Paris to Normandy: 10 Days in France

Touch down in Paris, where a VIP meet and greet will set the tone for your itinerary winding through France. Here, you’ll be personally greeted and transferred by private car to the Exclusive VIP Terminal, where you’ll enjoy expedited immigration and customs clearance before relaxing in a private lounge. Once you refresh, your luggage will be loaded into your vehicle transfer directly into the heart of the city.

Your driver will usher you directly to check in at the recently opened Maison Barrière Vendôme. Tucked just steps from Place Vendôme, this intimate address feels more like a chic Parisian apartment than a traditional hotel—ideal for easing into the city after an overnight flight. We especially adore how each of the twenty-six rooms and suites is named after an iconic woman who shares a history with Paris; for instance, Grand Suite Marlène Dietrich pays tribute to her magnetic presence with golden hues evoking the glamour of Hollywood.

Once you’ve settled in, beat jetlag by spending the afternoon popping into the ample boutiques surrounding the property. Bäumer is one of our favorite spots to stop in Place Vendôme for one-of-a-kind pieces by Lorenz Bäumer. You could even consider working with your SmartFlyer travel advisor to arrange for an appointment to chat about a custom piece, the delivery of which Lorenz and his team often pair with opening the keys to otherwise locked parts of the city. Transition into an early dinner in the neighborhood, or simply room service with a bottle of wine.

Wake up in Paris with the city at your doorstep and ease into the day with your included breakfast at Maison Barrière Vendôme before setting out to explore. This morning is ideal for a guided introduction to the city—whether that’s a private walking tour through the Right Bank or a curated museum visit tailored to your unique interests. With the guidance of your SmartFlyer advisor, this could mean skipping the lines at the Louvre for a highlights tour or opting for something more intimate, like a behind-the-scenes look at a lesser-known collection or historic atelier.

One of our most beloved museums to consider is Galerie Dior, housed at the historic 30 Avenue Montaigne. This immersive space traces the evolution of the House of Dior through couture, sketches, and archival moments, offering a fascinating look at how fashion, history, and Parisian culture intersect. A guided visit can be arranged for a deeper context, allowing you to experience the gallery beyond the surface-level highlights. From here, transition into lunch at Fouquet’s Paris, an enduring Parisian institution synonymous with timeless glamour. Settle in beneath the iconic red awnings and linger over classic French fare—this is as much about the atmosphere as it is the meal.

After lunch, spend the afternoon at leisure: consider exploring the gardens of Palais-Royal, or take a relaxed stroll along the Seine. As evening approaches, return to Maison Barrière Vendôme to refresh before heading out for dinner. Whether you opt for a refined French bistro like Le Bon Georges, or a more scene-y reservation like La Renommée, Paris delivers effortlessly. Cap the night with a quiet nightcap nearby—or back at the hotel—now fully in rhythm with the city.

Today is about slowing the pace and crossing to the Left Bank for a more poetic side of Paris. Begin the morning with a visit to the Musée d’Orsay, where Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces unfold inside a former Beaux-Arts railway station. A guided visit can help contextualize the collection—Monet, Degas, Van Gogh—while still allowing time to wander at your own rhythm and linger where instinct pulls you. For lunch, a table at Le Petit Lutetia never misses.

After eating your way through the menu, stroll over to Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, one of Paris’s most elegant department store. This is shopping as an experience: beautifully edited fashion, design, and homeware, paired with a stop at La Grande Épicerie for gourmet souvenirs and gifts worth carrying home. Spend the afternoon meandering nearby streets, popping into bookstores (don’t miss The Red Wheelbarrow), and the mecca of all trips to Paris: Citypharma for all your French skincare products.

Finish up your time exploring Saint-Germain-des-Prés and make it back to Maison Barrière Vendôme to freshen up before a final Paris evening. For dinner, consider the seasonally-driven menu at Parcelles, or if you’re up for heading to the 11^th arrondissement, check out Le Bistro Paul Bert (reservations required).

Wake up for your final full day in Paris knowing today is about equal parts bopping and discovery. We recommend spending your final day heading to the Marais for the kind of Paris day that’s about no agenda beyond letting your curiosity lead. Start with a slow stroll around Place des Vosges, then dive into the neighborhood’s best boutiques and concept corners. This is the perfect day to prioritize shopping beyond the big brands: pop into Maison Labiche for embroidered wardrobe staples that feel distinctly French, stop by Tabio to monogram a pair (or five) of socks—an oddly delightful souvenir—and swing through Le Nom for a hand-painted leather bag you can customize on the spot.

Keep the afternoon loose and linger where you’re tempted: Tammy & Benjamin is a standout for a “no one else will have this” bag moment, and Sabre is the homewares stop that makes you suddenly believe you do need custom flatware colors in your life. When hunger hits, keep it easy with a Marais classic—Les Philosophes is ideal for a long, low-stakes lunch and prime people-watching—then wander a little more before heading back to Maison Barrière Vendôme to reset for the evening.

