The Splendor of the City of Light and Discovery of Normandy - French Side Travel

The Splendor of the City of Light and Discovery of Normandy

10 days | History & Culture, Wine & Food

Experience the incredible City of Light along with the must-see highlights of Normandy

Premium | From $6,299 pp

This trip offers the perfect blend of Paris and the Normandy region. You'll see the highlights of the City of Light including a full-day private guided tour of the city with the Louvre Museum, take a wonderful cruise along the Seine River, and reach the top of the Eiffel Tower. Next, you'll be off to Normandy where you'll visit the picturesque towns of Honfleur and Deauville, take in the powerful World War II landing beaches and memorials, and finish your time in Normandy with a stop to see the legendary Mont Saint-Michel. This tour truly brings together the best of the French capital and Normandy region!

Day by Day

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Day 1: Paris

Private Transfer from the Airport to your Accommodation

A private driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you safely to your accommodation in a Peugeot 508, VW Sharan, VW Caravelle, or similar vehicle.

Overnight Stay with Breakfast in a Classic Room at a 4-star Boutique Hotel in the Opera Garnier District

Day 2: Paris

Full-Day Private Tour of Paris Including a Guided Louvre Tour with a Licensed Driver Guide

Experience the beautiful city of Paris and its wonderful monuments, museums and the architectural wonders, and the ever famous Louvre museum with a licensed driver-guide.

Your driver will pick you from your hotel for a full-day tour of Paris in a Peugeot 508, VW Caravelle, or similar vehicle.

Pass by the Opera Garnier, one of the world’s most famous opera houses, the Place Vendôme, Paris’ most luxurious square, and the Place de la Bastille brimming with history. Tour the religious and historic heart of Paris the Cathedral of Notre Dame, renowned for its Gothic architecture made famous by Victor Hugo’s novel. Pass by the Madeleine Church, Montmartre, and the Sacre-Coeur. You’ll finish with a guided tour of the Louvre.

Before it became a museum in 1793, the Louvre had long been one of the principal palaces of the Kings of France. Located right in the heart of Paris, the Louvre’s galleries stretch for 786,000 square feet and are home to the world’s largest collection of artworks, spanning more than 7,000 years. After visiting the Louvre, the tour ends with the Champs-Élysées, Paris’ most famous and most beautiful avenue.

Your licensed driver guide will drop you off at your hotel after the tour.

Overnight Stay with Breakfast in a Classic Room at a 4-star Boutique Hotel in the Opera Garnier District

Day 3: Paris

Full-Day Custom Private Tour in a Luxury Vehicle

Enjoy a tailor-made tour with an English-speaking driver.

Suggestion: Shopping in the First Arrondissement

The first arrondissement is a heavenly spot for shoppers! Elegant and trendy shops line the refined Rue de Rivoli, popular Place des Victoires and surround the beautiful gardens at the Palais-Royal. Located within easy walking distance of the Louvre Museum, these are spots dedicated shoppers won’t want to miss!

Place Vendôme is one of the seats of elegance in the 1st arrondissement. This grand square is surrounded by 18th-century arcaded buildings and at the center stands the tall column built by Napoleon to celebrate the victory of the Battle of Austerlitz. Stroll around Place Vendôme, where you’ll find some of the biggest names in fashion and jewelry in the world, including Cartier, Bulgari, Chanel, Tiffany’s, Dior, Van Cleef & Arpels, Rolex, Montblanc, and many more.

Entrance to the Eiffel Tower with Third Floor Summit Access

Skip the line and visit the very top of the most famous monument in the world – the Eiffel Tower! Save time by going directly to the 3rd floor via elevator with your skip-the-line ticket. You’ll outsmart the thousands of people waiting in line with priority access to the very top!

At 984 feet high, you will admire the unarguable best areal views that Paris has to offer and see the main monuments such as the Louvre Museum, the Invalides, and many more from an unparalleled perspective.

However fantastic views are not the only thing you’ll see at the very top. The office of Mr. Eiffel himself is a room he had reserved at the top of the tower to welcome his visitors.

In several places there are illuminated panels with some pictures from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, sometimes even more recently. We see the engineers who designed the tower, Gustave Eiffel the contractor, the architect Sauvestre and Emile Nouguier, the designer. There is also a sign explaining how the inauguration of the tower took place in 1889, and the opportunity to see up close the technical installations at the top of the tower. 

Finally, there is a champagne bar on the 3rd floor of the Eiffel Tower with a server offering two varieties of champagnes by Alain Ducasse: a white and a rosé. How many chances in your life will you get to sip champagne at the very top of the Eiffel? Not very many, but here is an opportunity now – best to take it!

Eiffer tower in Paris

Apero Seine River Cruise with Champagne

Come and relax aboard the boats with a drink in an atmosphere reminiscent of traditional riverside cafés. And don’t miss the quayside terrace and activities, as well as the restaurant which is a hit with Parisians!

Embark at the foot of the Eiffel Tower for an aperitif cruise on the Seine and share a very Parisian moment of conviviality over a glass of Champagne onboard the boat. Enjoy an unforgettable view from the river over the bridges and monuments of Paris as they are gradually lit up.

