France captivates with its complexity, offering diverse experiences that make it one of the best places to visit in France. From German influences in the east to Mediterranean flavours in the Riviera, the country’s varied landscapes will enchant you. Although Paris attracts many, exploring beyond the capital reveals France’s true essence and some of the best places to visit in France.
Start in Paris to admire Monsieur Eiffel’s Tower and sip coffee at side walk cafes. However, don’t linger too long. Instead, venture out to discover hidden gems and other best places to visit in France. Each region boasts unique allure and lifestyle, from the eastern border blending German influence to the French Riviera offering Mediterranean charm.
Most visitors land in Paris, but exploring further enriches your experience. Spend a few days in the capital, then travel to another corner of France to uncover more of the best places to visit in France. The country’s diverse nature wins over visitors, with each area seducing with its charm and appealing lifestyle.
Here Are the Top French Destinations Beyond Paris:
1. French Riviera
The French Riviera shines with style, making it one of the best places to visit in France. Each summer, stars and tourists descend on the Côte d’Azur, seeking fun, sea, and sun in Nice, Monaco, Saint-Tropez, and Cannes.
Sandy beaches line the coast. Lively markets bustle nearby. Pretty towns dot the shore. Red cliffs and trails tempt hikers. These features make the area a top spot.
Don’t worry if fancy hotels seem too pricey. The coast has hidden gems too. Quiet villages nestle in hills above the sea. These offer cheaper ways to enjoy the region.
Saint-Paul de Vence charms with twisty streets and art. Port Grimaud, called the “Venice of the Riviera,” has canals and bright homes. These towns show a different side of the coast.
Èze, an old hill town, offers the best of the area. You’ll see lovely gardens, an old castle, and great sea views. Forests and olive groves cover nearby hills. These make for nice hikes or bike rides.
Think about coming in quiet months. You’ll find glorious warm sun, blue seas and empty beaches. These joys will encourage you to return to the Côte d’Azur again and again.
Book Your French Riviera Village Tour Now
2. Languedoc
Languedoc, in south-west France, holds many wonders and is often overlooked among the best places to visit in France. The name means “language of yes,” from an old dialect. This area shaped rich stories and poems long ago, and tales of knights, love, and King Arthur still affect the region’s culture and look.
Unlike nearby Provence, Languedoc’s coast feels wild. It’s perfect for exploring without maps. You might find surprises along the way.
Cities like Toulouse and Montpelier have nice streets and a calm feel. Toulouse, called the “pink city,” has busy markets and great music. It’s a good place to start your trip.
Near the mountains, Lourdes draws many visitors each year. Another town, Rennes-le-Chateau, attracts people curious about old secrets.
The coast varies from sandy beaches to rocky spots. You can see many kinds of sea life and birds here. It’s great for nature fans.
Fresh oysters and mussels are local treats. In season, eat them right on the beach.
Sète, a nice seaside town, is perfect for trying fresh fish. Inland, you’ll see cliffs, deep valleys, and vineyards. Old buildings dot the land.
Carcassonne, a walled city, is amazing to see. It was once held by rebels long ago. Other old ruins offer peeks into the past.
Languedoc’s history as a meeting place made it very diverse. This makes it great for curious travellers who want new experiences.
Book Your Languedoc Tour Here
3. Normandy
Normandy stands apart in France. It’s proud, historic, and ruggedly charming. The name comes from Viking settlers in the 9th century, meaning “north men” in Old Norse. Though Normans kept their fierce reputation, visitors always find a warm welcome.
This green region offers something for everyone. You’ll find lovely beaches, stunning buildings, and top-notch seafood. The region’s rich history and beautiful landscapes make it one of the best places to visit in France for those seeking a blend of culture and natural beauty.
Norman history ties closely to the sea. It spans from early Viking raids to the conquest of England in 1066, and even to World War II.
Today, some vast Norman beaches are memorials. They honour those who died in the 1944 D-Day landings. Other beaches offer summer fun. Families enjoy playing on golden sands and dipping toes in the Channel.
Pretty ports dot the coast. Honfleur, perhaps France’s prettiest harbour, is a must-see. Here, you can savour fresh seafood with local cider.
Norman dukes left their mark with castles and cathedrals. Rouen, Coutances, and Caen boast stunning Gothic churches. The Bayeux Tapestry tells a battle story in thread.
Mont-Saint-Michel crowns the region. This iconic abbey sits high on a rocky perch above shimmering sands. It’s easy to see why artists and poets love Normandy. A visit to Monet’s Giverny shows why this region inspires.
