Poets have sung about her, romantics have wooed her, travelers have fallen in love with her. This is France, heartthrob of the world! Her name is synonymous with picturesque beauty, fairytale landscapes, latest fashion, and spellbinding architecture. So, make sure she is on your vacation plan this year, and when you’re there, don’t miss the top 10 tourist places in France.
1. Paris
Lying on the River Seine, Paris is easily the most famous tourist places in France, attracting millions of tourists every year. It is home to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, which houses more than 35,000 works of art including the world-famous Mona Lisa and the Wedding Feast.
Sight-Seeing
Paris is a popular destination for families, honeymoon couples, and also safe for single woman travelers. The city is well-connected via metro, suburban express train, tram, bus, and the night bus or Noctilien.
Ticket prices to tour the Eiffel Tower range from €10.40 to €25.90 per adult and €2.60 to €6.50 per child. Visiting hours are from 9 am to midnight during summer and 9:30 am to 11 pm during other seasons, 7 days a week.
Entry into the Louvre is €15 to €17 per adult. Entry for under-18s is free, and on Friday evenings the fee is waived off for under-26s as well. The Museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm everyday with weekly off on Tuesdays.
Restaurants: Le Jules Verne (Eiffel Tower); Le Fouquet; La Poule Au Pot; Marsan par Hélène Darroze; and Café de Flore.
Shopping: Saint-Ouen Flea Market for unique home décor; Guerlain for perfumes; Montmartre for antiques; Chocolate Debauve for chocolates; and Miel Factory for French honey.
Other Activities: Hot-air balloon ride over the Fontainebleau Forest; night bike tour; horse & carriage tour; water skiing on the Seine.
Directions to Paris, France:
2. Versailles
Located 20km south-west from the Parisian center, Versailles is most famous for its Palace, which legends tell was transformed from a small hunting lodge by Louis XIV into its present form in the mid-1600s. Versailles is also well-known for Les Jardins French Gardens, Marie-Antoinette’s Estate, and the Chateau.
Sight-Seeing
To truly explore the beauty of Versailles, it is best to find accommodation options within the city and avoid travelling to and from Paris.
Tour of the Palace of Versailles can be clubbed with visits to the Estate of Trianon, Musical Fountains, Musical Gardens, and the Park. Each area has its own unique entry-exit timings with Monday being the weekly off.
Palace: 9 AM to 6:30 PM
Estate of Trianon: 12 noon to 6:30 PM
Musical Gardens: 8 AM to 8:30 PM
Park: 7 AM to 7 PM
Entry tickets to each area range from €8 to €27 per person. Full access to all areas within the Palace costs €55 per person and €90 per couple. There is no entry fee for under-18s; however, they should book a time slot for the visitation online.
Restaurants: Le Pincemin; Geberem; Le Café des Arts; Bleue Blanche Rouge
Shopping: Monoprix for cosmetics; Paruas and Marshal Foch streets for jewelry and clothes; Maison Beaudet Artisan for authentic French food and wine.
Other Activities: Picnicking and Musical Fountain daily shows.
Directions to Versailles, France:
3. Chartres
While the name Chartres itself might seem unfamiliar, its Cathédrale Notre-Dame does ring a few bells! After the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, the cathedral is one of the most famous places in France that one must visit. At 78km from Paris, a train ride is the fastest option taking only 1 hour.
Sight-Seeing
Entry into the Notre-Dame is free; however, special visits to the tower and the crypt are priced at €8.50 and €6 respectively. Visitors can plan their trip to attend Sunday mass and other religious services within the cathedral’s precincts.
Other places to explore at Chartres include Eure Park, Church Eglise Saint-Pierre, Museum of Fine Arts; and Maison Picassiette.
Restaurants: Le Café Serpente; Place du Cygne; Turkish Kebap; Le Café des Arts; Café Bleu
Shopping: Specialty and gifts shops such as Marche aux Legumes, Atelier Picol Chartes, Une Pincee de Celte, and La Cave du Marche.
Other Activities: Chartres is a historic town; hence, some of the best activities you can indulge in are to visit the town’s numerous art museums and relax in their medieval aura. You can also plan day-trips to chateaus located in Chambord, Cheverny, and de Blois.
Directions to Chartres, France:
4. Marseille
Located on the southeast coast, Marseille is the second largest city in France and offers an exuberant mix of modern and medieval times. Its Mediterranean shoreline is home to fishing villages and luxury yachts. Inland attractions include the ruins of Roman architecture, museums, theatres, universities, and industries.
