A Perfect 2-3 Day Dordogne Itinerary from Paris
If you’re dreaming of a short escape from Paris to the French countryside, Dordogne is one of the best picks. Hilltop castles, stone villages, river bends, prehistoric caves, and food that makes you want to move there permanently.
The region deserves a week, but if you’re short on time, this 2–3 day trip gives you the highlights without rushing too much. Here’s a relaxed, rewarding itinerary you can pull off with just a long weekend.
Day 1: From Paris to Sarlat-la-Canéda
The nicest way to get to Dordogne from Paris is by train to Souillac. It’s not a high-speed TGV, but the ride is scenic and takes about 4.5 to 5 hours depending on the route. You can board from Paris Austerlitz, and if you book early, tickets are cheap.
Once you get to Souillac, rent a car right at the station. Having your own wheels is essential in this part of France.
From Souillac, it’s a peaceful 40-minute drive to Sarlat-la-Canéda. This small town is one of Dordogne’s stars. It’s all golden stone, slate roofs, and winding alleys.
The old town is compact and walkable, packed with preserved buildings dating back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Spend your afternoon exploring the cobblestone streets, stopping at the Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral and checking out the covered market that used to be a church.
If you arrive on a Wednesday or Saturday, there’s a lively outdoor market that fills the town with local produce, walnut oil, cheeses, and truffle everything.
Sleep in Sarlat for both nights. There are plenty of good options, small hotels, B&Bs, and even some 16th-century mansions turned guesthouses. Try to stay inside the old town if you can, so you can enjoy it at night after the day-trippers leave.
Day 2: River Villages, Castles, Garden Views
Start your day with a short drive to La Roque-Gageac, one of France’s “most beautiful villages.” It’s wedged between a cliff and the Dordogne River, and everything feels like it hasn’t changed in centuries.
You can walk the narrow streets, spot tropical plants growing on the south-facing cliff, and take a gabarre ride, thoser flat-bottomed boats that once hauled goods on the river.
Next, drive 10 minutes to the Château de Beynac. It’s a massive medieval fortress perched on a cliff with wide views over the river and surrounding villages. The castle is well-preserved and gives you a strong sense of what feudal power looked like in this region.
Nearby, on the opposite side of the river, you’ll see Château de Castelnaud, a longtime rival back in the day.
For lunch, you can stop in Beynac or head back to Sarlat. In either case, it’s easy to find something regional – duck confit, foie gras, or walnut cake are on every menu.
In the afternoon, visit the Gardens of Marqueyssac. They’re just across the river from the castles and are famous for their hand-trimmed boxwood hedges, some shaped like waves. The clifftop walk has the best panoramic view in the area.
Wrap up the day back in Sarlat. The town is even better after dark when the streets are softly lit, and the crowds have gone.
Grab dinner at one of the outdoor terraces and try something with truffle if it’s in season.
Day 3: Prehistoric Art and the Journey Back
If you’re doing this trip in two days, you can take the train back to Paris from Souillac in the afternoon. But if you have a third day, it’s worth driving 30 minutes to Montignac to visit Lascaux IV.
Lascaux is a full-scale replica of one of the most famous prehistoric caves in the world. The original cave is closed to the public to preserve it, but the replica is incredibly well done, and the visit is guided, so you actually understand what you’re looking at.
The artwork is over 17,000 years old, horses, bulls, deer, and the whole thing is surprisingly moving.
You can grab lunch in Montignac after the visit. It’s a small town but has a few solid options for a sit-down meal or quick crêpe.
From Montignac, plan on about a 1.5-hour drive back to Souillac to return the rental car. Then hop back on the train for the ride to Paris. You’ll arrive by early evening if you time it right.
Final Tips
If your heart is set on a faster train, you could take the TGV from Paris to Bordeaux (2 hours), then rent a car and drive 2.5 hours to Sarlat. But that adds more time on the road. For a quick Dordogne escape, Paris to Souillac is the more efficient route.
If you have more than three days, you could add Domme (another hilltop village with great views) or the original polychrome cave at Font-de-Gaume (limited spots, book way in advance).
But even in just two or three days, Dordogne is fantastic, it’s peaceful, dense with sights, and feels a world away from Paris without being too far.