# France from museums to the Mediterranean · More time in the middle and at the far end

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/open-jaw/france-from-museums-to-the-mediterranean-z0619/>)

More time in the middle and at the far end

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

## Route and nights

- Paris · 3 night(s)
- Lyon · 6 night(s)
- Nice · 5 night(s)

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

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 · ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème
- 16:35 to 17:35 · Take a short orientation walk near the hotel · Passage des Panoramas, Paris. Skip this block if you arrive later.
- 17:50 to 19:15 · Have dinner near the hotel · Grands Boulevards, Paris
Overnight: [ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème](<https://fr.hotels.com/ho178499/ibis-paris-grands-boulevards-opera-9th-paris-france/>) · Paris

### Day 2 · 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 3 · 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 4 · Lyon

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Have breakfast before checking out · Grands Boulevards, Paris
- 09:00 to 09:45 · Check out and allow time to reach the departure point · ibis Paris Grands Boulevards Opéra 9ème
- 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
- 09:25 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 6 · Lyon

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Lyon Perrache
- 09:30 to 10:15 · Travel to the Monplaisir neighborhood · Monplaisir, Lyon
- 10:25 to 12:10 · Visit the Musée Lumière for early film history · Institut Lumière, Lyon. Check museum opening and whether you want a separate film screening. [Official information](<https://www.institut-lumiere.org/>)
- 12:25 to 13:35 · Lunch near Place Ambroise Courtois · Place Ambroise Courtois, Lyon
- 13:50 to 16:45 · Walk the Monplaisir streets or add a scheduled screening · Monplaisir, Lyon. Move the afternoon block to a real screening time if you choose one.
- 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 · Lyon

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Lyon Perrache
- 09:25 to 10:50 · Browse the stalls at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse · Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. Check individual stall hours. Make this a browsing stop if you plan a full lunch later. [Official information](<https://www.halles-de-lyon-paulbocuse.com/>)
- 11:05 to 12:05 · Walk toward the Rhône and cross into the Presqu’île · Pont de la Guillotière, Lyon
- 12:20 to 13:45 · Have lunch at a Lyon bouchon · Presqu’île, Lyon. Check the lunch service and reserve if your chosen dining room requires it.
- 14:05 to 16:50 · Walk the squares around Bellecour and the Saône · Place Bellecour, Lyon. A shorter square-to-square loop works after a long lunch.
- 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 8 · Lyon

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Lyon Perrache
- 09:25 to 10:10 · Travel uphill toward Fourvière · Fourvière, Lyon. Check funicular service if you want to avoid the climb.
- 10:20 to 12:20 · Visit the Roman theaters and Lugdunum museum if open · Lugdunum, Lyon. Check museum hours and allow time for the hilltop route. [Official information](<https://lugdunum.grandlyon.com/>)
- 12:35 to 13:45 · Lunch in Vieux Lyon · Vieux Lyon, Lyon
- 14:05 to 16:55 · Walk Vieux Lyon around Saint-Jean and the public lanes · Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Lyon. Keep passageways optional and use only those open to the public.
- 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 9 · 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 10 · 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 11 · 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 12 · Antibes

- 08:20 to 10:05 · Travel by train from Nice to Antibes · Antibes railway station. Choose an actual train and include the walk from the station. [Official information](<https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur>)
- 10:15 to 12:00 · Visit Musée Picasso if open · Musée Picasso, Antibes. Check the hours and use the Old Town route as a fallback. [Official information](<https://www.antibes-juanlespins.com/>)
- 12:15 to 13:30 · Lunch in the Antibes Old Town · Antibes, France
- 13:45 to 15:45 · Walk the old ramparts and the harbor-side lanes · Port Vauban, Antibes
- 16:00 to 17:40 · Return by train to Nice · Nice-Ville railway station. Allow time to reach the station and adjust to a published service.
- 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 13 · Nice

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Avenue Jean Médecin, Nice
- 09:25 to 10:45 · Browse Cours Saleya market stalls if trading · Cours Saleya, Nice. Check the market calendar. Market type and trading hours can vary.
- 11:00 to 12:05 · Explore Old Town lanes around Place Rossetti · Place Rossetti, Nice
- 12:15 to 13:35 · Have socca and lunch in the Old Town · Vieux Nice. Check kitchen hours and order the amount that suits a shared or solo lunch.
- 13:50 to 16:40 · Walk to the harbor edge and back through the Old Town · Port Lympia, Nice
- 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 14 · Nice

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Avenue Jean Médecin, Nice
- 09:30 to 11:40 · Visit Castle Hill for views over the bay and port · Colline du Château, Nice. Check the park gates and any elevator closures. Use the seafront if the climb is a poor fit.
- 11:55 to 12:35 · Walk down toward Quai des États-Unis · Quai des États-Unis, Nice
- 12:45 to 13:55 · Lunch near the waterfront · Vieux Nice
- 14:10 to 16:45 · Walk a manageable stretch of the Promenade des Anglais · Promenade des Anglais, Nice. Choose your turnaround point based on heat, wind, and how far you want to walk.
- 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 15 · 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.