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Europe · Open jaw · 13 NIGHTS

Basque coast to southwest France

Short middle stop and a slower finish

Submitted by Village Stopover
Use this itinerary

Route and nights

  1. Bilbao5 nights
  2. Bordeaux2 nights
  3. Paris6 nights

Trip format: Open jaw · One hotel or guesthouse per overnight base

Tradeoff: Two nights in the middle means one main visit. Keep a substantial final base for the last stretch.

Compare: Coach and rail

Trip stats

Trip days
14
Nights
13
Home Bases
3
Scheduled entries
75

Days by place

Paris
6
Bilbao
5
Bordeaux
2
Versailles
1

Hotels and other stays

ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème
6 nights
Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao
5 nights
Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre
2 nights

Schedule by type

Meal
37
Activity
27
Lodging
6
Rail
3
Ground transport
2

Day-by-day agenda

Jump to Calendar View
Day 1 Bilbao
  1. to · Lodging Check in or drop off your bags Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao
  2. to · Activity Get oriented near your hotel and locate the next transit stop Bilbao

    Keep this stop optional if you arrive late.

  3. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
Day 2 Bilbao
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bilbao
  2. to · Activity Visit the maritime museum and learn about port history Itsasmuseum Bilbao

    Check opening and current indoor or outdoor access.

    Official information
  3. to · Meal Lunch around the riverfront Itsasmuseum Bilbao
  4. to · Activity Walk the public paths near Euskalduna and compare industrial structures Itsasmuseum Bilbao
  5. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
Day 3 Bilbao
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bilbao
  2. to · Activity Walk a section of the river and consider a public hillside viewpoint Ría de Bilbao

    Check the weather and funicular before relying on the hill stop.

    Official information
  3. to · Meal Lunch near the river or Abando Ría de Bilbao
  4. to · Activity Choose a short second river loop or ride to the viewpoint if service fits Ría de Bilbao
  5. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
Day 4 Bilbao
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bilbao
  2. to · Activity Visit a focused group of Guggenheim galleries Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

    Check current exhibitions, admission, and opening days.

    Official information
  3. to · Meal Lunch around Abandoibarra Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
  4. to · Activity Walk the riverfront past the public art and museum exterior Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
  5. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
Day 5 Bilbao
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bilbao
  2. to · Activity Compare former industrial river sites and public waterfront reuse Abandoibarra, Bilbao
  3. to · Meal Lunch near Abandoibarra Abandoibarra, Bilbao
  4. to · Activity Walk toward Zubizuri and compare modern crossings and public architecture Abandoibarra, Bilbao
  5. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
Day 6 Bordeaux
  1. to · Lodging Check out and collect your bags Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao
  2. to · Ground transport 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
  3. to · Lodging Check in or drop off your bags Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre

    Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.

  4. to · Meal Dinner near your new hotel Bordeaux
Quality Hotel Bordeaux CentreBordeaux
Day 7 Bordeaux
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bordeaux
  2. to · Ground transport Travel to Parc Bordelais Parc Bordelais, Bordeaux
  3. to · Activity Walk a loop through Parc Bordelais Parc Bordelais, Bordeaux

    Adjust the loop to the day’s weather and park opening.

  4. to · Meal Lunch near the park or back toward Chartrons Bordeaux
  5. to · Activity Follow a stretch of the Garonne quays Quai des Chartrons, Bordeaux

    Use the shorter river segment if you want a low-key afternoon.

  6. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bordeaux
Quality Hotel Bordeaux CentreBordeaux
Day 8 Paris
  1. to · Lodging Check out and collect your bags Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre
  2. to · Rail Travel from Bordeaux to Paris Paris

    Choose a confirmed train and leave time for the transfer from Montparnasse if applicable.

    Official information
  3. to · Meal Late lunch near your arrival station or hotel Paris
  4. to · Lodging Check in or drop off your bags ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème

    Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.

  5. to · Activity Take a short orientation walk near your new hotel Paris

    Skip the walk if your actual arrival is later.

  6. to · Meal Dinner near your new hotel Paris
ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
Day 9 Paris
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
  2. to · Activity Visit a focused selection of Louvre galleries Louvre Museum, Paris

    Choose an actual reservation. The Louvre normally closes Tuesday, so swap days if needed.