Commentary is set aside on this cruise in favor of a festive atmosphere with background music that will give you an entirely different vision of Paris. The onboard bars remain open during the excursion to offer you a selection of aperitifs and delicacies to make this a special moment!

Overnight Stay with Breakfast in a Classic Room at a 4-star Boutique Hotel in the Opera Garnier District

Day 4: Paris - Deauville- Honfleur

Private Transfer from your Accommodation to Paris Train Station

A private driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive you safely to the railway station in a Peugeot 508, VW Sharan, VW Caravelle, or similar.

Train from Paris to Deauville in First Class

Private Transfer: Deauville Train Station to Honfleur

A chauffeur will meet you for a private transfer between the Deauville train station and Honfleur.

Suggestion: Self-Guided Visit of Honfleur

This coastal town is located on the Seine estuary and is now easily accessible by the new bridge, the Pont de Normandie. This elegant bridge briefly held the record as the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge.

The pretty port and houses around Le Vieux Bassin (the harbor area) are the main attraction now, as they were 120 years ago when visitors started arriving at Honfleur. This port, built in the 17th century, is surrounded by beautiful, tall buildings. You will notice that many ancient houses have facades clad in tiles, a traditional technique in Normandy and Brittany. There are numerous cafes. It is a lively place for a promenade in the summer.

On one side of the port is the unusual wooden spire of the 15th-century church of Saint Etienne. It is the oldest church in Honfleur and is now home to the town’s maritime museum, the Musée de la Marine. Wander behind the church, where you will see the town’s famous salt storage buildings, the greniers à sel. These 17th-century buildings stored salt, used to preserve the cod caught by the town’s fishing fleet. These buildings now host exhibitions and concerts. You can go inside and admire the spectacular wooden roofs.

Overnight Stay with Breakfast at a Boutique Hotel in the Heart of Honfleur

Day 5: Honfleur - Bayeux - Deauville

Discovery of Honfleur Tour

More than 1,000 years old but incredibly well-preserved thanks to the creation of a protected area in 1974, Honfleur still holds the same fascination for its visitors.

During this visit, you will walk through the old districts of Honfleur’s center. Your guide will reveal to you in particular the impressive structure of the Salt Granaries (17th century) which were once used to store the salt of the gabelle.

Then you continue towards the famous Old Basin and the Lieutenancy. Finally, you will end with the discovery of the amazing Sainte-Catherine church, built between the 15th and 16th centuries and unique in France: all made of wood with its separate bell tower.

The typical and authentic charm of this small town will captivate you!

City Honfleur in France

Private Transfer: Honfleur to Bayeux (Including a 2-Hour Stop)

A chauffeur will meet you for a private transfer between Honfleur and Bayeux.

Suggestion: Explore Deauville

Deauville started as the vision of Napoleon III’s half-brother. From the adjacent town of Trouville, he looked across the marshes and dunes and decided to build a race track. Elegant villas were built between the race track and the sea. When Deauville was first created, it was a luxury resort and has remained so ever since. Most buildings are in the picturesque half-timber style, typical of Normandy.

Of course, despite the impressive architecture, the major attraction at Deauville is the long white sandy beach. Even the beach manages to remain luxurious, with posh colorful umbrellas (a trademark of the town) and well-maintained beach cabins. The beach cabins are named after American stars who came to Deauville for the film festival. The promenade along the 1.5-kilometer-long boardwalk is a highlight of any visit. There are lots of seafood restaurants along the waterfront. The highly reputed casino has a prime spot by the beach and is the venue for film festivals.

Deauville has gained a reputation for its American film festival, taking place every year at the beginning of September. Recently, an annual Asian film festival has also started. The town is home to equestrian events as well: the race track sits up above the village – an excellent spot for a day at the races.

Overnight Stay with Breakfast at a 4-Star Château Hotel Near the Town of Bayeux

Deauville street view and houses in France

Day 6: Bayeux

Full-Day Private Driving Tour of the D-Day US Sector

Your guide will take you back in time to the different emblematic places of Operation Overlord. Explore the D-Day landing beaches and gain insight into World War II history. Learn the names of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Your first stop will be the American Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer, located on the top of the cliff overlooking the famous Omaha Beach. The cemetery is one of the largest American World War II cemeteries constructed on foreign soil. Next is Omaha Beach, which is sadly known for being the most devastating but glorious moment of the Normandy invasion, marking the beginning of the end of World War II. You will also get to see the Pointe du Hoc, an ominous piece of land jutting into the English Channel. It provided an elevated vantage point from which large German guns with a range of 15 miles (25 kilometers) could deliver fire upon both Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. The neutralization of these guns by the allied forces was the key to victory.

Visit Sainte-Mère-Église, one of the first French villages to be liberated. It is famous for a paratrooper who remained attached to the bell tower of the church. Close to the church stands the Airborne Museum. There, you will learn more about the role the paratroopers played in Operation Overlord. The final stop will be Utah Beach, the westernmost beach in the combat zone, where 23,200 American soldiers landed on D-Day.

