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View of the Eiffel Tower in Autumn, top attraction in France

Best Things to Do in France

Iconic Attractions & Hidden Gem Travel Experiences

France

France is one of the most visited countries in the world. And that’s no surprise -- when you have Paris, the Riviera, Provence, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, Normandy, the Pyrenees, the Seine, the Rhone, and some of the world’s best food and wine, you’re going to draw crowds. Whether you tour France by river cruise, culinary tour, or bike tour you’re sure to agree: Viva La France!

Top France Experiences

Enjoying a glass of wine on a Rhone River cruise while watching the French countryside glide by

Swimming in the Riviera

Trekking through the Pyrenees to the Spanish border for incredible mountain views  

Visiting the beaches of Normandy, stormed by Allied troops in World War II 

Biking through Bordeaux or Burgundy and stopping to taste the vintages at a centuries old winery

Exploring the quaint region of Provence

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Things to do in France - Expert’s guide

International tourism to France has been on the rise for over 2 decades and 2019 marked a year of record visitors to France at nearly 90 million.

As for Paris, it is second only to Bangkok as the most visited city in the world. There’s Paris then there’s outside of Paris. Most of France is countryside, rolling expanses of tranquility dotted with chateaux, vineyards, lavender, and villages. The beaches are historic and glamorous; the mountains dramatic. France is one of the top destinations for UNESCO World Heritage sites, currently numbering 45.

Its weather is milder than southern destinations like Italy and Spain and its location makes it a convenient stop-over if on the way to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Last but certainly not least, tourists are drawn to France’s world-class culinary scene. Dine on escargot or steak tartare and raise a glass or two of regional wine to this amazing country.

1. Paris 

Eiffel Tower in Paris France

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world for good reason. See the stunning Eiffel Tower which celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2019; the Arc de Triomphe, honoring those who fought for France; the Louvre, the world’s largest art museum that was once a fort and palace; the Musee d’art Moderne, also among the most visited museums in the world and the Champs-Elyesees, described by some as the world’s most beautiful avenue.

Paris is also known for its markets, romance, gastronomy, and fashion. 

Just 20 miles east of the city center, delight in Disneyland. It’s a local favorite, too, so consider going during the week and plan on an hour to get there. Several attractions like Space Mountain, Phantom Manor, and Big Thunder Mountain are not what you’re used to in the American parks. Get ready to dial it up a few notches! 

Also just outside of Paris, you’ll find the palatial royal residences of Versailles. The palace was built as a hunting lodge in the 17th-century and later became a seat of power. The estate is over 1900 acres and includes the palace, gardens, a park as well as the more intimate Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon residences where the royals sought refuge from their court, including the wife of Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette.

2. The D-Day Landing Beaches (Normandy) 

D-day beach in Normandy France

While early June draws major crowds with the D-Day Anniversary, the weather is most pleasant June through August. On June 6th, 1944 allied forces disembarked on the beaches in Normandy marking the beginning of World War II and the largest seaborne invasion in history. Omaha Beach is one of five different landing beaches. Each one retains its D-Day code name and was chosen for its strategic location that linked American landings to the east with Allied British landings to the west. 

At the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, 9,380 graves and 1,557 names on the Walls of the Missing are somber reminders of those who lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations.

The Normandy Visitors Center, opened in commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of D-Day, features many of the personal stories of the men and women who fought and contributed to the Allied operations. 

3. Mont Saint Michel (Normandy) 

Mont-Saint-Michel in the distance, shrouded in fog

It is said that in the early 8th century Archangel Michael pressured the bishop of a nearby hilltop town to build a church atop an island just out to sea.

Starting in 966, the Dukes of Normandy and then French Kings paid for the construction of Mont-Saint-Michel, a Benedictine Abbey situated in the bay between Normandy and Brittany. Stunning monastic buildings were added during medieval times. Mont-Saint-Michel became not only a place of pilgrimmage but also, a renowned center of learning. 

