Sometimes the most rewarding adventures are the ones you take alone. After months of meticulous planning, budget calculations, and timetable coordination, I embarked on a whirlwind solo trip from Germany to the French Riviera and Paris. This wasn’t a luxury vacation with endless time to lounge around – it was a precisely calculated marathon through some of France’s most iconic destinations, all while staying within a student budget.
The Journey Begins: An 18-Hour Bus Ride
After my German class, I rushed back to shower and pack, barely making it in time for my train. I ended up doing my makeup on the train (a skill I’ve mastered through necessity). The real journey began when I boarded the Flixbus for an 18+ hour ride from Germany to southern France.
Let me tell you something about overnight buses: they’re a test of endurance. We departed at 7 PM, and I had the small blessing of no seatmate, allowing me to curl up with my duffle bag as a makeshift pillow. Around 1 or 2 AM, we reached the Germany-Switzerland border where officials checked everyone’s documents individually – goodbye, precious sleep.
Pro Tip for Budget Travelers: Overnight buses save you both accommodation costs and daytime hours. Just bring good earplugs, an eye mask, and realistic expectations about sleep quality.
Lyon: A Quick Breakfast Detour
By 8 AM, I found myself in Lyon with a nearly two-hour layover. Rather than sit at the bus station, I decided to explore Lyon’s old town. Was it worth it? Well, let’s just say Lyon wasn’t at its best at 8 AM on a weekday.
The streets were empty, nothing was open, and the architecture didn’t particularly captivate me. I climbed to a viewpoint on a hill overlooking the city, but even the panorama left me underwhelmed.
The most interesting observation was watching students hike uphill to their schools perched on the slopes. As someone who had to be at school by 7 AM in China, I found myself slightly envious of their leisurely 8 AM start – despite the daily climb!
Cannes: First Taste of the Mediterranean
After another 6-7 hours on the bus, I finally arrived near Cannes. I write “near” because I still had to walk an hour to reach the city itself. My first impressions of southern France weren’t entirely positive: stone hills everywhere, limited vegetation, and highways lined with dust-covered cars – quite a contrast to Germany’s pristine orderliness.
Walking toward my hotel, I noticed cafés and pastry shops filled with locals in the middle of the afternoon. Working hours seemed like a mere suggestion here, a stark cultural difference from the structured German workday I’d grown accustomed to.
My first destination in Cannes was Villa Domergue, where Cannes Film Festival award decisions are traditionally made. Although it was closed, the journey uphill revealed glimpses of magnificent manors belonging to the wealthy elite – a taste of Cannes’ glamorous reputation.
For dinner, I sought authentic French cuisine at a small local restaurant. The beef stew I ordered was nothing short of divine: tender meat swimming in rich flavors, innovatively paired with rice. It was so good that I lost track of time, missing the sunset I had planned to photograph.
March is definitely Cannes’ off-season: too chilly for beach lounging and months away from the famous film festival. The upside? I had the beach almost entirely to myself. Standing alone on the shore, I let the Mediterranean winds and waves wash away my travel fatigue. The streets emptied remarkably early, with hardly a person in sight after 8 PM.
Cannes to Nice: City-Hopping Along the Coast
Unable to get enough of the Mediterranean, I rose early the next morning to walk along the shore and explore more of Cannes. Morning revealed the city’s true beauty: elegant buildings, swaying palm trees, and that invigorating sea breeze that fills your lungs and clears your mind.
After an unfortunate breakfast incident (my hard-earned strawberry tart ended up on the hotel floor – a minor tragedy), I rushed to the train station to catch my ride to Nice. My tight schedule allowed no room for delays, a running theme throughout this trip.
Nice immediately announced itself as Cannes’ more popular sibling through hotel prices alone:) I stayed in an Airbnb hosted by the most stereotypically cheerful Italians you could imagine. Their enthusiastic introduction to themselves, their apartment, Nice, and passionate invitation to visit Italy was punctuated by my first-ever espresso experience. Despite adding three or four sugar cubes, it remained stubbornly bitter – an acquired taste I clearly hadn’t acquired yet.
Nice shares much of Cannes’ DNA: same sea, similar architecture, but with a more dynamic, vibrant energy. More tourists, more shops, more activity.
