i'm looking for feedback on my itinerary in France for 8 days in mid-december.

I just spent a couple hours reading through a bunch of threads on this forum trying to decide where we want to go and our itinerary. My wife and I have both been to Paris before (not together and not in Dec). from stududley's reports and others, seems like it's worth spending some time there. Lyon sounds really great b/c we're foodies and there's other stuff to do there, but from what I understand it's only good to visit Tues -Saturday. Strasbourg sounds like it's worth a visit as well and doable as a day trip (http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...asbourg.cfm?29)

Things to do in each city:
-Paris: Christmas decorations @ dept stores, christmas fair on Champs-Eylsees, general hanging out
-Lyon: eating a lot! restaurants, food market on Boulevard de la Croix Rousse, etc
-Strasbourg: cathedral, christmas market, La Petite France

#1)
Tues: arrive 9:40am CDG - recover from jetlag
Wed: Paris
Thurs: Lyon (morning TGV)
Fri: Lyon
Sat: Lyon - Paris (mid-day TGV)
Sun: Strasbourg Day Trip (TGV)
Mon: Paris
Tues: depart 11:40am out of CDG

alternatively, if I can swing an open jaw ticket we could do
Tues: arrive Lyon probably late morning, recover from jetlag
Wed: Lyon
Thurs: Lyon - Paris (evening TGV)
Fri: Paris
Sat: Paris
Sun: Day Trip to Strasbourg (TGV)
Mon: Paris
Tues: depart out of CDG

I could even replicate the open jaw itinerary if I took the TGV direclty from CDG to Lyon, altho that could be very tiring after a red-eye. I have an incentive to get 5 straight nights in Paris b/c I'm using hotel points and the 5th night is a freebie ... but only if it makes sense.

thoughts? not sure if if have the Lyon-Paris balance right.

It takes two hours Lyon-Paris, plus time in Paris to get from Gare de Lyon to hotel.
It takes 2:19 h from Paris to Strasbourg, plus time to get from hotel to train station (Est).

It takes about 5 hours to get straight from Lyon through Switzerland to Strasbourg.

You leave Lyon at 09:31, you're in Strasbourg at 14:36. You sightsee, walk up an appetite (you missed a real lunch...), you indulge in an early dinner, take the 20:17 train for Paris (arr about half past ten) and you're in bed before midnight, in your points-generous hotel.

Or you eat from the Bistro on the train (TGV 2360).

The famous christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar will be on when you visit in December. We have been multiple times specifically to visit the market. Its very crowded of course but has a great atmosphere. Dont forget to taste some vin chaud (mulled wine) while you are there.

Hi,
You don't mention your exact dates, but it's worth noting that the Fête des Lumières (Festival of lights) takes place in Lyon in early December, lasting for a few days and culminating on December 8 (it used to be on December 8 only, but in recent years the city council have extended the festival).

The city is decorated with lights, with incredible "trompe l'oeil" projections on buildings and monuments around the city. On Dec 8, people also put candles in their windows, and there is generally much festivity and merry-making in the streets. It is wonderful - very beautiful and a lot of fun, but the city will be busy and hotels might have fewer rooms available.
Just something to bear in mind!

And as foodies you will love Lyon. I used to live in the Croix-Rousse and that wonderful market was where I'd get all my fresh food every Sunday.

thanks for all the great info! unfortunately, if it ends Dec 8 then i'll be a week late to the festival of lights.

Lyon sounds great - i heard all the restaurants are closed on Monday and all the attractions are closed Sunday - is that accurate?

I wonder if I'm short-changing Lyon. I really have 7 full days - 1 for strasbourg = 6 (but 1 day is jetlagged). I've been to Paris before and the food was good but wasn't that impressed - sounds like Lyon has better food and is cheaper, with still lots to see (and we've never been there).

What on earth gave you the idea that only certain days are worth visiting in Lyon? If it's because things are closed on Sundays and Mondays, that's true in every single city and town and village in France - it's not particular to Lyon.

With only 7 days I wouldn't try to cover Paris, Lyon, and Strasbourg. I'd pick two, and mine would be Paris and Lyon.

If you've been to Paris before and weren't impressed with the food, I can understand that, but it's because you didn't do your research, not because the fabulous food's not there. It's very easy to eat mediocre food in Paris if you don't plan ahead. Same thing is true just about anywhere, but always true in a big city.

I agree with St Cirq that a Paris-Lyon combo would be nice. I went in November a few years back, and found that ~4 days would give you a nice exposure to the city.

I ate at Bocuse's Est bistrot and liked it. For Lyonnais food, La Machonnerie was a good choice. Located in Old town, near cathedral. Ask for his homemade gnaffron

There is a fantastic Gallo-Roman museum located on the Fourviere hill. Right next to the roman arena.

Place des Terreaux, Place Bellerours...both nice. Place Santenay turned out to be my favorite little park.

i've seen other posters here say things like "only visit lyon tuesday through saturday" or similar. I was thinking that perhaps Paris would be a bit immune to this since it's a bigger city (kind of how like everything is open all the time in NYC), so it'd better to be in Paris on Sun/Mon than in Lyon. if that's not true, it definitely gives me more flexibility, as I was thinking I had to get Lyon in the 1st half of my trip.

point taken about needing to research more about food in Paris. I live in NY and I see tourists eating crappy food all the time.

maybe we'll focus on Lyon and Paris. Strasbourg can always be a back-up day trip that we can decide on relatively last minute - will I be able to book seats on the TGV the day before around that time of year? or does it need to be advance.

ps - is there a way to subscribe to updates or get a feed so I know when someone replies to this thread?

tjhsu,
No app to keep you updated...

tjhsu,
No app to keep you updated...just click on your name, it will bring up all of your threads.

I agree with the others about only doing Paris/Lyon this trip. Actually, I think Strasbourg is worth more than a daytrip. It's worth a couple of days at least.