Travelling in France
France offers an unusually varied trip within one country: Paris and its museums, châteaux along the Loire, the lavender and hill villages of Provence, the Mediterranean on the Côte d'Azur, the Atlantic coast of Brittany and the high peaks of the Alps. Food and wine change from region to region, and fast trains make combining them easy.
When to go
Spring (April to June) and September are ideal for Paris, the Loire and Provence: mild weather and fewer crowds. Lavender in Provence flowers from late June into July. Summer suits the coasts and mountain hiking, though August is the busiest month on the beaches. Autumn brings the grape harvest in Burgundy and Bordeaux. In winter the Alps are for skiing, Alsace has its Christmas markets and the Riviera stays mild.
Where to go
Paris
Beyond the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame, Paris is best explored by neighbourhood: the Marais and its squares, Saint-Germain's cafés, Montmartre above the city and the banks of the Seine at dusk. The Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and nearby Versailles fill several days on their own.
Normandy and Brittany
In Normandy, Mont-Saint-Michel rises from its bay, the white cliffs of Étretat face the Channel and the D-Day beaches tell the story of summer 1944. Further west, Brittany has granite coasts, walled Saint-Malo, crêperies and the pink rocks of the Côte de Granit Rose.
Loire Valley
The Loire is lined with Renaissance châteaux such as Chambord, Chenonceau, which spans the River Cher, and Amboise, close to Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. Flat roads make it ideal by bike, with vineyards and towns like Tours and Saumur.
Provence
Lavender fields on the Valensole plateau, hilltop villages in the Luberon such as Gordes and Roussillon, the Roman monuments of Arles and Nîmes, and the Palais des Papes in Avignon. Markets, rosé and olive oil set the pace, with Marseille and the Calanques on the coast.
Côte d'Azur
The Riviera runs from Saint-Tropez to Menton: Nice with its Promenade des Anglais and old town, Antibes and its ramparts, the perched village of Èze and the Matisse and Chagall museums. Coastal trains make it easy to hop between towns without a car.
French Alps
Chamonix sits beneath Mont Blanc, Annecy has its lake and canals, and resorts across Savoie offer skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Expect fondue, raclette and tartiflette, and mountain lakes with water clear enough to see the stones below.
What to do
Eat your way through Lyon
Lyon is the place for traditional French cooking: bouchons serving quenelles, saucisson brioché and cervelle de canut, the covered market Les Halles Paul Bocuse, and wine from nearby Beaujolais and the Rhône. Elsewhere, look for the local cheese, bread and pastry of each region.
The museums of Paris
The Louvre deserves at least half a day, the Musée d'Orsay holds the great Impressionist collection in a former railway station, and the Orangerie displays Monet's Water Lilies in two oval rooms. Smaller museums such as the Musée Rodin and its garden are calmer.
Gorges du Verdon
In upper Provence, the Verdon river has carved a deep limestone canyon of turquoise water. Drive the rim roads for viewpoints, hike the Sentier Blanc-Martel along the bottom, or rent a pedal boat or kayak on the Lac de Sainte-Croix at the canyon's mouth.
Mont Blanc from Chamonix
From Chamonix, the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi brings you face to face with Mont Blanc and its glaciers. In summer, trails lead to the Lac Blanc and along the balconies of the valley, and experienced hikers take on sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc.
Beaches of Corsica
Corsica combines mountains and sea: the fine sand and turquoise water of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia near Porto-Vecchio, the citadel of Calvi above its bay, and the red cliffs of the Calanques de Piana. Inland, villages and maquis-covered hills invite hiking.
The Dordogne with children
The Dordogne valley suits families: castles like Beynac and Castelnaud, canoeing down the river past cliff-top villages, and Lascaux IV, where a faithful replica shows the prehistoric cave paintings. Sarlat's old town and its markets complete the trip.
Practical tips
- High-speed TGV trains link Paris with Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille and Strasbourg; booking early gives more choice, and regional TER trains cover smaller towns.
- Restaurants usually serve lunch from around noon to two and dinner from half past seven; outside those times, look for a brasserie or a café.
- August is the main holiday month: beaches and the Alps are at their busiest, while some small shops and restaurants in Paris close for a few weeks.
- Say bonjour when entering a shop and au revoir when leaving; in France this simple greeting matters and sets the tone of the conversation.
- Most motorways have tolls, and rural areas such as Provence, the Dordogne or Brittany are much easier to explore with a hire car.
As a couple, family or with friends
France suits every group: Paris and the Loire for couples, the Dordogne, Brittany or the Alps for families, Provence or the Riviera for friends. A gîte or a farmhouse with several rooms makes long stays in the countryside easy and sociable. In Gata you can save ideas for each region and decide together where to stay.
Save ideas and stays and decide as a group with the Gata app.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in France?
Paris alone easily fills four or five days. With a week you can add the Loire or Normandy; with two weeks, combine Paris with Provence and the Riviera or with the Alps. France rewards choosing a few regions rather than rushing across the country.
When is the best time to visit France?
Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant seasons for cities and countryside. Summer is high season on the coasts and in the mountains, especially in August. Winter is for skiing in the Alps, Christmas markets in Alsace and a quieter Paris.
Do you need to speak French to travel in France?
No, but a few words help a lot. In Paris and tourist areas English is common, while in rural areas it is less so. Starting with bonjour and making an effort in French is always appreciated and usually makes everything easier.
Is it better to travel around France by train or by car?
For city-to-city trips, the TGV is fast and arrives in the centre. For Provence, the Dordogne, Brittany, Normandy or the Alpine valleys, a car lets you reach villages and viewpoints that trains do not serve. Many travellers combine both.
