France is the most visited country in the world and, with its impressive cultural and natural heritage, as well as its superlative food, wine and fashion, it’s no wonder. For Brits, getting there by plane, train or ferry couldn’t be easier, and whether you’re looking for a weekend à deux or a week with the family, the possibilities of what to do when you arrive are endless. From shopping in Paris to wine tasting in Bordeaux, surfing in Biarritz or soaking up the sun in the Côte d’Azur, here are our top suggestions for the best places to visit in France.
Become a subscriber and, along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times, you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners, especially for Times+ members
This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue
If you only have . . .
One week Paris, Mont-Saint-Michel and Normandy’s cliffs of Étretat
Two weeks After Normandy, head to Lille, France’s warm-hearted, northern capital, with beautiful Flemish architecture. From here, catch the train down to Lyons, culinary hotspot, and finish up in Marseilles, via the olive groves and lavender fields of Provence
Advertisement
Three weeks From Marseilles, catch a train or drive to Sète, a port city sandwiched between the Mediterranean and the saltwater lagoon, the Étang de Thau. A train via Béziers takes you to Bordeaux and the vineyards of Saint-Émilion. Finally, head north to explore the châteaux of the Loire Valley
A tight budget If time is in your favour, opt for slower, TER train services over the TGV (high-speed) trains. In Paris, search out cheaper arrondissements for accommodation in the east of the city
1. Paris
Paris, with its bijou street cafés, chic boutiques, and landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, makes the perfect city-break destination whatever the season. They call it the City of Light, and you don’t have to spend a centime to stroll La Ville Lumière from the dazzling vitrines of Galeries Lafayette to the Unesco-protected banks of the Seine. Meanwhile, the French capital’s peerless museums showcase a who’s who of art, culture and fashion icons. Couple this allure with parks, palaces and world-class shops and it’s little wonder that Paris is the most visited city in the world.
Make it happen
Hotel Dame des Arts looks right over Notre-Dame Cathedral and greets guests with the heady smell of its own signature scent
Intrepid’s ten-day Premium Best of France trip begins in Paris and goes through several wine regions to finish in Nice
Advertisement
• Best Airbnbs in Paris
• Best hotels in Paris for families
2. Normandy
This is the place to pay your respects to fallen soldiers and learn more about the Second World War. Around the five D-Day beaches — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword — are museums, memorials and cemeteries that mark the day in June 1944 when 135,000 Allied troops came ashore in an operation that led to the liberation of France. You also shouldn’t come here without visiting Bayeux and its tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England. Mont Saint-Michel, a pilgrimage site since the 8th century, is also worth a visit.
Make it happen
Many of the rooms at Le Grand Hotel Caubourg — MGallery have sea views, and it’s right on the seaside promenade
Trafalgar’s eight-day Treasures of France including Normandy goes to the D-Day beaches, Honfleur, Bayeux and Mont-Saint-Michel
Advertisement
• Discover our full guide to France
3. Champagne
The world’s most famous bubbles are made just an hour east of Paris. Some 260 champagne houses are sited near the River Marne, alongside which bikers, kayakers and drivers can pedal, paddle and putter. There’s a reason why grape terraces belonging to Bollinger and Veuve Clicquot are planted so close to charming towns like Épernay and Reims — at over €1m per hectare, rural land prices here rank among the highest on earth. Champagne wines are matured in cavernous cellars that can be toured by torch, with tastings by candlelight.
Make it happen
Les Suites du 33 has self-catered apartments and is surrounded by vineyards
Exodus’s four-day Walking the Vineyards of Champagne trip mixes champagne tasting with leisurely vineyard strolls
• Finest champagne houses in France
Advertisement
4. Burgundy
The best way to appreciate the space and variety of the French countryside is by taking to the open road and Burgundy is classic touring country. Stop in its charming medieval towns and visit some of the finest wine producers in the country. Don’t miss the majestic former hunting park of Fontainebleau and the quaint mustard capital of Dijon.
Make it happen
Hôtel Saint Martin, in the heart of Colmar’s Petite Venise, has gorgeous stained glass windows
Byway Travel’s seven-day Vineyards of Burgundytrip covers the highlights and varied vintages of the Alsace and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté wine region
Advertisement
5. Provence
With its lavender fields, art galleries and perfumeries, few rural regions are as effortlessly elegant as Provence. Or as beautiful. Encompassing Avignon and Aix-en-Provence to the west and mountains to the east, the Provençal landscape has inspired artists and writers for centuries. Avignon is particularly delightful thanks to its café culture, the remains of the 12th-century Pont d’Avignon bridge and the impressive Palais des Papes, home of the anti-popes in the 14th century.
