Trade the metro for the Mediterranean by pairing three days in Paris with four days on the Côte d'Azur.
This 7-night trip splits the difference between city exploration and coastal relaxation. You spend the first three days navigating Paris, from the Louvre to the winding streets of Montmartre. Then, you board a high-speed train south to Nice, using it as a base to visit Monaco, Èze, and Antibes.
The logistics hinge on an open-jaw flight strategy. You fly directly into Paris-CDG, take the direct TGV train to the Riviera midway through the week, and fly out of Nice back through CDG on a single ticket. This eliminates a costly, time-consuming return train ride to Paris just to fly home.
It suits travelers who want to see major European sights without renting a car. Both cities offer dense, walkable cores and extensive public transit networks, meaning you can easily switch from the Louvre to a Mediterranean beach club using only trains and buses.
Air France operates this route. You fly out of LAX at 2:00 PM on Air France 21, landing at Paris-CDG at 9:50 AM the next day. To get home, you take a 9:45 AM domestic flight (Air France 7303) from Nice to CDG. This 1.5-hour hop lands at 11:20 AM, leaving enough time to connect to Air France 24, which departs at 1:25 PM and gets you back to LAX by 4:05 PM.
| Leg | Flight | Route | Times (local) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outbound | AF 21 | LAX → CDG | 14:00 → 09:50+1 | 10h 50m |
| NCE → CDG | AF 7303 | NCE → CDG | 09:45 → 11:20 | 1h 35m |
| Return | AF 24 | CDG → LAX | 13:25 → 16:05 | 11h 40m |
Paris is best tackled by neighborhood rather than rushing between monuments. Spend your first day adjusting to the time zone by walking the historic Le Marais district and Place des Vosges. The next morning, book the 9:00 AM slot at the Musée du Louvre to see the Denon Wing before the heaviest crowds arrive, leaving your afternoon open to walk the Tuileries Garden and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Use your final day for Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Take the Metro to Abbesses in the morning to beat the afternoon rush, then head east to Canal Saint-Martin for a late lunch by the historic locks. A sunset Bateaux Parisiens cruise on the Seine offers a clear view of the Eiffel Tower lighting up after dark.
Arrival & Le Marais
Arrive at CDG, drop bags in Le Marais, and eat at a classic bistro.
Louvre & Left Bank
Visit the Louvre early, walk Saint-Germain, and take a sunset Seine cruise.
Montmartre Charm
Walk Montmartre in the morning and spend the afternoon at Canal Saint-Martin.
Le Petit Oberkampf Hotel & Spa is the top overall pick at $329 per night, offering a 4-star experience a short walk from Le Marais and the canal. If you want to save a bit, the 3-star Hôtel Saint Martin Bastille is a highly rated value option at $283 per night. For a true splurge, Le Pavillon de la Reine & Spa sits directly on Place des Vosges for $1,151 per night.
The high-speed TGV inOui train covers the distance from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice Ville in about 5.5 hours. Nice acts as the transit hub for the Côte d'Azur. The pebble beaches along the Promenade des Anglais are famous, but you will want to rent a lounger at a private beach club like Castel Plage to actually sit comfortably. The Cours Saleya market operates daily in the Old Town, and you should arrive before 10 AM for the best selection of flowers and produce.
You do not need to stay within the city limits. Local buses and the TER regional train run directly along the coast. Take Bus 82 up to the medieval hilltop village of Èze, then ride down to Monaco to see the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Another day, ride the TER train 25 minutes west to Antibes to walk the rugged Sentier du Littoral and visit the Picasso Museum in the Château Grimaldi.
High-Speed to the Riviera
Ride the TGV train to Nice and walk the Promenade des Anglais.
Markets & Views
Shop the Cours Saleya market, climb Castle Hill, and relax at a beach club.
Day Trip to Monaco & Èze
Take the bus to the hilltop village of Èze and continue to Monaco.
Art in Antibes
Ride the train to Antibes for the Picasso Museum and a coastal walk.
Departure
Catch a short domestic flight from Nice to CDG to connect home.
The Deck Hotel by Happyculture ($269/night) is the best overall choice, placing you right near the Carré d'Or and the promenade. Hotel So’Co by Happyculture is a solid value at $179 per night, located closer to the train station for easy day trips. Hotel Le Negresco remains the definitive luxury option at $983 per night, featuring Michelin-starred dining and a private beach.
Take the RER B train from CDG into central Paris. The Metro handles the rest of the city. To switch regions, book the SNCF TGV inOui train from Paris to Nice. In Nice, the Tram Line 2 connects the airport to the center. Use the SNCF TER regional trains for quick trips to Antibes and Monaco, and local buses for hilltop towns like Èze.
Spring and fall offer temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees, making the coastal walks pleasant and the city manageable. Summer pushes into the mid-80s, which is ideal for beach days but brings significant crowds to the Louvre and Monaco.
Paris and the Riviera are expensive. Expect to pay at least $250 a night for central 4-star hotels and over $100 for high-speed train tickets. Restaurant meals range from 20 euros for casual lunches to 60 euros for seafood dinners on the coast.
Yes, particularly the final two hours. The train cuts inland through agricultural regions before hitting the Mediterranean coast past Marseille, where the tracks run directly along the water.
Skip the rental car. The TER regional trains run continuously along the coast, connecting Nice, Antibes, Cannes, and Monaco much faster than driving through heavy coastal traffic.
The beaches in central Nice are made of large, smooth pebbles known as galets. You will want water shoes to walk into the ocean and a rented lounger at a private beach club if you plan to sunbathe.
Book exactly when they go on sale, usually three to four months in advance. Prices rise sharply as the departure date approaches, and summer routes to the coast frequently sell out.
Uber operates in both cities and is useful for late-night trips or airport transfers with heavy luggage. For daily sightseeing, the Metro in Paris and the tram in Nice are faster and cheaper.