Start early at Tower of London so you can get the full fortress-and-crown-jewels experience before the day gets swallowed by departure logistics. It usually takes about 2 hours if you do it properly, and it’s one of those places where arriving near opening pays off — the crowds are lighter, the Beefeater stories land better, and you’re not queueing behind tour groups from the river. If you want the classic postcard view, step out toward Tower Wharf and look back at Tower Bridge before moving on. From here, it’s an easy walk or a quick bus/tube hop to London Bridge.
Head to Borough Market for lunch and keep it simple: this is a great place to graze rather than sit down for a long meal. Expect to spend around £15–25 per person, and don’t overthink it — the market works best when you follow your nose. Good reliable picks include Kappacasein for the cheese toastie, Padella if you’re willing to queue for fresh pasta, or Brindisa for something Spanish and quick. After eating, wander west a bit through the market edges and down toward the river; you’ll get a nice transition from busy city energy into something more open and calm.
Continue to St Katharine Docks for a slower, more local-feeling waterfront stroll. It’s only a short walk from the Tower area, and it’s one of London’s easiest places to feel like you’ve escaped the traffic without actually leaving central London. Grab a coffee if you need one and circle the marina; the mix of yachts, brick warehouses, and quiet terraces gives you a softer final London memory before you head out. Then make your way to The Mayflower Pub in Rotherhithe for your last proper meal in the city — this is the one to linger over. It’s an old-school riverside pub with genuine history, best enjoyed in the afternoon before the evening rush. Expect roughly £25–40 per person for food and drink, and if the weather is decent, sit outside or by the water.
For the final stretch, ease out via Southwark Bridge and the Thames riverside drive-out so you get one last clean look at central London before the route turns toward the south. This is the right moment to leave yourself some slack — London traffic can be annoying even when it looks manageable on paper, so don’t try to squeeze too much into the last hour. A slow roll past the river at golden hour is the perfect reset before a week of big drives, ferries, and French countryside.
Once you’re in Honfleur and checked in, keep the first hour loose and easy with Vieux Bassin. This is the heart of town — the narrow harbor lined with slate-fronted houses, old fishing boats, and cafés that spill onto the quays when the weather’s decent. The nicest way to do it is simply to wander the full loop around the water, then pause on Quai Sainte-Catherine for the classic view back across the masts and reflections. If you’re here in the late afternoon light, it gets especially photogenic. Budget about €0 unless you’re tempted by a coffee stop, and the whole circuit is just an easy one-hour warm-up after travel.
A short walk into the old lanes brings you to Église Sainte-Catherine, which feels very Honfleur: unusual, a little rough around the edges, and completely worth it. It’s the largest wooden church in France, built by shipwrights, and the timber ceilings give it the atmosphere of an upturned boat hull. It’s usually open daytime, and 20–30 minutes is enough unless you’re lingering for photos or the little side chapels. From there, drift through the nearby streets toward Marché Saint-Léonard — even if you’re not doing a full market shop, it’s the best place to grab a bite of the region in portable form. Look for Pont-l’Évêque or Livarot cheese, a bottle of cider or poiré, and a pastry for later; prices are friendly, and late morning to early afternoon is the easiest time to catch it at its liveliest.
For lunch, settle in at La Fleur de Sel on Rue de l’Homme de Bois, a dependable spot for Norman seafood without feeling fussy. Order something anchored in the area — mussels, scallops, oysters, or a fish dish with cider cream — and take your time; this is the kind of meal that works best when you don’t rush it. Expect roughly €30–50 per person depending on wine and dessert, and lunch service is usually in the 12:00–14:00 window, so it’s worth arriving not too late. If you want a quick pre-lunch wander, the surrounding lanes are excellent for browsing little galleries and antique shops, but don’t over-plan it.
Afterward, head south to Plage du Butin for an unhurried reset by the sea. It’s not a flashy beach, which is exactly why locals like it: simple, open, and good for a long walk with your shoes in hand if the weather cooperates. The walk from town is straightforward and gives you that satisfying shift from harbor bustle to open coastline. Spend about an hour here, more if the tide and sky are kind, and keep the rest of the evening loose — Honfleur is best when you leave a little room for an extra coffee, a cider, or one more wander back around the harbor as the light fades.
Arrive in Tours with enough buffer to settle in and head straight out to Château de Villandry first, because the gardens are the whole point and they’re best in soft morning light before the day-trippers arrive. Give yourself around 2 hours here: the formal vegetable parterre, the ornamental water garden, and the clipped box hedges are all worth taking slowly, and in May the planting is usually looking sharp. Entry is typically around €8–12, and the site usually opens around 9:00 or 9:30, so if you’re coming in from Honfleur it’s worth planning for a late-morning arrival rather than trying to cram too much before it.
