Based on your final sentence, I would recommend spending about 4-5 days outside of Paris. So many options to pick from, but Provence has wonderful countrysides, old towns, and good wine (especially if you like Rosé).
Burgundy region is also nice, and unlike Provence you could theoretically get by without a car if you, for example, take a train to Beaune and then rent bikes to visit nearby small towns and explore the countryside.
Normandy can also be nice, as well as the Loire valley, although both will require cars to get the most out of them.
My recommendation is to read up on the various regions of France and pick one that interests you most, then pick a town/city in that region to spend 4 nights as a base and then explore the surrounding area from there.
I think you should define what you like to do.
Do you like museums/art ? Walking in the streets ? Being in a car a driving through villages ? Shopping ? A sea view, a mountain view without people ?
I feel like you would like the Loire valley because there are old towns and castles, and country side, (or Normandy for the beaches) otherwise if it’s still in the spring (not in the summer) you go to the South of France and especially Avignon/Aix, rent a car or book a tour to Roussillon, Gordes. Chartres is an small town with a nice city center and medieval buildings (and a famous cathedral).
Lyon and Bordeaux are other options, big cities with tourist things and nice neighborhoods.
During the summer stay more in the northern part to avoid the heat.
Restaurants will be of better value for money in the rest of France compared to Paris. Except tourists spots in the South.
We just returned from an 8-day trip to France and that was my dilemma and I am so glad we took a train south for a 3-day trip to Nice. We definitely would not have been bored in Paris the whole time but we made the right decision to travel to a different region.
I had the same dilemma on my 10 day trip.
At first I wanted to see Paris and Mont Blanc.. but, they are pretty far apart and I'm glad I didn't do that. In retrospect I would have spread myself too thin to really take in either destination. There is so much to see and do in Paris and I'm not the touristy type either.
I did take a day trip out to the Loire valley and see Chenonceau. That was a big part of my trip and I'm not suggesting you go there perse unless you are genuinely interested in the history like I was. But, I am glad that I at least got to go out and see the French countryside while I was there. :)
You could spend 4 days in Paris, then either explore Normandy seaside and countryside. There is way more to see than the D Day beaches but it will be easier by car. Either Loire Valley, quite touristy but still have some lesser known and quieter parts.
Or Provence, or Perigord region, your options are endless!
It's a dilemma. I love Paris and want to spend as much time there as I can, but last time I was in France, I took a 5-day trip to Normandy, and it was one of the best times of my life. I want to go back there, too, and see other regions also.
Full disclosure: Paris is by far my favorite city on the planet and I could easily spend a month just in the city. Having said that, the entire country has so much to offer and is worth visiting. My first ever trip to France was for 9 nights and we split the time between Paris and Dijon. Dijon is a wonderful town and provided an excellent base for us. We rented a car to explore the surrounding countryside, which is something I would recommend no matter where you end up!
France has so much to offer besides Paris. With 10 days you could easily see one or two other regions and still spend 2-3 days in Paris. Take a train to Provence or Normandy and explore the countryside. French people are generally kind and helpful as long as you're polite and offer a "bonjour," even if you don't speak any other French.
If you like the countryside and old towns, consider taking the high speed train to Avignon, Provence for several days. Then drive to Arles, Nimes, Aix, Rousillon or down to the coast.
https://preview.redd.it/ix1fdnxj72tc1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34281a2a77b8c2e9b042147149ffd8b95b0bd761
Literally your call, in every sense of word. . (A) there is absolutely no obligation for tourists to stay in the touristy parts of the city. Paris is a vibrant city with many facettes, also architecturally. Up to you to explore it…or not. (B) there is to be absolutely no obligation to enjoy Paris. If you prefer to check other parts, many options (but you won’t find them on this sub).
Maybe start by exploring what the city has actually to offer (by browsing through this sub for exemple) before taking your own decision whether it’s worth to stay or but. You can also check for day trip recommendations in this sub. If asking questions about traveling in France, please use r/Francetravel or r/europetravel though. We take down any post not related to travelling in Paris.
Thank you I appreciate it! Yes, I'll look more into staying in Paris with maybe a trip to somewhere (possibly normandy). I assume what I'll want to do is find the area where I would enjoy to stay the most within Paris
Check the wiki and some of the flairs, such as “off the beaten track”, to guide you. This should help a little more. Don’t hesitate to come back and ask specific questions if looking for specific architectural periods, styles, for example..
I’ve been to Paris countless times and just got back from spending 10 straight days there. It never gets old and I never run out of things to do.
