# Basque coast to southwest France · More time in the middle and at the far end

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/open-jaw/basque-coast-to-southwest-france-z0679/>)

More time in the middle and at the far end

- Region: Europe
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 14
- Interests: Food & Drink, History, Arts & Theatre, Nature, Design, Literature

## Route and nights

- Bilbao · 3 night(s)
- Bordeaux · 6 night(s)
- Paris · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: The middle base gets time of its own. Book the last gateway separately and compare the total transport cost.

Compare: Coach and rail

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Bilbao

- 15:00 to 15:45 · Check in or drop off your bags · Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao
- 16:00 to 17:30 · Get oriented near your hotel and locate the next transit stop · Bilbao. Keep this stop optional if you arrive late.
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Bilbao
Overnight: [Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao](<https://www.hotels.com/ho373401/hotel-sercotel-coliseo-bilbao-spain/>) · Bilbao

### Day 2 · Bilbao

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bilbao
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Explore the Old Town streets and visit Ribera Market if trading · Casco Viejo, Bilbao. Check individual vendor and kitchen hours. [Official information](<https://www.bilbaoturismo.net/>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Have a pintxos lunch around Casco Viejo · Casco Viejo, Bilbao
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk toward Plaza Nueva and pause for a cafe stop · Casco Viejo, Bilbao
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Bilbao
Overnight: [Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao](<https://www.hotels.com/ho373401/hotel-sercotel-coliseo-bilbao-spain/>) · Bilbao

### Day 3 · Bilbao

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bilbao
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Visit the maritime museum and learn about port history · Itsasmuseum Bilbao. Check opening and current indoor or outdoor access. [Official information](<https://itsasmuseum.eus/en/>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch around the riverfront · Itsasmuseum Bilbao
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk the public paths near Euskalduna and compare industrial structures · Itsasmuseum Bilbao
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Bilbao
Overnight: [Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao](<https://www.hotels.com/ho373401/hotel-sercotel-coliseo-bilbao-spain/>) · Bilbao

### Day 4 · Bordeaux

- 07:40 to 08:10 · Check out and collect your bags · Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao
- 08:45 to 16:10 · Travel from Bilbao to Bordeaux · Bordeaux. Check an actual cross-border coach or ground route and allow for traffic. Buy food before boarding or at a confirmed connection. [Official information](<https://www.flixbus.com/>)
- 16:10 to 17:15 · Check in or drop off your bags · Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre. Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.
- 18:35 to 20:00 · Dinner near your new hotel · Bordeaux
Overnight: [Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre](<https://www.hotels.com/ho116957/quality-hotel-bordeaux-centre-bordeaux-france/>) · Bordeaux

### Day 5 · Bordeaux

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bordeaux
- 09:35 to 10:55 · Walk toward the former warehouses of Chartrons · Chartrons, Bordeaux
- 11:05 to 12:30 · See a current exhibition at CAPC · CAPC musée d’art contemporain, Bordeaux. Check exhibitions and opening days. Adjust the visit if there is an installation change. [Official information](<https://www.capc-bordeaux.fr/>)
- 12:45 to 13:55 · Lunch in Chartrons · Chartrons, Bordeaux
- 14:10 to 16:45 · Explore Chartrons shops and the adjacent quays · Rue Notre-Dame, Bordeaux
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Bordeaux
Overnight: [Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre](<https://www.hotels.com/ho116957/quality-hotel-bordeaux-centre-bordeaux-france/>) · Bordeaux

### Day 6 · Bordeaux

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bordeaux
- 09:30 to 10:15 · Travel to Parc Bordelais · Parc Bordelais, Bordeaux
- 10:25 to 12:15 · Walk a loop through Parc Bordelais · Parc Bordelais, Bordeaux. Adjust the loop to the day’s weather and park opening.
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near the park or back toward Chartrons · Bordeaux
- 14:00 to 16:40 · Follow a stretch of the Garonne quays · Quai des Chartrons, Bordeaux. Use the shorter river segment if you want a low-key afternoon.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Bordeaux
Overnight: [Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre](<https://www.hotels.com/ho116957/quality-hotel-bordeaux-centre-bordeaux-france/>) · Bordeaux

### Day 7 · Bordeaux

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bordeaux
- 09:30 to 10:45 · Walk through Place de la Bourse to the Miroir d’eau · Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux. The reflecting pool may be inactive, so plan the square and riverfront as the visit.
- 11:00 to 12:10 · Follow the Garonne quays toward Pont de Pierre · Pont de Pierre, Bordeaux
- 12:20 to 13:35 · Lunch around Saint-Pierre · Saint-Pierre, Bordeaux
- 13:55 to 15:40 · Walk the public squares around Porte Cailhau and Place du Parlement · Porte Cailhau, Bordeaux
- 15:55 to 17:15 · Pause at a cafe or return to the waterfront · Saint-Pierre, Bordeaux
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Bordeaux
Overnight: [Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre](<https://www.hotels.com/ho116957/quality-hotel-bordeaux-centre-bordeaux-france/>) · Bordeaux

### Day 8 · Bordeaux

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bordeaux
- 09:30 to 10:50 · Browse Marché des Capucins if trading · Marché des Capucins, Bordeaux. Check current market hours and trading days.
- 11:05 to 12:25 · Have an early lunch at or near the market · Marché des Capucins, Bordeaux. The Saint-Michel streets offer an alternative if stalls are closed.
- 12:45 to 13:40 · Travel to La Cité du Vin · La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux
- 13:50 to 16:35 · Visit La Cité du Vin for wine history · La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux. Choose an admission slot if needed. Treat any tasting as optional. [Official information](<https://www.laciteduvin.com/en>)
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Bordeaux
Overnight: [Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre](<https://www.hotels.com/ho116957/quality-hotel-bordeaux-centre-bordeaux-france/>) · Bordeaux

