Planning a trip to France can feel overwhelming at first, even if you’re used to trip-planning in your own country. With so many regions, charming towns, and world-famous sights to choose from, it’s easy to get lost in the details (especially when a lot of details are in French!).
The good news is that France is one of the best countries in the world to explore independently by car, and we’re more than happy to plan a personalized self-guided tour of France - just for you!
With our guidance, expertise, and recommendations, you can enjoy the flexibility of traveling at your own pace, staying in lovely B&Bs that we have personally selected for our travelers, and discovering hidden gems far from the tour bus crowds.
Here’s how to start planning a trip to France the way France Just For You travelers do it: comfortably, confidently, and with plenty of insider knowledge from us!
1. Decide Where (and When) to Go
Like any country, France is diverse. Paris, Provence, Normandy, Alsace, Dordogne, Brittany, the Basque Country, the French Riviera and all the other regions each have a distinct character, history, and cuisine.
We recommend visiting France in May, June, September or beginning-mid October if you can, as this avoids the busiest tourist season, and you’ll still have plenty of hours of daylight. The weather is also likely to be better than at other times of the year (not as hot as summer and not as cold as winter).
- Spring (April–June): Mild weather, blooming gardens, and lively markets.
- Summer (July–August): Festivals and long daylight hours, but more crowds.
- Autumn (September–October): Warm colors, harvest season, and quieter sights.
- Winter (November–March): Great for Christmas markets, museums, and restaurants; not the best time for outdoor activities, with shorter days and a greater chance of cold, wet weather.
If you’re new to France, consider pairing a few days in Paris with one or two other regions such as the coastlines of Normandy and Brittany or the castle-dotted countryside and vineyards of the Loire Valley.
If you’ve been to France before, why not focus on exploring beyond Paris, off the beaten track? Dordogne’s caves and castles, Alsace’s fairy-tale villages, or Bordeaux and the Basque Country’s Atlantic coast.
2. Explore France by Car for Maximum Flexibility
The train network is excellent for traveling quickly between major cities, but many of France’s most charming and memorable places - e.g. hilltop villages, farmers’ markets, and local vineyards - are easiest to reach by car.
- You can stop spontaneously for photo opportunities, picnics, or village walks.
- You’ll have the freedom to travel at your own pace rather than follow a group schedule.
- You can stay in beautiful countryside B&Bs that can’t be reached by public transport.
If you’re nervous about driving in France, don’t worry. Roads are well-maintained, signage is clear, and rural traffic is generally light.
We always arrange automatic car hire unless our travelers say they prefer a manual transmission, for extra comfort and ease when driving in France.
You may find our article on Driving in France for Americans or our Ultimate Guide to Driving in France helpful.
3. Choose Where to Stay: We Prefer B&Bs & Boutique Hotels
Large chain hotels are easy to find in France, but they’re rarely memorable. Staying in a small, personally run bed and breakfast gives you the chance to experience the best of French hospitality.
At France Just For You, we handpick B&Bs for their character, comfort, and location - often in historic houses or countryside manors. You’ll enjoy:
- Friendly hosts (that we know personally) who will give you a warm welcome, speak English, and love sharing tips about the area
- Delicious breakfasts (and sometimes hosted dinners - we’ll arrange for you to enjoy at least one hosted dinner when you book with us)
- Locations that are an easy drive from the region’s highlights
This is also the best way to meet locals and get to know other travelers, discover authentic restaurants, and feel part of French life rather than just passing through.
4. Plan Around Experiences, Not Just Sights
We think a trip to France should be about much more than ticking off landmarks. Some of the most memorable moments come from experiences you can’t get on a group tour:
- Cooking classes with local chefs or hosts
- Market visits with a local guide to introduce you to regional specialties
- Wine tastings in small family-run vineyards instead of big-name cellars
- Walking tours of medieval towns, led by local historians
- Cycling or kayaking - a wonderful way for active travelers to enjoy the landscapes up close
A good trip plan balances a few “must-sees” with time for slow travel and serendipitous discoveries.
5. Use an Expert to Save Time and Reduce Stress
Planning an independent trip to France takes time: choosing regions, plotting routes, finding accommodations, booking car hire, securing tickets for popular sites like the prehistoric caves that have limited daily entry numbers or popular sites like Mont-Saint-Michel abbey.
If you enjoy researching and organizing, that’s part of the fun. But as locals, we can recommend many hidden gems that most tourists don’t know about!
So, if you’d rather skip the stress and guesswork, consider booking with France Just For You.
We craft custom self-guided driving tours that combine freedom and flexibility with our local expertise, and take your wishes and preferences into account.