Sight Seeing
A trip to Marseilles cannot be complete without exploring one of the most famous places in France – the Calanques with its pristine blue waters and sky-shattering limestone cliffs.
Other tourist favorites include the Palais Longchamp built in 1869, Cathedrale de la Major, the old township of Le Panier, and the island fortress – Chateau d’lf.
Must-Visit Restaurants: Café Populaire; Pizzeria Chez Etienne for wood-baked Italian pizzas; Chez Michel for its unique bouillabaisse seafood preparation; Le Malthazar for Mediterranean classics such as salade niçoise; and Tropézienne à l’Orange
Shopping: Old Port for local mementos; Rue Saint-Férréol and Rue de la Tour for trendy fashion labels and jewelry; Marseille Flea Market.
Other Activities: Family picnics at Parc Borély; walks at Sentier Pédestre de l’Huveaune; fishing at Les Goudes; water sports in the Mediterranean Sea.
Directions to Marseille, France:
5. Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel gets its name from the fact that the town seems to rise directly from the Normandy Sea. It is home to the Abbaye de Saint-Michel, built in the 11th century, and imprinted with medieval Romanesque architecture. The Church is an important pilgrimage destination which echoes medieval traditions, where pilgrims cross the bay on foot.
Sight-Seeing
Located 284km away from Paris, the walled commune of Mont Saint-Michel can be toured within a day, but it is advisable to book an overnight stay and explore the neighboring regions of Brittany and Normandy.
Restaurants: La Sirène; Du Guesclin; Auberge Saint-Pierre (specializes in seafood).
Shopping: Locally made knick-knacks at Les Galeries; Grande Rue shopping street; Rue du Général Patton and Rue Saint Michel at Pontorson.
Other Activities: Guided nature trips; hot air balloon ride; kayaking; canoeing.
Directions to Mont Saint-Michel, France:
6. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Yet another top-of-the-chart tourist places in France, Chamonix is a hilltop town lying on the converging borders of three countries – France, Switzerland and Italy. It is covered by snow all year round.
Sight Seeing
Chamonix is located 616km from Paris. Internal transportation needs are fulfilled by the local bus service. The town bustles with snow-driven activities all year round. Must-see sites within its bedazzling environs include the Aiguille du Midi and Pointe Helbronner snow peaks, which are accessible by cable-cars.
Restaurants: Annapurna for authentic Indian cuisine; the “A” at Les Aiglons Resort & Spa Hotel; Chalet Le Castel Restaurant for special Italian flavors; Le Dragon d’or for Chinese and Thai cuisines.
Shopping: Tairraz Photographie Alpine for vintage gift items; Reves d’Hiver for unique French souvenirs; 5th Avenue for luxury and designer items. The best shopping deals happen in July during “sale time”, when popular brand items are offered at 40%-70% discount.
Other Activities: Skiing, hiking, rock climbing, casinos, adventure parks, and paragliding for adults; zoos, animal parks, mini golf and paintball for children.
Directions to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France:
7. Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
This mesmerizing stretch of sealine along the Mediterranean extending from Saint-Tropez to Menton, Italy, is a glamorous landscape dotted with luxury villas and yachts. However, its fame lies in the Cannes Film Festival.
Sight-Seeing
Traveling to Côte d’Azurby train is more relaxing, time-saving, and pocket-friendly than any other mode of transport in the region. The 617km distance from Paris takes only a little over 3 hours. Popular places to visit in this coastal retreat include Nice, Antibes, Provencal fishing village, Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Eze hilltop village, Cap-Ferrat, Menton, and Porquerolles Island.
To encourage tourism within Côte d’Azur, the shoreline is well-networked by the Lignes d’Azur – a public bus service. Bus fares are as low as €1 per trip. Since most of the tourist spots are small picturesque towns, there is no associated entry fee.
Restaurants: Mirazur (Menton); Joel Robuchon Monte Carlo (Monaco); Chevre d’Or (Eze); Le Petit Nice (Nice); La Vague d’Or (Saint-Tropez); Restaurant de la Gravette Antibes (Antibes)
Shopping: Porquerolles Island for contemporary artwork; Avignon Les Halles for flea and street markets; Arles for open air markets; L’Avenue 83 shopping mall.
Other Activities: Jazz à Juan music festival held every July; sailing, snorkeling and deep-sea diving in the Mediterranean; zip lining at La Colmaine, the longest zip line in France.
