La Roque-Gageac under its cliff on the Dordogne
Paris · Rouen · Honfleur · Bayeux · Loire Valley · Bordeaux · Dordogne · 14 days itinerary

France from Paris to the Dordogne in 14 Days

Photo: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

This trip starts with three days exploring central Paris, including Sainte-Chapelle, Montmartre and the Marais. It continues to Normandy for Rouen, Honfleur and the D-Day sites, then drives south through the Loire chateaux and Bordeaux to end in the Dordogne. The sequence follows a logical north-to-south path after an initial train out of Paris.

14 daysParisNormandyLoire ValleyDordogneBy travli· Checked by the travli team, September 2026

Day by day

Day 1

Paris: the islands

  1. 9:30ParisSight
  2. 11:00ParisSight
  3. 13:00ParisWalk
  4. 15:00ParisWalk
Day 2

Paris: Montmartre and the Orsay

  1. 9:00ParisSight
  2. 10:00ParisSight
  3. 11:00ParisWalk
  4. 15:00ParisSight
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Day 3

Paris: the Marais

  1. 10:00ParisSight
  2. 12:00ParisSight
  3. 14:00ParisSight
  4. 16:30ParisWalk
Day 4

Rouen

  1. 9:00Train to RouenParisTransfer
  2. 11:00Rouen, NormandySight
  3. 13:30Rouen, NormandyWalk
  4. 15:00Rouen, NormandySight
Day 5

Honfleur, then Bayeux

  1. 9:00Pick up a hire carRouenTransfer
  2. 10:30Honfleur, NormandyWalk
  3. 12:00Honfleur, NormandySight
  4. 15:30Drive to BayeuxHonfleur, NormandyTransfer
Day 6

Bayeux and the D-Day beaches

  1. 9:30Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de NormandieBayeux, NormandySight
  2. 11:00Bayeux, NormandySight
  3. 14:00Normandy coastDay trip
  4. 15:30Colleville-sur-MerSight
Day 7

To the Loire: Amboise

  1. 8:30Drive to the Loire ValleyBayeuxTransfer
  2. 14:00Amboise, Loire ValleySight
  3. 16:00Amboise, Loire ValleySight
Day 8

Chenonceau and Chambord

  1. 9:30Château de ChenonceauChenonceauxDay trip
  2. 14:30ChambordSight
Day 9

To Bordeaux

  1. 8:30Drive to BordeauxLoire ValleyTransfer
  2. 15:00BordeauxSight
  3. 15:30BordeauxWalk
  4. 17:00BordeauxWalk
Day 10

Bordeaux

  1. 9:30BordeauxSight
  2. 11:00Musée d'AquitaineBordeauxSight
  3. 14:30La Cité du VinBordeauxSight
Day 11

Saint-Émilion

  1. 9:30Saint-ÉmilionDay trip
  2. 11:00Saint-ÉmilionSight
  3. 14:30Saint-ÉmilionSight
Day 12

To the Dordogne: Sarlat

  1. 9:00Drive to SarlatBordeauxTransfer
  2. 13:00Sarlat-la-CanédaSarlat, DordogneWalk
  3. 16:00VézacSight
Day 13

Castles on the Dordogne

  1. 9:30Beynac-et-CazenacSight
  2. 12:00DordogneWalk
  3. 14:00Canoeing on the DordogneDordogneSight
  4. 16:30Castelnaud-la-ChapelleSight
Day 14

Lascaux and Domme

  1. 9:30Lascaux IVMontignacSight
  2. 14:30DordogneWalk
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Questions about this trip

Do I need to book Sainte-Chapelle tickets ahead?

Yes. Book a timed slot on the official site at least a week ahead, especially in summer.

When should I pick up a rental car for Normandy and the Loire?

Collect the car in Rouen on the morning of day 5 and keep it to the end of the trip. One-way rentals cost more, so compare prices early.

Do I need reservations for Loire Valley chateaus?

Book Chenonceau and Chambord online a week or two ahead in summer. Timed tickets cut the queues at peak hours.

How do I arrange wine tasting in Saint-Émilion?

Reserve a tasting slot through the tourist office or chateau websites. Sessions run 10 to 20 euros and last about one hour.

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