France: Paris, the Riviera, and a Beautiful Start to Europe
Updated: Aug 31
France was the perfect place to begin this trip. Paris gave us that classic European introduction, elegant, energetic, and just a little romantic; while the French Riviera slowed everything down in the best possible way. Together, they created a first chapter that eased us into Europe, beginning with grand boulevards and iconic landmarks before giving way to Mediterranean sunshine and a much gentler pace.
Looking back, I can't imagine a better way to start. Those first few days gave us time to recover from the long flights, settle into a new rhythm, and enjoy Europe without feeling rushed before the rest of the adventure unfolded.
Part 1 of Our Europe Journey
This is the France chapter of our two-week journey through France, Switzerland, and Italy. If you haven't read the story behind the trip yet, start with From Paris to Rome: A Dreamy European Escape, where I share how this journey came together and how each destination fit into the bigger adventure.
Now, let's begin with France.
France at a Glance
5 days · 2 bases · Paris to the French Riviera
The route:
Paris → Nice → Antibes → Cannes → Èze → Villefranche-sur-Mer
The highlights:
The Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Arc de Triomphe, Nice's Old Town, Antibes, Èze, and the Mediterranean coastline.
The experience:
A gentle introduction to Europe, beginning with Paris's grand boulevards and iconic landmarks before slowing down along the French Riviera.
Favorite destination: Èze
Best base: Nice, especially for exploring the surrounding Riviera by train.
Most unforgettable moment:
Seeing Sainte-Chapelle illuminated by afternoon sunlight.
Worth skipping:
Cannes, unless you're specifically interested in the film festival or luxury shopping.
Best tip:
Book Eiffel Tower tickets and long-distance trains as early as possible.
A note on pace:
Five days gave us enough time to experience both Paris and the Riviera without feeling as though we were constantly rushing from one attraction to the next.
Our biggest lesson:
Stay flexible. Train cancellations, construction, and transport disruptions can change even the best-planned day, and sometimes the unexpected alternative turns out to be just as memorable.
Day 1: Paris, A Classic Beginning
We started in Paris, and it immediately felt like the right choice. There is something about arriving in Paris that makes a trip feel bigger from the very beginning, more cinematic, more special, and somehow more intentional.
Our first base was Hotel Apostrophe, tucked away on a quiet residential street in the Left Bank. After an overnight flight, it was exactly what we needed: comfortable, welcoming, and within easy walking distance of cafés, restaurants, and the Luxembourg Gardens. Rather than feeling like another hotel, it became a peaceful place to reset before diving into the energy of Paris.
We'd planned our flights to arrive around the same time, which made finally meeting in Paris feel even more special. After checking in around 2 p.m., we made what was probably the smartest decision of the day after a 10-plus-hour flight, we slept.
Getting Around Paris
We found public transportation surprisingly easy to navigate in Paris. We used a combination of buses, trams, the metro, and trains depending on where we were headed, and it made getting around the city much easier than relying on a car.
One thing that's helpful to know is that the Paris transit system uses different tickets depending on which type of transportation you're taking. Bus-Tram tickets allow transfers for up to 90 minutes, while Metro-Train-RER tickets are valid for up to two hours from the first validation, as long as you stay within the permitted network and don't exit.
If you're planning to move around the city several times a day, it's worth checking the Île-de-France Mobilités app or website before you go so you know which ticket you need for each journey. Once we got the hang of it, the system was straightforward and made exploring Paris feel surprisingly effortless.
By evening, we were ready for our first Paris moment, and there was no better way to begin than with the Eiffel Tower.
If visiting the summit is on your Paris bucket list, book your tickets as early as possible through the official site. Lift tickets often sell out weeks in advance, while stair-access tickets are typically released only about two weeks before each date and disappear quickly during peak season. Booking early not only guarantees your preferred time but is usually much cheaper than relying on third-party resellers.
We concluded our evening with a pleasant dinner at a cafe near the tower, before taking the metro back to our hotel.
Day 2: Iconic Paris: Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle & the Arc de Triomphe
After easing into the city the night before, our first full day was dedicated to Paris's most iconic landmarks. Rather than rushing between attractions, we let the city set the pace, wandering from Notre-Dame to Sainte-Chapelle before continuing toward the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe.
If you’re planning to visit Notre-Dame, I’d strongly recommend checking for a timed reservation in advance. It makes the visit much smoother, and if you arrive a little early, they often allow you to enter about 15 minutes before your reserved time. That little bit of planning can save you a lot of hassle.
La Sainte-Chapelle was one of the absolute highlights of the day. It really is a jewel of Gothic architecture, and the stained glass alone makes it worth visiting. Stepping inside felt almost surreal. Sunlight poured through towering stained-glass windows, filling the chapel with shifting colors that made the entire space seem to glow. It remains one of the most unforgettable interiors we saw anywhere on the trip.
The Arc de Triomphe is one of those landmarks that's almost as impressive from the outside as it is from the top. Unless you're particularly interested in the rooftop views, simply walking around its base and appreciating its scale is enough to leave an impression.
We ended the evening with dinner at Riz Riz Paradis, a cozy little spot with fabulous vegan food that was absolutely worth stopping for. After dinner, we made our way to the Louvre for a few photos. We wanted to see the famous pyramid lit up at night, and it was one of those Paris moments that really does stay with you.