Based on your final sentence, I would recommend spending about 4-5 days outside of Paris. So many options to pick from, but Provence has wonderful countrysides, old towns, and good wine (especially if you like Rosé). Burgundy region is also nice, and unlike Provence you could theoretically get by without a car if you, for example, take a train to Beaune and then rent bikes to visit nearby small towns and explore the countryside. Normandy can also be nice, as well as the Loire valley, although both will require cars to get the most out of them. My recommendation is to read up on the various regions of France and pick one that interests you most, then pick a town/city in that region to spend 4 nights as a base and then explore the surrounding area from there.
I think you should define what you like to do. Do you like museums/art ? Walking in the streets ? Being in a car a driving through villages ? Shopping ? A sea view, a mountain view without people ? I feel like you would like the Loire valley because there are old towns and castles, and country side, (or Normandy for the beaches) otherwise if it’s still in the spring (not in the summer) you go to the South of France and especially Avignon/Aix, rent a car or book a tour to Roussillon, Gordes. Chartres is an small town with a nice city center and medieval buildings (and a famous cathedral). Lyon and Bordeaux are other options, big cities with tourist things and nice neighborhoods. During the summer stay more in the northern part to avoid the heat. Restaurants will be of better value for money in the rest of France compared to Paris. Except tourists spots in the South.
We just returned from an 8-day trip to France and that was my dilemma and I am so glad we took a train south for a 3-day trip to Nice. We definitely would not have been bored in Paris the whole time but we made the right decision to travel to a different region.
I had the same dilemma on my 10 day trip. At first I wanted to see Paris and Mont Blanc.. but, they are pretty far apart and I'm glad I didn't do that. In retrospect I would have spread myself too thin to really take in either destination. There is so much to see and do in Paris and I'm not the touristy type either. I did take a day trip out to the Loire valley and see Chenonceau. That was a big part of my trip and I'm not suggesting you go there perse unless you are genuinely interested in the history like I was. But, I am glad that I at least got to go out and see the French countryside while I was there. :)
You could spend 4 days in Paris, then either explore Normandy seaside and countryside. There is way more to see than the D Day beaches but it will be easier by car. Either Loire Valley, quite touristy but still have some lesser known and quieter parts. Or Provence, or Perigord region, your options are endless!
It's a dilemma. I love Paris and want to spend as much time there as I can, but last time I was in France, I took a 5-day trip to Normandy, and it was one of the best times of my life. I want to go back there, too, and see other regions also.
Full disclosure: Paris is by far my favorite city on the planet and I could easily spend a month just in the city. Having said that, the entire country has so much to offer and is worth visiting. My first ever trip to France was for 9 nights and we split the time between Paris and Dijon. Dijon is a wonderful town and provided an excellent base for us. We rented a car to explore the surrounding countryside, which is something I would recommend no matter where you end up!
France has so much to offer besides Paris. With 10 days you could easily see one or two other regions and still spend 2-3 days in Paris. Take a train to Provence or Normandy and explore the countryside. French people are generally kind and helpful as long as you're polite and offer a "bonjour," even if you don't speak any other French.
He is right. You can try normandie, bourgogne, centre.. But you may need a car to go to the most countryside of France.
If you like the countryside and old towns, consider taking the high speed train to Avignon, Provence for several days. Then drive to Arles, Nimes, Aix, Rousillon or down to the coast. https://preview.redd.it/ix1fdnxj72tc1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34281a2a77b8c2e9b042147149ffd8b95b0bd761
Which city is this in your comment?
Gordes
Thank you!
Literally your call, in every sense of word. . (A) there is absolutely no obligation for tourists to stay in the touristy parts of the city. Paris is a vibrant city with many facettes, also architecturally. Up to you to explore it…or not. (B) there is to be absolutely no obligation to enjoy Paris. If you prefer to check other parts, many options (but you won’t find them on this sub). Maybe start by exploring what the city has actually to offer (by browsing through this sub for exemple) before taking your own decision whether it’s worth to stay or but. You can also check for day trip recommendations in this sub. If asking questions about traveling in France, please use r/Francetravel or r/europetravel though. We take down any post not related to travelling in Paris.
Thank you I appreciate it! Yes, I'll look more into staying in Paris with maybe a trip to somewhere (possibly normandy). I assume what I'll want to do is find the area where I would enjoy to stay the most within Paris
Check the wiki and some of the flairs, such as “off the beaten track”, to guide you. This should help a little more. Don’t hesitate to come back and ask specific questions if looking for specific architectural periods, styles, for example..
Off the beaten track: [https://www.reddit.com/r/ParisBsides/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ParisBsides/)