views of Paris – from the top of the Eiffel Tower and from a cruise on the river Seine.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Strasbourg

    Paris to Strasbourg

    Enjoy breakfast then check out of your hotel and take a highspeed train from Paris to the fairy tale town of Strasbourg. Visit the Strasbourg Cathedral, built in 1439, then stroll along the charming canals by the Pont Couverts and cross the Vauban Dam.

  4. Day 4overnight: Strasbourg

    Strasbourg

    Continue exploring the capital of Alsace's medieval churches, half-timbered houses, the Astronomical Clock, or head to Parc de l'Orangerie to see the famous storks, and the Musee de l'Oeuvre Notre-Dame. Try authentic Alsatian cuisine at a local restaurant.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Lyon

    Strasbourg to Lyon

    Board your direct train from Strasbourg to gorgeous Lyon. Visit the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere and Lyon's medieval Old Town (Vieux-Lyon), a charming mix of cobblestone alleys, boutique shops, restaurants, and wine bars near the Beaujolais region.

  6. Day 6overnight: Lyon

    Lyon

    Embark on a 3-hour food tour through Vieux Lyon and the Presqu'île, tasting traditional dishes and local wines. Visit the Roman public baths and amphitheater at the Gallo-Roman Museum, and the Institute Lumiere. Cruise the Rhone or Saone River, or relax in Parc de la Tete d'Or.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Avignon

    Lyon to Avignon

    Board a direct train from Lyon to the Provencal town of Avignon. Visit the historic city center, episcopal buildings and the Saint Benezet Bridge, and Musee de Petit Palais.

  8. Day 8overnight: Avignon

    Avignon

    Use your included tickets to the Pope's Palace, the largest and most beautiful Gothic palace in the world (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and the symbolic Pont d'Avignon. Sip on coffee in Place de l'Horloge.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Nice

    Avignon to Nice

    Take a scenic train directly to Nice. Located along the glamorous French Riviera, Nice offers prestigious art galleries, fancy restaurants, incredible beaches. Visit the hilltop of St. Paul de Vence.

  10. Day 10overnight: Nice

    Nice

    Explore the world-famous Cote d'Azur on a full day tour. Spend time in the ancient port of Antibes, on the Croisette of Cannes, in the villages of St Paul de Vence and Eze, the perfume factory of Fragonard, and sample Monaco.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Marseille

    Nice to Marseille

    Check out of your hotel in Nice and take a direct train to Marseille, the capital of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, featuring dreamy beaches and delicious French-Mediterranean cuisine.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Bordeaux

    Marseille to Bordeaux

    Take a relaxing train ride through beautiful landscapes to the crescent-shaped city of Bordeaux, the world's largest urban World Heritage Site and closely associated with its vineyards and wine production.

  13. Day 13overnight: Bordeaux

    Bordeaux

    Enjoy your included breakfast and then head over to the famous Cite du Vin and discover more than you thought you knew about the world of wine!

  14. Day 14rail

    Bordeaux to Paris

    Following breakfast this morning, check out of your hotel and travel to the station to board a highspeed train from Bordeaux to Paris, where your rail journey ends.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2An Eiffel Tower small-group tour and a Seine river cruise give two different views of Paris.
  • Day 6A three-hour food tour through Vieux Lyon and the Presqu'île includes tasting traditional dishes and local wines.
  • Day 8Included tickets cover the Pope's Palace in Avignon, described as the largest Gothic palace in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Day 10A full-day small-group tour of the Cote d'Azur visits Antibes, Cannes, St Paul de Vence, Eze and the Fragonard perfume factory, with a stop in Monaco.
  • Day 13Included skip-the-line tickets cover Bordeaux's Cité du Vin, a museum on the world of wine.

Included

  • Rail travel throughout per itinerary in First Class
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Paris
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Strasbourg
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Lyon
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Avignon
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Nice
  • 1 night's hotel accommodation with breakfast in Marseille
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Bordeaux
  • 48hr Hop On Hop Off pass in Paris
  • Small Group Eiffel Tower tour
  • Seine River Cruise in Paris
  • Local Food tour in Lyon
  • Palais d'Papes and Pont d'Avignon tickets
  • Small Group Tour of the French Riviera from Nice
  • Cite du Vin Skip the Line tickets in Bordeaux

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Rail travel throughout the itinerary in First Class on SNCF, including high-speed TGV services, is included in the price.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It's independent, run by Railbookers, with a handful of small-group tours built in: the Eiffel Tower, a Lyon food tour, and the French Riviera.
What hotels are used?
A choice of 40 accommodation options across the seven stop cities, for example the Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra, Novotel Paris Centre Tour Eiffel, or Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île.
Which cities does the trip visit?
Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, Avignon, Nice, Marseille and Bordeaux over 14 days, starting and finishing the rail journey in Paris.
How much walking is involved?
The trip includes a Hop On Hop Off pass and small-group tours in Paris plus city sightseeing on foot at each stop; no hikes or high-altitude activity are described.
What optional extras are available?
Travelers can add extra nights in any destination, take the trip in reverse, combine it with other Railbookers itineraries, handpick their hotels and sightseeing, or extend with a river cruise.

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