For lunch, I visited a restaurant I’d marked on my itinerary (another pre-planned detail). When I tried to eat quickly to stay on schedule, the waiter delivered a line I’ll never forget: “Slow down, enjoy every moment here. You are here to travel, to enjoy.” While I appreciated the philosophy, my meticulously planned itinerary was silently screaming!
Eze Village: Between Heaven and Earth
The afternoon’s destination was Eze Village Garden, perched high on a mountain. The journey upward rewarded me with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean: a dark, clean blue that photos simply cannot do justice. The sight quite literally stopped me in my tracks.
Standing there, half of me felt in heaven while the other half felt the physical exhaustion of the climb. The contrast was poetic in its own way.
After being “stuck” in paradise for an hour, I caught a bus down the mountain and headed to my next destination.
Monaco: A Country on Mountains
Monaco provided yet another perspective on vertical living. People often describe my father’s hometown of Chongqing as a “3D city” built on mountains, but Monaco takes this concept to a national level: it’s truly a country constructed on mountainsides.
After navigating countless ups and downs (both literal and emotional), I found the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean. There’s something inherently melancholic about sunsets: they mark beautiful things reaching their final moments before disappearing.
A friendly seagull kept me company during this contemplative moment, a small comfort that made this solo traveler feel a little less alone.
Post-dinner, my journey back to the train station involved climbing what felt like endless stairs. They were so steep that looking back was vertigo-inducing. By the end, I was practically crawling up the final steps: a testament to Monaco’s dramatic topography.
The Nightmare Scenario: Dead Phone in a Foreign City
Back at the train station, disaster struck: my phone died. Fortunately, I’d purchased my return ticket earlier and had a general memory of how to get back to my Airbnb. This moment highlighted one of solo travel’s most important lessons: always have a backup plan for navigation.
Essential Solo Travel Tip: Memorize key addresses and routes, carry a portable charger, and consider keeping a small paper map as backup.
Paris: The Grand Finale
An early flight the next morning took me to Paris – an astonishingly affordable Air France ticket at just 80 euros (booked through Omio, compared to 200+ euros on the official site). Those pre-pandemic flight deals feel like ancient history now!
In Paris, I met up with my high school classmate and her boyfriend, who guided me through the standard tourist circuit: Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and other iconic landmarks. Having already familiarized myself with French architecture in the south, Paris didn’t surprise me architecturally, but its scale and historical significance were undeniably impressive.
The Eiffel Tower was particularly striking – almost intimidating – under dark, cloudy skies.
The huge metal structure towered over everything, making me feel tiny and a bit overwhelmed beneath it. For those truly interested in the tower, climbing up offers fascinating insights into its remarkable construction techniques. It’s a testament to historical French engineering: an ironic contrast to some of the modern inconveniences I’d encountered.
For lunch, we queued for half an hour at the famous Chartier restaurant. At the time, hunger convinced me the food was excellent. In retrospect, with years of dining experience since, I recognize it as clever marketing rather than exceptional cuisine.
After my friends departed, I experienced Paris differently: wandering alone, away from tourist hotspots. That’s when I discovered the city’s unique charm. Street performers played music everywhere, in metro stations, under bridges, in gardens. This was Paris living and breathing, not posing for photographs.
For dinner, I tried an Israeli restaurant called Miznon Marais. The food was unconventional but delightful – a perfect representation of Paris’ culinary diversity.
My final evening stretched long as my bus wouldn’t depart until midnight. In my youthful naivety, I wandered Paris’ deserted streets close to midnight, blissfully unaware of potential dangers. Looking back, I’m grateful nothing happened – a reminder that solo travel requires street smarts alongside adventure.
Return to Germany: The Sweet Feeling of “Home”
After seven hours on the overnight bus, setting foot back on German soil filled me with unexpected relief. Despite the whirlwind adventure through France’s beauty, Germany had become “home” in a way I hadn’t fully realized until that moment.
Would I recommend this fast-paced style of travel? Yes and no. The precision planning allowed me to see incredible places on a tight budget, but there’s also wisdom in that French waiter’s advice. Sometimes you need to slow down and truly absorb where you are.
Yet there’s something uniquely satisfying about executing a complex travel plan exactly as envisioned: watching the pieces fall into place across cities and countries. It’s a different kind of travel magic, one made of spreadsheets and timetables instead of spontaneous detours, but magical nonetheless.
