Overview
France is the world's most visited country for a reason. From the romantic streets of Paris to the lavender fields of Provence, from the ski resorts of the French Alps to the glamour of the French Riviera, from the prehistoric cave paintings of the Dordogne to the world-class wine estates of Bordeaux and Burgundy, France packs more variety and sophistication per square kilometre than almost anywhere else on the planet.
Paris remains one of the world's great cities and the pinnacle of European city breaks. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (home of the Mona Lisa), Notre-Dame Cathedral (now reopen after its 2019 fire), the Musée d'Orsay, the bohemian streets of Montmartre, the designer boutiques of the Marais — Paris rewards days, weeks, even months of exploration. Beyond the capital, Lyon is France's gastronomic heart, Bordeaux is one of Europe's most beautiful wine cities, and the medieval Mont Saint-Michel is among the continent's most dramatic landscapes.
For UK travellers, France is uniquely accessible — Eurostar from London St Pancras reaches Paris in just 2h15m, and the extensive TGV high-speed rail network connects major cities efficiently. Alternatively, driving through France to the south remains one of the great European road trip experiences.
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The French capital is one of the world's most iconic cities. Climb the Eiffel Tower at dusk, spend a morning in the Louvre, visit the newly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, stroll through Montmartre's bohemian streets and browse the designer shops of Le Marais. Paris is endlessly rewarding at any pace.
The Côte d'Azur stretches along France's glamorous Mediterranean coast from Menton to Saint-Tropez. Nice offers the perfect base — the colourful old town (Vieille Ville) and the famous Promenade des Anglais beach are outstanding. Day trips to Monaco and Cannes are easy and dramatic.
Rising from the tidal sands of Normandy, the UNESCO World Heritage island of Mont Saint-Michel is one of France's most spectacular and photographed landmarks. The medieval Benedictine abbey crowning the rock dates to the 8th century, and the surrounding tidal bay is one of Europe's most extraordinary natural phenomena.
The Loire Valley — dubbed the "Garden of France" — contains the greatest concentration of Renaissance châteaux in the world, including the fairy-tale Château de Chambord, the elegant Château de Chenonceau spanning the river, and the royal Château d'Amboise. The valley's wines are equally celebrated.
The French Alps offer world-class skiing from December to April and outstanding summer hiking from June onwards. Chamonix sits beneath Mont Blanc — Western Europe's highest peak at 4,808m — and the Aiguille du Midi cable car offers one of the world's most dramatic mountain panoramas at 3,842m.
Plan Your Trip
One of the best times to visit France — Paris is beautiful in spring with blossom in the Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens, and without the summer crowds. The Loire Valley is lush and green. The Riviera is warm but not yet peak-season busy. Alpine skiing continues through April.
Peak season across France — long hot days on the Riviera, the Tour de France in July, Bastille Day celebrations on 14 July, and the whole country buzzing with energy. Paris can actually be wonderful in August when many Parisians leave. Book accommodation well in advance everywhere.
Superb conditions across France in September and October — the wine harvest takes place across Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, and many vineyards welcome visitors. The Dordogne and Loire Valley are at their most beautiful. The Riviera remains warm and swimmable into October.
Paris is romantic and magical in winter with Christmas markets and far smaller crowds at major museums. Alpine ski resorts are in full swing from December. The south of France is mild — the Riviera averages 13°C in January and is excellent for walking and culture without the crowds.
Top Areas
France's capital and surrounding region is the country's cultural heartland — home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, Disneyland Paris and the world's greatest concentration of art, fashion and cuisine. Accessible by Eurostar in 2h15m from London.
The sun-drenched Mediterranean coast from Nice to Menton offers glamorous beach resorts, outstanding cuisine (bouillabaisse, ratatouille, rosé wine), lavender fields in the Luberon and inland Provence, and the glitzy mini-state of Monaco.
Northern France offers a completely different character — the D-Day landing beaches of Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel, the dramatic pink granite coastline of Brittany, outstanding seafood (oysters, moules frites, crepes) and a landscape of medieval villages and apple orchards.
The French Alps contain some of Europe's finest ski resorts — Chamonix, Courchevel, Méribel, Val d'Isère, Les Arcs — offering world-class piste skiing in winter and outstanding mountain hiking and cycling in summer. The scenery around Mont Blanc is truly spectacular.
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France's Iberian neighbour offers Gaudí's Barcelona, Andalusia's Moorish heritage and the Balearic Islands.
Explore Spain →The Colosseum, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany's rolling hills and the canals of Venice — Italy is endlessly rewarding.
Explore Italy →France's Atlantic neighbour offers fado in Lisbon, port wine in Porto and golden Algarve beaches at excellent prices.
Explore Portugal →