    Official information
  3. to · Meal Lunch near Rue de Rivoli Rue de Rivoli, Paris
  4. to · Activity Walk the Tuileries from the Louvre toward Place de la Concorde Tuileries Garden, Paris
  5. to · Activity See the Seine near Pont de la Concorde or pause for coffee Pont de la Concorde, Paris
  6. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
Day 10 Versailles
  1. to · Rail 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
  2. to · Activity 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
  3. to · Meal Lunch around Versailles town center Versailles, France
  4. to · Activity Explore the streets around Place du Marché Notre-Dame Place du Marché Notre-Dame, Versailles

    Check trading hours before relying on individual stalls.

  5. to · Rail Return to Paris Paris

    Use a published departure and allow time for the station walk.

  6. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
Day 11 Paris
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
  2. to · Meal 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.

  3. to · Activity Walk the market streets around Les Halles Les Halles, Paris
  4. to · Meal 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.

  5. to · Activity Walk to Place des Vosges through the Marais Place des Vosges, Paris
  6. to · Meal Pause at a neighborhood cafe Le Marais, Paris
  7. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
Day 12 Paris
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
  2. to · Activity Explore the Notre-Dame precinct on Île de la Cité Notre-Dame de Paris

    Check visitor entry if you plan to go inside.

    Official information
  3. to · Activity Follow the quays toward Île Saint-Louis Île Saint-Louis, Paris
  4. to · Meal Lunch near Saint-Paul Saint-Paul, Paris
  5. to · Activity Visit Musée Carnavalet if open Musée Carnavalet, Paris

    Check opening days and gallery access. Place des Vosges is a nearby fallback.

    Official information
  6. to · Activity Walk through the Marais courtyards and squares Le Marais, Paris

    Use publicly accessible routes.

  7. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
Day 13 Paris
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
  2. to · Activity Walk the Seine bookstalls toward Saint-Michel Quai Saint-Michel, Paris

    Individual stalls keep their own hours.

  3. to · Activity 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
  4. to · Meal Lunch in the Latin Quarter Latin Quarter, Paris
  5. to · Activity Walk around the Sorbonne and through Luxembourg Gardens Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

    Park hours vary by season.

  6. to · Meal Take a cafe break in Saint-Germain-des-Prés Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
  7. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
Day 14 Paris
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
  2. to · Lodging Check out and collect your bags ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème
  3. to · Activity Optional short walk near your hotel Paris

    Skip this stop if you need the time for departure.

Trip calendar

Itinerary map Print itinerary

Suggested schedule · All times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

  1. Day 1

    Bilbao

    Europe/Madrid Open map for Bilbao
    1. to · Lodging Check in or drop off your bags Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao
    2. to · Activity Get oriented near your hotel and locate the next transit stop Bilbao

      Keep this stop optional if you arrive late.

    3. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
    Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
  2. Day 2

    Bilbao

    Europe/Madrid Open map for Bilbao
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bilbao
    2. to · Activity Visit the maritime museum and learn about port history Itsasmuseum Bilbao

      Check opening and current indoor or outdoor access.

      Official information
    3. to · Meal Lunch around the riverfront Itsasmuseum Bilbao
    4. to · Activity Walk the public paths near Euskalduna and compare industrial structures Itsasmuseum Bilbao
    5. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
    Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
  3. Day 3

    Bilbao

    Europe/Madrid Open map for Bilbao
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bilbao
    2. to · Activity Walk a section of the river and consider a public hillside viewpoint Ría de Bilbao

      Check the weather and funicular before relying on the hill stop.

      Official information
    3. to · Meal Lunch near the river or Abando Ría de Bilbao
    4. to · Activity Choose a short second river loop or ride to the viewpoint if service fits Ría de Bilbao
    5. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
    Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
  4. Day 4

    Bilbao

    Europe/Madrid Open map for Bilbao
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bilbao
    2. to · Activity Visit a focused group of Guggenheim galleries Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

      Check current exhibitions, admission, and opening days.

      Official information
    3. to · Meal Lunch around Abandoibarra Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
    4. to · Activity Walk the riverfront past the public art and museum exterior Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
    5. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
    Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
  5. Day 5

    Bilbao

    Europe/Madrid Open map for Bilbao
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bilbao
    2. to · Activity Compare former industrial river sites and public waterfront reuse Abandoibarra, Bilbao
    3. to · Meal Lunch near Abandoibarra Abandoibarra, Bilbao
    4. to · Activity Walk toward Zubizuri and compare modern crossings and public architecture Abandoibarra, Bilbao
    5. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bilbao
    Sercotel Coliseo BilbaoBilbao
  6. Day 6

    Bordeaux

    Europe/Paris
    1. to · Lodging Check out and collect your bags Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao
    2. to · Ground transport 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
    3. to · Lodging Check in or drop off your bags Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre

      Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.

