France

France is one of those countries that actually lives up to the cliche. Paris really is romantic. The wine really is better. The bread really is that good. And the countryside really does look like a painting.

Beyond Paris, France is enormously diverse. The French Riviera has Mediterranean glamour. Provence has lavender fields and hilltop villages. Bordeaux and Burgundy have the wine. The Loire Valley has fairy-tale chateaux. Normandy has D-Day beaches and apple orchards. The Alps have skiing and hiking. And the south-west has the Dordogne, which might be the most beautiful rural area in Europe.

France is not a budget destination. Paris especially can eat through money fast. But outside of Paris, the value improves significantly. A baguette costs $1. A glass of wine at a village bar costs $3. A three-course prix fixe lunch at a country restaurant costs $15. The trick is knowing the difference between tourist France and local France, and the locals eat extraordinarily well for very little.

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When to go

May to June and September to October are ideal. Pleasant temperatures, fewer tourists, and the countryside is at its best (Provence lavender peaks in late June to July).

July and August are peak tourist season. Paris empties of locals (they all go south) and fills with tourists. The Riviera and Provence are packed and expensive. If you visit in summer, head north (Normandy, Brittany, the Loire) or to smaller towns.

November through March is cold in the north, mild in the south. Paris in winter has a particular charm (Christmas markets, fewer crowds at museums) but days are short and grey. The ski season in the Alps runs December to April.

What it actually costs

France is mid-to-high cost for Western Europe. Paris is expensive. The countryside and smaller cities are more reasonable. All prices in USD.

Budget ($60-100 USD/day per person) Hostels ($25-45/night), baguette sandwiches and market lunches ($5-8), prix fixe lunch menus ($12-15), free museum days (first Sunday of the month at most national museums), metro and bus ($2 per ride in Paris).

Mid-range ($100-250 USD/day per person) Hotel ($80-180/night for a double), bistro dinners with wine ($25-40), TGV trains between cities ($25-70 booked early), major museum tickets ($15-20).

Comfortable ($250-400+ USD/day per person) Boutique hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, wine tours in Bordeaux or Burgundy, luxury Riviera hotels, private chateau visits.

The prix fixe lunch menu (formule) is France’s version of the menu del dia. Available at most bistros and brasseries between noon and 2pm. Two or three courses for $12-20, often with wine. Dinner at the same restaurant costs double. Always eat your main meal at lunch.

TGV high-speed trains connect Paris to most major cities. Paris to Lyon takes 2 hours, Paris to Marseille takes 3 hours, Paris to Bordeaux takes 2 hours. Book on sncf-connect.com 2-3 months ahead for the cheapest fares ($25-40 vs $100+ on the day).

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Where to go

Paris (4-5 days minimum). The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Sacre-Coeur, Notre-Dame (still under restoration but the area is worth visiting), the Marais neighbourhood for food and galleries, Saint-Germain for cafes, and Montmartre for charm. Skip the tourist restaurants near the tower and eat in the 11th, 10th, or 3rd arrondissements where locals go.

Provence (3-4 days). Lavender fields (late June to July), hilltop villages (Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux), the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct, and Aix-en-Provence for market days. Rent a car. Public transport is limited in rural Provence.

The French Riviera (3-4 days). Nice as a base (more affordable than Cannes or Monaco). The Promenade des Anglais, the old town for food, day trips to Eze, Antibes, and Monaco. The Riviera is expensive but Nice itself has a real neighbourhood feel once you leave the waterfront.

Bordeaux (2-3 days). The wine capital. The Cite du Vin museum, the old town (a UNESCO site), and day trips to Saint-Emilion and Medoc vineyards. Wine tastings start at $10 and the food scene rivals Paris at half the price.

Loire Valley (2-3 days). Fairy-tale chateaux (Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise) surrounded by vineyards and gardens. Rent a car or cycle between chateaux. The Loire is flat, making it perfect for cycling.

Normandy (2-3 days). D-Day beaches (Omaha, Utah, the American Cemetery), Mont Saint-Michel (the tidal island monastery), and Honfleur (one of the prettiest harbour towns in France). Emotionally powerful and historically significant.

Lyon (2 days). France’s food capital (yes, more than Paris). Bouchons (traditional Lyonnaise restaurants) serve rich, local cuisine. The old town (Vieux Lyon) is a UNESCO site with traboules (hidden passageways). More affordable than Paris with equally good food.

What to skip

The Eiffel Tower if the queue is over an hour. The view from the Sacre-Coeur steps in Montmartre, the Arc de Triomphe rooftop, or the Tour Montparnasse is just as good and without the 2-hour wait. If you do go up, book a timed ticket online weeks in advance.

The “friendship bracelet” and petition scammers near Sacre-Coeur and the Eiffel Tower. Someone ties a bracelet on your wrist and demands payment, or asks you to sign a petition then asks for money. Say “non” firmly and walk away.

Restaurant menus in English on the Champs-Elysees. Tourist prices, mediocre food. Walk to the streets behind the main avenues in any arrondissement and the quality goes up while the price goes down.

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Must-do experiences

Eat a croissant from a real boulangerie. Not a cafe, not a supermarket. A proper boulangerie with “Artisan Boulanger” on the sign. A fresh butter croissant costs $1.50 and is one of the simple perfect things in life. Do this every morning.

Drink wine in a vineyard. Bordeaux, Burgundy, or the Loire Valley. Most estates offer tastings for $10-20. Some are free. The combination of drinking wine where it was made, surrounded by the vines, is an experience restaurants can’t replicate.

Walk through the Marais in Paris. The best neighbourhood in Paris for food, galleries, vintage shops, and people-watching. Falafel at L’As du Fallafel on Rue des Rosiers is a must. Get the special with everything.

Visit Mont Saint-Michel. A medieval abbey on a tidal island off the coast of Normandy. Arrive early morning or stay overnight to see it without the day-trip crowds. The approach across the causeway as it appears from the mist is genuinely magical.

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Practical tips

The currency is the Euro. Cards accepted almost everywhere. Some markets, bakeries, and small village restaurants prefer cash.

Most Western passport holders can visit for 90 days in the Schengen zone.

French people appreciate when you try French. Start every interaction with “Bonjour” and attempt basic French. The stereotype about Parisians being rude to tourists is mostly about tourists who don’t say hello first.

Tipping is included in the price (service compris). You are not expected to add more. Rounding up by a euro or two for good service is a nice gesture but not required.

Shops and restaurants close on Sundays in most areas outside Paris. Many also close on Mondays. Plan your eating and shopping around this.

Paris Museum Pass ($55 for 2 days, $70 for 4 days) covers 50+ museums and monuments and lets you skip ticket queues. Worth it if you plan to visit 3+ museums.

Planning your trip

1 week Paris and beyond: Paris (4 nights), Versailles day trip, Loire Valley (2 nights, rent car).

2 weeks classic France: Paris (4), TGV to Lyon (2), TGV to Provence (3), Nice/Riviera (3), fly home.

2 weeks wine and food focused: Paris (3), TGV to Bordeaux (3), drive to Dordogne (2), drive to Lyon (2), TGV to Paris, Champagne day trip (1), fly home.

Book your trip

Use the search tools above to compare prices on flights, hotels, tours, and rental cars across France.

More destinations from travlperks: For similar European charm at lower prices, check out Portugal or Spain. For a different kind of food culture, see our Italy or Japan guides.