Discover shorter “Inside” city trips

Discover our shorter “Inside” trips in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Bath… delightful city-based interludes.

Our European Experiences “Inside” trips are based in cities, with a focus on special experiences beyond the typical tourist sites. Our Inside groups are smaller, usually with a max of six to eight people with one leader (Jennifer, Drew or Kelly), joined by local guides.

“Inside” trips were designed to be combined with one of our week-long Experience trips, extending a European trip to 11 or 12 days. When an Inside trip is combined with an adjacent Experience week, transportation between the two location is included and is organized by European Experiences.

But many people also book an Inside trip as a standalone trip, combining it with independent travel or another type of tour.  It’s also possible to book two different Inside trips with a few days in between.

In France we offer Inside Paris, Inside Lyon, and Inside Bordeaux which can be combined with other trips in France. In England we offer Inside Bath, before or after one our Cotswolds weeks.

Inside Paris

Paris is one of the most fascinating, beautiful and loved cities in the world. This iconic city, the “City of Light,” is the apex of architectural beauty, artistic expression and culinary delight. The charm of Paris, however, lies in the small details: the quaint cobblestone streets, perfectly manicured gardens, bakeries on every street corner, Belle Epoque brasseries, and sidewalk cafés. American expat and trip leader Jennifer Dugdale has designed a trip that focuses on locals’ authentic Paris.  As Jennifer explained, “this trip is designed for those who have already visited the most touristed highlights of Paris. We enjoy the city like locals. We take the Metro, we walk, we drink coffee, we enjoy the parks, and we visit the inside of places most tourists don’t see.”

An Inside Paris Women’s group with local guide Jacky at Parc Monceau on a sunny Sunday

Depending on the schedule, Inside Paris can be combined with other European Experiences trips in France or as a standalone trip. In the past, travelers have combined this trip with The Normandy Experience, The Luberon Experience, The Mediterranean Provence Experience, or The Riviera Hillsides Experience.

What our Travelers said:

“What an amazing experience! After coming to Paris for over 50 years Jennifer still managed to have a surprise for me at every turn. We stayed at a lovely hotel in a walkable part of the city. Jennifer had locals involved in all of our experiences—we even had a chance to dine in the private home of a French chef. Truly an “insiders” experience.” (Charlene from Florida)

“Inside Paris… was exactly what we were looking for. Our 4 days (and nights) included visits to a number of local areas where the addition of local guides proved to be a great enhancement. One of our days took us to a suburban villa and garden where a local garden expert led our group, followed by lunch at her home. It’s Paris, so needless to say, the dining experiences were varied and well done.” (John from Indiana)

“I am so fortunate to have participated in the Inside Paris Women’s trip. Our leader extraordinaire, Jennifer, planned an amazing week of activities related to fashion, gastronomy, gardens & history. My personal favorite was meeting locals in their homes and the camaraderie with the other women in the group. I highly recommend this trip.” (Sheri from Pennsylvania)

2026 Trips: 

April 27 – May 1 (3 openings)

October 5 – 9 Women’s Trip (4 openings)

We’ll also offer Inside Paris in 2027. Learn more about Inside Paris.

Inside Lyon

Our Inside Lyon trip was introduced in 2025, designed and led by Drew Fedorka, and we had a great response from our first three groups. “As someone who has spent a lot of time in Lyon, I’ve long felt that it’s a real shame that this compelling place isn’t a household name in the same way as other major French cities. The Inside Lyon trip, by showcasing this beautiful city in all its dimensions, is my attempt to remedy that. Lyon has a truly unique combination: a compelling (and well preserved) history spanning two millennia, a proud and abundant food culture, an agreeable climate, beautiful scenery and architecture, and enduring artisanal traditions. It’s a city that is dynamic and cosmopolitan, while simultaneously feeling rooted in place, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days.” The group also makes an excursion to the countryside to the Beaujolais region north of Lyon. This area features sprawling vineyards and hilltop villages built out of “golden stone” and a stop along the renowned Beaujolais Wine Route to taste some of the region’s best viticultural offerings.

An Inside Lyon group with Drew in Vieux Lyon, the city’s old town.

Inside Lyon can be combined with other European Experiences trips in France or as a standalone trip.

What our Travelers said:

“We can’t say enough about Drew who guided us inside the city and into the countryside of rustic stone villages and wineries. The restaurants and experiences he chose for us were well researched and fun. We visited the beautiful Basilica of Notre Dame and smaller cathedrals and the Paul Bocuse food hall with a personal tour with lovely Claire whose English and enthusiasm were wonderful. We received an education on wines, cheeses, local sausages, and then we ate all of it. The displays of local foods and produce was a feast alone.” (Bruce and Barb from Florida)

“Drew did a fantastic job organizing and putting this trip together. He has a passion for France and especially Lyon, where he lived while studying for his PhD in French History. Lyon is easy to get to and would appeal to both city lovers and those that enjoy smaller towns. We stayed on the “peninsula,” a perfect location with rivers on both sides. Much of the area is pedestrian only. It’s very easy to walk around with lots of restaurants, shopping and of course beautiful historic architecture everywhere. It reminded us of a mini Paris without the crowds. We experienced many hidden gems within the city and a day out in the country visiting two amazing medieval villages, and a small family owned Beaujolais winery.”

