Skip to content

Where to go

Places to visit in France

132 towns, cities and natural areas we have written up, with our picks first.

A snow-dusted alpine town nestled in a valley with steep, forested mountains and prominent jagged peaks in the background; foreground shows rooftops of traditional chalets and a road with cars.

Rhône-Alpes

Chamonix

Alpine gateway to Mont Blanc with world-class skiing and hiking
The image shows the Pfister House (Maison Pfister), a distinctive half-timbered Renaissance building in Colmar, France, featuring a prominent octagonal tower with decorative woodwork and a balcony overlooking a courtyard with outdoor seating.

Alsace

Colmar

Colorful half-timbered town in the heart of Alsace
The ramparts and granite houses of Saint-Malo's walled city above the sea

Brittany

Saint-Malo

The walled corsair city of Brittany's Emerald Coast, ringed by beaches and tidal islands
A cobblestone courtyard or alleyway flanked by old stone buildings covered in ivy, featuring shuttered windows, potted plants, and a large arched wooden door; a small sign on the right wall contains French text including "CHAMBRES D'HOTES" and "AI

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Aix-en-provence

Historic Provençal city known for fountains and Cézanne
The image shows a large white chalk cliff face with a prominent natural arch (Manneporte) and a smaller sea stack (Aiguille Creuse) nearby, set against a clear blue sky and the English Channel, with a pebble beach at the base.

Normandy

Etretat

Dramatic chalk cliffs and seaside village in Normandy
A large, ornate classical-style stone building with a clock tower, flying French and regional flags, and people walking in a sunlit plaza.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Arles

Ancient Roman city in Provence with Van Gogh heritage
The image shows the stone walls and towers of a historic fortress, identified by the filename as the Citadelle in Saint-Tropez, with French and EU flags flying against a blue sky.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Saint-tropez

Glamorous Mediterranean resort with historic port and citadel
The Gothic façade and spire of Rouen Cathedral

Normandy

Rouen

Historic capital of Normandy with Gothic cathedral and medieval quarter
A panoramic photograph of a historic hilltop village built on a rocky outcrop, featuring stone buildings with terracotta roofs, a prominent church at the summit, and a view over a valley under a clear blue sky.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Gordes

Iconic hilltop village in the Luberon with panoramic views
A wide sandy beach with gentle waves, a row of multi-story hotels and buildings along the shore, and a lighthouse on a rocky headland to the left under a partly cloudy sky.

Aquitaine

Biarritz

Atlantic coastal resort in the French Basque Country
The image shows the illuminated Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the Pont des Pèlerins (Pilgrims' Bridge) in Lourdes at twilight, with crowds of people holding candles on the bridge and steps leading up to the basilica.

Midi-Pyrénées

Lourdes

Major Catholic pilgrimage site in the Pyrenees foothills
The image shows the ornate clock tower facade of a historic building with classical sculptures and the inscription "HOTEL DE VILLE" carved into the stone.

Centre-Val de Loire

Tours

Historic Loire Valley gateway with Gothic cathedral and medieval towers

Book your stay