The evening felt wonderfully Parisian right up until we made the questionable decision to walk the 40 minutes back to our hotel. What had seemed like a fun idea gradually became less enjoyable as the streets grew quieter, and by the end we were wishing we'd simply called an Uber.
If there's one lesson I'd pass on, it's this: late at night, don't feel guilty about paying for the ride. The extra peace of mind is well worth it.
Day 3: Paris to Nice, and the Riviera Begins
By Day 3, it was time to leave Paris and head south to the French Riviera. We took the train from Paris to Nice, a journey of about five hours, long enough to feel like a real transition, but easy enough to make the move without feeling exhausting.
I booked our France trains using SNCF Connect, which worked well throughout the French portion of the trip. You can also use SBB for France and Switzerland if you prefer keeping everything in one app; the prices were comparable, and having a single platform can be convenient when you're juggling multiple train legs.
If possible, I'd avoid relying on Rail Europe or other third-party booking sites unless you really need to. They can be useful, but convenience fees can add up quickly. For a trip like this, I found it worthwhile to have at least a rough schedule in place and book the longer train journeys early.
We arrived in Nice in the late afternoon, and it seemed like the journey immediately changed pace. Stepping out of Nice Ville station felt like entering a completely different side of France. Paris's grand boulevards gave way to palm trees, sea air, colourful buildings, and a noticeably slower pace. Within minutes, it was obvious that this chapter of the trip would feel entirely different.
We checked in at Hotel Monsigny in Nice, and it became an excellent base for exploring both Nice and the surrounding Riviera. Its location near the train station made day trips effortless, while returning each evening to the rooftop terrace felt like a small reward after long days of sightseeing.
Getting Around Nice:
In Nice, we used the reusable La Carte, and regular bus and tram tickets allowed transfers for 74 minutes, which made getting around the city very easy. The Nice card also came with a €2 deposit, which we got back at the end of the trip when we returned the card to an official Lignes d’Azur sales point.
We explored the beautiful Old Town first, with its narrow streets, lively atmosphere, and that cozy, almost maze-like feel that makes you want to keep wandering just to see what is around the next corner.
One of my favourite discoveries was Fenocchio, a famous gelato shop with an almost absurd number of flavours. Choosing became part of the experience, with everything from traditional favourites to unusual creations that you'd probably never expect to find in an ice cream shop. It was the perfect excuse to slow down before wandering along the waterfront as evening settled over Nice.
By the time we were done exploring, I really did not want to head back; Nice had that kind of easy charm that makes you want to stay out just a little longer. But we knew Day 4 was going to be a full one, so we forced ourselves to go back and rest, which turned out to be the right decision.
Day 4: Exploring the French Riviera by Train
Having settled into Nice, Day 4 was dedicated to exploring more of the Riviera by train. One of the things we quickly came to appreciate was just how easy it was to move between coastal towns without needing a car.
Antibes turned out to be exactly the kind of Riviera town that's easy to enjoy without over-planning. Compact, relaxed, and full of seaside charm, it was perfect for a leisurely wander, even if a few hours felt like enough to experience its highlights.
Cannes never quite lived up to our expectations. While the city certainly has its famous name and polished reputation, for us it felt noticeably more commercial than the rest of the Riviera we experienced. Looking back, we would have preferred to spend that time exploring another coastal village instead.
Returning to Nice earlier than planned turned out to be one of the best decisions of the day. The city simply suited our travel style better, and spending the evening wandering its lively streets over dinner and drinks reminded us why we'd enjoyed using it as our base in the first place.
Day 5: Èze, Beach Time, and a Birthday Dinner
Day 5 ended up being one of the most memorable days of the trip. We started with Èze, and honestly, if there was one place on the French Riviera that completely exceeded expectations, it was Èze. Perched high above the Mediterranean, the medieval village felt almost suspended in time. Narrow stone lanes twisted between flower-covered walls, tiny cafés spilled onto quiet squares, and nearly every corner opened onto another breathtaking view of the coastline below.
At the very top of the village sits the Jardin Exotique, where cacti and succulents frame sweeping views across the Mediterranean. It wasn't just a garden, it was one of the best viewpoints we found anywhere on the Riviera, and well worth the climb.
We had originally hoped to continue on to Monaco, but train cancellations tied to construction made that plan too complicated, and the timing just wasn’t on our side. Instead, we headed to Villefranche-sur-Mer for a beach stop, which sounded like the perfect way to round out the afternoon. The reality, however, didn't quite match our expectations. The beach was far busier than we'd imagined, the afternoon heat was intense, and ongoing transport disruptions made getting back to Nice more complicated than expected. Sometimes even beautiful places just don't align with the day you've planned.
Once we were back in Nice, the evening shifted into birthday mode. We went to Tigermilk for dinner, a lively Mexican-inspired restaurant that felt fun and festive without trying too hard. It was such a nice choice for a birthday dinner, good food, a cheerful atmosphere, and that easy feeling of being somewhere that just fit the moment. After dinner, we took a slow stroll along the beach, stopped for gelato, picked up a few souvenirs, and then called it an early night since we needed to be up early for Switzerland the next morning.
Continue the Journey
← Back to the beginning
From Paris to Rome: A Dreamy European Escape , the full story of our two-week journey through France, Switzerland, and Italy.
Next stop: Switzerland →
Switzerland: Mountains, Waterfalls, and a Change of Pace, the next chapter of the journey takes us into Switzerland for mountain scenery, scenic train rides, and a completely different pace.