Book a Day Tour From Bayeux
4. Alsace
Alsace sits on the border between France and Germany. This region has changed hands often over the years. As a result, Alsace has formed its own special identity. It’s not fully French or German, but distinctly Alsatian.
The area boasts its own dialect and unique food culture. Wine making here goes right back to the 2nd century. The Alsace wine-route spreads over 170 kms and covers over 800 vineyards. Vino lovers will find so much to enjoy.
Strasbourg’s Hospice cellar holds the world’s oldest wine barrel. This 1472 vintage has survived wars and fires. While rooted in tradition, Alsace winemakers also pioneer new methods. Some of the first biodynamic vineyards started here.
Summer brings many festivals along this route d’vin. It’s a great time for a road trip through the region.
Yet Alsace offers more than grapes and food. Strasbourg and Colmar charm visitors with painted timber buildings and cobbled streets. At Christmas, these towns sparkle with lights and festive markets.
Nature lovers will enjoy the lush landscape from the Rhine to the Vosges hills. It’s perfect for outdoor adventures.
Alsace is also castle country. Ruins like Hohlandsbourg and Fleckenstein remind visitors of the medieval past.
History is important here, with memories of past wars and occupations. But Alsace looks to the future too. This unique part of France will leave you wanting to explore more.
Book Yourself an Alsace Tour Here
5. Bordeaux
Bordeaux rivals Champagne as France’s top wine spot. Over 6,000 vineyards make some of the world’s best vino here. This rich vinification culture goes back nearly 2,000 years.
The Bordeaux area is seen best on foot or bike. The sunny, green land will amaze you.
Bordeaux city is nice for a short trip. Wide streets, old buildings, and river life charm visitors. The city has great art, museums, and food.
The Garonne River runs through town. It’s been key for trade for years. Now, it’s perfect for walks. Cafes line the banks for breaks.
Outside the city, grape vines fill the land. Saint-Emilion, in the middle of the region, makes a good day trip. This old town began when a holy man lived in caves nearby. It grew into an important place. Today, you can see caves under the town.
Wine has been big here since an English king started a wine group. They worked to grow wine-making in Saint-Emilion.
Now, 800 years on, Saint Emilion is still one of the top wine areas in France. Even if you don’t yet love Bordeaux wines, this region has lots to offer.
Book Your Day Trip From Bordeaux Here
6. Burgundy
Burgundy, famed for rich wines, is often overlooked. However, a trip here lets you escape to lovely countryside. You’ll see gorgeous rolling green hills with neat vineyards, calming canals and bright mustard fields.
Burgundy’s vineyards are so special that UNESCO named them a World Heritage site. This nod shows how rich and varied the wine area is. While you should tour a vineyard, the region offers much more.
Dijon, the main city, was once home to Burgundy’s dukes. Consequently, you can still feel their impact in the old buildings. Moreover, the city shows off local food. Don’t miss the Friday market at Les Halles. There, you can try Epoisses cheese, snails, and beef stew.
Outside the city, old monasteries and castles dot the land. Additionally, France’s prettiest villages are here. For instance, Beaune, a small walled town, charms with its historic streets and wine cellars.
Nature fans will undoubtedly love this relaxed area. You can bike through vineyards or float on a canal boat. Alternatively, for hikers, Morvan National Park offers unspoiled nature. It has lakes, falls, and moody woods.
This is truly French countryside at its best.
Enjoy Burgundy With a Day Trip
7. The Loire Valley
The Loire, the last wild river in France, spans 1,000 miles. It has shaped the land it flows through for centuries. As a result, the Loire Valley is known as the garden of France.
The river and its branches water this rich land. Consequently, it grows some of the best produce in France. Life here moves slowly, like the river, with busy times each season.
A Loire visit means two things: wine and castles. First, the green hills are perfect for grapes. Thus, you can tour vineyards and taste wines everywhere. Second, impressive castles dot the region. Many have lovely gardens near small rivers.
For instance, Château de Chenonceau looks like a fairy tale. It has elegant arches, towers, and a garden maze. Meanwhile, Château de Chambord is huge. King Francois I first built it as a hunting lodge. The big grounds have wild boar and deer. This huge castle might have come from da Vinci’s drawings. Also, Chinon and Amboise, two walled towns, have their own castles.
Chinon is great for wine fans. It’s a key wine spot. But this nice historic town has more to offer. You can see the old part with houses topped by slate roofs. They’re great bases for exploring. Chinon is especially good for wine lovers. It’s a main wine area. However, this nice medieval town offers more. You can see the original town with its slate-roofed houses.
Finally, you can rent bikes here. This lets you enjoy the Loire Valley’s beauty at your own pace.
