France travel guide: the best cities and how to plan a trip
France is big, and the mistake is treating it like a small country. The fast trains are what make a short trip work: Paris is within a few hours of Lyon, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and Marseille. Pick Paris plus one or two other places, give each enough nights, and book the TGV early because fares rise as seats sell.
The short answer
- First trip
- Paris, then one region that is nothing like it. Lyon for food, Nice for the sea, or Strasbourg for a half-timbered old town. Paris on its own is a fine first trip too.
- How long
- A week lets you do Paris plus one other city without rushing. Ten days to two weeks adds a second region. Fewer than five days is Paris, or one city and one side trip.
- Best time to go
- May to June and September to early October. July and August are hot and crowded on the coast, and many Parisians leave in August.
- Getting around
- Train between cities, on foot or by metro within them. A car is only worth it for the countryside, such as the Loire valley or inland Provence.
- Money
- The euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops, but carry a little cash for markets and the odd cafe.
- Book ahead
- TGV tickets, the Louvre and other timed museum entries, and summer hotels on the Riviera and in Annecy.
Best cities to visit in France
Paris
The capital, with more museums, streets and neighborhoods than any short trip can cover. It suits first-timers, art lovers and anyone who likes walking a city.
Give it 3 to 5 days
Nice
A seafront city on the Riviera with a pebble beach, a lively old town and quick trains along the coast. It suits a sunny few days and day trips to Monaco and Antibes.
Give it 3 to 4 days
Lyon
France's food city, set on two rivers with a big Renaissance old town. It suits eating-led trips and is two hours from Paris by TGV.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Bordeaux
A pale stone city on the Garonne with wine on its doorstep and easy walking. It suits couples and anyone who wants to visit vineyards without a long drive.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Marseille
France's oldest port city, busy and mixed, with a working harbor, rocky inlets nearby and a different mood from Paris. It suits people who like a city with grit.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Strasbourg
An Alsace city on the German border, with a Gothic cathedral, canals and half-timbered streets. It suits Christmas trips and a quiet start to a Rhine or wine-road route.
Give it 2 days
Annecy
A small town of canals on a clear alpine lake. It suits summer swimming, cycling and walks, and a calm stop on the way to or from the mountains.
Give it 2 days
Avignon
A walled city with the Popes' palace and a short ride to Provence's villages and vineyards. It suits a base for the south without a car in the city itself.
Give it 2 days
Beyond the cities
Provence villages and lavender
Hill villages, markets and fields sit east of Avignon and inland from Marseille. A car or a small-group tour is easiest, and lavender is in flower roughly late June to July.
The Loire valley
Chateaux along the river between Tours and Orleans, about an hour or two from Paris by train. Rent bikes or take a day tour, as the chateaux are spread out.
Normandy
The D-Day beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel and Rouen sit a few hours from Paris. A guided day or two with a car works better than public transport.
Alsace wine road
Small half-timbered villages such as Colmar and Riquewihr in vineyards south of Strasbourg. Trains reach some, and a car or bus reaches the rest.
Burgundy and Champagne
Wine country east of Paris, with Reims and Epernay for Champagne and Beaune for Burgundy. Both can be done as a day trip or a night away.
France itineraries
- Seven days: Paris and Lyon
Four nights in Paris and three in Lyon, with the TGV between them taking about two hours. It gives you the capital and the food city with no backtracking. Add a day trip to Beaune or Annecy if you have energy.
- Ten days: Paris, Lyon, Nice
Four nights in Paris, two in Lyon and four in Nice. Lyon to Nice is about five to six hours by train, so treat it as a half day. Fly Paris to Nice instead if you want to save time.
- Twelve days: the south
Fly into Nice, then take the train west to Marseille and Avignon, and finish in Bordeaux or Paris. Spend four nights in Nice, three in Marseille and three in Avignon with a day in the villages. Trains are frequent and fast along the coast.
- Fourteen days: Paris round France
Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, Annecy, Avignon, Nice and back, with two or three nights in each. Use the TGV for the long legs and book them as early as possible. Skip one stop if the pace feels too much.
Best time to visit France
May to June and September to early October suit most trips. The weather is mild, the days are long and the sights are less packed than in July and August. October is good for wine regions and city museums.