Back in Tours Centre, make your next stop Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours in the old core, where the atmosphere shifts from grand countryside to compact city calm. It’s an easy, low-effort visit — about 45 minutes is enough unless you like lingering for photos or a quiet sit inside. From there, it’s a short walk to Les Halles de Tours, which is exactly where I’d send you for lunch: the market is busy without being overwhelming, and you can do a proper light lunch from stalls rather than sitting down for a long formal meal. Expect to spend about €15–25 per person on oysters, rillettes, cheese, charcuterie, a tartine, or a glass of local white; it’s usually most lively late morning through early afternoon, and a weekday visit is easier than Saturday if you want elbow room.
After lunch, drift toward Place Plumereau, the classic postcard square of half-timbered houses and café terraces in the old town. This is the part of Tours that feels most lived-in: students, locals, and travelers all mixing on the square, with narrow streets like Rue du Commerce and Rue Colbert branching off in easy, wanderable lines. Give yourself about an hour here, but don’t over-plan it — the best move is to sit for a coffee or a small apéritif, then just let the neighborhood pull you along for a bit. If you want a quick browse, the surrounding lanes have wine shops, bakeries, and small boutiques that are much better than they look from the outside.
For dinner, book Le Bouchon Tours on the Rue Colbert area and make it your proper Loire Valley meal, ideally with regional wines by the glass or bottle. This is the kind of place where you want to slow down and let the evening stretch a little: think 1.5 hours minimum, more if you’re enjoying the wine list and the room is lively. Budget roughly €35–55 per person depending on what you order, and if you’re eating on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday it’s smart to reserve ahead. After dinner, a short walk back through the old streets is enough — Tours is lovely at night when the squares thin out and the timber façades catch the warm streetlight.
You’ll likely reach Dijon around early afternoon, so keep the first stop focused and central: Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy. This is the city’s anchor, and the surrounding squares give you the best first impression of old Dijon — elegant stone façades, wide civic spaces, and that very French mix of grandeur and livability. Plan about 1.5 hours here, especially if you want to climb the Philippe le Bon Tower; it’s usually one of the better-value viewpoints in town at around €5–8, and the climb is worth it for the rooftops. From the palace, it’s an easy, pleasant walk through the historic center, so you won’t need to rush or use transport.
A short walk brings you to Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, which makes a good second stop because it’s compact but atmospheric. Give it about 30 minutes — enough to take in the Romanesque/Gothic contrast and the quiet interior without overdoing it. After that, head to Les Halles de Dijon, where lunch is the real point of the stop. Come hungry: this is the best place to graze on local mustard, Époisses, jambon persillé, cheeses, and crusty bread, either from counters inside the market or at nearby casual spots around the Halles district. Budget roughly €15–30 per person depending on whether you do a light bite or a full sit-down meal; the market is best around lunch, but some stalls keep shorter afternoon hours, so don’t leave it too late.
After lunch, slow the pace on Rue de la Liberté, Dijon’s main pedestrian spine and one of the easiest streets to simply enjoy without an agenda. It’s good for architecture, boutique browsing, and a coffee if you want a reset before the evening. You’ll pass a mix of belle époque details, department stores, local shops, and the kind of side streets that make Dijon feel more lived-in than touristy. If you have time, duck into the smaller lanes just off the street rather than sticking only to the main thoroughfare — that’s where the town gets prettier and quieter. Keep this part loose and allow about an hour; Dijon is at its best when you wander a little off-script.
Wrap the day with dessert and coffee at Café Gourmand Dijon near Place Darcy, which is a sensible final stop because it keeps you close to the center and near easy evening wandering or an early return to your hotel. Aim for a calm 45-minute break: espresso, something sweet, and a moment to sit down after the sightseeing. Expect around €8–15 per person. If you still have energy afterward, a short stroll around Place Darcy or back toward the historic core is a nice way to end the day without piling on more plans — Dijon rewards an early night, especially if you want to save your appetite and energy for the next leg of the trip.
After you roll into Annecy and drop your bags, start with the easy win: Lake Annecy promenade. Head for the waterfront paths around Quai Napoléon III and Avenue d’Albigny; it’s the classic first look at the lake, with clear water, sailboats, and the mountains sitting right in front of you like a backdrop someone exaggerated. Give this about an hour, especially if you want a slow coffee-stop pace rather than a brisk walk. If the weather’s nice, locals linger on the grass by Jardins l’Europe or grab an espresso at one of the cafés along the shore before heading into town.
From there, wander into Old Town Annecy (Vieille Ville), which is best enjoyed on foot and without a strict plan. The Thiou River channels, little stone bridges, and pastel facades around Rue Sainte-Claire and Rue Filaterie are the whole point here, and the area is prettiest before the lunch crowd thickens. Spend about 90 minutes drifting through the lanes, checking the market arcades if they’re open, and keeping an eye out for the little canals that make Annecy feel more Alpine than French-river-town. It’s a compact center, so you can move at an easy pace and still see plenty without rushing.
For lunch, settle in at Maman on Rue Sainte-Claire. It’s a good, low-fuss choice in the old town — the kind of place where you can eat well without losing half the day to a formal meal. Expect simple seasonal plates, a lunch bill around €20–35 per person, and the usual smart move of booking ahead if you’re here in peak season or on a sunny weekend. If you want to linger, this is the right spot to do it: Annecy works best when you let the day stay a little loose.
