France is one of Europe’s most rewarding countries to explore — but with so many regions, cities, and landscapes, deciding where to go can feel overwhelming. From elegant capitals and Roman cities to coastal villages, wine regions, and countryside shaped by centuries of history, France offers extraordinary variety within relatively short distances.
This guide to France’s best travel destinations is designed to help you choose places that genuinely deserve your time. Rather than rushing through a checklist, it focuses on destinations that reward slower travel: cities best explored on foot, regions worth lingering in, and towns where everyday life still revolves around markets, cafés, and local traditions.
After spending several years travelling through France — often staying for weeks at a time — we’ve explored the country well beyond the obvious highlights. Some destinations surprised us; others confirmed exactly why they’re so well loved. Together, they form a practical, experience-based overview of France as it’s actually travelled.
In this guide, you’ll find France’s most rewarding cities, regions, and travel bases, along with short explanations of why each one stands out and what type of traveller it suits best. Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for a deeper journey, this page will help you choose destinations that match your travel style — not just the most popular names.
France’s Best Travel Destinations – At a Glance
France’s best travel destinations include Paris, Provence, the French Riviera, the Loire Valley, Normandy, and the historic cities of Southern France.
Each region offers a distinct experience, from walkable cultural cities and Roman landmarks to coastal towns and countryside ideal for slow travel.
Exploring France works best when destinations are chosen by travel style rather than distance, allowing time to enjoy local food, markets, and everyday life.
25 Destinations for your travel plan to France
Below are 25 of our favourite destinations in France, chosen for their character, walkability, history, and the way they reward travellers who slow down and explore.
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Here are 25 of our favourite destinations in France.
When planning our trip to France, we discovered many beautiful cities, towns, and villages that we had never heard of before.
These destinations are not listed in any particular order, but they are all worth a stop on your itinerary. We have listed the region for each destination, allowing you to choose a region to explore.
1. Pérouges Cite Medievale – Region: Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France
One of our favourites and one of the best-preserved medieval villages in France is Pérouges which feels frozen in time.
Stone-cobbled streets, artisan workshops, and café terraces make it a must-see stop just outside Lyon. Ideal for history lovers and slow travellers who enjoy wandering without an agenda.
2. Honfleur – Region: Normandy
Honfleur’s old harbour on the Seine River estuary is charming and quaint.
Framed by tall, narrow houses dating from the 16th to 18th centuries dotted around the harbour basin. The compact old town is easy to explore on foot, with galleries, restaurants, and the unique wooden Church of St Catherine. A perfect stop on a Normandy coastal itinerary.
3. Mont St Michel – Region: Normandy
Rising out of the sea, Mont St Michel is one of France’s most iconic sights.
Cobbled lanes climb toward the abbey at the summit, offering views across tidal flats along the way. Browse shops and cafes along the way.
Best visited early or overnight to avoid crowds.
4. Troyes – Region: Grand Est
Troyes is a compact medieval town known for its half-timbered houses and walkable old centre. Located in the Champagne region, it was once a major trading hub. Ideal for a relaxed overnight stay or walking-based visit.
5. St Malo – Region: Brittany
Encircled by granite ramparts, Saint-Malo is a dramatic fortified city on the Brittany coast. Walking the walls offers sweeping views over the English Channel before descending into the lively old town. A great base for combining a visit to Mont St Michel.
6. Carcassonne – Region: Occitania
Carcassonne’s medieval 12th century citadel is one of the most impressive fortified cities in Europe. Towers, walls, and narrow lanes surround the Château Comtal at its heart. A must-see stop when travelling between Montpellier and Toulouse..
Relax at one of the restaurants to try the local dish, Cassoulet of sausage and beans.
If you enjoy exploring cities at street level, our France City Walks are designed to help you discover historic centres on foot, calmly and confidently, without tours or time pressure.
7. Angers – Region: Pays de la Loire
Angers sits at the gateway to the Loire Valley, dominated by the impressive Château d’Angers. The old town is easy to explore on foot, with half-timbered houses, riverside walks, and cathedral views. Well suited to a short city break en route to Brittany.
Angers was where The House of Plantagenet originated.
8. Uzès – Region: Occitania
Uzès is a refined medieval town centred around its Ducal Palace and lively Place aux Herbes. Weekly markets, stone architecture, and café-lined squares make it a favourite for slow travellers. Easily combined with nearby villages and the Pont du Gard.
9. Bordeaux – Region: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Bordeaux is a vibrant riverside city known for its elegant 18th-century architecture and wine culture. With excellent transport links and a walkable historic centre, it works well for a three-night stay. Nearby Saint-Émilion adds a classic wine-country day trip.
10. Sarlat-la-Canéda – Region: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Set in the Dordogne region, Sarlat-la-Canéda has one of the highest concentrations of preserved medieval buildings in France. The compact old town is ideal for half-day exploration. A good base for visiting surrounding villages and countryside.
11. Dijon – Region: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Dijon blends Burgundian food culture with a beautifully preserved historic centre. Beyond its famous mustard, the city offers walking routes through medieval streets and grand squares. Well suited to a cultural city break.