Overnight Stay with Breakfast at a 4-Star Château Hotel Near the Town of Bayeux

Day 7: Bayeux - Mont Saint-Michel

Full Day Private Driving Tour of Mont Saint-Michel

You will depart from Bayeux for a day trip to visit one of the most popular and emblematic sites in France: Mont Saint-Michel and its bay, a unique place between sky and sea. The UNESCO World Heritage Site has the distinct characteristic of being built on a rocky islet, surrounded by a magnificent bay with the highest tides in continental Europe.

Your certified guide will help you discover all aspects and reveal all the secrets of its famous abbey. From here, you will admire one of the most beautiful and largest bays in the world. Stroll through the maze of streets in the village. Visit the Benedictine Abbey founded at the beginning of the 8th century. It is one of the most important places of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. A jewel of Romanesque, Gothic and flamboyant arts, don’t miss the cloister, the refectory and the garden overlooking the sea.

At the end of the visit, you will have free time to have lunch and fully enjoy Mont Saint-Michel for two hours before heading back to Bayeux.

Visit Mont Saint-Michel

The island and abbey of Mont Saint-Michel are some of the most visited, most photographed, and most easily recognized landmarks in France. It is in a large bay in the Normandy region of France, close to the border with Brittany. Mont Saint-Michel is one of the leading tourist destinations in France and an important pilgrimage destination, with more than two million visitors each year.

Your first port of call will be the Mont Saint-Michel tourist office, situated just as you enter the island and in an impressive historic building called the Burghers Guardroom. From here, you can pass through the ancient gateway to reach the Grande Rue. This short road to the abbey is full of attractive buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries. You can also see the small 15th century Church of Saint-Peter in this part of the town. At the end of this street, you reach the grand staircase that leads to the abbey. The abbey is known as ‘La Merveille’ or ‘The Marvel.’ It was built over many years, from the 11th to the 16th centuries, and you can see both Romanesque and Gothic style elements of architecture. After you visit the abbey, you can enjoy very far-reaching views across the bay.

For a spell of its history, Mont Saint-Michel was a prison. But by 1836, a public campaign set out to restore it as a national treasure; Victor Hugo was one of the campaigners. The prison was closed in 1863 when Mont Saint-Michel was declared a national monument in 1874. Mont Saint-Michel is now also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight Stay with Breakfast at a 4-Star Château Hotel Near the Town of Bayeux

Day 8: Bayeux - Paris

Private Transfer Bayeux to Bayeux Train Station

A chauffeur will meet you for a private transfer between Bayeux and Bayeux train station.

Train from Bayeux to Paris in First Class

Private Transfer from Paris Train Station to Accommodation

A private driver will pick you up at the railway station and drive you safely to your accommodation in a Peugeot 508, VW Sharan, VW Caravelle, or similar.

Paris view of Seine

Overnight Stay with Breakfast in a Classic Room at a Beautiful 4-star Hotel in Paris

 

Day 9: Paris - Versailles

Half-Day Private Tour to Versailles with Tour Assistant Driver – Visit on Your Own with Audioguide

Your tour assistant driver will pick you up at your accommodation in a Peugeot 508, VW Sharan, VW Caravelle or similar vehicle.

A stone’s throw away from Paris, Versailles is perhaps the greatest symbol of France’s monarchy. Lavish and extravagant Versailles is imposing and bound to impress.

Have a visit of Castle on own with an audio guide: the Palace of Versailles was the official residence of the Kings of France Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI and their courts from 1682 to 1789. With more than 700 rooms and stretching over 721,000 square feet, this massive palace stands as a testament to the Sun King’s never-ending quest for grandeur.

Marvel at the palace’s most beautiful rooms, the King’s Grand Apartments and the Queen’s Grand Apartments, the Coronation Room. Admire the incredible Hall of Mirrors, conceived by the famous architect Jules Mansart. Commissioned in 1661 the ground and gardens of the palace are studded with works of art including statues, fountains, and flower beds.

After the tour, your driver will drop you off safely at your accommodation.

Versailles Skip the Line Entrance Ticket

With this entrance ticket to the Palace of Versailles, you can visit at your own leisure the main state apartments and discover the real life of the French Kings.

Visit the King’s chambers with their elegant décor, and the grandiose Hall of Mirrors, which was once a reception hall overlooking the immense gardens of the palace.

Overnight Stay with Breakfast in a Classic Room at a Beautiful 4-star Hotel in Paris

Day 10: Paris

Private Transfer from your Accommodation to Paris Airport

A private driver will pick you up from your accommodation and drive you safely to Paris airport in a Peugeot 508, VW Caravelle, or similar vehicle.

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About This Trip:

    • Enjoy 24/7 English-spoken telephone assistance while traveling
    • This itinerary includes transport, activities, guides, accommodations with breakfasts, and other listed services
    • Price is in USD per person, assuming double occupancy. Note that prices and availability are subject to change.

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Our Favorite Hotels in Normandy

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Chateau de Bellefontaine
Hôtel & Spa Les Maisons de Léa
Hôtel Le Mathurin

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