How can I travel around France efficiently? France has an excellent transportation network, including high-speed trains (TGV), regional trains, buses, and domestic flights. Renting a car is also a good option for exploring rural areas.
Welcome to France, a traveler’s dream where history, culture, and stunning landscapes come together effortlessly.
I’ve found that whether I’m exploring art galleries, savoring fine wines, or admiring picturesque views, France offers endless delights.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the most breathtaking places I’ve visited in France, ensuring your trip is absolutely unforgettable
- 🌦️ What is the best time to visit France?
- 📝 What To See In France? List of the 20 Best Tourist Places To Visit
- 1. Paris
- 2: Bordeaux
- 3. Mont Saint-Michel
- 4. French Riviera
- 5. Arles
- 6. Biarritz
- 7. Strasbourg
- 8. Fontainebleau
- 9. Lourdes
- 10. Lyon
- 11. Chambord
- 12. Burgundy
- 13. Nice
- 14. Annecy
- 15. Noumea
- 16. Lascaux Cave Paintings
- 17. Rocamadour: A Medieval Pilgrimage Destination
- 18. Louvre
- 19. Jardin Des Tuileries
- 20. Avenue Des Champs-Élysées
- 🙋🏻♀️ FAQs about Tourist Places of france
- 😇 Conclusion
- 🗨️ Which French destinations do you believe to be the best? Tell Us In The Comments Section Below.
🌦️ What is the best time to visit France?
The best time to visit France depends on your interests. Spring (April to June) and fall (September to November) offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds. Summer (July to August) is great for beach destinations, while winter (December to February) is perfect for skiing in the Alps.
Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 7°C | 8°C | 12°C | 15°C | 19°C | 22°C | 25°C | 24°C | 21°C | 16°C | 11°C | 7°C |
Temp. | 4°C | 5°C | 8°C | 11°C | 14°C | 18°C | 20°C | 20°C | 16°C | 12°C | 8°C | 5°C |
Low | 2°C | 2°C | 4°C | 6°C | 10°C | 13°C | 15°C | 14°C | 12°C | 8°C | 5°C | 3°C |
📝 What To See In France? List of the 20 Best Tourist Places To Visit
To feel beautiful France in its most actual essence. It’s important to go to these places and spend a while there. Scroll right down to know what awaits you in this beautiful land that has it all!
1. Paris
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is the most popular tourist attraction in France as well as in the whole world. Paris is a vital hub of fashion, art, food, culture as well as architecture.
It’s also the capital city and one of the foremost lovely tourist attractions in France. It is also the foremost wonderful European city. Paris owns its beautiful cityscape showing ancient-world beauty, joined by broad streets with the River Seine passing by its side.
The marvelous famous monuments, museums, bustling riverbank, as well as lively people, pull visitors from everywhere the globe.
- Main Attractions: Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, as well as Montmartre.
2: Bordeaux
Bordeaux in France appears so beautiful during sunset. It is 30 30-minute drive from Paris, and this charming city of Bordeaux is perfect to relax and strengthen. It is very famous for wine growing.
Bordeaux is one of the sparkling cities and among the top places to visit in France. Half of this harbor city is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Popular for its unusual museums, churches, cathedrals, and vintage mansions, Bordeaux attracts various visitors and scholars every year.
Its astonishing dining scene, magnificent coffee shops, attractive food trucks, and especially good wine make Bordeaux one of the most France famous places.
- Main Attractions: Cathédrale Saint-André, Le Grand Théâtre, Place de la Bourse, Basilique Saint-Michel as well as Basilique Saint-Seurin
3. Mont Saint-Michel
The lovely island of Mont Saint-Michel is one of the foremost famous tourist places to visit in France. Its location in Normandy France, Nestled at the mouth of the Couesnon River, gives breathtaking beautiful views to visitors.
Surrounded by natural support, this island houses an age-old monastery, from where its name has been obtained. It is one of the main places in France to visit.
- Main Attractions: The Abbey, Tidal Island, Eglise Saint Pierre, The Parish Church and Museums of History, and Maritime and Ecology
4. French Riviera
Situated on the Mediterranean Coast of France. French Riviera is one of the popular places to visit in France. It’s famous for its beautiful beauty, mesmerizing shoreline, holiday retreats, and health resorts.
This fascinating French Riviera is a popular name within the world tourism map and is also famous for the Cannes celebration, quaint perched villages, marvelous perfumeries, glass blowers, and potters. It is also a must-see in France.
- Main Attractions: Eze, Grasse, Monaco, Menton, as well as La Colline du Chateau
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5. Arles
It is one of the must-see places in France, Arles is now included as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It’s an old city sat on a hillock where River Rhône bifurcates to merge with the sea.
This ancient city has an awesome cityscape that includes lively sun-baked houses, lanes, and roads.
Full of stores and restaurants, the Aries shows old-world appeal in every sense. Also, the popular city of Arles had been an idea for famous painter Vincent van Gogh and lots of his famous works are about the town.
