Paris- What if we took a different path to change the stereotype we have about France? From culture to gastronomy and heritage to shopping, each French city has its own charm and story that attracts visitors from all over the world and tempts them to discover another side of this European country.
With countless breathtaking sights to see, your visit to France cannot be limited to its capital, Paris.
With so many options and activities available to you through search engines, deciding which destinations to visit can be a daunting and time-consuming task. So, here are our favorite picks to inspire your travel bucket list.
Capital of Lights
Without the need for complicated introductions, Paris maintains its leading position in tourism with its classic white buildings, its museums and the most famous fashion houses, as well as its most famous panoramic areas such as the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles, Montmartre and the famous Champs-Élysées.
It would be unfair to specify a specific time to visit it. In the summer, Paris – nicknamed the “capital of light and love” – will welcome you with a warm walk along the Seine and romantic evenings on the terraces of cafes, and in the winter it will dazzle you with its never-ending street lights. During the spring, you will fall in love with the gardens spread throughout the city, where cherry trees bloom in their enchanting pink color.
The metro and bus lines will make it easy for you to get around the French capital and its suburbs, but renting and riding a bike can also be a good idea with so many options. Just download the appropriate app to locate, pay, unlock and go for your Parisian outing.
lavender land
As summer approaches, the South of France becomes the most attractive destination for tourists, especially in the Provence region, which welcomes you with the refreshing scent of lavender and vast fields embroidered with light purple.
This fragrant natural crop can be found almost everywhere during this period. However, it is advisable to visit the most beautiful sites, such as the Sault Plateau, the Luberon Valley and the Valensole Plateau, which can be reached by bus or car and are suitable destinations for individuals and families.
To complete the memorable tour before the photo, nothing beats the flower fields surrounding the 12th-century Notre-Dame de Senanc Abbey in the quiet countryside near the village of Gordes, which is enveloped in a sea of purple in June and July each year.
Verdon River Valley
If the Grand Canyon in Arizona seems too long, you can make do with its French counterpart. Your journey begins in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France, where the Verdon River Gorge, at 700 metres deep, is the largest in Europe.
The Verdon River Valley offers stunning scenery and the best time for adventure is from late May to early August, when these months are very crowded.
If you prefer to avoid crowds and enjoy milder temperatures, spring—especially after spring break and during the May holidays—is the best time to visit. Fall, especially September and October, is also a good option as you can discover another side of Verdon with its wild and serene landscapes adorned with autumn colors.
You will enjoy sailing on the enchanting turquoise waters that are 25 kilometers long, and are a magnet for adrenaline-filled water sports and activities. For walkers, you can spend a more relaxed day hiking around the rim of the canyon for up to 100 kilometers, or explore the vertical limestone cliffs and even try horse riding.
Mount Saint Michel
France is known to be home to countless beautiful villages steeped in history, perhaps the most famous of which is Mont Saint-Michel, less than two hours from Paris, with its stunning medieval abbey that still retains its beautiful details, about 600 metres off the Normandy coast.
In a fairytale-like adventure, you can wander through the walls of wooden-framed houses and narrow, winding streets. This place was the inspiration for the Kingdom of Corona and Rapunzel’s Tower, two famous animated films, and the real Rapunzel’s Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visited by more than 3 million tourists annually.
The walkway allows you to move between the different towers: some are high and circular, others are horseshoe-shaped. This experience allows you to take advantage of the views over the village, its architecture and enjoy the beauty of the nature surrounding the mountain. The tour also includes an audio guide for 3 euros to learn more about the history of the place.
Christmas capital
You can easily guess the best time to visit this city located in eastern France on the border with Germany. During the Christmas and New Year’s period, for more than a month, Strasbourg is enveloped in a festive spirit unparalleled in Europe. A fir tree is placed in the famous Place Kléber with a height of up to 30 meters, which makes it deserve the title of “Capital of Christmas”.
All the streets and houses of the city are decorated with the most beautiful decorations, and when night falls, they spread the magic of their lights and the famous cathedral appears like a jewel in the middle of one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe for 4 centuries, where more than 300 stalls are distributed in different places to sell products inspired by the history and heritage of the Alsace region.
When visiting Strasbourg, you cannot miss the Grande Île (Big Island), which perfectly represents what the city looked like during the Middle Ages. To the southwest, you will find the UNESCO-listed Petit France district, which reflects the typical image of the Alsace region, known for its half-timbered houses filled with flowers and its ubiquitous bridges.
Beauty Island
The birthplace of the famous Napoleon certainly lives up to its nickname, the “Isle of Beauty.” A visit to Corsica, located between France and Italy, will allow you to experience the best of both countries’ cultures, as well as see craggy granite peaks and wild forests.
In addition to the turquoise azure coastline that stretches for a thousand kilometers, this island is an unparalleled attraction for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts, or enjoying a warm sunbath on one of its beaches. You may be lucky enough to be there during a village festival, and listen to a traditional song that will transport you to another world.
This trip can be used to discover the magic of Corsica with children, too, as many activities are adapted to their ages and desire for leisure activities, and the island’s holiday villages provide all the facilities necessary for a family experience.
There are dozens of dive schools on the island, and their instructors will guide you to explore the ocean to depths of more than 20 meters to see cicadas, schools of groupers and crowned sea urchins up close. If you’re lucky, you might even see dolphins and whales.
French Riviera
The French Riviera or Alpes-Côte d’Azur region vibrates to the rhythm of its diverse events and the millions of visitors flocking to it from all over the world. Every May, rhinestones sparkle at the Cannes Film Festival in the coastal city of Cannes, hearts dance at the Nice Carnival, while the scent of sweet lemons wafts at the Menton Festival.
The Côte d’Azur region is the perfect place for a summer vacation for individuals and families, and includes several famous cities. If you are a perfume lover, the city of Grasse, or the “capital of perfumes”, is your destination to learn about this global industry and visit the fields where roses bloom.
From must-see seaside resorts to UNESCO World Heritage sites like Avignon or the ancient theatre of Arles, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region is full of hidden gems.
Mobility and transportation
For tourists who choose to travel by air, airport transfers are a key factor in judging the quality of their travel during their stay. In the capital, Paris, for example, there are several means of transportation to choose from, including buses, the metro, and taxis. The metro ticket that takes you from the airport to the center of the capital costs 2.10 euros, while you should allocate at least 35 euros for a taxi.
To get between cities, the train is the easiest and most practical way in France, and the country has developed high-speed trains, which are faster but more expensive than the regional express train, to reach your final destination. Therefore, it should be taken into account that not all trains are equal in price and duration.
If you want to travel within France but on a budget, this is possible. To achieve this, it is recommended to use buses. Although they take much longer than the train or car, the ticket price will generally satisfy you. However, if you choose to rent a car to organize your trip with greater freedom, foreigners can drive in France with a non-European driving license that is still valid but only for 6 months.
