France is really a remarkable land, from the cuisine to the language, and also their architectural style - everything that’s French is just impeccable. Lucky are those who reside or at least live near here because most of the outside world has only seen France in movies and travel shows. The famous motion picture industry rarely does justice to this country, because not a lot of people know any French city other than Paris. So you can discover other great cities, we have listed the best places to visit in France. Please stay with us and scroll down below to have a look.
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1. Paris
Paris is known as the most romantic city, and maybe on your visit here you would prefer to wander around without an itinerary. We are commencing this list with a hop-on hop-off tour. For the people who aren’t familiar with the concept, it’s the kind of ride where you can get on and off your tour bus as many times as you like. As an example, you can step out of this bus at one stop, say Moulin Rouge, then continue this program again from another point as long as your ticket stays valid. This bus will take you to Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, and other lovely sights.
2. Rouen
You can browse the internet or watch travel shows, but you can never really know a city like a local this way. Think of it like this: can a foreigner know about the concealed landmarks in your town or the best shopping locations? Hence, we are sharing with you the best way to discover the best sides of the city of Rouen - a lesser-known yet remarkable destination in France since medieval times. Have a walking session with a local guide and plan the itinerary yourself. You’re free to customize the program, or you can take the guide’s recommendations. Learn their traditions, and know the best-kept secrets that are not covered in most guidebooks.
Book Tours : Welcome to Rouen: Private Walking Tour with a Local
3. Strasbourg
Strasbourg is a historical heritage and the capital of the Alsace region. This is a picturesque city that sits between two rivers: Ill and the Rhine, and features several monumental bridges. Just a day spent in this city will make you yearn to stay longer. This is, perhaps, why UNESCO has recognized a major part of this city as a World Heritage site. It’s a very good idea to explore this exact area of Strasbourg by taking this private walking tour. Learn the rich history of this city from your guide while visiting top landmarks like the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Strasbourg and Rohan Palace. Admire and appreciate the elegance of the city’s architecture on a stroll along the canalside.
Tip from Content Creator
This city in the Eastern corner of France, bordering Germany, is a magnificent destination. It has gorgeous exposed beams everywhere, delicious Riesling, and great local dishes. Not to forget that Strasbourg is also home to Europe’s largest Christmas market!
Only a two-hour train ride from Paris, the place is perfect for a relaxing weekend.
4. Nice
The city of Nice is a large metropolis in the French Riviera, situated in the southeastern corner of this country. It’s renowned for art and culture and, as a matter of fact, this city carries the most number of museums after Paris. It’s not very easy to explore the best of Nice with only a couple of hours, so this tour offers a flexible hop-on & hop-off bus that is valid for up to two days. Enjoy having unlimited access to this bus tour - you will have the option to ascend or descend at any of the 16 stops to explore a landmark or attraction thoroughly.
Tip from Content Creator
Heading to Nice, France soon? Remember these activities for your trip to the French Riviera:
- Walk through Promenade des Anglais
- Visit the Parc de la Colline du Château to see the giant waterfall and amazing view
- Take drinks at Le Plongeoir
- Eat at the amazing rooftop of BOCCA Nissa
Book Tours : Nice: 1 or 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
5. Marseille
Come to Marseille while you will are still exploring the southern parts of France. As the largest port for freight and public transportation in this country, it is also the biggest city on the Mediterranean coastline. When you do visit this metropolitan, you can opt to go on this half-day city tour to discover the top attractions in Marseille. Start the journey from Vieux Port, perhaps the oldest marina in this region, since it has been in use since the 6th century. Subsequently, visit other picture-perfect landmarks like Palais Longchamp, Notre-Dame de la Garde, and more.
Book Tours : Marseille City Tour Half-Day
6. Colmar
Colmar lies in the northeastern corner of France and is popularly known as the ‘capital of Alsatian wine’ in the region. Besides wine, there is still much to know about this place. Consider this two-hour Segway tour for your journey. Once you learn the basics of handling this personal transportation, it’s just you and this amazingly preserved town. Colmar shows a blend of architectural styles from French and German Gothic, to Baroque and Neoclassicism. Visit top sites like Quartier des Maraichers, Little Venice, and Old City Center and prepare to be amazed.
Tip from Content Creator
Colmar is not to be missed in your northeastern travels. In the winter, the dramatic sunsets over the entire old town of houses with Christmas decor seemed to be plucked straight from a fairytale. You have to see it in person to believe in the stunning beauty of this town. Some things to note:
Travel by train (it's one to two stops away) to experience the best things to do in Colmar in a single day.
I'd recommend staying in Colmar if you love Christmas lights over shopping for souvenirs and if you enjoy good food!
Stay in the neighboring city of Strasbourg for the grand Christmas markets! Both cities have their charm, but markets are much bigger & better in Strasbourg.
Book Tours : Colmar: 2-Hour Segway Tour
7. Annecy
The city of Annecy lies in the French Alps and is often referred to as the Pearl of French Alps or the Venice of the Alps. This city is most notable for the crystal clear lake, the medieval town, and the canal system. Annecy is visited by over a million people annually, and this name should definitely be listed on your French trip too. It’s not a very large town, so a day or two will be more than sufficient, however, you can opt for a Segway, which will be faster and less exhausting compared to walking. Take a look at this guided Segway tour if you’re interested - they offer a two-hour tour to top attractions like La Vieille Ville, Imperial Palace, and more.
