France is the most visited country in the world, and that's not purely a function of geography. The range of what's on offer is genuinely extraordinary — from world-class museums and medieval cathedrals to empty river gorges and perfect village markets. The difficulty is choosing.
Paris
Paris needs no introduction, but it rewards repeat visits in a way that few cities do. The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay are among the greatest collections on earth. The Eiffel Tower is more beautiful in person than in photographs. The neighbourhoods — the Marais, Belleville, Montmartre, Canal Saint-Martin — each have a distinct character. After the 2024 Olympics, the city cleaned up the Seine (now swimmable), renovated public spaces, and expanded cycling infrastructure. Notre-Dame cathedral, which burned in 2019, reopened in late 2024 after a remarkable restoration.
The Loire Valley
The Loire Valley has a higher concentration of Renaissance châteaux than anywhere else in the world. Chambord, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, Amboise — each one extraordinary in its own way. The flat landscape makes this ideal cycling territory, and the wine is excellent.
Provence
The combination of Roman monuments, hilltop villages, lavender fields, and excellent food makes Provence one of the most reliably satisfying regions in France. Avignon, Arles, Orange, and Les Baux de Provence are all within easy reach of each other. The Luberon has some of the most beautiful villages in France — Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux.
The Dordogne and Périgord
The Dordogne river valley is one of the most beautiful in France — castles on every cliff, canoe-friendly rivers, and some of the earliest human art in existence. The Lascaux cave paintings (now accessible via an excellent replica) are among the most important archaeological sites on earth. The food — foie gras, confit, truffles, walnut everything — is among the richest in France.
Alsace
Alsace is Europe in miniature — French food and German wine, medieval towns that look like illustrations from fairy tales, and a landscape of vineyards, forests, and stork-topped church towers. Strasbourg, Colmar, and Riquewihr are all excellent. The Route des Vins d'Alsace is one of the great scenic drives of Europe.
Normandy and Brittany
Normandy has the D-Day beaches, the Mont Saint-Michel (one of the most dramatic buildings in France), Monet's garden at Giverny, and some of the best cheese and cider in the world. Brittany offers a rugged Atlantic coastline, Celtic culture quite distinct from the French mainstream, excellent oysters, and superb crêpes.
The French Alps
Mont Blanc is the highest peak in Western Europe at 4,808 metres, and Chamonix at its foot is the adventure sports capital of France. In summer, the mountains are as spectacular as in winter — hiking, climbing, and paragliding are all world-class. Lyon, nearby in the Rhône valley, is arguably the best food city in France, which is saying something.