Stay overnight in the Normandy area rather than trying to visit the island Abbey of Mont Saint Michel on a day trip from Paris unless you have plenty of stamina. And in summer, arrive early in the morning for the prettiest light or later in the afternoon to avoid crowds. Also consider the tides.

High tide has its advantages with the reflection of the Abbey mirrored in the waters of the channel but low tide brings a different perspective and the opportunity - if careful - to walk around the island. There are plenty of other walking and stair-climbing opportunities during a visit to Mont Saint Michel so wear appropriate shoes.

4. Font de Gaume & Bordeaux 

Enjoying private picnic and winery tour in Bordeaux France 

Just over 100 miles east of the urban center or Bordeaux, marvel at the Ice Age art in the caves of Font-du-Gaume where over 200 paintings and engravings have been discovered since the importance of the site was first realized in 1901. The 17,000 year old polychromatic art features bison, horses and mammoths.

For conservation reasons you’ll only see about 30 of the paintings but they are said to be the best examples. Expect limited access to the caves as only a small number of visitors are allowed in the caves each day. 

In Bordeaux, you’ll find historical monuments second only to Paris. After visiting the medieval Roman catholic cathedral of Saint-Andre and the classical French architecture on display at Place de la Bourse, visit La Cite du Vin, a museum “where wine comes to life through an immersive, sensorial approach, all set within an evocative architectural design."

Then you’ll be well versed for a visit to one of the many wine chateaux in the region including the first growth wines of Lafite, Latour, Mouton, Haute Brion and Margaux.

It’s tempting to want to visit the most famous wineries but why not host a Bordeaux tasting party before your trip if you don’t already have some favorites? Plan to visit those wineries instead. Meeting the vinters, seeing the land, its grapes and understanding the process that creates such a delectable glass wine will be a much more memorable experience.

And while it’s also tempting to visit during harvest time which varies depending on the grape, most wineries don’t have the capacity to accommodate visitors. Nor can they accommodate visitors in August as they’ll be on vacation!

Last but not least, the world’s largest wine and spirits expo takes place in odd years, every other year during the second or third week in June. It is recommended that you avoid Bordeaux during that time.

5. Pont du Gard & The Nimes Arena (Southern France)

South of France bridge

The ancient Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, is an architectural masterpiece. It is the most spectacular of the 20 bridges that make up the water transport system.

Built around 50 AD to supply water to the growing population of Nimes, the aqueduct still carries water over 30 miles, bypassing hills or passing through them via hundreds of feet of underground tunnels. The water flows by force of gravity which is a testament to the extraordinary degree of precision required by Roman engineers. 

The best preserved Roman amphitheater in the world, the Nimes Arena, was built in 100AD shortly after the Colosseum in Rome. Its 436’ x 331’ oval shape is perfectly symmetric and, like Pont du Gard, attests to the Romans’ engineering feats. Unlike the Colosseum in Rome, the Nimes Arena is still in use and has an unbroken history of theatrical performance.

It was first used for gladiatorial matches and animal hunts but in the 6th century under the Visigoths, was surrounded by a moat and used as a fortress. In the 12th century it became the seat of the viscounty of Nimes and home to a chateau. Today you can not only watch theatrical performances but also, bull fights and concerts.  

6. French Riviera (Cote d'Azur)

Glitzy street on the French Riviera

You’ll find no shortage of glitz and glamour along the French Riviera. Nice, called “Queen of the Riviera,” welcomed Queen Victoria for several Spring seasons in the late 1800s.

Cannes, locale for the rich and famous, is also the site of the well known annual film festival and many luxurious hotels and restaurants. Just northeast of Nice in Monaco, Monte Carlo will bedazzle you with its high end casinos and lavish yachts. Be prepared for crowds in the height of the summer season, July and August. 

If going at the height of the season isn’t your style, the Riviera in winter time has been called one of the best kept secrets. Weather on the French Riviera is mild year round with temperatures even in winter rarely below freezing. While private beaches close down, many other beaches remain open.