2026 Trips: 

May 5 – 9 (2 openings)

May 23 – 27 (full – waiting list only)

We’ll also offer Inside Lyon in 2027. Learn more about Inside Lyon.

Inside Bordeaux

Inside Bordeaux is being offered in 2026 for the first time, designed to pair with our Périgord Experience week based about two hours away in southwest France. It can also be booked as a standalone trip.

Bordeaux is known as the wine capital of the world; but it has so much more to offer, from world-class gastronomy, delicious local specialties, and fresh seafood to charming streets, beautiful architecture, and a rich history. Nestled along a curve in the Gironde river, Bordeaux is a vibrant and dynamic city, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Inside Bordeaux trip designer and leader Kelly is looking forward to welcoming our first groups to Bordeaux this September.  “In 2023 I visited Bordeaux to officiate my friends’ wedding, and I left with great memories and the fledgling idea for Inside Bordeaux,” she explained. “Friends who had visited Bordeaux before me had described it to me as a “little Paris” – all the charm and history, but much more manageable in size. Sure enough, it’s a fabulous city to experience and explore. Some of the highlights I’m looking forward to sharing with our travelers include: a painstakingly crafted (by me!) history, food, and culture walking tour of the city; a day trip to St. Emilion and its vineyards with an incredibly knowledgeable and well-connected local guide; and the opportunity to taste, learn about, and make some incredible Bordelais and Basque pastries. And of course there will be great wine, delicious food, beautiful sights, and more – but I want to save some excitement for the trip itself!”

Porte Cailhau entrance to the medieval city, dating from 1494

2026 Trips:

September 3 – 7 (3 openings)

September 21 – 25 (1 opening)

We’ll also offer Inside Bordeaux again in 2027. Learn more about Inside Bordeaux.

Inside Bath

This four-night trip is based in the historic city of Bath, less than an hour-and-a-half from London by train. Inside Bath is usually scheduled to combine with a Cotswolds Experience trip, based about 100 miles north of Bath. Inside Bath can also be booked as a standalone trip.

Originally settled by the Romans, the city became a fashionable and popular spa and social center during the Georgian era in the 18th century and much of the architecture dates to this time.  Bath was also featured in novels by celebrated author Jane Austen, including “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.” The city’s golden colored townhouses are so preserved that Bath is often a backdrop for period films and TV series, most recently the Netflix series Bridgerton.

Jennifer Dugdale, the designer and leader of this trip, lived in Bath for several years and owned a food walking tour business.  She loves sharing this charming and unique city with our travelers and believes Bath should definitely be included on a lifetime bucket list. “I’m also delighted to introduce our travelres to the fascinating port city of Bristol, just 10 minutes from Bath by train.”

What our Travelers said:

“Our energetic and knowledgeable leader Jennifer brought Bath to life! Our B&B was lovely, super kind staff, charming rooms, delicious breakfast with both sweet and savory selections. Our group enjoyed learning about the history of Bath, from the ancient Roman baths, Georgian “crescents,” and all things Jane Austen. We also had a fun day trip to Bristol which has a vibrant and creative culture, rich history, historic harbor and one of the best meals of the trip. Our local guide (she lives in Bristol) with her witty story telling brought the two cities to life!  Wanting to return to Bath (and Bristol) tells you that I had a wonderful time.” (Mindy from Massachusetts)

Afternoon tea with Jennifer at the Royal Crescent Hotel

Our 2025 Inside Bath trip was a Women’s trip, linked with our Cotswolds Gardens Experience week in Chipping Campden. Keep Inside Bath on your list for the future and let us know if you’d be interested! We’ll offer it again in 2027.  Learn more about Inside Bath.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

We’d love to have you join us to discover one of these fascinating cities on a four-night Inside trip.  See all our 2026 openings here.  Our 2027 schedule will be announced publicly on March 15, 2026.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Enjoy these other European Experiences’ blog posts on the Slow Travel Tours blog:

Encountering Lyon: One of France’s Best Kept Secrets

The Special Camaraderie of an All-Women’s Tour

Garden Experiences in Cornwall and the Cotswolds

 
Kathy Wood is the co-founder and owner of European Experiences, offering week-long “slow tours” in some of the most beautiful areas of Europe, including The Luberon Experience in Provence, France. National Geographic Traveler magazine named The Luberon Experience one of their top 50 tours in the world in 2012.

Kathy and her husband Charley launched European Experiences in 2006; Charley retired (mostly) at the end of 2019. Kathy now hosts Experience weeks in the Luberon, the Chianti region of Tuscany, Puglia, Alsace, the Dordogne, and the Cotswolds, The European Christmas Experience (12 days) and The Cornwall Experience in southwest England (10 days).

Kathy has been traveling in Europe for 30+ years and loves sharing her special places in Europe with other travelers. She has hosted 165+ Experience groups since they launched in 2006. Kathy and Charley have a second home in their beloved village of Bonnieux in the Luberon. Read more about Kathy here.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.