France

✨ Things to Do

France is home to an abundance of natural beauty, cultural attractions, and history. From food and wine to museums and outdoor adventures, you won’t be bored in France!

• Museum Tours – France has a huge variety of museums, from the enormous Louvre in Paris to the perfume museum in Grasse. 
• Sunbathing – France’s three coasts make it perfect for beach lovers. The Riviera is best for catching some sun in the winter!
• Skiing – Skiing and snowboarding are popular in France. The Alps and Pyrenees mountains are especially great for winter sports.
• Wine Tastings – France is a renowned country for winemaking. Bordeaux, Champagne, and the Loire Valley are the top regions.
• Historical Visits – France’s historical sites range from Nîmes’s Roman amphitheater to the D-Day beaches in Normandy.

🗺️ Where to Stay

France’s cities serve as good bases for exploring the country’s different regions. These cities are convenient places to stay, no matter where you want to go:

• Paris – Paris’s location in North-Central France makes it ideal for exploring regions from the Loire Valley to Normandy.
• Lyon – Lyon is well-placed for trips in Southern France and Eastern France, from Mont Blanc in the Alps to the Riviera.
• Nice – Nice is a Riviera city close to Monaco, Antibes, and Cannes, making it a practical base to stay in. 
• Strasbourg – Strasbourg’s eastern location makes it an excellent choice for travelers on a multi-country tour.
• Bordeaux – Bordeaux is a convenient location for exploring the West Coast of France as well as the Pyrenees Mountains and Spain.

🛎️ Best Hotels

France is known for its luxury, and its hotels are no different. Some of the world’s best hotels are in France.

• Cap Estel – This Riviera resort offers both privacy and luxury. It features an infinity pool perched on the Mediterranean’s edge.
• Cour des Vosges – This hotel looks out over one of Paris’s fanciest historic squares while offering spa services and a tea room.
• Hotel Mont-Blanc Val d’Isère – This chalet offers ski access, a pool, and a spa. You can privatize it for special occasions.
• Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa – This renovated 19th-century inn in the Champagne region has spectacular views.
• La Divine Comédie – This Provence hotel is perfect for gardeners and is in the middle of the largest garden in the city of Avignon.

🚗 Best Road Trips

France is a great country to drive in, with plenty of rental cars and well-marked highways. France is small enough to explore by car easily.

• Normandy – Normandy’s rocky beaches and WWII history make it perfect for nature lovers and historians.
• French Riviera – This glamorous destination has been a hot spot for luxury-minded travelers for centuries. It still lives up to its reputation!
• West Coast – France’s West Coast is home to secluded beaches, as they’re less touristy than the beaches in the French Riviera.
• Pyrenees – These mountains bordering Spain provide a scenic and accessible route between the countries. 
• Dordogne – This picturesque region offers lush scenery, riverside villages, cave paintings, and sunny weather.

⛱️ Best Beaches

Water surrounds France on three sides to the north, west, and south. These beautiful coastlines all offer something unique.

• Palombaggia Beach, Corsica – Visitors rave about the peaceful atmosphere and clear blue waters of this beach on the island of Corsica.
• Trestraou Beach, Perros Guirec – A great beach for families on the Rose Granite Coast. Trestraou Beach has a trampoline and ice cream stands.
• Deauville Beach, Deauville – This large, white-sanded beach in Northern France is famous for its colorful sun umbrellas.
• Grenettes Beach, Île de Ré – This windy beach on France’s West Coast is a favorite among surfers and other water-sport lovers.
• Plage de la Gravette, Antibes – This white-sanded beach on the French Riviera is great in the mornings before it gets too crowded.

⛰️ Best Mountains

Many people don’t realize that France has more mountains than just the Alps and the Pyrenees. In fact, there are six mountain ranges to explore!