From Germany to the French Riviera: My Solo Adventure Through Cannes, Nice, Monaco, and Paris
Sometimes the most rewarding adventures are the ones you take alone. After months of meticulous planning, budget calculations, and timetable coordination, I embarked on a whirlwind solo trip from Germany to the French Riviera and Paris. This wasn’t a luxury vacation with endless time to lounge around – it was a precisely calculated marathon through some of France’s most iconic destinations, all while staying within a student budget.
The Journey Begins: An 18-Hour Bus Ride
After my German class, I rushed back to shower and pack, barely making it in time for my train. I ended up doing my makeup on the train (a skill I’ve mastered through necessity). The real journey began when I boarded the Flixbus for an 18+ hour ride from Germany to southern France.
Let me tell you something about overnight buses: they’re a test of endurance. We departed at 7 PM, and I had the small blessing of no seatmate, allowing me to curl up with my duffle bag as a makeshift pillow. Around 1 or 2 AM, we reached the Germany-Switzerland border where officials checked everyone’s documents individually – goodbye, precious sleep.
Pro Tip for Budget Travelers: Overnight buses save you both accommodation costs and daytime hours. Just bring good earplugs, an eye mask, and realistic expectations about sleep quality.
Lyon: A Quick Breakfast Detour
By 8 AM, I found myself in Lyon with a nearly two-hour layover. Rather than sit at the bus station, I decided to explore Lyon’s old town. Was it worth it? Well, let’s just say Lyon wasn’t at its best at 8 AM on a weekday.
The streets were empty, nothing was open, and the architecture didn’t particularly captivate me. I climbed to a viewpoint on a hill overlooking the city, but even the panorama left me underwhelmed.
The most interesting observation was watching students hike uphill to their schools perched on the slopes. As someone who had to be at school by 7 AM in China, I found myself slightly envious of their leisurely 8 AM start – despite the daily climb!
Cannes: First Taste of the Mediterranean
After another 6-7 hours on the bus, I finally arrived near Cannes. I write “near” because I still had to walk an hour to reach the city itself. My first impressions of southern France weren’t entirely positive: stone hills everywhere, limited vegetation, and highways lined with dust-covered cars – quite a contrast to Germany’s pristine orderliness.
Walking toward my hotel, I noticed cafés and pastry shops filled with locals in the middle of the afternoon. Working hours seemed like a mere suggestion here, a stark cultural difference from the structured German workday I’d grown accustomed to.
My first destination in Cannes was Villa Domergue, where Cannes Film Festival award decisions are traditionally made. Although it was closed, the journey uphill revealed glimpses of magnificent manors belonging to the wealthy elite – a taste of Cannes’ glamorous reputation.
For dinner, I sought authentic French cuisine at a small local restaurant. The beef stew I ordered was nothing short of divine: tender meat swimming in rich flavors, innovatively paired with rice. It was so good that I lost track of time, missing the sunset I had planned to photograph.
March is definitely Cannes’ off-season: too chilly for beach lounging and months away from the famous film festival. The upside? I had the beach almost entirely to myself. Standing alone on the shore, I let the Mediterranean winds and waves wash away my travel fatigue. The streets emptied remarkably early, with hardly a person in sight after 8 PM.
Cannes to Nice: City-Hopping Along the Coast
Unable to get enough of the Mediterranean, I rose early the next morning to walk along the shore and explore more of Cannes. Morning revealed the city’s true beauty: elegant buildings, swaying palm trees, and that invigorating sea breeze that fills your lungs and clears your mind.
After an unfortunate breakfast incident (my hard-earned strawberry tart ended up on the hotel floor – a minor tragedy), I rushed to the train station to catch my ride to Nice. My tight schedule allowed no room for delays, a running theme throughout this trip.
Nice immediately announced itself as Cannes’ more popular sibling through hotel prices alone:) I stayed in an Airbnb hosted by the most stereotypically cheerful Italians you could imagine. Their enthusiastic introduction to themselves, their apartment, Nice, and passionate invitation to visit Italy was punctuated by my first-ever espresso experience. Despite adding three or four sugar cubes, it remained stubbornly bitter – an acquired taste I clearly hadn’t acquired yet.
Nice shares much of Cannes’ DNA: same sea, similar architecture, but with a more dynamic, vibrant energy. More tourists, more shops, more activity.
