ALeighton

Hello!
We just booked an impromptu trip to France next month and have no idea where to start!

We will arrive in Paris Sunday morning and depart the following Monday afternoon— so we have 8 nights…

We have been thinking of the following destinations— Paris, Versailles, Normandie, Champagne (Epernay and Reimes?), and maybe southern coast like French Riviera/Monaco if we have time? I don’t know what can be done and what is best timeline to go to these destinations without backtracking…

Assume we probably want at least two nights in Paris and two nights in Champagne— and can do day trips to Normandy/Versailles and use Paris as a home base? So maybe three nights in Paris?

Then perhaps three nights in south?

Any and ALL recommendations would be so appreciated! Would you recommend trains or driving? And any hotels/wineries/restaurants/tours would be amazing!

Thank you, thank you!!!

burta

It sounds as though you have not been to Paris before, and although it is not for everyone, it is quite a grand city and not to be missed. You will need more than two days to see its sights. Versaille and Champagne are close and doable as day trips, but not the south of France in the short time that you have. Save that for another trip.

bilboburgler

with such little time I would not spend it travelling to the south.

I think your focus on the north and Paris is sensible.
Note that your actual arrival days and departure days are pretty well washed out with stuff so

1) on arrival travel onto say Strasbourg (trust me), have your first night there do a visit down to Colmar and stay over the second night in Strasbourg
2) train to Epernay or Reims (no need to do both but you can if you want) for two nights (don't get fooled into taking the train back into Paris, there are ones that go Stras->Reims.
3) then Paris for the rest of your trip and there is so much to do in Paris that will be enough

seat61.com explains the whole train thing
Car? forget this old fashioned way of travel.

StuDudley

I agree with bilbobugler - except just visit Paris & Alsace, and visit Alsace by car. We were in Alsace this past Sept for 2 weeks - and I can't imaging visiting it without a car. Unless you just want to just see Strasbourg & Colmar. There are dozens of fabulous little villages in Alsace, plus Haut Koenigsourg castle. These really can't be reached by public transportation easily - especially with your very limited time schedule. We've spent 2 months in France almost every year since 1999, and IMO Alsace is much more interesting than Champagne

If you arrive at CDG before 9am, take the 11:22 TGV from CDG to Strasbourg that arrives at 1:12, & rent a car there. Stay in a little wine village like Kaysersberg. Perhaps don't even visit Strasbourg. It's a fabulous city - but you'll be in Paris & I would recommend a combination of countryside, small villages, and 1 large city (Paris). Colmar is smaller.

Here is a recent post I make about Alsace - my wife's Shutterfly photo book.
Alsace - Stu Dudley's Shutterfly book

Stu Dudley

Nlingenfel

Agree with burta, I want to go back to Lourdes, but from Normandy, it is 5 1/2 hours on the autostrada. If you have never been before, go on a night bus trip, it is too beautiful to imagine. If you get on Rome2Rio, you can find out how long it takes to get to the Rivera, and in the cities, which buses to take, it is the best useful website I have found for directions. Have a wonderful vacation. I'm 80 and going back in September.