Discover the Loire Valley With a Day Trip Here
8. Champagne
Just a short trip from Paris, Champagne feels worlds away. This green, rich area is one of the most famous spots in France. It’s known for the bubbly wine that means class all over the world. You can’t visit without trying a glass or two.
Making wine here has a great history. You can learn how they make this key French product. Épernay, the main town, is perfect for vineyard trips. Just be ready to come back with full bags and empty pockets!
Beyond wine, Champagne has old-world charm. Walking through its pretty towns feels like going back in time. In fact, Champagne has strong ties to its past.
Unlike the fancy image of Champagne wine, this area is calm and simple. Crafters and wine makers use methods from hundreds of years ago.
Troyes, a Roman town also has great buildings and churches. Narrow streets have traditional wood houses. Reims, the big city, has a stunning Gothic church. French kings were crowned there long ago.
Reims was hurt in both world wars. But it’s been fixed to match its original look. Now it’s a lively place to start your Champagne trip.
Book Your Day Trip to Champagne Here
9. The Dordogne and Lot
The Dordogne River winds from the high Auvergne mountains to some of the best countryside in France. It passes dramatic cliff-top castles on its way to Bergerac. Finally, it meets the Garonne River at Bordeaux.
The green Dordogne Valley offers many treats, both above and below ground. Moreover, a trip here means meeting a very ancient past. In fact, more remains are here than anywhere else in France. Consequently, this gives a rare look at how early humans lived.
In the Vézère Valley, over 200 sites have been found. Clearly, early people liked the safety of the area’s limestone caves.
The best site is Lascaux. Here, 17,000 years ago, early humans painted amazing pictures on cave walls. Even older, however, are the shiny caves deep underground.
Additionally, this area has many cool rock shapes, formed over millions of years. Stalactites and stalagmites have joined to make big pillars. As a result, they create natural rock cathedrals under the ground.
Above ground, Dordogne and Lot have more to see. For instance, the pretty towns of Rocamadour, La Roque-Gageac, and Sarlat-la-Canéda are worth a visit. Likewise, the castles at Beynac and Castelnaud are impressive. These lovely villages and castles, built with gold-coloured stone, sit in beautiful nature full of animals and birds.
Furthermore, active families can hike, climb, bike, and canoe in the valley. Undoubtedly, this area is a perfect spot for a French holiday. It’s truly a bit of heaven on earth.
Book a Dordogne Tour Here
10. Provence
Provence, wrapping around the Côte d’Azur, hits all your senses. Purple lavender fields, endless vineyards, and twisted olive groves make it a true garden of joys.
Aix-en-Provence, the fancy main city, brings country charm to town. It mixes leafy yards, stone buildings, and wide streets with cafes. Here, you can relax and watch people go by. Also, colourful markets show off the best local foods, sure to make you hungry.
Avignon, another big city, has lots to see and do. For most of the 1300s, popes lived here. They built a grand palace that still stands today. It has amazing wall paintings. Moreover, the city has great museums, the famous Avignon Bridge, and a yearly arts festival that draws crowds from all over.
However, Provence’s best charms are in the countryside. Pretty villages like Venasque, Uzès, and Gordes are fun to explore. They have cobbled streets, golden buildings, and green mountain views. Les Baux de Provence might be the best fixed-up village. It has its own fort and is known for great food.
Furthermore, Provence has many wild animals in different nature spots. In the south west, green hills lead to a big wetland where the Rhône River ends. The Camargue National Park has wild white horses, bulls, and pink flamingos. This special, beautiful area is best seen on foot or horseback. It will surely leave a strong memory.
Book a Day Trip to Provence
Travel Planning Guide for the 10 Best Places to Visit in France
Travel Insurance for Your France Trip
Buying insurance is always valuable when travelling abroad. Therefore, enjoy your holiday in France stress-free with one of my favourite providers, Visitors Coverage Insurance.
Renting a Car in France
Indeed, renting a car in France is easy and is a great way to explore the South of France freely. Consequently, I recommend booking yours with Rentalcars.com – they offer a variety of operators for all budgets.
Finding the Perfect Accommodation
When it comes to lodging, the best time to visit France can affect your accommodation options and prices. The best way to book your accommodation in France is with Booking.com. In fact, it’s my favourite platform to compare and reserve places to stay each night, from affordable guesthouses to luxury hotels.
Booking Flights to France
Lastly, for air travel, I recommend booking your flight with Omio. Moreover, it has been my favourite platform for years, as it allows me to book the cheapest flights to visit the best places to visit in France.
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