# Basque coast to southwest France · Short middle stop and a slower finish

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/open-jaw/basque-coast-to-southwest-france-z0680/>)

Short middle stop and a slower finish

- Region: Europe
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 13
- Interests: History, Nature, Arts & Theatre, Design, Food & Drink, Literature

## Route and nights

- Bilbao · 5 night(s)
- Bordeaux · 2 night(s)
- Paris · 6 night(s)

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

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 · 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 3 · Bilbao

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bilbao
- 09:30 to 12:15 · 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](<https://www.bilbaoturismo.net/>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near the river or Abando · Ría de Bilbao
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Choose a short second river loop or ride to the viewpoint if service fits · Ría de 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 · Bilbao

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bilbao
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Visit a focused group of Guggenheim galleries · Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Check current exhibitions, admission, and opening days. [Official information](<https://www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus/en>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch around Abandoibarra · Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk the riverfront past the public art and museum exterior · Guggenheim Museum 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 5 · Bilbao

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Bilbao
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Compare former industrial river sites and public waterfront reuse · Abandoibarra, Bilbao
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near Abandoibarra · Abandoibarra, Bilbao
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk toward Zubizuri and compare modern crossings and public architecture · Abandoibarra, 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 6 · 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 7 · 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 8 · 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 9 · Paris

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Paris
- 09:30 to 12:20 · 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](<https://www.louvre.fr/en/visit>)
- 12:35 to 13:40 · Lunch near Rue de Rivoli · Rue de Rivoli, Paris
- 13:55 to 15:15 · Walk the Tuileries from the Louvre toward Place de la Concorde · Tuileries Garden, Paris
- 15:30 to 17:00 · See the Seine near Pont de la Concorde or pause for coffee · Pont de la Concorde, 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 10 · 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 11 · 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 12 · Paris

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Paris
- 09:30 to 10:40 · 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](<https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/>)
- 10:55 to 12:05 · Follow the quays toward Île Saint-Louis · Île Saint-Louis, Paris
- 12:20 to 13:30 · Lunch near Saint-Paul · Saint-Paul, Paris
- 13:45 to 15:25 · Visit Musée Carnavalet if open · Musée Carnavalet, Paris. Check opening days and gallery access. Place des Vosges is a nearby fallback. [Official information](<https://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/en>)
- 15:40 to 17:15 · Walk through the Marais courtyards and squares · Le Marais, Paris. Use publicly accessible routes.
- 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
- 09:30 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 14 · 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.