Make it happen
Coquillade Provence has panoramic views over Luberon’s vineyards and lavender fields
6. Menton
Menton overflows with exotic gardens, and the old town feels properly other-world Med: a vertiginous tangle of ochre houses, baroque churches and Mediterranean cooking aromas, as well as fine-sand beaches and sumptuous seaside buildings from the wedding-cake school of architecture. The rocky coastal walk, beneath the poshest possible headland villas round the Cap Martin, is even more rewarding. It also happens to be home to one of the best restaurants in the world, three-Michelin-star Mirazur.
Make it happen
The Best Western was previously used by the guards of the Prince of Monaco, and has been a hotel since 1865
Exodus’s eight-day Walks and Gardens of the French Riviera combines coastal paths, gardens and mountain trails
7. Valence
Here’s the new culinary HQ of France: in the third-generation hands of Anne-Sophie, the city’s Maison Pic retains three Michelin stars with ever-changing menus at the pinnacle of French gastronomy. And then there are the traditional restaurants serving stuffed tripe and other classics, with juicy Côtes du Rhône wines.
Make it happen
The Mercure Valence is perfectly positioned for cyclists tackling the ViaRhona and is just a five-minute drive from Maison Pic
8. Nîmes
Channelling the best of southern cities, Nîmes has all the necessary classical monuments, such as the arena and Maison Carrée temple. But the city’s real achievement has been to preserve, alongside the old stones, the sense of full-blooded Latin vigour coursing around them. Festivities are full-tilt. You don’t need to like the bullfighting, but you do require stamina and a taste for turmoil.
Make it happen
The Best Western Marquis de la Baume is an architectural wonder in a 17th-century town house
Newmarket Holidays’ six-day trip around Carcassonne, Avignon and Provence goes to Pont du Gard, the Roman aqueduct just half an hour north of Nîmes
9. Bordeaux
There’s hardly a better place for a vinous break than Bordeaux, whether your favourite tipple is a glass of claret or the deliciously golden Sauternes. The city itself, filled with palatial gothic architecture, is split in half by the Garonne River, with wine-themed cruises running its course. On the left bank is the ultra-modern, decanter-shaped La Cité du Vin, a museum exploring wine culture and traditions in France and beyond. But it’s when you get out into the surrounding countryside that you really appreciate the beauty of the region. The medieval village of Saint-Émilion is particularly pretty, but it’s also worth heading to Arcachon by the coast for oysters with something cool and zippy.
Make it happen
FirstName Bordeaux by Hyatt only opened in 2023, but the 70s style decor here makes it a trip back in time
Riviera Travel runs five day trips to Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, a wine-heavy itinerary featuring tastings, château visits and winery tours
• Best hotels in Bordeaux
• Best things to do in Bordeaux
10. La Rosière
For a midwinter weekend under blue skies, La Rosière is the biz — on its sunny ledge above Bourg-Saint-Maurice, it has more snow than its A-list neighbours Courchevel and Val d’Isère. It’s free of their hauteur, too, with welcoming pistes that’ll boost confidence, and day trips across the Italian border for lunch above bijouLa Thuile.
Make it happen
La Rosière Club Med combines the cosy feeling of a chalet with the amenities of a high-end hotel
G Adventures runs ten-day summer trekking adventures around the Tour de Mont Blanc
11. Loire Valley
Tracing the winding Loire river as it cuts in from the Atlantic, this region is famous for its epicchâteaux. Château de Chambord, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau and Château Royal d’Amboise are among the most imposing and interesting. The region also offers wine for every palate, with 7,000 producers turning out elegant fizz, complex whites, light reds, fine sweet wines — you name it.