    4. to · Meal Dinner near your new hotel Bordeaux
    Quality Hotel Bordeaux CentreBordeaux
  7. Day 7

    Bordeaux

    Europe/Paris Open map for Bordeaux
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Bordeaux
    2. to · Ground transport Travel to Parc Bordelais Parc Bordelais, Bordeaux
    3. to · Activity Walk a loop through Parc Bordelais Parc Bordelais, Bordeaux

      Adjust the loop to the day’s weather and park opening.

    4. to · Meal Lunch near the park or back toward Chartrons Bordeaux
    5. to · Activity Follow a stretch of the Garonne quays Quai des Chartrons, Bordeaux

      Use the shorter river segment if you want a low-key afternoon.

    6. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Bordeaux
    Quality Hotel Bordeaux CentreBordeaux
  8. Day 8

    Paris

    Europe/Paris
    1. to · Lodging Check out and collect your bags Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre
    2. to · Rail Travel from Bordeaux to Paris Paris

      Choose a confirmed train and leave time for the transfer from Montparnasse if applicable.

      Official information
    3. to · Meal Late lunch near your arrival station or hotel Paris
    4. to · Lodging Check in or drop off your bags ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème

      Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.

    5. to · Activity Take a short orientation walk near your new hotel Paris

      Skip the walk if your actual arrival is later.

    6. to · Meal Dinner near your new hotel Paris
    ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
  9. Day 9

    Paris

    Europe/Paris Open map for Paris
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
    2. to · Activity Visit a focused selection of Louvre galleries Louvre Museum, Paris

      Choose an actual reservation. The Louvre normally closes Tuesday, so swap days if needed.

      Official information
    3. to · Meal Lunch near Rue de Rivoli Rue de Rivoli, Paris
    4. to · Activity Walk the Tuileries from the Louvre toward Place de la Concorde Tuileries Garden, Paris
    5. to · Activity See the Seine near Pont de la Concorde or pause for coffee Pont de la Concorde, Paris
    6. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
    ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
  10. Day 10

    Versailles

    Europe/Paris Open map for Versailles
    1. to · Rail 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
    2. to · Activity 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
    3. to · Meal Lunch around Versailles town center Versailles, France
    4. to · Activity Explore the streets around Place du Marché Notre-Dame Place du Marché Notre-Dame, Versailles

      Check trading hours before relying on individual stalls.

    5. to · Rail Return to Paris Paris

      Use a published departure and allow time for the station walk.

    6. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
    ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
  11. Day 11

    Paris

    Europe/Paris Open map for Paris
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
    2. to · Meal 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.

    3. to · Activity Walk the market streets around Les Halles Les Halles, Paris
    4. to · Meal 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.

    5. to · Activity Walk to Place des Vosges through the Marais Place des Vosges, Paris
    6. to · Meal Pause at a neighborhood cafe Le Marais, Paris
    7. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
    ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
  12. Day 12

    Paris

    Europe/Paris Open map for Paris
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
    2. to · Activity Explore the Notre-Dame precinct on Île de la Cité Notre-Dame de Paris

      Check visitor entry if you plan to go inside.

      Official information
    3. to · Activity Follow the quays toward Île Saint-Louis Île Saint-Louis, Paris
    4. to · Meal Lunch near Saint-Paul Saint-Paul, Paris
    5. to · Activity Visit Musée Carnavalet if open Musée Carnavalet, Paris

      Check opening days and gallery access. Place des Vosges is a nearby fallback.

      Official information
    6. to · Activity Walk through the Marais courtyards and squares Le Marais, Paris

      Use publicly accessible routes.

    7. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
    ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
  13. Day 13

    Paris

    Europe/Paris Open map for Paris
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
    2. to · Activity Walk the Seine bookstalls toward Saint-Michel Quai Saint-Michel, Paris

      Individual stalls keep their own hours.

    3. to · Activity 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
    4. to · Meal Lunch in the Latin Quarter Latin Quarter, Paris
    5. to · Activity Walk around the Sorbonne and through Luxembourg Gardens Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

      Park hours vary by season.

    6. to · Meal Take a cafe break in Saint-Germain-des-Prés Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
    7. to · Meal Dinner near your hotel Paris
    ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9èmeParis
  14. Day 14

    Paris

    Europe/Paris Open map for Paris
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near your hotel Paris
    2. to · Lodging Check out and collect your bags ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème
    3. to · Activity Optional short walk near your hotel Paris

      Skip this stop if you need the time for departure.