10 Best Places In France To Experience Fun Like No Other

1. For the hopeless romantic: visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Yes, we just said that Paris isn’t all that it is to France - but seriously, nobody should ever miss out such an iconic structure like the Eiffel Tower. Though it looks prettier at night with its glittering lights amidst the dark night sky, visiting the tower during the day will allow you to witness its majestic beauty too. Who says you can only enjoy the tower when you are up on its highest peak? Pedal beneath it, buy a crêpe from the nearby stands or a key ring from the street, snap yourself in front of it or have a picnic at the Champ De Mars. The possibilities are endless and always enchanting, for the ‘City of Lights’ is indeed the best choice for the hopeless romantics.

The Eiffel Tower

Address: 5 avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France

Price: from 18.13 USD for adults, 15.47 USD for children between 12-24, & 8.53 USD for children between 4-11

Opening Hours: 9.30am - 11pm daily

Access: the nearest Metro Station is the Champ de Mars

Contact: +33 892 70 12 39

Website: The Eiffel Tower

2. For the keen adventurer: climb up the Mont Blanc in Chamonix

Keen adventurers will be glad that France isn’t all just about love and heart shapes, but a place for adrenaline-rushing junkies too. Dominated by the majestic peak of Mont Blanc, Chamonix holds the title of the highest mountain in western Europe. Every year, thousands of mountaineers strive and do their best to reach the top. There are two common routes most mountaineers use to conquer the majestic Mont Blanc: the route from the Aiguille du Midi, over Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit is quieter but requires more technicality, while the route via the Tramway du Mont Blanc to the Nid d'Aigle, then up the Aiguille du Gouter and the Bosse ridge is easier and more reliable - but be careful of those rockfall hazards! The Mont Blanc may not be technically challenging, but still requires a high level of physical fitness and the knowledge of using crampons and an ice axe.

Chamonix Mont Blanc

Address: Chamonix, France

Access: accessible directly via the Autoroute Blanche (A40), which connects to the European motorway network

Contact: 33(0)4 50 53 99 98

Website: Chamonix Mont Blanc

3. For the dedicated foodie: have a taste of the tarte flambée in Alsace

A popular traditional Alsatian dish, the tarte flambée resembles a skinnier version of a pizza. In fact, this well-known Alsatian dish got its name from always being in a hot stove with flames, though there are no flames on the flambée itself. Though it tastes and feels like a pizza, the flambée has a very thin and crisp crust. Most people eat the flambée as a good entrée (starter) where a few people share before they start on the actual meal itself. Some can also choose to have it for lunch, a delicious meal with a salad in tow. The traditional and original tarte flambée is topped with crème fraîche, onions, and lardons (bits of slab bacon), though there are a couple of variations now. Some come with mushrooms, others cheese. We have recommended a restaurant down below for the best tarte flambée ever, so check it out and thank us in advance!

Bürestubel

Address: 8 Rue de Lampertheim, 67370 Pfulgriesheim, France

Price: from 5.33 USD for the a basic flambee

Opening Hours: 12pm - 1.30pm, 6.45pm - 9.30pm from Tuesday to Saturday

Access: located close to the Kochersberg

Contact: 03 88 20 01 92

Website: Bürestubel

4. For the history buff: marvel at the Arena of Nîmes in Nîmes

The city of Nîmes prides itself with rich and deep history, all dating back to the 6th century BC. Known as one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres, the Area of Nîmes has been a top tourist attraction for many. Visitors are welcomed to explore the grounds of this historic building, the facilities once used for gladiatorial combat between man and beast, as well as mortal combat between gladiators. Now, the Arena of Nîmes allows people to experience what it was like in the past, a place for them to imagine how it was like as the Roman spectators last time. Including an interactive audio guide and some detailed exhibits, this site is now a fitting museum of the past. Occasionally, it is used for bull-fighting events, music concerts, and other civic events.

Arena of Nîmes

Address: Boulevard des Arènes, 30000 Nîmes, France

Price: from 16.27 USD for adults 17 years old and above

Opening Hours: 9.30am - 5pm daily

Access: TGV station is 5 mins from the Amphitheatre

Contact: +33.4.66.21.82.56

Website: Arena of Nîmes

5. For the dedicated foodie (part 2): taste the bouillabaisse in Marseille

Dedicated foodies that have done their research on some French cuisine will know that the bouillabaisse is one of the most popular and tastiest dishes in Marseille. In case you don’t know, a bouillabaisse is a rich, spicy, stew or soup made with various kinds of fish and seafood. We know the struggles most tourists face when in search of an authentic and yummy bouillabaisse, so here’s a recommendation for you.

Located in the heart of Marseille, Les Arcenaulx welcomes you to an old and historic building, where the bouillabaisse here is to-die-for. If you are not really a fan of fish, the meat at Les Arcenaulx isn’t falling behind either. They are all tender and juicy, a refined taste for French cuisine. If the weather permits, feel free to take a seat on the roof terrace - for al fresco dining always works well in somewhere as beautiful as France.

