There’s nowhere quite like France, home to gourmet food, world-class vineyards, haute-couture fashion, and of course the Eiffel Tower.
Many travelers will head straight to Paris—for good reason. However, don’t spend all of your time in the City of Love.
Beyond the capital, there’s plenty to explore—from the windswept beaches of Normandy to the vineyards of Bordeaux, the glamorous French Riviera and snow-capped Alps beyond.
Read on to discover the best places to go in France.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Arc de Troimphe, Paris, France
Best cities to visit in France
Paris
Where better to start your French adventure than in Paris? You’ll quickly fall in love with its world-class art galleries, iconic Notre-Dame cathedral and quaint cafe culture that’ll have you saying "deux croissants, s'il vous plaît" in no time.
Spend a morning ticking off the key sights—like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower—before meandering along the River Seine and exploring the atmospheric Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter or bohemian Montmartre.
Nice
Venture south and you’ll find Nice, a jewel of a city perched on France’s Mediterranean coast. Unlike Paris, it famously boasts 300 days of sunshine every year. Expect a balmy climate year-round, perfect for sipping ice-cold Provence rosé on a bougainvillea-decked terrace.
Glassy blue waters lap against the palm-studded Promenade des Anglais, a prime place for spotting celebrities on their superyachts. Nice is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the rest of the French Riviera.
Image Credit: Getty Images, ICHAUVEL. Image Location: Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France
Bordeaux
Love wine? Don’t miss a trip to Bordeaux, the viticultural capital of France. Surrounding this ancient city are hundreds of the finest vineyards in the country; Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are two of the most famous grapes grown locally.
From here, catch a train out to the Atlantic coast, where you’ll find rolling sand dunes, surfing beaches and pine forests linked by a network of cycle trails.
Lyon
There are few places better than Lyon to experience France’s food scene—and it's only two hours from Paris by train.
Not only does it boast 19 Michelin-starred restaurants, but it’s also packed with vibrant food markets, like Les Halles de Lyon, which offer up some of the finest produce in the country. Tuck into oozing raw cheese, white ham with truffles and candied fruit.
Beyond its culinary highlights, you’ll find incredible preserved Roman ruins, unusual museums like the Musée Lumière, and the beautiful Rhône-Alpes on its doorstep, primed for hiking and skiing.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Gael Fontaine. Image Location: Lyon, France
Famous places in France you must visit
Eiffel Tower
Closest RER/métro stations: Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel, Trocadéro
Yes, it’s a cliche but visiting the Eiffel Tower is a must when you come to France. Built in 1887, the famous Parisian landmark was the tallest human-made structure in the world until it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in New York City in 1930.
Take an elevator up the Eiffel Tower itself for panoramic views of Paris or head to Place du Trocadéro after dark to catch the icon illuminated in all its glittering glory.
Palace of Versailles
Closest RER station: Versailles Château Rive Gauche
Just outside of Paris lies the famous Palace of Versailles, a royal residence that gained a reputation for its lavish parties under Louis XVI. It’s remarkable for its sheer size and grand interiors, making it one of the most impressive palaces in Europe. Think vast trompe-l’oeil painted ceilings, gilded furniture and sprawling formal gardens.
You can also visit Hameau de la Reine, a model village built for Marie-Antoinette around an artificial lake. Direct trains leave Paris on the RER C line for Versailles every 15 minutes throughout the day. And if you don't feel like the journey back to the city, you can always stay overnight in one of Versailles' luxury hotels, including one on the palace grounds.
Image Credit: © Château de Versailles/T. Garnier. Image Location: Palace of Versailles, France
D-Day Landing beaches
Closest station: Bayeux
Five beaches in Normandy mark the site of the famous D-Day landings during World War II. Omaha and Utah were the two key beaches captured by US forces. Today, you can take a train from Paris and walk along both sandy stretches, which still bear the scars of the historic battle.
Further inland, the Normandy American Cemetery And Memorial is well-worth a visit; it is home to 9,238 headstones marking the American lives lost in the battle. Note: you’ll need to book a tour or taxi to get from Bayeux train station to the sites themselves.
How to explore France by train
France is linked by an efficient train system that criss-crosses across the country—from Paris over to Normandy and down to the French Riviera. Download the Trainline app for the best deals on train tickets, as well as route planning guidance and service updates.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Sean3810. Image Location: Paris, France