Rain comes during the months of April, May, October and November but the sun shines over 300 days a year. You’ll find traditional Christmas markets in many towns and villages and for more of the Christmas spirit, head to one of the regions’ ski resorts. There are over a dozen with the closest just a couple of hours from Nice. In February, Nice hosts the Riviera’s biggest event of the season - a 15 day winter carnival. In Menton, La Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival, celebrates the annual production of local lemons and other citrus.

7. Avignon and The Abbey of Senanque (Provence)

Architecture of avignon France

The city of popes, Avignon, sits on the Rhone River in Southern France. It was home to seven popes and The Palais de Papes (Palace of the Popes) is one of the most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. It served as both a fortress and was the seat of Western Christianity during the 14th century. 

It’s hard to think of Provence without visions of lavender fields coming to mind. To see lavender and a beautiful historic monument, visit L'Abbaye de Sénanque. The Abbey is Cistercian, founded in the 1100s. The monks not only grow lavender and olives but they are also beekeepers.

It is one of the most visited monuments in Provence so go before 9am or after 7pm. This will also minimize parking gridlock. Lavender generally peaks in mid-July depending on the region of Provence but visiting in late June and early July will also minimize the crowds. 

Be sure to visit the covered market of Les Halles in Avignon. It’s a modern building with its northern facade covered in live greenery but this gigantic provincial market is home to dozens of vendors selling a range of traditional specialties. Pates, sausages, pies, French bread, even an oyster bar and a wine bar are just a few of the gastronomic delights.

8. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (French Alps)

Group of hikers with skis in Chamonix France

Legendary Cham’ is dominated by the view of Mont Blanc that towers 15,000 over the Chamonix valley. It is the third most visited natural site in the world. There are 24 mountain peaks that rise over 13,000 feet in the Mont Blanc range, a range that extends over France, Italy and Switzerland.

Five ski resorts are sure to please the most discriminating skier or boarder from beginner to extreme but if visiting in the summer, it’s easy to imagine the possibilities for hiking, mountain biking and more. 

The Aiguille du Midi is a must no matter the time of year as long as the weather is clear and winds are mild. The cable car takes you over 12,600 feet and panoramic views of the French, Swiss and Italian alps will leave you in awe. If you’re not already breathless, step out into a glass cage that is suspended over a 300 foot precipice.

Be aware that between mid-November and mid-December the Midi does close for maintenance. Other cable cars offer “peak” experiences. All are popular attractions and generally expensive. Go around 8am to avoid the queues.

9. Cirque de Gavarnie & Lourdes (French Pyrenees) 

Cirque de Gavarnie in Pyrenees France

The Pyrenees is a soul inspiring place with its dramatic natural beauty and sacred pilgrimage sites. You will likely have seen more than one cathedral during your trip to France; for one made by the hands of God, visit Cirque de Gavarnie.

This circular nave of craggy granite was formed by glacial erosion. It’s tallest summit towers skyward nearly 10,000 feet. Waterfalls echo in the canyon and the highest in Europe, Grande Cascade, drops 1,385 feet to the valley floor.

While in the region, a visit to Lourdes might just be a healing one. Seventy miracles have been recognized by the Catholic church at Lourdes. Six million make the pilgrimage each year to see the holy grotto where Saint Bernadette Soubirous received her visions of the Virgin Mary, making it one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world.

Pilgrims may also come seeking a cure by collecting water from, or bathing in, the sacred waters that flow from spigots outside the basilica.

Much of Lourdes’ history surrounds the story of Bernadette. So who was Saint Bernadette of Lourdes? Bernadette was one of six children born to a former miller who had fallen on hard times. In 1858, at age 14, Bernadette claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary at the Massabielle Grotto.

Bernadette visited the Grotto 18 times and each time Mary gave her messages and affirmations. One message was to drink water from a spring that flowed there, a spring that Bernadette could not find despite her digging. But then upon returning to the spot a day or two later she found that indeed, water had started to flow.

