FRANCE
France attracts those seeking the excitement of city living in spectacular Paris, coastal living along the iconic Riviera coastline, or hill top village hopping amongst Provence’s dreamy vistas of sunflowers, lavender, and castles.
In fact, more people visit France than any other country, returning often to spots like Paris, Provence, the Dordogne, Bordeaux, and the Cote d'Azur.
Paris usually begins France’s story for first-timers passing through quickly, due to time constraints. However, if you stay longer, the door to discovery opens wide to a dazzling panoply of adventures beyond Paris where France invites you to embrace “the good life”, the coveted French lifestyle based on the pursuit of pleasure and relaxation.
France graciously offers something for everyone regardless of age, travel style preference, or discovery interests. Evident throughout the country – whether a lively city like elegant Bordeaux, a hilltop castle village in Province’s Luberon, or a beach town on the Riviera coastline - “the good life” rings true in daily living and in the country’s rich collage of culture, food, wine, history, art, work/life balance, and heritage.
With such an abundance of amazing choices to intrigue and charm France’s visitors, it’s impossible to label or rank which town, region or city is better than another for your discovery adventure. Instead, we carved out three examples of how to optimally travel for an immersive discovery experience – living “the good life” like a local while there.
Top France Cities and Regions
Paris – Symbolizes the deep-rooted historic and cultural essence of French living from Champs Elysees grandeur to Latin Quarter café culture, Seine River romance to Montmartre’s art colony.
Nice/Riviera – Charming Cote d’Azur capital, lauded as the Queen of the Riviera, coast lined by idyllic Mediterranean pebbled beaches – Nice is a convenient home base for Riviera discovery with coastal seascapes, cliff-side villages, picturesque beach towns, open-air markets, dotting the Cote d’Azur.
Provence – Jaw dropping scenery speckled with storybook perched hilltop castles like Gordes and the Luberon, enveloped by rolling vineyards, pine forests, lavender fields, and olive groves.
More Top France Cities and Regions
Aix-en-Provence – Rustic paradise of lavender fields, Cote-du-Rhone wine, hilltop castle villages – Provence.
Antibes - Yacht-rimmed port, prestigious Cap d’Antibes beaches, cultural heart of Picasso and F. Scott Fitzgerald fame, lively walled old town - Riviera.
Avignon -An entrance to the Provence region with centuries old history, magnificent walled city with iconic churches, palaces, museums, bridges.
Bordeaux – Cosmopolitan hub blended with storied history and gateway to vineyards, Dordogne’s cave art, river barge cruises.
Brittany - Rugged peninsula speckled with pink rock formations, stunning beach resorts like St. Malo, pastel fishing towns, prehistoric megaliths.
Cannes – Home of the famous film festival, this is a prime spot to explore breathtaking Riviera coastal towns and world-class shopping.
Dijon – A medieval architectural treasure, yet modernized, among Burgundy’s fabled vineyards, ancient stone villages, abbeys.
Dordogne – Picture perfect villages and over 1,500 chateaux adorn the Dordogne river valley, famous for prehistoric Lascaux cave art discoveries.
Loire River Valley – Formerly royalty’s safe haven, bejeweled by rare Chateaux like at Amboise, Blois, and Chinon, rooted in medieval to renaissance culture.
Lyon – Former Roman site, culture rich and titled as the world’s gastronomic capital, the “stomach of France” boasting a multitude of renowned restaurants.
Marseille – As founders of the Riviera port city, ancient Greece’s influence is evident from street names to melting pot cuisine served up at colorful waterfront cafes.
Normandy – William the Conqueror birthplace where dramatic white-chalk cliffs overlook WWII beachheads and where Mont-Saint-Michel Island sits.
Tours – Lesser known provincial university town beautifully nestled among iconic Chateaux and vineyards in the Loire Valley.
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