Les Arcenaulx

Address: Cours Honore d'Estienne d'Orves, 13001 Marseille, France

Price: from 37.55 USD for a bowl of bouillabaisse

Opening Hours: 12pm - 2pm, 7.30pm - 10.30pm daily, closed on Sundays

Access: along Cours Honore d'Estienne d'Orves

Contact: +33 4 91 59 80 30

Website: Les Arcenaulx

6. For the nature lover: enjoy Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny

Probably one of the most famous gardens in France, the Claude Monet’s garden has 50000 people visiting it every year. Monet lived in Giverny from 1883 to 1926, until he passed on. A lot of Giverny’s famous works were inspired when he was in Giverny, such as his famous water lily and Japanese bridge paintings. Monet’s flower gardens cover about a hectare, where his enchanting flowers are all laid out in stunning colours. Expect to see a wide variety of pretty flowers - from tulips, irises, oriental poppies, and peonies. Apart from his amazing garden, you can also visit Monet’s lovely and very colourful house. Though simple in style, Monet’s home is filled with warmth, life, and colours.

Fondation Monet in Giverny

Address: 84 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France

Price: from 10.11 USD for adults, 7.45 USD for children

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm, last admisson at 5.30pm. The garden is open every day from the 1 April - 1 November

Access: nearest town to the gardens is Veron

Contact: +33 2 32 51 28 21

Website: Fondation Monet in Giverny

7. For the islander enthusiast: the beaches in Corsica await!

Corsica has 1000km of glorious coastlines and close to 200 beautiful beaches. Thanks to Corsica’s diversity and wide variety, expect different styles and choices when you step onto this beachside bliss. We figured that recommending one beach isn’t enough, especially when the possibilities in Corsica are endless. Live the islander life and experience the different beaches and styles - before deciding for yourself which is your ultimate favourite! Here, we have an extensive guide to the different beaches all linked below. Grouped by location, these beaches are easy to find and easy if you would like to hop around. Grab those sunnies and some sunscreen, for the carefree and lazy life of an islander awaits!

Beaches in Corsica

Address: Corsica, France

Website: Guide to Corsica’s most beautiful beaches

8. For the night owl: check out the Absinthe Bar in Antibes

Antibes, located in the South of France, has always been widely associated with luxuries such as magnificent villas, private yachts, and the gorgeous Musée Picasso overlooking the ocean. Let that all fade away when we say our highlight of being in Antibes is an evening with the green fairy.

As soon as you walk in, you know that you are in it for some fun. With a wide variety of absinthe to choose from, don’t be afraid to ask the happy bartenders if you don’t know the subtle differences between the various drinks. Make yourself feel at ease as you choose from the funky headgears or the guitars for you to strum some tunes - all crammed in the corner of the lively bar. Here, absinthe is served in the traditional way. Each table will be welcomed with an absinthe ‘fountain’ with four taps. Place a sugar cube on the absinthe spoon, before dunking it into a glass of absinthe. You will have to wait till the mixture turns milky before giving it a gulp. If you are feeling adventurous, ask the owner to dip the sugar cube into the absinthe before lighting it up for you. We strongly recommend you not to do anything crazy or hectic after a night with the green fairy. Even driving is strongly not recommended.

Absinthe Bar

Address: 25 Cours Masséna, 06600 Antibes, France

Price: from 7.45 USD for most of the drinks

Opening Hours: 9am - 12.30pm Monday - Saturday, Sunday 9am - 7pm

Access: located in the heart of the Old Town of Antibes

Contact: +33 4 93 34 93 00

Website: Absinthe Bar

9. For the free-spirit: stroll through the beautiful Annecy in Alps

One of the most beautiful small cities in France, this picturesque old town is located on the banks of the Thiou River and Lake Annecy, one of the largest and most stunning natural lakes in France. Beautifully restored and a joy to stroll through, check out the many colourful buildings that house the endless restaurants, bistros, cafes, and more. Stand amidst its endless flower-filled balconies, and enjoy the scenic views that come with it. Have a picnic at the beautiful European gardens, explore the many gothic churches, shop at the marketplace, stroll around the canal at night or paddle across the amazing lake on a mini boat - the possibilities are endless and always enchanting here in this lovely old town.

Annecy

Address: Annecy, France

Access: Direct train from Paris or Lyon. The railway station is located in the city centre of Annecy.

Website: Annecy

10. For the joyful giver: shop for some handmade perfume at Fragonard, Grasse

Fragonard is a French perfumery house from Grasse, in the south of France. Founded in 1926, the first ever perfume was made in 1928, with the earliest collections from 2017. Now, with more than over a hundred different fragrances for both men and women, Fragonard fragrances has even made collaborations with perfumers Sonia Constant, Jean Guichard and Celine Ellena. Take the chance to also learn how the perfumes were made through an interactive tour, where they include an English speaking guide for you to explain all about how the chemist in the factories works. Learn more about the different flowers and their fragrances, before scooping up a hand-made souvenir that everyone will surely love.

Parfumerie Fragonard

Address: 20 Boulevard Fragonard, 06130, Grasse, France

Price: from 28.73 USD for the basic Fragonard Perfume

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm daily

Access: take the N285 then the N85 signed Grasse, Castellane and follow the signs to Centre-Ville.

Contact: +33 4 93 36 44 65

Website: Parfumerie Fragonard

Only France can get as fancy as this!

With so much to see, do, and eat - only the things in France can get as fancy as this! Try out the different mouth-watering cuisines, let your hair down as your explore the beautiful sights, and stand in awe of all the culture and tradition that France holds like no other.

Nope, it’s not just Paris now - say hello to the other little cities and towns that are just as wonderful! You might be on your flight home now after living the fancy French dream, but don’t worry - we know you will be booking a second flight back for more of the appealing and luxurious life in France!