Traveling for France + more tips (when coronavirus rolls over?)

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Paris is great, but crucially, it's right between the Northwest of the country and Switzerland. You'll pass through it regardless so at least spend a day there and preferably multiple. I don't know where you want to go in Switzerland but if I were you, I'd take the TGV from Paris to Lyon and visit Lyon, Annecy, and Geneva or Chaminix before visiting the Swiss Alps and flying out of either Milan or Zurich (both worth a visit on their own).

Edit: Also, going to the city of Bordeaux serms like a random choice, especially since you aren't going anywhere else in Southwest France.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Pssh, what is the point of going to France (or Europe, even!) if you don't go to Paris!?

Well I went to France and bits of western Europe before for a work-related trip, time and oppurtunity cost you know? I could always go again with people who haven't been their either but I've also heard a lot of less than steller things about Paris, both from French people (likely non-Parisians) and tourists: dirty, smelly, not-tourist friendly, crime, overrated, Paris syndrome, etc.

Paris can be those things, but it's also extraordinary. You just have to know where to go and keep realistic expectations. There is no city that can act as a substitute. It isn't everyone's favorite place in the world (although almost everyone can have a good experience) but it's like NYC--if you're visiting the USA you wouldn't pass up a chance to visit New York for Albuquerque.

When I ask about an alternative major city, the one that usually comes up is...

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is fine, and it makes a nice addition to a trip that's already taking you in that direction (ie. to the Basque Country) but it isn't anything exceptional. Outside Paris and Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, the best city in France is almost certainly Lyon.

Fortunately, it's right on your way to Swizerland. I would strongly encourage you to fly into Brittany, do the Northern France thing, visit Paris, take the TGV to Lyon, and then head over to Switzerland.

But the more I research, the less likely I have time for it anyways, esp. if Switzerland takes up a bit of time.

It can, if you want it to, but it doesn't have to. Two or three nights in the Berner Oberland or Zermatt will "cut it." That said, a day in Zurich, Luzerne, or Geneva can very nice (I actually really like Zurich, unlike a lot of people). I can't speak to Switzerland outside the cities and the Alps though.

The one thing I would strongly encourage you to keep in mind is that the closest international airport to a lot of the Swiss Alps is Milan. Milan is devastatingly underrated and is one of my favorite cities in Europe. It's also right next to the Italian Lakes. Travelling from Zermatt or the Berner Oberland to Lake Maggiore or Como for a two nights nights and then Milan for another two seems like a perfect way to end a European vacation.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

I will obviously defer to Parochial Boy regarding Swiss travel, but I must say that for me, the highlight of Switzerland is visiting and hiking about in the high Alps. When it comes to doing that with easy access, you aren't going to beat Jungfrau or Zermatt. I have to say, Jungfrau and the Lauterbrunnen Valley is easily the most beautiful place I've visited and one of the few destinations I keep returning to.

I would remember that OP said he wants his entire trip to last a week (which is an impossible timeline, even for a very fast traveler like myself, given he wants to visit Finland, the Loire Valley, Brittany, Normandy, maybe Paris, bits of Eastern France, and Switzerland.) With this in mind, I assume OP would enter Switzerland through Geneva or Lausanne, visit a convenient chunk of the Alps ASAP, and then fly out of Zurich or Malpensa. It would be helpful to know where in Switzerland OP wanted to go for personal reasons, and if (s)he could push their trip to two or three weeks.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

It would be helpful to know where in Switzerland OP wanted to go for personal reasons, and if (s)he could push their trip to two or three weeks.

I am still waiting on details to be exact but I would be staying in the German-speaking part, maybe Zurich?... okay it will be in Basel.

Once again, I would like to thank everyone here helping me brainstorm some ideas even though current events make it hard to predict.

Also, this wouldn't my first time traveling to France and more in Europe. I managed to do 6 countries in less than 2 weeks the last time I visited (excluding layovers!); it was very tiring but reward too.

Good to know. Given Basel's location, this is what I would recommend with a week, excluding travel days and whatever you do in Finland:

Fly into Nantes. Travel to the Loire Valley, Brittany, and Normandy.
Take the TGV from Le Havre to Paris for a couple days.
Take the TGV to Strasbourg and visit Alsace-Lorraine.
Travel down to Basel.
Fly out of Zurich.

If you can give yourself another week, I would add time in Paris, tack on the Swiss Alps and Lombardy, and fly out of Milan. Alternatively, you could use the time to go Paris-Lyon-Annecy-Geneva-Alps/Jura-Basel-Zurich for more time in France/French speaking Switzerland. Hope you get to do this!