Paris and the French Alps Itinerary: 10 Days by Train

Why pair Paris with the Alps

Most first trips to France stop at the city limits, and that is a shame. The country changes completely a few hours south. A Paris and the French Alps itinerary gives you two moods in one journey: the grey-gold formality of Haussmann boulevards, then the open water and mountain light of Savoy. You do not need a car for the spine of the trip, only for the last stretch, and the train between them is one of the great small pleasures of travelling in France.

The rhythm I suggest is five days in Paris, then a train south, then five days around Lake Bourget. That balance lets Paris settle into your legs before you trade it for something slower. It also means you leave the city just as its intensity starts to tire you, which is exactly the right moment.

Days 1 to 5: Paris at a walkable pace

Base yourself somewhere you can walk out of and immediately be somewhere. The Marais, the Canal Saint-Martin, and the streets around Rue des Martyrs in the 9th all reward aimless mornings. Start early. At eight, the Place des Vosges is nearly empty and the arcades still hold the cool of the night. A coffee standing at the zinc counter costs less than one at a table, and you hear the neighbourhood wake up.

Do not try to see everything. Pick one big thing a day and let the rest be incidental. The Musée d'Orsay on a weekday morning, the Rodin garden with its roses, an hour in Sainte-Chapelle when the sun hits the upper windows. Use the metro for distance but walk the last stretch to any destination. Line 1 will carry you across the whole city in twenty minutes; the 6, with its elevated stretches, gives you rooftop views of the Eiffel Tower for the price of a normal ticket.

Spend one evening simply on a bench by the Seine near the Pont de la Tournelle, with bread, cheese, and a bottle from a nearby caviste. That single hour tends to outlast most museums in memory.

The train south: Gare de Lyon to Savoy

On the morning of day six, head to Gare de Lyon. It is worth arriving a little early to eat under the painted ceilings of Le Train Bleu, the belle-epoque restaurant on the upper level, even if only for a coffee. The direct TGV to Chambery takes about three hours. Book a seat on the left-hand side going south for the better views as the flat centre of France gives way to hills, then the first serious mountains.

Chambery is your gateway. From the station it is a short taxi or local connection to Le Bourget-du-Lac, on the southern shore of the lake. The shift is immediate. You step off into cleaner air, the ground rises around you, and the pace of everything drops by half.

Days 6 to 10: Lake Bourget and the Savoy shore

Lac du Bourget is the largest natural lake in France, a long silver blade of water held between mountains. It is quieter and less known abroad than Annecy, which is precisely its charm. Rent bikes and follow the shoreline path. Swim from the small beaches in summer, when the water is warm enough to linger in. In cooler months, the lake turns steel-coloured and dramatic, and the cafes along the front stay open for those who know.

Give a day to Aix-les-Bains across the water, an old thermal town with faded grandeur and good markets. Give another to the Abbaye de Hautecombe, best reached by the small boat that crosses the lake; the monks still sing the offices, and the acoustics are extraordinary. If you want altitude, drive up to the Mont du Chat for a view that takes in the whole lake and, on clear days, Mont Blanc far to the east.

Eat locally and simply. Savoy is a region of fondue, tartiflette, lake fish, and cheeses like Beaufort and Tomme that taste of the pastures they come from. A glass of Roussette de Savoie, the crisp local white, finishes an evening well.

Where to stay by the lake

For the Savoy half of your trip, I would point you to L'Orée du Lac, our 106 square-metre penthouse in Le Bourget-du-Lac, facing the largest lake in France. There is a private hot tub, which is exactly what your legs will want after a day on the water or the trails, and the space to spread out that a hotel room never gives. Rates start from 260 euros a night, and you can book direct with us rather than through a platform.

After ten days of moving, the last thing you want is another crowd. Sink into the hot tub as the light leaves the water, and let France finish the sentence Paris started. If you are planning your own Paris and the French Alps itinerary, write to us. We live here, and we are glad to help you shape the days.