Leave Worthing mid-morning and head to Portsmouth Harbour for a relaxed ferry or channel crossing option that avoids the dawn rush; enjoy a coffee on deck and stretch your legs with a short walk along the waterfront before boarding. After crossing, plan a scenic stop in Wissant to sample fresh seafood at a beachfront bistro and walk the dunes of Cap Blanc-Nez for sweeping views of the Channel - a perfect, low-key introduction to northern France before resuming the drive toward Calais.
After a leisurely Channel crossing, drive inland toward Le Touquet-Paris-Plage for an al fresco lunch at a brasserie on the grand promenade and a stroll through the town's elegant Belle Époque streets. Later, head to Boulogne-sur-Mer to visit the atmospheric old port and wander the ramparts of the Basilique Notre-Dame de Boulogne, then relax with a sunset walk along the fishing harbour before checking into your nearby 3-star hotel for the night.
After checking into your 3-star hotel, enjoy a relaxed evening in the heart of Calais with a seafood-focused dinner at Le Bistrot de la Mer, followed by a moonlit stroll along the revamped Plateforme du Fort Risban for coastal views and historic cannon batteries. Finish with a nightcap at La Fabrique café-bar, where you can sample local beers or a calvados digestif while watching the harbour lights-an easy, low-key close to your travel day that keeps energy for tomorrow's inland drive.
Set off after breakfast and head inland to the honeyed vineyards around Arras-sur-Saône, pausing for a tasting at a family-run domaine where you can sample local whites and tour the cellars. Continue through rolling countryside to Dole, stroll the cobbled streets to admire the Renaissance façades and visit the canal-side Place aux Foires market for fresh regional cheeses and charcuterie-perfect picnic supplies before resuming your drive toward the foothills.
Pause mid-afternoon in Besançon to wander the ramparts of the Citadel of Besançon and catch panoramic views of the Doubs valley, then stroll into the historic center to sample time-honoured comté and a glass of local vin jaune at Maison Pasteur or a cosy bar à fromage. Afterward, drive a short way to the picturesque village of Baume-les-Dames for a riverside coffee and a gentle walk to the waterfall at Saut du Doubs, arriving at your 3-star hotel in the region with the quiet satisfaction of a day spent between fortified history and gentle river landscapes.
As dusk falls, settle into the cosy atmosphere of Vesoul with an aperitif on the terrace of Le Bistrot des Halles, then wander the old quarter to admire the illuminated timber-framed houses and the graceful curve of the Saône. For dinner, enjoy regional specialties-think coq au vin or escargots-at Auberge du Parc before a gentle post-meal stroll to the viewpoint at Mont de la Motte to watch the valley lights come alive, a soothing close that sets you up for tomorrow's approach toward the Alps.
Depart your eastern France hotel after breakfast and aim for a scenic morning exploring Castelnuovo Scrivia, where a riverside stroll along the Scrivia reveals charming stone bridges and a lively market for picnic supplies; pause at Trattoria da Gino for a quick plate of focaccia and local salami. Continue toward the foothills and stop at the hilltop medieval Rocca di Tortona for panoramic views over the Po valley, then descend to the bustling centre of Alessandria to browse the arcaded streets and sample a cappuccino in Piazza Garibaldi before resuming your drive into Liguria.
In the afternoon, wind down the plains and head toward the coast with a stop in Novi Ligure to explore the elegant arcades and sample artisanal dolci at Pasticceria Maffei, then stroll the leafy alleys of Parco Moretti for a relaxing break before driving on. Continue over the rolling pre-Ligurian hills to Ovada, where you can tour a small local winery such as Cantina Sociale di Ovada for a guided tasting of Dolcetto and Cortese, then enjoy a panoramic drive along the ridge road into Liguria as the light softens en route to your evening base.
As evening falls, settle into a charming Ligurian town like Noli for a seaside passeggiata along the palm-lined promenade, then dine on fresh pesto-tossed trofie and grilled seafood at Ristorante La Torretta overlooking the harbour. After dinner, enjoy a digestif at the cosy bar of Hotel Vecchio Convento or take a short moonlit walk to the ruined hillside Castello di Monte Ursino for sweeping night views of the coastline, a peaceful close that readies you for the coastal drive into La Spezia tomorrow.
