There is no denying France is one of the most exciting countries you can visit in Europe. It features incredible castles, hill towns, vineyards, river valleys, and much more. At the same time, we are talking about a country that was always at the top of the lists when it comes to fashion, cuisine, architecture, and technology.
France is an incredible mix of man-made beauty and natural beauty. You can visit soaring cathedrals, stunning coastlines, chateaux, mountain ranges, and world class museums like the Louvre.
Let’s get you ready to make the most out of France with a short travel guide you will simply want to learn.
Top Places To Visit In France That Are Not Paris
It goes without saying that Paris is the top destination you want to visit in France. It simply has everything from food tours to shopping, from culture to nightlife. But France has so much more to offer and it is a shame not to consider everything. Some of the top places to visit in France that are not Paris are highlighted below based on region:
- Normandy – Enjoy a mix of half-timbered towns, intriguing cities, and coastlines. This includes Bayeux, Rouen with its Joan of Arc sites and the Mont St-Michel island abbey, a truly surreal place.
- Loire – Several picturesque towns wait for you, like Chinon and Ambouse. There are also hundreds of beautiful palaces and castles. We recommend Cheverny, Villandry, and Chateau de Chambord.
- Dordogne – Visit rock-sculpted villages, prehistoric caves, market towns, and a wonderful wine-making experience.
- French Riviera – Several coastal resorts welcome millions of tourists every year. This includes Nice, Monaco, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Antibes. You can also visit smaller villages that have beautiful Mediterranean views.
- Provence – Visit the region to enjoy Arles, Avignon, Pont du Gard, and more. You will also love the fantastic Cotes du Rhone, a wine road you have to see, together with beautiful villages like Roussilon, Vaison-la-Romaine, and Les Baux.
- French Alps – Here you will find simply spectacular scenery in towns like Mont Blanc, Annecy, and the fantastic Chamonix, a ski resort known around the world with spending alpine views.
- Alsace – The Franch-Germanic region you want to go to when looking for wine-road villages. Here you can also find Strasbourg with a cathedral you will always remember.
- Burgund – This is where spirituality and vineyards connect. You want to visit towns like Vezelay, Beaune, and Fontenay. There is also a tremendous medieval castle being under construction when you go to Guedelon.
- Brittany – Rugged and windswept, featuring a gorgeous coast and two very interesting towns you want to have on your list, St-Malo, a beach resort, and Dinan, a fantastic medieval center.
- Lyon – This metropolitan city needs to have a mention of its own. It features two Roman theaters, a beautiful Gallo-Roman museum, a fine arts museum, affordable cuisine, and an Italianesque-inspired old town area.
- Verdun and Reims – Check out Reims if you love champagne and Verdun as a site that reminiscences of WWI battles.
Before You Visit France
Even before you visit the top adventure sites in France, you want to be ready for what you will see and research how you will get there. So, before you visit France, here are the main things you have to be aware of.
Getting Organized
Traveling is always nerve-wrecking, especially when you have children alone or seniors. Even when you go on a trip alone, things might be difficult. So, it is very important that you are properly organized. It is recommended to use an app like Tripit to help you get organized.
Money
The currency used in France is the EURO. It is a very good idea to have some in advance, even before you reach the country. You will most likely not have problems with using credit cards. However, it is so much better to be safe. If you have to exchange currency, use the ATM machines since they have better rates.
Tipping
It is not that simple to tip in France since there is no rule you are expected to respect. Generally, when you just have a few drinks, you add a small extra charge, like 2 EUR. Tour guides and museum guides expect around 10% in tips and for the cab drivers, you would want to add up to 10%.
Safety
Fortunately, France is quite safe. All you have to do is keep your wits as you visit the big cities. As always, you have to keep your valuables out of the sights of thieves and off tables when you are at a street café.
Healthcare
It is a very good idea to grab the European Health Insurance Card. This allows you to gain access to healthcare facilities provided by the state. Also, you gain coverage for maternity care and existing medical conditions.
Just to be extra sure, remember that the emergency phone number you have to call in France is 112. Pharmacists can help with first aid and medication recommendations when you do not need too much medical help.