For lunch, I visited a restaurant I’d marked on my itinerary (another pre-planned detail). When I tried to eat quickly to stay on schedule, the waiter delivered a line I’ll never forget: “Slow down, enjoy every moment here. You are here to travel, to enjoy.” While I appreciated the philosophy, my meticulously planned itinerary was silently screaming!
Eze Village: Between Heaven and Earth
The afternoon’s destination was Eze Village Garden, perched high on a mountain. The journey upward rewarded me with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean: a dark, clean blue that photos simply cannot do justice. The sight quite literally stopped me in my tracks.
Standing there, half of me felt in heaven while the other half felt the physical exhaustion of the climb. The contrast was poetic in its own way.
After being “stuck” in paradise for an hour, I caught a bus down the mountain and headed to my next destination.
Monaco: A Country on Mountains
Monaco provided yet another perspective on vertical living. People often describe my father’s hometown of Chongqing as a “3D city” built on mountains, but Monaco takes this concept to a national level: it’s truly a country constructed on mountainsides.
After navigating countless ups and downs (both literal and emotional), I found the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean. There’s something inherently melancholic about sunsets: they mark beautiful things reaching their final moments before disappearing.
A friendly seagull kept me company during this contemplative moment, a small comfort that made this solo traveler feel a little less alone.
Post-dinner, my journey back to the train station involved climbing what felt like endless stairs. They were so steep that looking back was vertigo-inducing. By the end, I was practically crawling up the final steps: a testament to Monaco’s dramatic topography.
The Nightmare Scenario: Dead Phone in a Foreign City
Back at the train station, disaster struck: my phone died. Fortunately, I’d purchased my return ticket earlier and had a general memory of how to get back to my Airbnb. This moment highlighted one of solo travel’s most important lessons: always have a backup plan for navigation.
Essential Solo Travel Tip: Memorize key addresses and routes, carry a portable charger, and consider keeping a small paper map as backup.
Paris: The Grand Finale
An early flight the next morning took me to Paris – an astonishingly affordable Air France ticket at just 80 euros (booked through Omio, compared to 200+ euros on the official site). Those pre-pandemic flight deals feel like ancient history now!
In Paris, I met up with my high school classmate and her boyfriend, who guided me through the standard tourist circuit: Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and other iconic landmarks. Having already familiarized myself with French architecture in the south, Paris didn’t surprise me architecturally, but its scale and historical significance were undeniably impressive.
The Eiffel Tower was particularly striking – almost intimidating – under dark, cloudy skies.
The huge metal structure towered over everything, making me feel tiny and a bit overwhelmed beneath it. For those truly interested in the tower, climbing up offers fascinating insights into its remarkable construction techniques. It’s a testament to historical French engineering: an ironic contrast to some of the modern inconveniences I’d encountered.
For lunch, we queued for half an hour at the famous Chartier restaurant. At the time, hunger convinced me the food was excellent. In retrospect, with years of dining experience since, I recognize it as clever marketing rather than exceptional cuisine.
After my friends departed, I experienced Paris differently: wandering alone, away from tourist hotspots. That’s when I discovered the city’s unique charm. Street performers played music everywhere, in metro stations, under bridges, in gardens. This was Paris living and breathing, not posing for photographs.
For dinner, I tried an Israeli restaurant called Miznon Marais. The food was unconventional but delightful – a perfect representation of Paris’ culinary diversity.
My final evening stretched long as my bus wouldn’t depart until midnight. In my youthful naivety, I wandered Paris’ deserted streets close to midnight, blissfully unaware of potential dangers. Looking back, I’m grateful nothing happened – a reminder that solo travel requires street smarts alongside adventure.
Return to Germany: The Sweet Feeling of “Home”
After seven hours on the overnight bus, setting foot back on German soil filled me with unexpected relief. Despite the whirlwind adventure through France’s beauty, Germany had become “home” in a way I hadn’t fully realized until that moment.
Would I recommend this fast-paced style of travel? Yes and no. The precision planning allowed me to see incredible places on a tight budget, but there’s also wisdom in that French waiter’s advice. Sometimes you need to slow down and truly absorb where you are.
Yet there’s something uniquely satisfying about executing a complex travel plan exactly as envisioned: watching the pieces fall into place across cities and countries. It’s a different kind of travel magic, one made of spreadsheets and timetables instead of spontaneous detours, but magical nonetheless.