As evening approaches, depart the Marais and return to the Right Bank to refresh before dinner. For a relaxed but polished final Paris dinner, Chez André is an excellent choice—classic brasserie comfort with a modern edge and a lively but not overwhelming atmosphere. If you’re craving something more intimate, Vivant 2 offers a quietly exceptional dining experience in a candlelit space where the menu changes with the seasons and every dish feels considered. If energy allows, end the night with a post-dinner drink at Bar Hemingway, for one last toast to Paris before tomorrow’s coastal shift.

After breakfast, depart Paris for the Brittany coast as your itinerary shifts from urban elegance to seaside grandeur. Your SmartFlyer advisor will arrange a first-class train journey or private transfer west, with the landscape gradually opening up into rugged coastline and sweeping sea views. Upon arrival in Dinard, check in to Le Grand Hôtel Dinard, a Belle Époque icon perched directly above the English Channel.

Once settled, spend the afternoon getting acquainted with Dinard’s refined seaside charm. Stroll the Promenade du Clair de Lune, where manicured gardens and coastal paths offer postcard-worthy views, or wander into town to explore its elegant villas and quiet beaches. As evening approaches, return to the hotel to freshen up before dinner—best enjoyed on property, where the setting alone does much of the heavy lifting. Fall asleep to the sound of the sea, fully immersed in Brittany’s slower rhythm.

Wake up to sweeping ocean views and a full day to enjoy Dinard at an unhurried pace. Begin with a leisurely breakfast overlooking the water before spending the morning exploring more of the coastline—perhaps a walk along the beach at low tide or time simply soaking in the hotel’s grand yet relaxed atmosphere.

For a change of scenery, consider a short drive across the Rance River to Saint-Malo, the storied walled port city just minutes from Dinard. Once inside the ramparts, wander cobblestone streets shaped by centuries of maritime history, stopping into independent shops and cafés as you make your way toward the sea. A walk along the fortified walls offers sweeping views of the coastline and dramatic tides below—one of the most striking vantage points in the region.

Literary-minded travelers may recognize Saint-Malo as the backdrop for All the Light We Cannot See, and the city still carries that cinematic, quietly haunting atmosphere. Time your visit with the tides if possible; watching the water recede to reveal sandy causeways to nearby islets adds an extra layer of drama. Before returning to Dinard, linger over a casual lunch or coffee inside the walls, then head back across the river for a relaxed evening at Le Grand Hôtel Dinard.

After breakfast, depart Brittany and continue east toward Normandy, where the landscape softens into rolling countryside dotted with apple orchards and half-timbered villages. Your SmartFlyer advisor will arrange a private transfer for the most seamless experience, allowing you to settle in and enjoy the scenic drive. Upon arrival in Deauville, check in to Le Normandy Barrière, an emblem of Belle Époque seaside elegance.

Once settled, spend the afternoon getting acquainted with Deauville’s refined coastal charm. Walk the iconic boardwalk lined with colorful parasols, browse the boutiques along Rue Eugène Colas, or simply linger at the hotel and take in its storied atmosphere—this has long been the favored escape for Parisians seeking fresh air without sacrificing polish. As evening approaches, return to your room to refresh before dinner, either on property or at one of Deauville’s classic brasseries, easing into the rhythm of Normandy.

Eat a hearty breakfast at the thoel to prepare for one of France’s most extraordinary landmarks: Mont-Saint-Michel. Set out early with a private guide for the journey west, ensuring your arrival aligns with the tides—timing here dramatically shapes the experience. Rising from vast tidal flats, the medieval abbey feels almost otherworldly, its silhouette shifting as land becomes sea and back again.

Explore the abbey itself, where narrow staircases, soaring halls, and centuries of history unfold layer by layer. After time to wander the surrounding village and take in sweeping views from the ramparts, begin the return journey to Deauville. The drive back offers a quiet counterpoint to the day’s grandeur, and the evening is best kept relaxed—dinner back at Le Normandy Barrière or a simple meal in town allows the experience to settle.

Begin the day with a privately guided, half-day historical tour to Normandy’s most significant WWII sites. Travel west from Deauville to Omaha Beach, where the scale and stillness of the shoreline offer a powerful sense of place, followed by a visit to the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking the coast. With an expert guide, the experience is thoughtfully contextualized—focused on history and reflection rather than spectacle.

Return to Deauville in the early afternoon, where the remainder of the day is intentionally left unstructured. Enjoy a late lunch, a restorative spa visit, or a quiet walk along the boardwalk as the tone gently shifts back toward ease. This balance—history followed by stillness—makes for a meaningful final full day in Normandy. As evening falls, savor one last dinner at Le Normandy Barrière or in town, closing the chapter on your time along the coast.

After breakfast, transfer onward for your journey home or to your next destination. You’ll depart with a layered experience of France—distinct regions, thoughtfully paced—each tied together through Barrière’s lens of timeless hospitality and sense of place.