July and August are hot in the south and crowded on the Riviera and at the lakes, and the Atlantic and Mediterranean beaches fill up. Many Parisians leave in August, so some small shops and restaurants close. Winter is quiet and cheap in Paris, good for Christmas markets in Strasbourg, and the time for skiing in the Alps.
How to get around France
- TrainsSNCF runs the national network. The TGV inOui is its fast, comfortable service, and Ouigo is its low-fare brand with stricter luggage rules. Book at sncf-connect.com. Fares rise as seats sell and sales open months ahead, so book early.
- Rail passesFrance takes Interrail and Eurail passes, but TGV trains need a paid seat reservation and pass holders get a limited quota of seats. On a short trip, point-to-point tickets booked early are often cheaper.
- Regional trainsTER trains cover smaller towns and cost less. They need no seat reservation, and tickets bought at the station or app are usually flexible on the day, unless they are for a fixed train.
- DrivingWorth it for the Loire, Provence, Normandy and Alsace villages. In cities it is slow and parking is costly, so pick the car up when you leave. Motorways are tolled.
- Flights and busesFlights are quick for Paris to Nice or Marseille, though the train is a close contest on time to the center. Long-distance buses are cheaper than trains and slower.
What to book before you go
These are the ones that sell out across France. Each city guide has its own list.
- TGV and long-distance trainsAs soon as sales open
Fares rise as seats sell, and summer departures sell out first.
- The Louvre and other Paris museums2 to 4 weeks ahead
Many run timed entry, and the busy months and weekends fill up.
- Hotels on the Riviera and in Annecy2 to 3 months ahead for summer
These places have a short season and limited rooms.
- Wine tastings and cooking classes1 to 2 weeks ahead
Small groups fill up, and some producers only open by appointment.
Money, tipping and practical things
- CurrencyThe euro.
- Cards and cashCards are widely accepted, including contactless in small shops and on transport. A little cash helps at markets, some cafes and small stalls. Visa and Mastercard are the safest; Amex is less common.
- TippingService is included in the menu price by law, so no tip is expected. Leaving a euro or two or rounding up for good service is normal and welcome.
- Tourist taxesTowns set their own tax on overnight stays, charged per person per night and usually added to your hotel bill. Rates depend on the town and on the type of accommodation.
- EntryNon-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
- PlugsType E and type C sockets at 230 volts. A plain two-pin European adaptor covers them.
What to skip in France
- Trying to see the whole country in a week
France is large, and the long train legs eat days. Pick Paris plus one region, and come back for the rest.
- Eating next to the biggest sights
Menus with photos near the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre rarely repay the price. Walk a few streets away, or use the city food guides here.
- Driving in the big cities
Parking is hard and costly, and the metro or tram is quicker. Hire the car for the countryside only.
- Visiting the Riviera in August
Crowds and prices peak then. Go in May, June or September instead.
France: questions people ask
How many days do you need in France?
Seven days is enough for Paris and one other city. Ten to fourteen days lets you add a region such as Provence or the Riviera without rushing. A short weekend is Paris alone.
What are the best places to visit in France besides Paris?
Lyon for food, Nice and Marseille for the south coast, Bordeaux for wine, Strasbourg for Alsace, and Annecy for the Alps. All are linked to Paris by direct trains.
What is the best month to visit France?
May, June and September are the safest. October suits the wine regions, and spring suits Paris. Avoid July and August on the coast unless you want the beach.
Is France expensive to visit?
Paris and the Riviera cost most, especially in summer. Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg are gentler. The lunch menu, early train bookings and travel outside July and August all help.
Do you need a car in France?
Not for a city trip, since TGV and regional trains link the main cities. Hire one only for the countryside, such as the Loire or Provence villages.
Do I have to book TGV trains in advance?
Yes. TGV trains need a seat reservation, and the cheapest fares go first. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, and expect fares to rise as the date nears.
How does the tourist tax work in France?
Towns set the tax, charged per person per night and collected by your hotel or host, who adds it to the bill. It varies by town and accommodation type.
Do you tip in France?
Not required. Service is included in the price shown on the menu, so a few euros for good service is a bonus, not an obligation.