Travel Costs To Expect
Preparing your budget when traveling to France is a great part of having the best possible experience. Some of the things you have to be aware of include prices for:
- Accommodations
Expect to pay 20 to 75 EUR per night in a hostel featuring up to 10 beds. Dorm rooms in France are 40 to 75 and private rooms can cost up to 150 EUR. You will receive WiFi as standard in most cases, together with a breakfast.
A budget hotel costs at least 85 EUR for one double room. During the peak summer travel months in France, you have to get ready to pay around 120 EUR, with Paris being even more expensive, at around 150 EUR.
Many travelers use Airbnb. If this is you, a private room should cost at least 45 EUR and an apartment starts at the minimum of 75 EUR.
If you want to travel by tent, you would spend around 25 EUR. Just remember that in France it is illegal to go wild camping. Read more about this in our France camping guide.
- Food
Many consider French cuisine to be the best in the world so you can imagine that experiencing it in France is a delight in itself. Food is basically a part of the culture, with numerous delicacies lie special cheeses, fresh bread, and very tasty wines. These are definitely things you have to experience. You should also seriously consider trying croque monsieur, steak frites, pot-au-feu, escargot, foie gras, and frog legs.
The good news is that it is cheap to buy food when in France. At a local market you can buy all you need. One lunch costs around 15 EUR for just 2 people. This does include wine. If you eat at a restaurant, expect to pay between 20 and 35 EUR. When you cook your very own meals, you end up paying between 45 and 60 EUR for one week of groceries.
Getting Around France
- Public Transport
The local transit system in France is highly reliable. One trip costs 1 to 3 EUR. You can easily access most towns and cities vie trams, buses, and trains. Airport transport is user-friendly and quite affordable.
In Paris you can buy a “carnet” for 14.5 EUR, which gives you 10 tickets. A five-day Pass is available for public transport for up to 42.2 EUR. This also offers discounts for important Parisian landmarks.
- Budget Airlines
You can fly into several major French airports. Budget airlines stand out as highly popular since they offer a very affordable way to travel, especially when there are time restraints. As an example, a ticket from Paris to Nice costs 50 EUR. A ticket from Paris to Marseille is the same. During off-shoulder seasons, prices are even lower. Just remember that checked baggage will cost more.
- Buses
Different bus operators are present in France, like Eurolines, Flixbus, Ouibus, and Isilines. Flixbus is highly recommended for travelers from around the world.
- Trains
Regular trains are a thing, including the TGV. The national railway of France is SNCF. Tickets can be bought online. A trip taking you to Nice from Paris costs up to 105 EUR if bought last minute. When buying in advance, the cost is 25 EUR. Trainline is great to help you find prices and routes.
- Car rental
It is very easy to rent a car in France. But, remember that traffic can be a true nightmare. You can get a car for at least 30 EUR per day and you have to be over 21 years old.
- Hitchhiking
France hitchhiking is safe. However, it is not for all travelers. You have to be flexible with your wait times, you need a sign, and you have to dress presentably. Great hitchhiking information is available on HitchWiki.
When To Visit France
As with most European countries, summer is the peak France season. This is where everything is crowded. The prices always skyrocket and the weather is pretty good. The temperature averages are between 16 and 24 degrees Celsius (61 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit). However, remember that in recent days the numbers did climb a lot, going way over 30 degrees Celsius.
August is not a good month to visit since most people actually go on a holiday. If you want to travel during shoulder season, you need to go there during spring or fall. That is when it is highly recommended that you visit the country. You do not have to deal with many crowds, prices are much lower, and the weather is still pretty good.
Staying Safe In France
France stands out as one of the safest countries in Europe for solo traveling and backpacking. It is rare to see violent crime and you should feel quite safe, both during the day and during the night. Even so, you have to be ready to deal with potential petty theft and scams. Pickpocketing is actually pretty big in Paris. Make sure all your valuables are kept safe at all times.
If you are a solo female traveler, you should feel safe. But, it is important to go through all standard precautions, like not walking home alone when intoxicated or not leaving drinks unattended.
Whenever you use the ATM machine, check to see if there is a card skimmer present. Just use the indoor machines to be 100 % safe. Also, since the city is known for protests, it is a good idea to be on the lookout if such events will happen.
When you have an emergency to deal with, the number you want to dial is 112.
Also, make sure that you get good travel insurance.