• Mont Blanc – The highest mountain in France, Mont Blanc measures over 15,700 feet and is on the French-Italian border. 
• Montagne Sainte Victoire – This limestone mountain was part of ancient Roman ceremonies. It’s located in the South of France.
• Pont d’Espagne – The highest Pyrenees mountain. It has a bridge that used to join France and Spain as well as many waterfalls. 
• Aiguille du Midi – This is the highest mountain peak you can reach by cable car. It takes you up more than 12,000 feet! 
• Mourre Negre – You can reach this mountain peak in the South of France via several trails that wind up from nearby villages.

⛷️ Best Ski Resorts

The six mountain ranges in France make it a popular skiing destination. Ski resorts range from bare-bones resorts to super luxurious!

• Chamonix – This was the site of the first Winter Olympics for a reason. It is a haven for winter sports lovers.
• Val d’Isère – This luxury resort town is known for its nightlife as well as its great skiing, and is located near the Italian border.
• Les 3 Vallées – “The 3 Valleys” is the biggest ski resort in the world and has more than 370 miles of ski runs.
• Tignes – Tignes has the longest ski season in France, despite being a less popular ski resort.
• Courchevel – Courchevel is known for its great snow cover and celebrity visitors. It’s part of “The 3 Valleys” resort.

🖼️ Best Museums

You don’t have to be an outdoorsy person to enjoy France. The country’s huge cultural heritage is on display at more than 1,200 museums!

• The Louvre Museum, Paris – The Louvre might be the world’s most famous museum, with more than 13,000 items on display.
• The Matisse Museum, Nice – This colorful museum shows the work of post-Impressionist painter Henri Matisse.
• The Museum of the Miniature and Cinema, Lyon – View cinematic artifacts from Alfred Hitchcock’s camera to Charlie Chaplin’s cane.
• Museum of the Landing, Arromanches-Les-Bains – This Normandy museum was the first to celebrate the D-Day landings in World War II. 
• Bayeux Museum – The Bayeux Museum has three museums in one: the Bayeux Tapestry, the WWII Normandy Battle Museum, and an art museum.

👉 Tips & Things to Know

• 👛 – Tipping – Small tips of less than 10% are nice but not necessary. You may leave more but do not have to.
• 🚬  – Smoking – Many people in France still smoke on café terraces, but smoking is illegal inside restaurants and public buildings.
• 📲 – Taxis/Ride Shares – Taxis are comparable with ride shares in price but are often faster and willing to go farther.
• 🚗 – Driving – Driving is efficient only outside of big cities. Prioritize public transportation within cities.
• 🚪 – Closures – Many small businesses close in August and between Christmas and the New Year. Call ahead to check.

🧳 What to Pack

• 👟 – Walking shoes – France is very walkable within its cities and in its rural areas. Good walking shoes are a must!
• 🧥 – Layers – France’s weather can change in a heartbeat, particularly in the North of France. Bring a light jacket even in summer.
• 💵 – Cash – Some businesses and taxis prefer cash, particularly in rural areas. Keep some with you just in case.
• 📱 – Translation App – Even fluent French speakers come across words they don’t know! The Collins-Robert app is a good investment.
• 🎒 – Foldable Bag – French stores charge for carrier bags. Do like the French and bring a foldable tote.

🤓 Facts & Info

• Population – 67.75 million
• Capital – Paris
• Largest Metro Areas – Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Toulouse
• Time Zone – CET Time (UTC +1 / UTC +2 during Central European Summer Time)
• Airports – Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), Paris Beauvais Airport (BVA), Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS), Bordeaux Airport (BOD), Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), Strasbourg Airport (SXB)
• Colleges & Universities – Université de Paris system (formerly the Sorbonne), HEC, INSEAD, the Grands Écoles
• Nickname – “The Hexagon”
• Demonym – French
• President – Emmanuel Macron (Renaissance Party)

💵 Costs & Budgeting

• Cost of Living – Estimated 9% lower than in the US 
• 3 Star Hotel Room – $110 (higher in cities)
• 1 Bedroom Apartment Rental – $196/night (higher in cities)
• Rental Car – $75/day
• Public Transit Ticket – Around $2
• Take Out Meal for Two – $30 
• Sit Down Dinner for Two – $60
• Draft Beer – $6.50