France is one of those countries where every region feels like a different trip. We’ve spent the most time in Paris (we lived there, and I have an embarrassing number of posts to prove it), but we’ve also explored Bordeaux, dipped into Normandy, and have a running list of French cities we’re slowly working through.
Here are the French cities we’d recommend, in the order we feel most strongly about them.
Paris
I know, I know. Paris is the obvious answer. But hear me out. Will and I have spent months in this city and it still surprises us every time we go back. The neighborhoods are what make it. Le Marais is trendy without trying too hard. Montmartre is romantic in a way that actually lives up to the hype. Saint-Germain is where you go when you want to drink overpriced coffee and feel intellectual.
We have a lot of Paris content (I told you it was embarrassing). Start with the 25 best things to do in Paris, then check our 10 mistakes to avoid. If you’re planning a first visit, we wrote a first-timer’s guide and a 3-day itinerary. For where to sleep, here are the best neighborhoods to stay in.
Trying to choose between Paris and Rome? We wrote a whole post about that too.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux surprised us. I expected a stuffy wine city with expensive restaurants and not much to do if you’re not into tastings. I was wrong. The city center is gorgeous (all that honey-colored limestone), the food scene goes way beyond wine pairing menus, and the Miroir d’Eau at sunset is one of the most beautiful things we’ve seen in Europe.
The wine is incredible, obviously. But even if you’re not a wine person, Bordeaux has enough charm, history, and good food to keep you busy for a few days. Check out our guide to visiting Bordeaux for the full breakdown.
Nice
Nice sits on the French Riviera and manages to pull off beach town and cultural city at the same time. The Promenade des Anglais is the kind of walk where you just stroll for an hour and don’t realize how far you’ve gone. The old town (Vieux Nice) is full of narrow streets, markets, and restaurants where you’ll eat socca (a chickpea flatbread) and wonder why it hasn’t caught on everywhere else.
Nice also makes a great base for exploring the rest of the Riviera. Monaco, Antibes, and Cannes are all a short train ride away. The best times to visit are late spring (May) or early fall (September) when the weather is perfect and the summer crowds have thinned out.
Normandy
Normandy is one of those regions where beauty and history overlap in the most intense way. The D-Day landing beaches are sobering and worth every minute of the visit. But Normandy is also Etretat’s white cliffs, the medieval streets of Rouen, and the stunning island abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.
Mont Saint-Michel alone justifies a trip to Normandy. It rises out of the sea like something from a fantasy novel. The abbey dates back to the 8th century and it’s been a pilgrimage site for over a thousand years. Try to visit at low tide when you can walk across the sand to the island. It’s a day trip from Paris (about 3.5 hours by train), but we’d recommend spending the night nearby so you can see it at sunset.
Lyon
Lyon is considered the food capital of France, which is saying something for a country that treats every meal like it matters. The traboules (hidden passageways) in Vieux Lyon are fascinating to explore, and the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere overlooking the city is stunning.
Lyon is also less touristy than Paris, which means better prices, fewer crowds, and more locals at the restaurants. It’s about two hours south of Paris by TGV, making it a doable weekend trip.
Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence is Provence without the lavender-field Instagram cliches (though those are nearby if you want them). The city itself is elegant and walkable, with tree-lined boulevards, fountains on every corner, and some of the best outdoor markets in the south of France.
Cezanne painted here, and you can visit his studio just outside town. The light in Provence is genuinely different from the rest of France. Everything has this warm, golden glow that makes you want to eat cheese and drink rose at 2 PM on a Tuesday.
Strasbourg and Alsace
Alsace is the region of France that feels most like a fairytale. Half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and vineyards that stretch to the horizon. Strasbourg is the capital and it’s gorgeous, especially the Petite France neighborhood with its canals and flower boxes.
The wine route through Alsace (Route des Vins) is legendary. Unlike Bordeaux and Burgundy, Alsace focuses on white wines, especially Riesling and Gewurztraminer. If you’re visiting in December, the Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar are some of the best in Europe.
Toulouse
Toulouse is called La Ville Rose (the Pink City) because of its distinctive terracotta brick buildings. It’s the fourth largest city in France but flies under the tourist radar, which keeps it affordable and authentic. The Capitole square is beautiful, the cassoulet is hearty, and the Canal du Midi running through the city makes for a perfect afternoon walk.
The Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is castle country. Chateaux are everywhere and they range from fairy-tale romantic (Chambord, Chenonceau) to legitimately huge (Chambord has 440 rooms). The valley is also a major wine region and the landscape is beautiful, especially in late spring.
The easiest base is Tours, which is about an hour from Paris by TGV. From there you can rent a car or join a tour to hit the major chateaux. Chenonceau (the one built over the river) is our pick for most photogenic.
Brittany
Brittany is France’s Celtic region and it feels like it. The coastline is rugged, the food is butter-heavy (crepes and galettes are the main event), and the port town of Saint-Malo is one of the most dramatically beautiful towns in the country. The region is also dotted with megalithic sites, including the famous standing stones at Carnac.
Brittany is less visited than the south of France, which is part of its appeal. If you want a France trip that feels genuinely different, this is where to go.
Giverny
Giverny is a tiny village on the edge of Normandy and it’s famous for one reason. Claude Monet lived here for the last 43 years of his life, and his house and gardens (including that water lily pond) are open to the public. It’s a perfect day trip from Paris and worth it if you have any interest in art or gardens.
Fair warning, it closes from November through March. Plan accordingly.
Reims
Reims is the capital of France’s Champagne region, which means exactly what you think it means. Champagne cellars, tastings, and more bubbles than you know what to do with. But beyond the wine, the city has incredible Gothic architecture. The cathedral is where 25 French monarchs were crowned between 1223 and 1825. It’s about 45 minutes from Paris by TGV and makes for one of the best day trips from Paris.
Best Cities in France (Quick Summary)
- Paris
- Bordeaux
- Nice
- Normandy (Mont Saint-Michel, Rouen, Etretat)
- Lyon
- Aix-en-Provence
- Strasbourg and Alsace
- Toulouse
- The Loire Valley
- Brittany
- Giverny
- Reims
Frequently Asked Questions
Bordeaux, Nice, and Lyon are our top picks outside Paris. Bordeaux for the wine and architecture, Nice for the beach and Riviera access, and Lyon for the food. Normandy is worth it for Mont Saint-Michel alone.
For a first trip, we’d say at least a week. Give Paris 3-4 days, then pick one or two other regions. Two weeks lets you comfortably add the south of France (Nice, Provence) or wine country (Bordeaux, Loire Valley). France is big and diverse, so don’t try to see everything in one trip.
Late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October) are ideal. The weather is pleasant, the crowds are thinner than peak summer, and prices are more reasonable. Paris is beautiful year-round, but the south of France is best when it’s warm enough to enjoy the outdoor markets and coastline.