- Main Attractions: Arles Amphitheatre, Alyscamps, Montmajour Abbey, Church of St. Trophime, Cloître Saint-Trophime, Musée Départemental de l’Arles Antique as well as Fondation Vincent van Gogh
6. Biarritz
Biarritz is a classic seaside city and a pleasant summer resort on the Basque beach of France. This packed and attractive place is one of the largest tourist attractions in France.
Key attractions here are surfing activities and beautiful nightlife with happening pubs, clubs, and Barrière – the spectacular beachfront Casino. The town also runs many surfing training schools and is the place for a yearly surfing competition.
- Main Attractions: Musee Bonnat, Herri Urrats, Uhabia, Grande Plage, Musée de la Mer, Phare de Biarritz as well as Rocher de la Vierge.
7. Strasbourg
Strasbourg is very close to the border of Germany, It is the house of the European Parliament and is the capital city of the Alsace region in northeastern France.
The cityscape shows both French and German-style buildings and construction. The great and century-old Gothic cathedral has made it one of the not-to-miss places to visit in France.
Also, do not miss the regular shows at the Cathedral about the astronomical clock and full views of the Rhine from part high to its 142 m tower.
- Main Attractions: Strasbourg cathedral, Strasbourg Museum of recent Art, Palais Rohan Strasbourg, Quartier des Tanneurs, Maison Kammerzell, and Eglise de Saint-Thomas.
8. Fontainebleau
It is around 55.5 km far from Paris. This spectacular town of Fontainebleau is a popular vacation retreat.
It is one of the popular places to visit in France. The town is surrounded by lush green parks and allows sufficient possibilities for trekking and hiking. The famous Chateau is the most charming attraction of this place and also the best place to go in France.
- Main Attractions: Chateau de Fontainebleau, Foret de Fontainebleau and Entrance to Chateau de Fontainebleau Grounds
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9. Lourdes
Lourdes is an extremely important and awe-inspiring pilgrimage site, known for Our Lady shrine. Found at the foothills of the Pyrenees, This town is a must-see among all the places to visit in France.
- Main Attractions: Rosary Basilica, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Ossau Valley, Jardin Massey, and Chateau Fort de Lourdes
10. Lyon
Situated at the merge point of the Rhone and Saone Rivers, Lyon is the 3rd biggest city and one of the favorite tourist places in France.
The townhouses have extraordinary museums and palaces and have some pubs and clubs too. Excellent shopping experiences and delicious cuisine are enjoyable for travelers.
- Main Attractions: Museum of Fine Arts, Vieux, Lyon Cathedral, Parc de la Tete d’Or, Palace Bellecour, Fourviere, as well as Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere
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11. Chambord
The city of Chambord has been built around the world-famous Chateau, a magnificent construction of the Renaissance era. It is also one of the best places to visit France.
Chambord is reputed for its spectacular buildings, old structural design, artwork, lively style, and internal décor of the chateau. The primary floor has the chambers of the King and his Queen.
The double-helix staircase within the center takes you to the rooftop, where you can experience a breathtaking view of the environment.
- Main Attractions: Château de Chambord, Eglise Saint Louis de Chambord, Domaine national de Chambord, and Maison des Vinas a Chambord
12. Burgundy
The erstwhile region of east-central France, Burgundy is one of the most charming and top places to see in France.
Burgundy is famous for many crisscrossing winding canals, wine, palaces, museums, lush pastures, medieval villages, and rolling green hills.
This beautiful French country giving marvelous and mesmerizing views is one of the favourite choices for complete peace and rest.
- Main Attractions: Dijon, Nevers, Beaune, Macon, Autun, Auxerre, Vezelay, Avallon and Cluny
13. Nice
It is a famously beautiful city that tops the list of tourist places to visit in France. This wonderful seaside is popular for its excellent sunny weather, breathtaking scenery as well as an excellent blend of medieval styling within the city’s profile.
The beach is full of elegant eating joints and shacks as well as the bustling market. The spectacular building has made it one of the most famous tourist places to visit in France. It’s the purpose people gather here in large numbers, all around the year.
- Main Attractions: Promenade des Anglais, Vieille Ville, Orthodox Cathedral, Opera de Nice, Colline du Château, Musée Matisse, Monastère Notre-Dame-de-Cimiez, Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, and Jardin Albert I
14. Annecy
Annecy is a river town nestled at the meeting of River Thiou and Lac d’Annecy. It is the foremost famous place in France, this alpine city shows the heritage and glories of the old days, especially in its structures, streets, travel canals, and lively houses of the old town.
The town museum showcases alpine furniture, different art, and statues of the medieval period.
- Main Attractions: Palais de L’isle, Chateau d’Annecy, Semnoz, Basilique de la Visitation, Thiou, La Tournette and Pont des Amours
15. Noumea
Noumea is the capital of the French region of New Caledonia. Its location is the mainland of Grande Terre. This is often a bright and beautiful beach destination that reflects a perfect blend of French and Kanak forms in its architecture.
The coastal destination is popular for a bustling square called Place des Cocotiers, landscaped gardens, lively bustling shoreline, and happy local people. Also, it is one of the best places in France to visit.