Directions to Côte d’Azur (French Riviera), France:
8. Carcassonne
With its high walls, cobblestoned lanes, and rustic houses, Carcassonne is reminiscent of the medieval ages. The city is an epitome of the Languedoc heritage with its double circuit ramparts and 54 towers.
Sight Seeing
Carcassonne is 620km from Paris by train. Cars / Taxi-cabs are the most popular choice of transportation within the city; however, bus services are also available. Best places to visit include Le Canal du Midi and the Medieval City – both architectural products of the 17th century. The Medieval City houses the legendary Count’s castle and Basilica of Saint Nazaire. Entry tickets to visit the Medieval City are priced at €8.50 with free passage to under-18s. Entry is also free to EU nationals who are under-26, handicapped, or unemployed.
Other attractions in Carcassonne include Prat Mary Gardens, La Bastide Saint Louis, and the Fine Art Museum.
Restaurants: L’Oustal à Citouo; L’oliveraie; La Marquiere; La Barbacone. Don’t forget to ask for the regional favorites – buckwheat crêpes and sweet dessert crêpes.
Shopping: Les Halles for local food and wines; Boulevard Barbes for popular clothing; Place Carnot for wines; Jeff de Bruges for chocolates; Monoprix for lifestyle requirements; Chaussea for footwear.
Other Activities: Bastille Day Fireworks (July 14th only); O’Vineyards for French wines; Musee des Beaux-Arts for local artwork; Lac de la Cavayere for boating and swimming; Theatre Jean Deschamps for outdoor theater.
Directions to Carcassonne, France:
9. Brittany
Brittany stands out from the overall French landscaping due to its heavy Celtic influence and Gaelic language. It is characterized by small sea ports and fishing villages and abounds in traditional, religious festivals.
Sight Seeing
Brittany lies on the northeastern coast of France. The 362km distance between Paris and Brittany can be covered by train in just 1.75 hours. Brittany’s most popular sites include Saint-Malo Port; Navalo Port; Quimper, the Nantes Chateau; Belle-Ile-en-Mer; Quiberon; and Vannes.
Restaurants: Le Brises Lames at Roscoff; Bistrot du Port at Billiers; Bistrot Chez Hubert at Fouesnant.
Shopping: Devineau for luxurious handmade candles; Gautier-Debotté for chocolates; Maison Breton for ceramics, glassware and hand-painted pottery; Rue du Parc for clothing and essentials.
Other Activities: Kingoland Amusement Park; Aquatic Park; abseiling at Quelneuc; aerial adventures at the Les Escapades Verticales Park.
Directions to Brittany, France:
10. Dordogne
Dordogne is most famous for its 211km-long Vézère River which meanders through the Vézère Valley. The river banks are home to the quaint picturesque villages of Montignac and Les Eyzies.
Sight Seeing
Vézère Valley is a 2-hour bus-ride from Toulouse, Limoges, and Bordeaux. The valley is most famous for its prehistoric Lascaux Cave Paintings, one of the main reasons it has made it to top-10 tourist places in France. The caves were reconstructed and duplicated in 1983 to protect the original caves from human disturbance.
Cave timings are from 9:30 AM. Tourist limit is 50 per day with a strict 30-minute duration per person or per family.
Other attractions in Dordogne / Vézère Valley include the historic monuments of Regourdou, Bara-Bahau, and Castel Merle; National Prehistory Museum in Les Eyzies de Tayac, caves of Rouffignac; and the stalactites and stalagmites of Grand Roc Cave.
Restaurants: Moulin de la Beaune famous for its river-front terrace tables; L’Edulis the Bistro. Don’t forget to ask for the regional favorites: Foie gras (duck), walnuts, truffles, Perigord strawberries, and crepes.
Shopping: Cave mementos at Lascaux; Sarlat Market; La Maison du Foie Gras gift and specialty shop; Perigeux Street Market (Saturdays only); Issigeac Market (Sundays only).
Other Activities: Canoeing and swimming in the Vézère River; mountain climbing; rock climbing; trekking; and horse-riding.
Directions to Dordogne, France:
France is indeed a country steeped in a wealth of architectural masterpieces, natural wonders, medieval relics, and modern fanfare. Whether you want to explore France as a family, with your partner, or in solitary independence, the French people are waiting to welcome you! So, plan out your trip with some dummy travel tickets, hotel reservations and travel insurance. Or choose to make things even easier by contacting an experienced Schengen Visa consultant, who can help you explore France as never before.
