20 days in Paris & Lyon Itinerary

A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Step out of the city life by going to Arboretum de la Vallee-aux-Loups and Île de la Cité. Venture out of the city with trips to Versailles (La Galerie des Batailles, L'Orangerie, &more), Le Bois des Aigles (in Balines) and Arboretum de Versailles-Chevreloup (in Rocquencourt). There's still lots to do: make a trip to Louvre Museum, contemplate the waterfront views at Seine River, explore the world behind art at Musee d'Orsay, and take in the architecture and atmosphere at Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre.

To see more things to do, reviews, maps, and tourist information, go to the Paris trip itinerary planner.

Washington DC, USA to Paris is an approximately 12.5-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central European Standard Time (CET) is 6 hours. Traveling from Washington DC in April, expect Paris to be little chillier, temps between 60°F and 42°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Thu) to allow enough time to take a train to Lyon.

Lyon is a historical city with a vibrant cultural scene as the birthplace of cinema, the silk capital of the globe, and the second biggest Renaissance city following Venice.

Visiting Lake Annecy and Les Gorges du Fier will get you outdoors. Get out of town with these interesting Lyon side-trips: Parcours Aventure (in Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte), Annecy (Mysteres du Lac, Parasailing & Paragliding, &more) and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse (Charmant Som & Raidlight-Vertical Outdoor LAB). There's lots more to do: walk around Parc de la Tete d'Or, admire the landmark architecture of Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere, trek along Les Pertes de le Valserine, and take in the dramatic natural features at Orgues Basaltiques.

For reviews, photos, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Lyon online trip itinerary maker.

Traveling by train from Paris to Lyon takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. Expect a daytime high around 63°F in April, and nighttime lows around 45°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 7th (Thu) to allow time for travel back home.