By Train
France has some of the fastest and most comfortable trains in Europe. The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) connects Paris to most major cities at speeds up to 320 km/h. Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, and Lille are all under three hours from the capital. Book through SNCF Connect (sncf-connect.com) or Trainline — early bookings get significantly cheaper fares.
Regional TER trains are the workhorses for shorter hops and connect smaller towns not served by TGV. Passes such as the Eurail France Pass can offer good value if you plan to travel frequently.
By Car
The autoroute network is excellent and in very good condition. The downside is the péage — toll charges accumulate fast on long drives across the country. You pay when you exit, and credit cards are accepted at most toll plazas. Petrol is expensive by North American standards. For scenic travel, the routes nationales and départementales are toll-free and often more rewarding.
Traffic in and around Paris is bad. Don't drive there unless you have to. The rest of France is fine.
By Bus
FlixBus and BlaBlaBus serve intercity routes at low cost, especially useful for destinations not well covered by rail. Journey times are longer, but prices can be very competitive.
On Foot and by Bike
France has over 140,000 km of marked footpaths, including the long-distance Grande Randonnée (GR) network. More than 50 GR routes criss-cross the entire country, making multi-day walks easy to plan almost anywhere. The Loire Valley, Provence, and Alsace all have excellent dedicated cycling routes through spectacular countryside. Many cities have bike-share schemes for getting around town.