Highlights
Paris
The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and Notre-Dame, but also walks along the Seine, the hilltop streets of Montmartre, and café life in the Marais and Saint-Germain. Book major museums and the tower in advance to avoid long queues.
The Loire Valley châteaux
A river valley lined with Renaissance castles, including Chambord, Chenonceau, built across the river Cher, and Villandry with its formal gardens. Cycling routes and wine tastings link the villages.
Mont-Saint-Michel
A medieval abbey on a rocky tidal island off the coast of Normandy, reached by a footbridge. The bay has some of the strongest tides in Europe; walks across the sands must be done with a guide.
Provence
Lavender fields around the Luberon and the Valensole plateau in early summer, hilltop villages such as Gordes and Roussillon, the Roman monuments of Arles and Nîmes, and the Palais des Papes in Avignon.
The Côte d'Azur
The Mediterranean coast from Saint-Tropez to Menton, including Nice's Promenade des Anglais and old town, the film festival town of Cannes, and perched villages such as Èze, with Monaco close by.
Chamonix and the French Alps
Chamonix sits beneath Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in western Europe. The Aiguille du Midi cable car rises to a viewpoint opposite the summit, with skiing in winter and hiking in summer across the Alps.
Normandy's D-Day beaches
The landing beaches of June 1944, with museums, memorials and war cemeteries, including the American Cemetery above Omaha Beach. Nearby Bayeux displays its famous medieval tapestry.
Bordeaux and the wine regions
Bordeaux has a grand eighteenth-century waterfront and the Cité du Vin museum, with vineyards such as Saint-Émilion nearby. Burgundy, Champagne and Alsace offer their own wine routes and villages.
Interesting facts about France
- Thanks to its overseas territories, France spans more time zones than any other country.
- The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair and was meant to be temporary.
- The Lumière brothers held one of the first public film screenings in Paris in 1895.
- The Tour de France cycle race was first held in 1903.
- The cave paintings of the Lascaux complex in the Dordogne are around 17,000 years old; visitors see a detailed replica to protect the originals.
Best time to visit
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the best times for most of the country, with mild weather and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, especially on the coast, and many Parisians go on holiday in August, so some small businesses close. Lavender blooms in Provence from roughly late June to July. The grape harvest takes place in September and October. Winter brings skiing in the Alps and Pyrenees and Christmas markets in Alsace.
Practical information
| Capital | Paris |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | French |
| Plugs | Type C, E |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 for all emergencies; also 15 ambulance (SAMU), 17 police, 18 fire |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Service is included by law in restaurant prices ('service compris'). Leaving a little extra for good service is appreciated but not expected. |
Getting around
High-speed TGV trains link Paris with Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille, Strasbourg and many other cities in a few hours; book early for the best fares. Regional TER trains and buses serve smaller towns. Paris has an extensive metro, RER and bus network. Renting a car is ideal for the countryside, Provence and the Loire; motorways often charge tolls. In cities, ride-hailing and taxis are easy to find.
Staying connected in France
Mobile coverage is very good in cities, towns and along motorways and rail lines, with 4G and 5G widely available. Signal can drop in mountain valleys, remote rural areas such as parts of the Massif Central, and on some hiking trails. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés, stations and many trains. France is in the EU, so EU roaming rules apply for EU plans; visitors from elsewhere should check roaming charges. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See France eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for France
- SNCF Connect: Book TGV and regional train tickets and check live departures.
- Bonjour RATP: Plan trips and buy tickets for the Paris metro, RER, buses and trams.
- Citymapper: Step-by-step public transport directions in Paris, Lyon and other cities.
- Uber: Ride-hailing in Paris and most major French cities.
- BlaBlaCar: French-founded car-sharing app and long-distance buses between cities and towns.