- Main Attractions: Noumea Cathedral, Aquarium de Lagons Nouvelle Caledonie, Amedee Lighthouse Island, Tjibaou Cultural Centre, and beaches like Anse Vata, and Plage de la Baie des Citrons
16. Lascaux Cave Paintings
The Dordogne area of France has unbelievable ancient sites. These are just ideal attractions for history lovers and historians to explore the page of their history textbook.
It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place holds wonderful old paintings which are the best samples of Paleolithic art in the world. Although the cave has been closed to guests to stop damage.
There’s a particular replica of the cave which can be seen the near Lascaux II site. Aside from this, you can also visit the Grotte de Rouffignac.
It is located within the Vézère Valley and is filled with paintings of cows, horses, deer, and bison as well as goats and therefore the most noteworthy of all Mammoths.
There’s also the Grotte du Mas d’Azil and Grotte De Niaux which have rock paintings that go back 14,000 to 10,000 BC.
- Main Attractions: Explore the town of Tarascon-sur-Ariège to ascertain more sites, just like the Grotte de Lombrives, Grotte de Bédeilhac, and therefore the Grotte de la Vache.
17. Rocamadour: A Medieval Pilgrimage Destination
Located on a sheer cliff within the Dordogne region. Rocamadour is a site that seems like it’s trying to climb to heaven. A crucial Christian pilgrimage site within the 11th century, only third to Jerusalem and Rome.
However, it had been a crucial stop on the way of the James route to Santiago de la Compostela, which is located in Spain.
The village has seven churches that date back to the medieval period. the foremost famous of all of them is the Chapelle Notre-Dame which has the figure of the ‘Black Virgin’, formed out of walnut wood, and is claimed to form miracles.
- Main Attractions: Visit the UNESCO-listed Basilique Saint-Sauveur, which is Rocamadour’s biggest church. a touch drive will take you to Limoges which is a “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire” (“City of Art and History”) and Périgueux. It’s a popular town and dates back to the Roman period.
18. Louvre
Once a residence of France’s Kings. Lourve currently is a wonderful museum devoted to the fine arts. You can enter the place through the courtyard of the previous palace.
The glass pyramid there was created in 1917 by Ieoh Ming Pei. Guests can feast their eyes on more than 30,000 works of fine art which range from the oldness to medieval ones alongside European paintings dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
However, it’s honestly, impossible to explore in one day’s visit. So it’s advisable to only visit one gallery-like the Italian Renaissance, ancient sculpture, French paintings of the 17th century, and more. check-in for a three-hour walking tour to skip the lines and gain quick access to the arts.
- Main Attractions: Mona Lisa by Leonardo Leonardo, the Venus de Milo sculpture, the Marriage Feast at Cana painting by Veronese, Botticelli’s frescoes, and Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix.
19. Jardin Des Tuileries
The Louvre is one of the loveliest and most delightful parks in Paris. It had been designed by French engineer André Le Notre who also created the park over at Versailles.
He constructed the Tuileries in a very formal and classic French style. There’s a lovely cafe restaurant there with outdoor seating. It is one of the best places to visit in France.
- Main Attractions: Check out the beautiful pools, manicured trees, and park benches.
20. Avenue Des Champs-Élysées
What is now a great Boulevard, was an isolated marshland till the 16th century. The Champs-Élysée is split into two parts and there’s the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées at its intersection.
The lower part of this place borders the Place du Concorde, Petit Palais fine arts museum as well as Jardin des Champs-Élysées. The top part which extends to Arc de Triomphe is packed with restaurants, cafes, hotels shops, theatres as well as cinemas.
Explore designer boutiques like Tiffany and Co., Louis-Vuitton and Cartier. There also are the best restaurants here just as the Brasserie du Luxe restaurant. Also, it is one of the top attractions in France.
- Main Attractions: Maison Ladurée, which is a patisserie shop, and the L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon which may be a gastronomic restaurant.
🙋🏻♀️ FAQs about Tourist Places of france
There are a lot of questions that come to our mind while planning to travel to France, some of the commonly asked questions are answered below.
Q. Is it necessary to speak French while traveling in France?
A. While it’s not necessary to speak French, knowing a few basic phrases can enhance your travel experience. Most people in tourist areas speak some English, but locals appreciate it when visitors make an effort to speak their language.
Q. What are some must-try French dishes?
A. Don’t miss out on trying French classics like croissants, escargot, coq au vin, ratatouille, and crème brûlée. Each region has its own specialties, so be sure to sample local dishes wherever you go.
Q. Are there any unique souvenirs to buy in France?
A. France offers a wide range of unique souvenirs, including wine, cheese, lavender products from Provence, French cosmetics, and fashion items. Don’t forget to pick up some local delicacies like macarons and chocolates.
😇 Conclusion
France is a land of endless beauty and diversity. From the romantic streets of Paris to the sun-drenched beaches of the French Riviera, the historic landmarks of Normandy to the charming villages of Provence, there is something for every traveler. So pack your bags, embark on an adventure, and discover the magic that awaits you in France.
🗨️ Which French destinations do you believe to be the best? Tell Us In The Comments Section Below.
How was your experience? Let us know in the comments!
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