12. Dinan – Region: Brittany
Dinan is a striking medieval town with ramparts, half-timbered houses, and a riverside setting. The old town is compact and atmospheric, rewarding unhurried exploration.
A highlight for lovers of history and traditional Breton towns as well as the sweet treat, Kouign Amann.
13. Etretat – Region: Normandy
Étretat is known for its dramatic white chalk cliffs and coastal walking trails. The town itself is small, but the clifftop views are unforgettable. Best suited to nature lovers and scenic coastal stops.
14. Reims – Region: Grand Est
Reims combines grand Gothic architecture with world-famous Champagne houses. The city centre is walkable, with historic landmarks clustered close together. Ideal for a long weekend blending culture and wine tasting.
France’s kings were crowned at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Reims, where Joan of Arc liberated the French from the English in 1429.
Reims for a Perfect Weekend, if you love Champagne
Get prepared with our Self-Guided City Walk of Reims.
15. Colmar – Region: Grand Est
Colmar’s colourful half-timbered houses and canals make it one of the prettiest towns in Alsace. Attractive in every season, it also serves as a base for nearby wine villages. Especially popular during Christmas markets.
16. Marseilles – Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Marseille is a vibrant Mediterranean city shaped by centuries of maritime trade and cultural diversity. The Old Port (Vieux-Port) is lined with restaurants and cafes.
The hilltop viewpoints from the Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard offer sweeping coastal views. But for us, the Byzantine Cathédrale La Major had us in awe.
Make it easy for yourself with our Self-Guided City Walk of Marseille.
17. Paris – Île-de-France
Paris is often the starting point for first-time visitors to France, offering world-class museums, historic neighbourhoods, and walkable districts along the Seine. While iconic landmarks draw people in, the city also rewards slower exploration through its neighbourhood cafés, markets, and river walks. Paris works best as a base before exploring other regions of France.
Paris is also one of the easiest cities in France to explore on foot, making it ideal for a Paris City Walk.
18: Château de Chambord – Region: Centre-Val de Loire
Château de Chambord is one of the Loire Valley’s most recognisable Renaissance châteaux. Set within expansive grounds, it’s known for its grand scale and distinctive architecture. Best visited as part of a Loire Valley route.
19: Alsace Villages (Grand Est)
Eguisheim and Riquewhir – Region: Grand Est
The medieval villages of half-timbered houses, narrow cobblestoned streets, and Alsace wines makes a visit to see villages a must-see.
Riquewhir – Region: Grand Est
20. Montpellier –Region: Occitania
Montpellier is a lively southern city with a pedestrian-friendly historic centre and youthful energy. Narrow medieval streets open onto sun-filled squares and cafés. An excellent base for exploring southern France by day trip.
How to See the Best of Montpellier Like a Local
21. Avignon – Region: Provence
Avignon is defined by its medieval walls and the imposing Palace of the Popes. The compact old town is easy to walk, with river views and nearby villages adding variety. Best enjoyed over several unhurried days.
22. Nancy – Region: Grand Est
Nancy is known for its elegant UNESCO-listed Place Stanislas and refined old town. Grand squares, historic gates, and cafés give it a distinctly regal feel. A rewarding stop for architecture lovers.
23. Le Château de Villandry – Region: Centre-Val de Loire
Château de Villandry is famous for its meticulously designed Renaissance gardens. Decorative vegetable plots and formal layouts create a tranquil atmosphere. A highlight for garden enthusiasts visiting the Loire Valley.
24. Annecy – Region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Annecy’s old town is laced with canals that flow toward Lake Annecy, earning it the nickname “Venice of the Alps.” Markets, cobbled streets, and lakeside walks make it ideal for a slow, scenic visit.
25. Rocamadour – Region: Occitania
Rocamadour clings dramatically to a cliff above the Dordogne Valley. Built in vertical layers, the village is both a pilgrimage site and a striking visual landmark. Best visited as part of a Dordogne itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travelling in France
What are the best travel destinations in France for first-time visitors?
Paris, Provence, and the Loire Valley are ideal for first-time visitors. These regions combine iconic sights, excellent transport connections, and a wide range of cultural and historical experiences.
How long do you need to explore France properly?
Two weeks allows you to explore one or two regions comfortably. For slower travel that includes cities, villages, and countryside, three to four weeks is ideal.
Is France good for slow travel?
Yes. France is one of the best countries in Europe for slow travel, with walkable cities, excellent local markets, regional food traditions, and efficient transport between destinations.
What is the best way to choose destinations in France?
Choose destinations based on how you like to travel. Cities such as Paris, Lyon, and Montpellier suit walkers and culture lovers, while regions like Provence and Southern France are best explored slowly by car.
Destinations for your Travel Plan to France
As you can see from this small snippet of destinations in France to visit, planning your French itinerary just got more interesting.
France is a popular travel destination; choosing what to see in France is always better with a recommendation.
We suggest using a city as a base to explore, like Montpellier, or a village like Colmar, which is close to other impressive villages within a region of Grand Est.
This way, you’ll see some amazing destinations when you travel to France.
We’ll update with more destinations, as France always has more to see.