The Ultimate 1-Week High-Speed Train & Road Trip Itinerary
When: June 2026 (early summer, perfect for warm weather and early blooms)
Breakdown: 3 days in Paris & 4 days in Provence
The Route: Paris (Le Marais) ➔ Giverny Day Trip ➔ TGV Train to Avignon ➔ Drive to Bonnieux
As a first-time visitor to France, I imagined the quintessential Parisian experience of the Eiffel Tower, flaky croissants, and strolling museums. But much like any other trip, I had one very specific goal in mind: lavender fields. To achieve a taste of the city, then experience lavender in the Luberon it required careful planning and more than one mode of transportation.
For our 10-year wedding anniversary trip, La Marais spanning the 3rd and 4th arrondissments, delivered on the romance of the city. The cafes. The boutiques. The bread! What we did not plan for was the Fete de la Musique night overtaking the city streets (more on this in the What We Would do Differently section). Also we could not anticipate the record breaking heat reaching 105 degrees at one point.
Paris
To commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Monet’s passing we were determined to see his famous water lily paintings and make a day trip to his home. To pull this off we booked the first entrance time of the day at Musee de l’Orangerie to avoid the inevitable crowds.
Tip: The museum is not open on Tuesdays, book early and plan accordingly.
Being able to admire these paintings in person was truly a bucket list experience. I could have sat quietly there all day. But our tight schedule had to be honored!
Getting to Giverny
We took an uber to the main train station Gare Saint-Lazare. To get to Giverny, take the direct regional train toward Rouen and hop off at the Vernon-Giverny station. Tip: Buy tickets at the little kiosk in the Gare Saint-Lazare station for your regional departure and return trips.
Walk outside the station and hop directly onto the dedicated Giverny Shuttle Bus (Navette) or take the adorable and cheap mini-train driven by a friendly local. Note: They only take cash!
We popped into a little cafe/bar to purchase drinks before boarding (remember that record breaking heat? Brian was feeling it). The tiny train drops you off in the parking lot of the gardens and runs to & from every 15 minutes or so.
Train to Avignon
The highspeed train departs from Paris Gare de Lyon, I booked our ticket using the SNCF official app. I suggest grabbing coffee and sandwiches from the high end stalls in the station concourse. Much like the airport you find your destination and train number on the large board that updates frequently. Once we found which Hall we were in the process was easy, scanned our e-tickets and boarded the train. Note: You do have to load your luggage where you board and then leave them below you out of site for the duration. The trip from Paris to Avignon was just over 2.5 hours. We charged our phones, ate our pan au chocolat, and napped. Tip: Keep your phone QR code or printed ticket handy so the staff can scan it.
Avignon was the best choice to pick up a rental car because it has two stations. The one we used was outside of the city center which made the car pick up and return really simple. The rental car companies are all located at the back of the station terminal in little buildings parallel to the parking lot. Most importantly to Brian at the time they had AC in the building. The whole process took less than thirty minutes. We both checked the emergency brake was not on before taking off - just a little mistake we made back in Scotland (that’s a story for another post).
Many people are surprised when we tell them that I handle all international driving. Brian is the navigator (well GPS handles it mostly) and they both do a great job. For me driving adds to the excitement of a new place. Driving in France was a unique experience because the speed limits changed often and drastically. Tip: We were told to obey the posted limits because they are strictly enforced. With that said, driving afforded us the flexibility and freedom to see multiple villages during our trip.
The Road to Bonnieux
The moment lavender came into view we both gasped. It was relief combined with joy. Lavender season is all about timing. There are many factors outside of your control, the one thing you can control is when you visit. This trip to see lavender was partially a vindication for us for the tulips of the Netherlands trip that we did not get to experience (an unfortunate tale for another post).
Luberon lavender
Best Time to Visit: The lavender fields typically bloom from late June to mid-July, peaking around early-to-mid July.
Bonnieux as Home Base
The Village of Bonnieux was the perfect home base for our Provencal plans because all fell within a 30 minute drive of our stay. With the one exception being the drive to Valensole region for additional lavender hunting.
If you are in need of some relaxed luxury at the end of your travels, the Capelongue, Bonnieux, a Beaumier Hotel is the premier choice. We splurged a bit for our wedding anniversary stay here because for a 5-star property it had the charm you would expect for the South of France. The aesthetics blended seamlessly with the surrounding plateau. The room was spacious with warm relaxing tones. We would come back for the service from the staff and the laid back luxury that left us feeling like we could have skipped Paris altogether.
What we Would do Differently
Paris & The Fête de la Musique Factor: If you are booking a trip to France around June 21st, you will experience Fête de la Musique. While the energy is high, the street leading to our hotel was packed with dancing and celebrating that we could not squeeze through. It also sent uber prices sky high.
Trains: Book your train tickets in advance they fill up quickly and you want to be able to sit together!
Car Rental: Triple check your car rental before turning in the keys this is how Brian left his iphone behind! Refill the car the afternoon before returning. Due to our early departure we were unable to find a gas station open for us to top off the car. Which meant paying a fee for them to refuel.
If you are considering venturing out to different regions of France, outside of Paris, I highly recommend planning a day trip or even a secondary stay in a different city to get a real appreciation of the country. Please visit our main page for more about our time in Provence.