Make it happen
Samur’s château is visible from the courtyard pool at Hôtel Anne de Anjou
Learn how to make dessert and pastries on this Not in the Guidebooks tour in the heart of the Loire Valley
12. Lille
Rocking horses, Louis XVI gilded mirrors and other knick-knacks: Lille’s two-day annual Braderie de Lilleis flea market heaven. It’s the largest in Europe, and takes place over the first weekend of September. Jean-Baptiste Lebas Boulevard or La Porte de Roubaix are best for pro antiques dealers; smaller roads are for bric-a-brac. Don’t miss the street parties on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Make it happen
The rooms at Mama Shelter Lille are an explosion of colour, and there’s a large, sunny terrace for happy hour
Leger Holidays’ five-day trip covers Lille and Arras’s Christmas markets and the battlefields of the Western Front
13. Vernon
Giverny’s Fondation Claude Monet, near Vernon, is thronged for a reason: it’s an explosion of colour, with gardens that faithfully recreate the flowerbeds and lily ponds Monet immortalised. Clos Normand, Monet’s former home, has been sensitively restored, opening onto a French-style garden thick with irises and gladioli. Nearby is the water garden, a magical spot where willows melt with lily pads, and wisteria blooms violet along the banks.
Make it happen
Waterside Auberge les Canisses looks right over the River Seine, a few kilometres north of Vernon
Riviera Travel’s seven-day escorted tour, Monet’s Garden, Tthe Loire Valley and Fontainebleau, takes in Giverny and the Old Mill of Vernon
14. Île de Ré
Off the coast of La Rochelle, Île de Ré has long been a favourite for decamping summer Parisians, drawn by its dense pine forests, sandy beaches and throwback, laid-back vibe. Criss-crossed with cycle paths, this island is made for exploring on two wheels, and you can hire bikes from just about anywhere. Expect to glide past sea-blue shuttered houses, vineyards and market gardens, marshlands, salt pans and wild beaches. Nearby, you’ll find Rochefort. Seafaring history is the main draw in this Atlantic coast town — visit L’Hermione, a replica frigate ship. And the former royal rope-works are now the luxury hotel Corderie Royale, a perfect abode for landlubbers.
Make it happen
L’Hôtel de Toiras, in a restored 17th-century merchant’s house, has a generous wine cellar
Eurocamp Camping La Grainetière has mobile homes and chalets, and plenty of activities for families
europcamp.fr
15. Nice
For weekenders, France has camping all zipped up: thousands of pitching sites to choose from, reliable summer weather, a quality campsite dinner always to hand, and local markets for fruit and oozy cheese. What’s more, French campsites tend to be well-equipped — many have pools, kids’ clubs and showers close to each plot. And there are cabins or mobile homes if you don’t fancy lugging a tent. Head to southern France and try Nice on the French Riviera for your best shot of some sunshine.
Make it happen
There are sublime sea views from the terrace of the Anantara Plaza Nice
• Best hotels in Nice
• Best things to do in Nice
16. Beaumont-Hamel
The battlefield sites of the two world wars provide a sombre experience, but essential at some stage in your life. Book a coach tour to ensure a competent guide and a little company. See the preserved trench system at Beaumont-Hamel, from which Newfoundlanders attacked in July 1916, and Delville Wood where South African troops are commemorated.
Make it happen
Timewarp l’Hôtel de la Paix is just 10km from Beaumont-Hamel
17. Strasbourg
You’ll have to remind yourself you’re still in France as you take in Strasbourg’s Germanic beauty: from its exquisite pink sandstone cathedral to its happily hued, cobbled streets, overcome with flowers and wonky with wood and warmth. Wood and warmth are, thank heavens, most noticeable in the Bierstube and Weinstube (beer and wine bars) — with their wraparound conviviality and generous servings, they prove irresistible.
Make it happen
The bike-themed Hotel Tandem has the city’s Christmas markets on its doorstep in winter, and the canalside is close to enjoy in summer
Great Rail Journeys’ eight-day The Majestic Rhine tour, all covered by train, goes to Strasbourg
18. Lyons
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, the public food market that supplies truffles and turbot to the gourmet restaurants of Lyons, was named in homage to the the chef who presided over a three-Michelin-star restaurant from 1965 to 2018. Want to dig in? The destination has over 4,000 restaurants. These range from gourmet saucisson food trucks to bouchons — timeless backstreet restaurants that dish up pike dumplings and tête de veau.
Make it happen
With just two rooms, 19th-century manor house Villa 216 offers ultimate privacy
Just You’s eight-day Cruising the Rhone and Picturesque Provence cruise starts and finishes in Lyon, via Avignon, Arles and Beaujolais
• Best hotels in Lyons
• Best things to do in Lyons
19. Marseilles
Expect colourful cafés and a huge range of international cuisine in Marseilles. Espresso and pastis are best sipped along its three-mile beachfront. The city is also home to many galleries and museums including the Mucem, which focuses on Mediterranean culture. And, just outside Marseilles is Sanary-sur-Mer. The coastal town is worth a visit for its harbour, jam-packed with fishing boats, and the striking gothic revival church.