Thousands of gallons per day still flow from the spring but at the time, authorities were strongly skeptical of Bernadette’s story. In 1862 the local bishop determined that the visions were genuine after thorough inquiry by the church commission. Bernadette died in 1879 at the age of 35. She was beautified in 1925 and canonized in 1933. Curiously, her body was exhumed three times between 1909 and 1925 and each time was found to be well preserved. 

10. Bourges Cathedral (Loire Valley)

Bourges cathedral in France

If you are in the Loire Valley visit Bourges, the ancient Roman city of Avaricum and one of the first Christian communities of Gaul, a historical region in western Europe that was inhabited by Celtic tribes. The 12th century Cathedrale Saint Etienne is a masterpiece of Gothic art dedicated to the first Christian martyr.

The cathedral is an UNESCO World Heritage site striking in its proportions and uniformity in design. Consider the power of Christianity in France during medieval times as you take in not only the architecture but also the magnificent stained glass windows.

Remarkably, 22 of the original 25 survive. The many sculptures are yet another wonder to behold, particularly the central portal which depicts a grandiose and realistic rendition of the Last Judgement.

The cathedral in Chartres is another UNESCO site. It marks the high point of French Gothic Art and was partially built starting in the early 12th century, then reconstructed in the late century over a 26 year period. Like the sculptures and stained glass of Saint Etienne, they are in remarkable condition. 

One of the largest monastic cities from medieval times is also in the Loire, L’Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud. Interestingly, the French Revolution saw the eviction of its last Abbess and twelve years later, Napoleon Bonaparte declared that it was to be transformed into a high security prison. It was, in fact, one of the most feared prisons in the 19th century. 

Even if you don’t visit the cathedrals or the L’Abbaye Royale, the valley’s cultivated lands, historic towns and villages, and the chateaux are of such value historically, architecturally, and aesthetically that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site in 2000. Paddle the Loire River in a canoe or rent a bicycle to tour the vineyards or ride through the countryside.

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France Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Excellent
1,383
Great
307
Average
71
Disappointing
22
Terrible
217
Michelle Poole
·
2024-03-12
Written on
European Traveller by Trafalgar
European Traveler
I like that everything was taken care of but I didn't like the restaurant choices for our dinners. I felt like it wasn't authentic. Like in pairs the first night we had a baked leg quarter chicken and some cut up potatoes and it looked like cornbread for dessert but I didn't eat it. I thought at least they could've served crapes.
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Trusted Customer
·
2024-03-12
Written on
European Traveller by Trafalgar
European Traveler
It was fast paced with quick turn arounds
Trusted Customer
·
2024-03-10
Written on
European Whirl End Paris
Moving forward the welcome package should mention that in most countries in Europe you need to pay for the toilettes.
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John Gutierrez
·
2024-03-10
Written on
European Traveller by Trafalgar
European Traveler
Great price for a wonderful experience
Trusted Customer
·
2024-03-09
Written on
European Whirl End Paris
It was my very first time and it was amazingly beautiful exploring Europe and truly well worth the trip. I really wish I spend more time maybe months in studying/learning the entire itinerary before the actual tour. By doing so, I will appreciate the places and history behind it a lot better. ************, the Travel Directors, and the Local Specialists provided a very good. Until now, I am experiencing "information overload" in a good way. One important thing I've learned about this kind of trip is that I need to set-my alarm at least 10 minutes before the "coach" call time to be inside the coach. My husband and I had a FUNstastic experienced in Munich as there was a big Security Convention going on and a demonstration. The rest is history....we made it to Innsbruck safe and sound and on time to enjoy the traditional Tyrolean cuisine with a lively folklore show. All is good...AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!!
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Sabine Dorz
·
2024-03-07
Written on
Rome to London Quest
The trip exceeded my expectations, the trip manager and driver *personal info removed by Feefo* were the best anyone could ask for. *personal info removed by Feefo* was extremely well versed in every place we went to and took us to great hidden gems. The activities were so much fun and would highly recommend!
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