After lunch, walk a few minutes down to Pont des Amours in Jardins de l’Europe for the postcard view. It’s a quick stop, but worth it because this is one of those angles that really captures why people make a pilgrimage to Annecy in the first place: lake, trees, mountains, and that clean sweep of water underneath you. Then, if you’re up for the best panorama of the day, continue on for the Semnoz Scenic Drive viewpoint. This is your mountain payoff — a short uphill excursion above town that gives you wide views back over Lac d’Annecy and the surrounding peaks. Plan on about 1.5 hours total for the drive and lookout time, and bring a light layer even if the town below feels warm; it can be noticeably cooler up there.
Start with Promenade des Anglais as soon as you’ve dropped your bags in Nice — this is the city’s easiest “I’m really on the Riviera” moment. Walk the seafront from around Plage Beau Rivage toward Carras if you want a longer stretch, or just do an easy out-and-back near Le Negresco and the Jardin Albert 1er if you’d rather keep it light. Early morning is best here: the light is soft, the water is calm, and you’ll get the promenade before the scooters, runners, and beach clubs wake up. Expect a free, gentle hour, with a coffee stop possible at any of the kiosks facing the sea.
From the promenade, head into Vieux Nice for Cours Saleya Market, which is really at its liveliest before lunch. If it’s a market day, wander the stalls for flowers, olives, socca, fruit, and little Provençal pantry items; if it’s quieter, it still has plenty of energy and is one of the prettiest streets to just meander through. It’s an easy 10-minute walk from the waterfront, and worth slowing down for because this is where Nice feels most local. When you’re ready to sit, La Petite Maison in the Carré d’Or is the lunch anchor — book ahead if you can, because it’s popular and not the sort of place you just casually walk into on a busy day. Budget about €45–80 per person depending on how much you order; the trick is to keep lunch unhurried and let the table do the work, since you’ve got a great afternoon ahead.
After lunch, make your way up to Castle Hill (Colline du Château) for the classic view over the harbor and the curve of the bay. You can walk up from the old town side if you feel like earning it, or take the lift near Quai des États-Unis and save your legs for later; either way, the viewpoint is the whole point, so allow enough time to wander and not just snap one photo and leave. It’s a good reset after the bustle of the market and lunch, with shady paths and plenty of places to pause. Then continue inland to Musée Matisse in Cimiez, which shifts the day into something calmer and more reflective. The museum is usually open in the afternoon and sits in a quieter district, so it’s a nice contrast to the seafront — and if you have extra energy, the surrounding Arenas of Cimiez and olive groves make the area feel surprisingly peaceful.
From Nice, take the TER up the coast and start in La Turbie for Tête de Chien viewpoint — this is the best “wow, we’ve made it” opening to Monaco, with the whole principality spread below and the shoreline curling away toward Cap Ferrat. Go as early as you can to beat the heat and catch the clearest light; the platform and roadside viewpoints are free, and you only need about 45 minutes, though you’ll probably linger longer for photos. Wear decent shoes if you step away from the main pull-in points, and keep a light layer handy because it can be breezier up here than down by the sea.
Then drop down into Monaco-Ville for the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. Aim to arrive before the midday crowd, because the palace square is much more pleasant when it’s still relatively quiet. The changing of the guard happens at 11:55 daily in the warmer season, which is worth timing your visit around if you like a bit of ceremony. The palace museum and state rooms are seasonal, so check hours if you want the inside tour; exterior access and the ramparts views are the main draw anyway, and the whole stop fits neatly into about an hour.
A short walk away sits Cathédrale de Monaco, which is worth the stop even if you’re usually more interested in views than churches. It’s calm, cool, and much less rushed than the palace area, with the tombs of the princely family inside and a solid sense of place outside in the old town lanes. From there, linger in Monaco-Ville just long enough to enjoy the stone streets before heading down to Place du Casino for lunch at Café de Paris Monte-Carlo. This is the classic Monaco splurge-without-going-full-royal option: coffee and a pastry can be a manageable stop, while a proper lunch with a drink will usually run around €30–70 per person depending on how hard you lean into it. Book ahead if it’s a weekend, and if you sit on the terrace, expect to pay partly for the people-watching.
After lunch, give yourself an unhurried stroll through Casino Square and the Hôtel de Paris area, because this is the Monaco postcard moment — all polished stone, luxury cars, manicured flowerbeds, and the kind of grand hotel frontage that makes the place feel like a movie set. You don’t need an itinerary here so much as a slow walk: circle square, peek toward the Casino de Monte-Carlo entrance, and let yourself drift along Boulevard des Moulins if you want a quick look at the shopping streets. Then finish the day at Larvotto Beach promenade, where Monaco finally relaxes into the sea again. The beach is pebbly rather than sandy, so it’s more of a stroll-and-sit-down stop than a full beach day, but it’s perfect for a final hour: easy promenade, open water, cafés nearby, and a softer ending after all the grandeur.