# France from museums to the Mediterranean · Three bases with a stop in the middle

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/open-jaw/france-from-museums-to-the-mediterranean-z0618/>)

Three bases with a stop in the middle

- Region: Europe
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 9
- Interests: Design, Food & Drink, Nature, History

## Route and nights

- Paris · 3 night(s)
- Lyon · 3 night(s)
- Nice · 3 night(s)

Tradeoff: A middle stop adds a different experience and a hotel change. Keep both move days light.

Compare: Rail

## Day-by-day agenda

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

### Day 1 · Paris

- 15:30 to 16:15 · Check in and drop your bags · citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon
- 16:35 to 17:35 · Take a short orientation walk near the hotel · Coulée verte René-Dumont, Paris. Skip this block if you arrive later.
- 17:50 to 19:15 · Have dinner near the hotel · Gare de Lyon, Paris
Overnight: [citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon](<https://www.hotels.com/ho675022/citizenm-paris-gare-de-lyon-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 2 · Paris

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Have breakfast near the first stop · Square Montholon, Paris. Allow time to reach this neighborhood from the hotel before breakfast.
- 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 · Gare de Lyon, Paris
Overnight: [citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon](<https://www.hotels.com/ho675022/citizenm-paris-gare-de-lyon-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 3 · Paris

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Have breakfast near the first stop · Rue Montorgueil, Paris. Allow time to reach this neighborhood from the hotel before breakfast.
- 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 · Gare de Lyon, Paris
Overnight: [citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon](<https://www.hotels.com/ho675022/citizenm-paris-gare-de-lyon-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 4 · Lyon

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Have breakfast before checking out · Gare de Lyon, Paris
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Check out and allow time to reach the departure point · citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon
- 09:45 to 12:50 · Travel from Paris to Lyon · Paris Gare de Lyon. Confirm the Paris station and whether your ticket arrives at Lyon Part-Dieu or Perrache. Use the confirmed times for the journey you book.
- 13:00 to 14:00 · Have lunch near your new base · Lyon Perrache
- 14:30 to 15:25 · Drop bags and check in when the room is ready · ibis Lyon Centre Perrache
- 15:40 to 16:30 · Take a short orientation walk if time allows · Place Carnot, Lyon
- 17:45 to 19:00 · Have dinner near your new hotel · Lyon Perrache
Overnight: [ibis Lyon Centre Perrache](<https://www.hotels.com/ho124501/ibis-lyon-centre-perrache-lyon-france/>) · Lyon

### Day 5 · Lyon

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Lyon Perrache
- 09:30 to 10:20 · Travel uphill to the Croix-Rousse plateau · Croix-Rousse, Lyon
- 10:30 to 12:05 · Explore silk-weaving history at Maison des Canuts if open · Maison des Canuts, Lyon. Check current admission and demonstration times. Use a street walk if the schedule does not fit. [Official information](<https://maisondescanuts.fr/>)
- 12:20 to 13:30 · Lunch around Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse · Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon
- 13:50 to 16:35 · Follow a public route down the Croix-Rousse slopes · Montée de la Grande-Côte, Lyon. Use transit if you want to avoid long stair sections.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Lyon Perrache
Overnight: [ibis Lyon Centre Perrache](<https://www.hotels.com/ho124501/ibis-lyon-centre-perrache-lyon-france/>) · Lyon

### Day 6 · Lyon

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Lyon Perrache
- 09:25 to 10:15 · Travel to the southern edge of Parc de la Tête d’Or · Parc de la Tête d’Or, Lyon
- 10:20 to 12:20 · Walk a lakeside loop in Parc de la Tête d’Or · Parc de la Tête d’Or, Lyon. Check park gates and the hours for any indoor stop. [Official information](<https://www.lyon.fr/lieu/parcs/parc-de-la-tete-dor>)
- 12:35 to 13:45 · Lunch in the Brotteaux area · Les Brotteaux, Lyon
- 14:00 to 16:35 · Walk the Brotteaux streets or return to the park · Les Brotteaux, Lyon. Use the second park loop only if you want more outdoor time.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Lyon Perrache
Overnight: [ibis Lyon Centre Perrache](<https://www.hotels.com/ho124501/ibis-lyon-centre-perrache-lyon-france/>) · Lyon

### Day 7 · Nice

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Have breakfast before checking out · Lyon Perrache
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Check out and allow time to reach the departure point · ibis Lyon Centre Perrache
- 09:45 to 16:15 · Travel from Lyon to Nice · Lyon Part-Dieu Station. Check whether the booked service is direct or changes at Marseille, and leave time for that connection. Use the confirmed times for the journey you book.
- 16:25 to 17:20 · Check in after you reach the new base · Hôtel Florence Nice. Keep dinner flexible if the transfer runs late.
- 17:45 to 19:00 · Have dinner near your new hotel · Jean Médecin, Nice
Overnight: [Hôtel Florence Nice](<https://www.hotels.com/ho202245/hotel-florence-nice-nice-france/>) · Nice

### Day 8 · Nice

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Avenue Jean Médecin, Nice
- 09:30 to 10:45 · Walk from Place Masséna to the Promenade des Anglais · Place Masséna, Nice
- 11:00 to 12:15 · Compare seafront facades around the Hôtel Negresco · Hôtel Negresco, Nice. Plan this as an exterior architecture stop.
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near the Carré d’Or · Carré d’Or, Nice
- 13:55 to 16:45 · Follow a short architecture loop through the Carré d’Or · Carré d’Or, Nice. Include a coffee stop if you prefer a slower afternoon.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Avenue Jean Médecin, Nice
Overnight: [Hôtel Florence Nice](<https://www.hotels.com/ho202245/hotel-florence-nice-nice-france/>) · Nice

### Day 9 · Nice

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Avenue Jean Médecin, Nice
- 09:30 to 10:15 · Travel to the Cimiez archaeological area · Cimiez, Nice
- 10:25 to 12:15 · Explore the Cimiez Roman remains and archaeology museum if open · Musée d’Archéologie de Nice Cimiez. Check which areas are accessible before heading uphill.
- 12:30 to 13:35 · Lunch near Cimiez or a packed picnic · Cimiez, Nice
- 13:50 to 16:35 · Look around the public gardens and exterior monastery precinct · Monastère de Cimiez, Nice. If you visited the gardens on the Matisse day, shorten this loop and return to the city.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Avenue Jean Médecin, Nice
Overnight: [Hôtel Florence Nice](<https://www.hotels.com/ho202245/hotel-florence-nice-nice-france/>) · Nice

### Day 10 · Nice

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Have breakfast near the hotel · Jean Médecin, Nice
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Take an optional last walk · Place Masséna, Nice. Skip the walk if you have an early departure.
- 10:00 to 10:30 · Check out and collect luggage · Hôtel Florence Nice
- 10:30 to 11:30 · Allow time for onward travel · Jean Médecin, Nice. Use the confirmed departure and pickup times from your booking.