You’ll get:
- A personalized itinerary based on your interests and pace
- Pre-booked premium B&Bs or boutique hotels with friendly, hosts that speak some English
A rental car with automatic transmission and full insurance - Access to our MyFrance app which contains the itinerary for your entire trip, maps, GPS destinations, and restaurant tips
- Support from the France Just For You team via WhatsApp when you need it while you’re in France
It’s like traveling independently, with all the details planned by your own concierge.
6. Sample Itinerary: A Week in France Without the Crowds
Here’s an example of how your trip might look:
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Day 1–2: Paris
Explore the Marais neighborhood, visit the Louvre or Musée d’Orsay, and take a sunset cruise along the Seine to admire the city’s golden hour glow from the water.
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Day 3–4: Burgundy
Begin near Beaune, staying in a beautifully restored barn just minutes from some of the region’s most prestigious wine estates. A local guide will take you for a stroll through the vineyards of Meursault, where you’ll taste wines at a family-run winery and discover medieval villages and the elegant city of Dijon.
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Day 5–6: Lyon
Continue south to Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, where Renaissance alleyways, painted murals, and vibrant markets offer plenty to explore. Follow your nose into a traditional bouchon for regional specialties, sample cheeses and charcuterie at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, and wander the traboules (hidden passageways) of Vieux Lyon. With two nights here, you’ll have time to enjoy both the historic old town and the more contemporary riverside districts.
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Day 7–9: Provence
From Lyon, head into sun-drenched Provence, where you’ll stay in a lively town between Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon hills. From your charming B&B, explore Roman sites in Arles and Orange, wander hilltop villages, and ride an e-bike through lavender-scented countryside. Visit local markets, the salt marshes of the Camargue, and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, then cook alongside a local chef before enjoying your own Provençal feast under the stars.
The Paris to Provence on the Back Roads tour is ideal for travelers who have already explored Paris independently and want to explore beyond the capital with expert guidance from France Just For You!
To see more of our sample itineraries - all of which we can customize to suit your preferences - take a look at our France Tour Packages page.
7. Final Tips for Planning Your Trip to France
- Book early: Popular B&Bs and attractions can sell out months in advance.
- Bring some cash: While most places accept cards, small markets and rural cafés may prefer cash, especially outside major towns. It’s also good to have cash available for toll machines, in case you have problems using your credit card
- Be flexible and don’t try to do everything: Leave space in your schedule for a detour or a long lunch. In France, you are bound to fall in love with a particular village or attraction and decide you want to spend more time there. This means you won’t be able to do everything in your itinerary. But the beauty of a self-guided tour means that you have the flexibility to change your daily plans, if you wish.
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Exploring France by car is one of the most rewarding ways to travel. You’ll have the freedom to discover hidden gems, stay in memorable places, and experience French culture at your own pace.
If you’d like an expert to handle the planning - from itinerary design to car hire and booking premium accommodation we’ve tested ourselves - we’d be delighted to help.
Send us your France trip planning form
FAQs
How many days in France is enough?
It depends on how much you’d like to see - but for a comfortable self-guided itinerary that balances sightseeing with slower travel off the beaten track, we recommend:
- 7–10 days for two regions (e.g., Provence, Dordogne, Alsace, Loire Valley)
- 10–14 days if you’d like to combine three regions
- 3-4 weeks for a relaxed road trip covering several regions across France without feeling rushed
France rewards slow travel. Distances are short, but experiences are rich and diverse - from village markets and vineyard tastings to medieval towns and coastal scenery. Most travelers tell us their biggest regret is trying to fit too much into too short a trip!
How far in advance should you plan a trip to France?
For a smooth experience - especially if you’re traveling in areas that are popular with tourists - we recommend booking:
- 6–10 months in advance for May, June, September, or early October (peak months for good weather and vineyard travel)
- 12+ months in advance for the Christmas markets in Alsace or when traveling during major events such as the Tour de France, wine festivals, or a sports world cup being hosted in France
- 4-6+ months in advance for shoulder-season trips (April, early July, late October)
- Depending on the time of year and the regions you want to visit, we may be able to accommodate last-minute bookings made 2-3 months in advance.
Charming B&Bs, vineyard accommodations, and boutique hotels — the kind found on France Just For You itineraries — are small and fill quickly. Unlike big-chain hotels, once they’re full, they’re full.
If you’re traveling last-minute, it’s still possible, but you may need to be flexible with dates, room types, or region.
Planning early also helps with:
- reserving automatic cars (as there is limited availability in France)
- securing the most scenic accommodations
- booking the best guides and experiences (truffle hunts, cooking classes, wine tastings)
A little planning goes a long way toward a relaxed, memorable road trip.
