France Travel Guide

France Travel Guide

France Travel Guide

Enter the romantic country of France and explore historic Paris, beautiful coastal cities, fairytale towns, and the rolling French countryside. No matter what you are looking to do, a relaxing tour through Paris, a road-trip along the countryside, or an exploration of the country’s history, France has countless things to offer. Get ready to fall in love with this enchanting country!

Paris

Paris is a beautiful city with a long list of things to see and do. To help you plan your trip, learn about the top experiences, how to plan your time, where to stay in Paris, and more.
In this Paris Travel Guide, we provide everything you need to know to plan a perfect visit to Paris, from the best things to do, where to eat, where to stay, and how to plan your time with lots of insider tips.
Featured image for “3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit”

3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit

So, you’re planning a trip to Paris? Welcome to one of our favorite cities. With 3 days in Paris, you…
Featured image for “Paris Bucket List: 40 Epic Things to Do in Paris”

Paris Bucket List: 40 Epic Things to Do in Paris

Stroll along the Champs-Élysées, dine at an outdoor café, enjoy the views from the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe,…
Featured image for “2 Days in Paris Itinerary: Best Itinerary for First-Time Visitors”

2 Days in Paris Itinerary: Best Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

If you are planning your first visit to Paris, this Paris itinerary is perfect for you. With 2 days in…
Featured image for “Ten Fun Things to Do in Paris with Kids”

Ten Fun Things to Do in Paris with Kids

In 2012, our trip to London and Paris was our kids’ very first experience in Europe. They were only 8…
Featured image for “Easter in Paris: How to Have the Best Experience”

Easter in Paris: How to Have the Best Experience

Easter in Paris…sounds nice, doesn’t it? Spring flowers, warm temperatures, enjoying the view from the Eiffel Tower. Sure, that sounds…
Featured image for “Where to Stay in Paris in 2024: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods for Your Budget”

Where to Stay in Paris in 2024: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods for Your Budget

Choosing where to stay in Paris can feel overwhelming. There are so many options! To make things easier for you,…
Featured image for “Visiting the Eiffel Tower in 2024: Tickets, Tours & Time Saving Tricks”

Visiting the Eiffel Tower in 2024: Tickets, Tours & Time Saving Tricks

There are just a few buildings in the world that evoke the same sense of awe, wonder, and romance as…
Featured image for “10 Foods to Eat in Paris and Where to Get Them”

10 Foods to Eat in Paris and Where to Get Them

What should you eat while in Paris? Since French culture is deeply intertwined with food, the answer to this question…
Featured image for “Best Views of Paris: 17 Iconic Views & Photography Locations”

Best Views of Paris: 17 Iconic Views & Photography Locations

Paris is one of Europe’s loveliest cities. Without a doubt, a trip up the Eiffel Tower or a stroll down…
Featured image for “Visiting the Louvre in 2024: Things to See, Best Walking Route & More”

Visiting the Louvre in 2024: Things to See, Best Walking Route & More

The Louvre is the largest art museum in the world and one of the top attractions in Paris. Planning a…
Featured image for “Visiting Versailles: Things to Do, Tours & Tips for a Paris Day Trip”

Visiting Versailles: Things to Do, Tours & Tips for a Paris Day Trip

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. This opulent palace and its surrounding…
Featured image for “Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Photos”

Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Photos

Pere Lachaise Cemetery, located in Paris, France, is one of the best known and most visited cemeteries in the world.…
Featured image for “Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Paris: Where to Dine with a View”

Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Paris: Where to Dine with a View

Imagine watching the sun set over the city of Paris, with a glass of wine or cocktail in hand, from…

European Itineraries with Paris

If you have 10 days in Europe and like the idea of visiting Paris, here are three wonderful ways to visit Paris and one or two more European cities.
A visit to London and Paris is a classic European trip. Climb the Eiffel Tower, stroll up the Champs-Elysees, visit the world-class museums of the Louvre and the British Museum, and even take a day trip to Stonehenge. With this London Paris itinerary, visit two of Europe’s grandest cities and make some lifelong memories.
With 10 days you have just enough time to visit London, Amsterdam and Paris, although it will be a bit of a whirlwind tour. There is a lot to see and do here, and our London Amsterdam Paris itinerary will help you manage your time so you can have the best experience possible.
On this Amsterdam Brussels Paris itinerary, visit three of Europe’s best cities. Start in Amsterdam, where you get to stroll along the canals and visit the world class Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. Travel by train to Belgium where you will spend two days dining on chocolate, waffles, and beer and exploring the fairytale towns of Bruges and Ghent. And what better way to end your holiday than with three days in romantic Paris.

Alsace Wine Region

The Alsace wine region, located in eastern France, is a wonderful blend of fairytale towns and picturesque vineyards. 

Chamonix

Chamonix is a top-notch hiking destination in the summer and a superb skiing destination in the winter. It is also the starting point for two famous treks in the Alps, the Tour du Mont Blanc and the Walker's Haute Route.
The Walker's Haute Route is a 14-day trek from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. It's a challenging walk through the Swiss Alps. Along the way, you visit Swiss towns and hamlets, cross 10 mountain passes, and have extraordinary views of this part of Europe. It's a beautiful journey and one of our favorite travel experiences.
Walkers Haute Route Guide
In our Guide to the Walker's Haute Route, we cover the logistics of planning and hiking the Haute Route. Learn how to plan your trek, get an overview of each stage, and get helpful tips.