Make it happen
The interiors at nhow have had the input of numerous notable designers, including Christian Lefèvre and Teresa Sapey
Fred Olsen’s 16-day French Riviera Cruise covers four port towns in southern France, including Marseilles
• Best hotels in Marseilles
• Best things to do in Marseilles
20. Sète, Languedoc
While Sète lacks sophisticated quarters — it’s on the gritty side — the port city makes a refreshing change from the touristy resorts along this coastline. Wander along the canals, chat to the locals and see where the mighty Canal du Midi spills into the Étang de Thau, a saltwater lake bordering the Med. There are delicious local oysters to be had, too.
Make it happen
Château St Pierre de Serjac is under an hour from Sète, amidst idyllic countryside, and many of the veggies served in their restaurant are grown on site
21. Mont Saint-Michel
It may look like a fairytale town — all spires and romantic ramparts — but to the English, this abbey, on the border between Brittany and Normandy, was the stuff of medieval horror stories. Despite overrunning all of northern France during the Hundred Years’ war, Henry V’s army was unable to conquer Mont Saint-Michel’s towering walls and deadly 15m tidal surges. Wind the clock back further still, to 1066, and this island-fortress was keeping the Anglo-Saxons up at night — it was from the Romanesque church that crowns the 80m-high rock that the invasion of England was planned. For a truly magical experience, arrive as the ancient pilgrims did: wading up to your knees on a two-hour guided walk across the bay.
Make it happen
On the tidal island itself, Auberge St Pierre is all exposed beams and period features
G Adventures’ eight-day Paris and Normandy highlights trip visits the world-famous Mont-Saint-Michel
22. Biarritz
Napoleon III put this former whaling village on the map in 1854, when he built a villa in the dunes for his Spanish wife, Eugénie. Biarritz was a favourite seaside resort of the European and then became the cool surfing capital of Europe after Hollywood arrived in 1957 to film Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and screenwriter Peter Viertel took to the waves on his longboard. A number of unlovely high-rises subsequently cast a shadow over its glorious sweep of Atlantic-facing beaches, but today it is firmly back in fashion, with a locavore foodie scene around the renovated market, and a handful of grand hotels — including Eugénie’s villa, now the Hôtel du Palais — fresh from a makeover. Go for an invigorating weekend, then venture north to Bayonne and Hossegor, or south to Hendaye and San Sebastian, across the Spanish border.
Make it happen
The art deco Regina Experimental organises diving trips from the hotel
23. Brittany
The northwest corner of France gets its name from Celtic-speaking Britons who fled here from Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century AD, and it has as strong a sense of identity as its Celtic counterparts — including its own language. Equally distinctive are its dramatic coastlines of rocky cliffs and swirling seas (especially on the headlands of Finistère, the “end of the world”); its pink-granite coves and white-sand beaches; its 100 offshore islands (40 of them in the Gulf of Morbihan); and its mouthwatering gastronomy, from buckwheat crêpes and St-Jacques scallops to cider and Chouchen (druidic mead). In short it’s a blast of fresh sea air: take the ferry to Saint-Malo, then wend your way round the coast, inhaling deeply.
Make it happen
Staying at Hôtel Oré in Saint-Malo feels like walking into a plant shop
24. Dordogne
Time slows down in this southwest rural idyll; at times it seems to stop altogether. There’s a myriad of other reasons it has proved so popular with British expats and families: it’s easy to get to, relatively affordable, phenomenally scenic and chock-full of incredible edibles (although vegetarians and animal lovers won’t appreciate the ubiquity of foie gras). It’s named after the river that winds its way from the Massif Central to the Gironde Estuary, passing verdant forests, dramatic gorges, medieval villages and sleepy vineyards en route. Riverine pursuits range from rafting and canyoning to stand-up paddleboarding and cruising along in a gabarre (flat-bottomed river barge). Don’t miss the palaeolithic paintings of mammoths, aurochs and bears at the Lascaux IV centre for cave art, with its perfect replica of the Lascaux Cave.
Make it happen
The Plaza Madeleine & Spa has a pretty, blue shuttered façade and flower-filled garden
Ophorus runs five-day tours around the Dordogne, including wine tasting and Sarlat’s famous market
ophorus.com
Additional reporting by Qin Xie and Anna Richards
Sign up to the Times Travel newsletter for weekly inspiration, advice and deals here