After your coastal drive into Liguria, check into your 3-star hotel and head for a relaxed morning exploring Piazza Garibaldi, where you can sit at a café terrace for a cappuccino and watch locals bustle by. Stroll down to the waterfront promenade to visit Castello San Giorgio for sweeping views over the Gulf of La Spezia, then wander the narrow lanes of the Mercato Coperto to sample focaccia al formaggio and pick up picnic provisions before an easy lunch by the marina.
Spend a relaxed afternoon wandering the elegant promenade of Passeggiata Morin, then cross to the lesser-known artisanal quarter around Via Prione to browse independent boutiques and stop for gelato at Gelateria Primavera. Continue with a short ferry to Lerici for a seaside stroll along the harbour, where you can sit at Ristorante La Boheme for a light seafood plate and watch fishing boats glide by before returning to La Spezia as the light softens.
As twilight falls, wander up to Via del Prione's lively eateries and settle for dinner at Trattoria da Billy to taste fresh anchovies and a Ligurian trofie al pesto while locals dine nearby. Afterward, take a leisurely stroll to Piazza Sant'Agostino for an aperitivo at a street-side bar, then finish with a moonlit walk along the marina by Molo Garibaldi to watch yachts and enjoy the warm harbour atmosphere before returning to your 3-star hotel.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Portsmouth Harbour ferry crossing (passenger foot fare not vehicle) | £35 |
| Coffee on deck (café onboard) | €3 |
| Wissant beachfront bistro - seafood lunch (typical per person) | €25 |
| Cap Blanc-Nez dunes walk | Free |
| Le Touquet-Paris-Plage - brasserie lunch (per person) | €30 |
| Basilique Notre-Dame de Boulogne (entrance) | Free |
| Boulogne-sur-Mer ramparts / old port walk | Free |
| 3-star hotel (per person, double-share estimate) | €60 |
| Dinner at Le Bistrot de la Mer (Calais) - seafood main | €30 |
| Plateforme du Fort Risban (walk / viewpoint) | Free |
| La Fabrique café-bar (drink / nightcap) | €6 |
| Wine tasting at family-run domaine (Arras-sur-Saône area) - per person tasting | €15 |
| Dole - Place aux Foires market (picnic supplies) | €12 |
| Citadel of Besançon (entrance & ramparts) | €8 |
| Maison Pasteur / cheese tasting (sample & glass of vin jaune) | €12 |
| Saut du Doubs (access / short walk) | Free |
| Le Bistrot des Halles (aperitif) | €6 |
| Auberge du Parc - dinner (regional specialties) | €28 |
| 3-star hotel (per person, double-share estimate) - eastern France night | €60 |
| Castelnuovo Scrivia riverside stroll & market | Free |
| Trattoria da Gino - focaccia & salami (light plate) | €10 |
| Rocca di Tortona (visit / viewpoint) | Free |
| Cappuccino in Piazza Garibaldi (Alessandria) | €2 |
| Pasticceria Maffei (dolci) | €4 |
| Parco Moretti stroll | Free |
| Cantina Sociale di Ovada - guided tasting (per person) | €12 |
| Ristorante La Torretta (Noli) - dinner main | €30 |
| Hotel Vecchio Convento - digestif / drink | €6 |
| Castello di Monte Ursino (ruins viewpoint / walk) | Free |
| 3-star hotel (per person, double-share estimate) - Liguria night | €65 |
| Piazza Garibaldi café (cappuccino) | €2 |
| Castello San Giorgio (entrance & viewpoint) | €4 |
| Mercato Coperto - focaccia al formaggio (snack) | €3 |
| Passeggiata Morin promenade walk | Free |
| Gelateria Primavera - gelato | €3 |
| Ferry La Spezia ↔ Lerici (short ferry) - one-way | €3 |
| Ristorante La Boheme (Lerici) - light seafood plate | €22 |
| Trattoria da Billy (La Spezia) - dinner main | €25 |
| Piazza Sant'Agostino aperitivo (drink) | €6 |
| Molo Garibaldi marina walk | Free |
| Estimated Total (per person) | €684 |