French Riviera & Provence

Visit the glitzy towns on the Mediterranean coast, go wine tasting in Provence, and explore the small towns southern France.

Europe Travel Inspiration & Practical Info

Do you dream of visiting world-class cities like Paris, Barcelona, or Venice? Or would you rather hike the Alps, go on a scenic train ride, explore the beautiful beaches and coastal towns in southern Europe, visit fairytale towns and castles, island hop in Greece, or go on an unforgettable road trip in northern Europe?

In this article we list 25 ways to spend one week in Europe. 

Top Experiences in France

Paris. Fall in love with Paris, one of Europe’s loveliest cities. Famed by poets and enchanted by artists, this city has become a hub for culture, art, and fashion. Stroll from Parisian cafes to historic streets to colorful gardens. Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower for a view over the city, tour the world’s most famous art museum, and lookout over Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Versailles. Versailles is a royal chateau located on the outskirts of Paris. For a little more than 100 years, this was the seat of government for France. That ended in 1789 with the French Revolution.

The French Riviera and Provence. Explore the beautiful coastal cities, glitzy beaches and vineyards and indulge on one of the world’s best cuisines.

Explore fairytale towns along the Alsace Wine Route. Located in eastern France, the Alsace Wine Route
spans 170 km, starting near Strasbourg in the north and ending just south of Colmar. This area is a wonderful blend of French and German culture.

Colmar. Colmar is the heart of the Alsace wine route. And the heart of Colmar is “la Petite Venise,” also called Little Venice. Half-timbered buildings line the canals in central Colmar, creating a city center that feels similar to Venice, in more ways than one.

Normandy. If you are eager to visit a place rich in European history, Normandy is a must-visit for you. From Viking invasions to the Hundreds Year War to D-Day, Normandy has seen its share of war and conflict. And you won’t want to miss Normandy’s beautiful chalk-white cliffs and blue seas at the Alabaster Coast.

Mont St. Michel. Travel to the fairytale town of Mont St. Michel. This town is set on a small island in a shallow bay just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. Fortified ramparts surround the town, and at the heart of the island lies an impressive Gothic abbey. Mont St. Michel makes a perfect day trip for those looking to explore a quaint medieval town and to learn some of France’s ancient history.

Bordeaux. World famous wineries, medieval architecture, cathedrals, delicious food, and beautiful beaches… Bordeaux is wonderful place to visit with much to do. Explore the old town, learn the city’s history, tour art museums, and visit the picturesque reflecting pool in front of Place de la Bourse.

The Loire Valley. As the home to the French royalty, the Loire Valley is filled with beautiful châteaus and lush vineyards. Touring these ancient castles and going wine tasting in this region makes for a great day trip from Paris.

Chamonix. The mountain town of Chamonix is a perfect base for venturing into the Alps. From the town you get a great view of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Alps. Cable cars will take you up into the mountains, there are many beautiful hikes to do, and the town is teeming with delicious food and adventure seekers.

Lake Annecy. Fall in love with the beauty of Annecy, a medieval town set amongst the Alps and a glittering blue lake. Rivers run through the town which make Annecy appear like a little French Venice. And towering over the old town is the Château d’Annecy, a glorious castle to explore.

Corsica. Explore France’s Mediterranean island, Corsica. This island is a land of beautiful beaches, coastal cities, and inland mountains. Come and see the colorful town of Bonifacio perched on top of rocky cliffs, learn the ancient history of Ajaccio, and explore the beautiful area of la Balagne.

How Many Days Do You Need in France?

On the shortest of visits, you could spend just a few days in France, either visiting Paris or another French city.

With more time, you can go on a road trip through the French Riviera, link Paris and the Alsace together for a lovely 7 days in France, make Paris a home base and day trip to nearby sights, or spend weeks in France, road tripping to the long list of towns, historical sights, castles, vineyards and beaches.

Best Time to Visit France

France can be visited year-round and there will be different experiences offered depending on when you visit. The best weather is between April and October. Yet, some places such as Paris and the French Riviera get insanely crowded in July and August so it is better to avoid traveling here during these months. 

If you are visiting the Alsace Wine Region, you can visit during one of its many festive seasons. From late March through early April, Colmar is decorated for Easter and you can go shopping at the Easter markets. In early July, classical musical artists perform at the Colmar International Festival. At the end of July into early August, Colmar hosts the Alsace Wine Fair. And finally, the streets in Colmar fill with smalls shops and decorations during the Christmas market season.

The busiest times to visit the Alsace are during the summer months and from late November through December, when it is the Christmas market season. If you want to avoid the crowds, visit the Alsace Wine Route in late winter and early spring, in between New Year’s and Easter.

Late spring and early fall are also nice times to visit France. This is the shoulder season so crowds and hotel prices are lower.

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