France presents a paradox. On one hand, Paris is a city that can trap you, in the best possible way. I know this personally: I didn’t visit anywhere in France outside of Paris until my fourth trip to the country!
On the the other hand, once you do leave the capital behind, you have an almost unprecedented level of choice, whether you head west to the wilds of Brittany and Normandy, south to the wine lands of Bordeaux or Burgundy or all the way down to Provence and the famed Côte d’Azur.
To put it another way, the sheer number of France destinations can be intimidating, to say nothing of the breadth of experiences of on offer in each. Thankfully, I’m here to simplify it for you!
It’s Easy to Get Stuck in Paris—Resist the Urge
Look, Paris is amazing, and you could of course spend your entire trip there (I have). But the reality is that most of the best places to visit in France (or, at least, the most interesting places in France) are not Paris. And even if staying in the capital every night of your trip feels good at the time—trust me, it will!—you will regret it in the future. Why put off for a future trip what you could accomplish now?
This doesn’t mean, of course, that only weeks-long trips to France where you travel extensively are valid. It could mean, for example, spending 3-5 days in Paris and making day excursions. And not just to Versailles or the Loire Valley, even though those are the two easiest ways to get out of Paris for the day. Thanks to the TGV, you can even visit cities like Dijon and Lyon for lunch, and be back in Paris by dinner.
Where to Go in France
Paris and vicinity
It should go without saying that no matter how long you stay in France, you spend some of your trip in Paris. From walks along the Seine, to treks through Montmartre, and from the tourist hot spots like the Eiffel Tower to that little boulangerie you would’ve missed if you had blinked, Paris is so much more than perfunctory. Plus, you can sweeten the deal with day trips to places like the palace of Versailles and the Loire Valley châteaux.
Normandy and Brittany
Looking for the best cities to visit in France, besides Paris? One underrated next step is riding a TGV westward to Rennes (not one of these cities—sorry!) and using that as a jumping-off point for a trip through the underrated regions of Brittany and Normandy. Although some travelers will visit Mont Saint-Michel and call it a day, I encourage you to dig deep, whether that’s beneath the white cliffs of the Alabaster Coast in Éretrat, or traipsing amid hydrangeas and gothic cathedrals in ancient Locronan.
Bordeaux and the French Basque Country
The bad news? Bordeaux, as a city, is not my favorite place in France. The good news? It’s one of the best cities in the country for using as a base—and not just to visit wineries in Saint-Emilion and Margaux. Head northward to the coastal port of La Rochelle, or southward (ideally, via the otherworldly Dune du Pilat) into the beautiful and underrated French (and, maybe, Spanish) Basque Country.
Lyon, Burgundy and the French Alps
Likewise, Lyon (as a city) would never top my list of where to go in France—sorry to those of you who love it. But as it the case with Bordeaux, it’s a magnificent starting point for deeper dives. In one direction you have Burgundy, from the city of Dijon (where, yes, you can buy mustard) to Beaune, the gateway to its wine country. In the other direction is the French Alps—lakeside in Annecy, or in Chamonix, the gateway to iconic Mont Blanc.
Provence and the Côte d’Azur
Last (well, not last) and definitely not least is the broadly-defined “South of France.” This includes both Provence (which is worth visiting not only for lavender, but for cities like Avignon and Arles) as well as the Côte d’Azur. And even along the coast, there’s a distinction to make. Marseille (which is underrated and 100% worth visiting) is separate from the main French Riviera, which spans from Saint-Tropez, to Antibes, to Nice, to Menton.
Other France Destinations
I’ve run through most of the amazing destinations in France, but of course, no single guide can ever be comprehensive. France might be the size of Texas, but it has a density of culture and population that’s more like Taipei or Tokyo. For example, you could dig deep during your South of France adventure and hit up Toulon, which is halfway between Marseille and Nice, both in terms of culture and geography.
Another way to make sure you visit the places in France that are most aligned with your travel style and preferences? Hire a professional—namely, me—to help. When you commission a custom France itinerary, I’ll take care of everything. I’m talking personalized daily recommendations for activities, meals and accommodation, plus detailed transportation advice throughout.
Other FAQ About Where to Go in France
Where are the best places to visit in France?
Beyond Paris, amazing destinations in France include the wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, the beaches of the Côte d’Azur, the lavender fields of Provence and underrated regions such as the French Basque Country. Truly intrepid travelers can even travel to Brittany in the far west, or to the offshore island of Corsica.
What is the best city to visit in France?
There is no one “best city” in France. However, I will say that a couple of cities in France really punch about their weight for me. These include Biarritz, the coastal jewel of the French Basque Country and Marseille, France’s second-largest city, whose bad reputation is at least a decade or two out of date.
Where should I go in France, besides Paris?
Your options for exploring France beyond Paris are almost endless. If you only have a few days, relatively nearby places like Bordeaux or the coastal regions of Normandy and Brittany make perfect add-ons to a trip to Paris. By contrast, if you have longer to explore, further and larger areas like the French Alps, Provence and the Côte d’Azur are some of the most worthwhile places you can visit in France.
The Bottom Line
I get it: The sheer quantity of France destinations can make it easy to throw up your hands. “I’ll just stay in Paris,” you might conclude, conceding to taking an excursion to Versailles or into the Loire Valley. I’m here to tell you, as someone who once look at France in the same way, that you should absolutely broaden your horizons. Now, that doesn’t mean that every trip needs to be a comprehensive adventure. It could be that you split a week in France between the capital and the Côte d’Azur, or that you ride a TGV to Bordeaux or Dijon and enjoy a weekend of food and wine after whatever you get up to in Paris. Even better? You can commission a custom France itinerary, and let me sort out all the details for you!