### Day 9 · Bordeaux

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bordeaux
- 09:25 to 10:45 · Walk Rue Saint-James to the Grosse Cloche · Grosse Cloche, Bordeaux
- 11:00 to 12:10 · Explore the streets around Saint-Michel · Basilique Saint-Michel, Bordeaux
- 12:25 to 13:35 · Lunch around Saint-Michel · Saint-Michel, Bordeaux
- 13:55 to 16:45 · See Pey-Berland Square and Saint-André Cathedral · Cathédrale Saint-André, Bordeaux. Check worship and visitor hours if you want to go inside.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Bordeaux
Overnight: [Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre](<https://www.hotels.com/ho116957/quality-hotel-bordeaux-centre-bordeaux-france/>) · Bordeaux

### Day 10 · Paris

- 07:40 to 08:10 · Check out and collect your bags · Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre
- 09:00 to 13:45 · Travel from Bordeaux to Paris · Paris. Choose a confirmed train and leave time for the transfer from Montparnasse if applicable. [Official information](<https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/>)
- 13:45 to 15:00 · Late lunch near your arrival station or hotel · Paris
- 15:00 to 15:50 · Check in or drop off your bags · ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème. Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.
- 16:10 to 17:25 · Take a short orientation walk near your new hotel · Paris. Skip the walk if your actual arrival is later.
- 18:35 to 20:00 · Dinner near your new hotel · Paris
Overnight: [ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème](<https://fr.hotels.com/ho178499/ibis-paris-grands-boulevards-opera-9th-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 11 · Paris

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Paris
- 09:30 to 10:35 · Walk the Seine bookstalls toward Saint-Michel · Quai Saint-Michel, Paris. Individual stalls keep their own hours.
- 10:45 to 12:05 · Browse Shakespeare and Company or nearby bookshops · Shakespeare and Company, Paris. Allow for a line and keep a nearby shop as a backup. [Official information](<https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/>)
- 12:20 to 13:30 · Lunch in the Latin Quarter · Latin Quarter, Paris
- 13:50 to 15:25 · Walk around the Sorbonne and through Luxembourg Gardens · Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris. Park hours vary by season.
- 15:40 to 17:00 · Take a cafe break in Saint-Germain-des-Prés · Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Paris
Overnight: [ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème](<https://fr.hotels.com/ho178499/ibis-paris-grands-boulevards-opera-9th-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 12 · Versailles

- 08:10 to 10:00 · Travel to Versailles and walk toward the estate · Versailles Château Rive Gauche. Match the window to a published rail route and allow for the entrance queue. [Official information](<https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en>)
- 10:10 to 12:20 · Walk the palace grounds or use a reserved palace admission · Château de Versailles. Confirm estate and garden hours. If you book the palace interior, shorten the garden loop. [Official information](<https://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit>)
- 12:35 to 13:45 · Lunch around Versailles town center · Versailles, France
- 14:00 to 15:35 · Explore the streets around Place du Marché Notre-Dame · Place du Marché Notre-Dame, Versailles. Check trading hours before relying on individual stalls.
- 15:50 to 17:40 · Return to Paris · Paris. Use a published departure and allow time for the station walk.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Paris
Overnight: [ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème](<https://fr.hotels.com/ho178499/ibis-paris-grands-boulevards-opera-9th-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 13 · Paris

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Paris
- 09:25 to 10:35 · Look for Art Nouveau Metro entrances and street details · Square Montholon, Paris. Compare details on the way toward Grands Boulevards.
- 10:45 to 12:30 · Walk Passage Jouffroy and Passage des Panoramas · Passage des Panoramas, Paris. Look at the covered roofs and shopfronts. Some individual businesses open later.
- 12:40 to 13:45 · Lunch around the Grands Boulevards · Grands Boulevards, Paris
- 14:05 to 15:25 · Explore Galerie Vivienne and the Palais-Royal arcades · Galerie Vivienne, Paris
- 15:40 to 17:15 · See Opéra Garnier and nearby storefronts from the street · Palais Garnier, Paris. Treat an interior visit as a separate choice if you want to shorten the arcade route. [Official information](<https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/visits/palais-garnier>)
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Paris
Overnight: [ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème](<https://fr.hotels.com/ho178499/ibis-paris-grands-boulevards-opera-9th-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 14 · Paris

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Paris
- 09:30 to 10:40 · Start with a bakery stop near Rue Montorgueil · Rue Montorgueil, Paris. Pick a bakery that is open on your day and keep the first stop small.
- 10:55 to 12:05 · Walk the market streets around Les Halles · Les Halles, Paris
- 12:15 to 13:35 · Have lunch at or near Marché des Enfants Rouges · Marché des Enfants Rouges, Paris. Check the market’s trading days. The surrounding streets offer a fallback.
- 13:50 to 15:15 · Walk to Place des Vosges through the Marais · Place des Vosges, Paris
- 15:30 to 16:40 · Pause at a neighborhood cafe · Le Marais, Paris
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Paris
Overnight: [ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème](<https://fr.hotels.com/ho178499/ibis-paris-grands-boulevards-opera-9th-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 15 · Paris

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Paris
- 09:15 to 09:45 · Check out and collect your bags · ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème
- 10:00 to 10:45 · Optional short walk near your hotel · Paris. Skip this stop if you need the time for departure.