The French Riviera and the French capital make one of the great travel pairings in Europe — the energy and culture of Paris balanced against the warmth, light and easy pleasures of Nice and the Mediterranean coast. These multi-city packages from Canada connect both cities by train, with select itineraries adding a stop in Lyon along the way. All packages include return flights from Canada, intercity rail tickets, hotel accommodation, daily breakfast and a selection of meals. These are independent, non-guided itineraries — the travel between cities is fully arranged, and the rest of the time is yours.

France’s high-speed TGV rail network makes this kind of trip genuinely comfortable. Paris to Lyon takes approximately two hours; Lyon to Nice a further three. Travelling by train means arriving directly into the heart of each city, with the landscape of Provence and the Rhône valley unfolding outside the window en route.

Departure airports: nonstop service to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) operates year-round from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) with Air France and Air Transat, with a flight time of approximately 7 to 7.5 hours. Travellers from other Canadian cities connect through Toronto or other North American hubs. If you do not see your departure city listed, please call us — we can price options not shown on our website.

Paris

Every itinerary in this collection includes time in Paris, and the city rewards every day you give it. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the recently restored Notre-Dame Cathedral are the headline sights, but Paris has a depth that goes well beyond the landmarks. The covered passages of the 2nd arrondissement, the bistros and galleries of the Marais, the hilltop village feel of Montmartre and long evening walks along the Seine all belong to a slower, more local version of the city that is just as rewarding. The food and wine — morning croissants, long brasserie lunches, late dinners in neighbourhood restaurants — are woven into every part of the day.

Lyon

Select itineraries route through Lyon, France’s capital of gastronomy and one of the most liveable and characterful cities in the country. Built at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon has a UNESCO-listed historic centre threaded with traboules — the hidden covered passageways originally used by the city’s silk weavers that now connect hidden courtyards and quiet streets across the old districts of Vieux-Lyon and La Croix-Rousse. The city’s bouchons — traditional Lyonnaise restaurants with checked tablecloths and menus built around the hearty, ingredient-led cooking of the region — are the best argument for stopping here rather than passing through. Lyon is approximately two hours south of Paris by TGV and three hours north of Nice, making it a natural and rewarding midpoint on any multi-city itinerary.

Nice and the French Riviera

Nice is the capital of the French Riviera and one of the most appealing city-beach destinations in Europe. The Promenade des Anglais — the wide seafront boulevard that curves along the Bay of Angels — is one of the great seaside walks in the world, and the beach culture of Nice is genuine and relaxed rather than manicured. The Vieux-Nice (Old Town) is a dense, colourful maze of baroque architecture, morning markets and open-air restaurants that owes as much to the city’s Italian history as to France. The Cours Saleya flower and food market is one of the finest daily markets in the country.

Nice is also an exceptional base for the wider Riviera. Monaco, the glamorous city-state with its legendary casino and harbour full of superyachts, is just 20 minutes by train along the coast. Cannes, Antibes and the perched hill villages of the arrière-pays — including Èze, which clings to a clifftop above the sea — are all within easy reach by train or local bus. The combination of beach, culture, cuisine and day-trip potential makes Nice one of the most complete bases on the Mediterranean.

Best time to visit and typical weather

The Paris–Nice route covers two distinct climate zones, which gives the itinerary a useful flexibility: even when Paris is cool and overcast, Nice is likely to be warm and bright.

• Spring (April to June): the best overall window for this itinerary. Paris is at its most beautiful (14 to 22°C), Lyon is warm and uncrowded, and Nice is sunny and comfortable (18 to 24°C) without the intensity of high summer. The Riviera’s flower markets and hillside villages are at their best in May.
• Summer (July to August): Paris is busy and warm (24 to 32°C); Nice and the Riviera are in peak season (27 to 32°C) with warm sea temperatures ideal for swimming. The most popular travel window, so advance booking for hotels and any sightseeing is strongly recommended.
• Fall (September to October): an excellent time for this route. Paris and Lyon cool pleasantly to 13 to 20°C; Nice remains genuinely warm (20 to 26°C) with sea temperatures still comfortable for swimming through September. Crowds thin noticeably from mid-September and hotel rates ease.
• Winter (November to March): Paris and Lyon are cool and quiet (4 to 9°C) but rewarding for museum-focused travellers and those visiting in December for the festive season. Nice stays mild by Canadian standards (12 to 15°C) and the Riviera is largely crowd-free — a genuine advantage for travellers who want to experience the coast without the summer intensity.

Not sure which itinerary suits your travel style and timeline? Speak with one of our agents who has been to France and can help you choose between options, plan the right amount of time in each city and sort out the hotel neighbourhoods. Call us at 1-800-665-4981.