Book Tours : Annecy Segway Tour - 2h
8. Angers
Angers is a historically important site not so far away from the capital city of Paris. This city is mentioned as ‘Juliomagus’ in Ptolemy’s famous book Geographia, which was written around 150 AD. Today, it is known by many names: Black City, Green City, The City of Flower, and more. It is also renowned for various landmarks and as a wine-producing region. It is especially known for the orange-flavored liquor, Cointreau. Enjoy discovering Angers at your leisure, and be sure to visit the fortress, some of the cathedrals, top museums, and more.
9. Nantes
Not far from Saint-Malo, you will find the city of Nantes down south. This bustling French metropolis has been a settlement since the Bronze Age and is known for several of its museums, venues, and other interesting sites. While you can see the usual on the internet, like Machines de L'île, Château des ducs de Bretagne, and Nantes Cathedral, there’s no doubt that it’s better to see everything like a local. For that, you can consider taking a private tour with a resident. It’s highly customizable - you can create the itinerary, choose the mode of transportation, and decide which places you want to explore. Discover this city from the eyes of a resident.
Book Tours : Welcome to Nantes: Private Tour with a Local
10. Grenoble
The city of Grenoble, located in the Rhône-Alpes administrative region of France, is surrounded by four mountain ranges and is famously known as the Capital of the Alps. Although we do not have a tour package for this city, touring the whole country and not visiting Grenoble would be foolish. The history is another matter, but Grenoble is already a splendid winter destination because it boasts 20 skiing sites. As for the landmarks, there’s a lot worth seeing, including the hilltop fortification of Bastille, the cathedral, Musée de Grenoble, and more.
11. La Rochelle
The coastal city of La Rochelle was established in 10th century AD, and it is still a major seaport on the Bay of Biscay. Despite the fact that it’s not a metropolis, it still carries some features of a big city. Vieux Port, or the old harbor, is the most happening zone here. Besides this location, there are some casinos, aquariums, and famous beaches to be found here. However, if you’re interested in relics, there are medieval fortresses like Tour Saint-Nicolas, Tour de la Chaîne, and other landmarks such as La Rochelle Cathedral, and more. La Rochelle enjoys pleasant weather all year round, so plan to visit this city en route to the western regions of France.
12. Montpellier
Montpellier is another big city on the southern coastline, and perhaps the best place for you to enjoy a vacation in a Mediterranean town. This city also shows a diversity of culture because it has been steadily inhabited since the medieval era and now hosts three universities. It’s evident that you will be seeing many historical landmarks here, together with other sights featured in a modern-day town. You will have to visit the old as well as the new city separately to discover all that’s worth seeing. To avoid roadside traffic, consider taking this Segway tour on your visit. See top attractions like Place du Nombre d'Or, Antigone, Esplanade, and more.
13. Saint-Tropez
The given tour presents you with a day trip from the populated municipal of Nice to the little town of Saint-Tropez. This town is known for its beaches, great shopping experience, and its history. By taking this tour, you will mainly see two historic monuments from the 16th and 17th centuries that have been turned into museums: Citadelle de Saint-Tropez and Musée de l'Annonciade. Subsequently, after a stroll to the traditional market Place des Lices Provencal, enjoy a boat ride for a couple of hours. The duration of this tour should take around nine hours before you head back to the city of Nice.
Book Tours : From Nice: Full-Day Tour to Saint-Tropez with Cruise
14. Reims
Reims is situated in the Grand Est administrative region in northeastern France. It’s nicknamed as ‘The City of Kings’ because over 30 kings have been crowned here, at the city’s designated cathedral for a coronation: Notre-Dame de Reims. However, this is just one of many other monuments in this ancient city that is worth visiting. If you would like to see the top historic landmarks, you may consider booking this Segway tour. Visit the attractions like Palais du Tau, Porte de Mars, Boulingrin Market and more on this personal transportation.
Book Tours : Reims City Sightseeing Tour by Segway
15. Dijon
Dijon lies in eastern France, and the city is famed for its Burgundy wine, beautiful churches, and lots of landmarks from the Middle Ages. The historic city center of Dijon has recently been recorded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there are many reasons why this destination enchants visitors from all over the world. Although it’s a good idea to spend some time here and see all the sights, walking in the immense neighborhoods will be very exhausting. On your visit, consider a Segway tour, where you can choose from three routes and begin exploring the area with your guide.
Book Tours : Dijon: Segway Tour
16. Cannes
The beautiful city of Cannes is located in the south of this country, on the Mediterranean coastline. This municipal is renowned for the international film festival, the museums, and the luxurious resorts. It’s worth visiting no matter the season, as it stays warm throughout the year. You can enhance the experience if you tour this city on a two-wheeler. This is why we are recommending this travel program that gives you the opportunity to discover Cannes on a Vespa. Drive the scooter to the waterfront avenue of Promenade de la Croisette, and have as many stops as you like.
Book Tours : Cannes Sightseeing Tour by Vespa
17. Arles
Arles is an important place that you should include on your trip to France, as this city houses records from ancient, medieval, and modern history. This was settled in 800 BC by the Ligures as a town, but the Romans came in some hundred years later and it grew into a city. The most prominent impression of their presence is seen in Arles Amphitheatre, a Colosseum-like structure, which was built only a decade later than its inspiration. Opt for a private walking tour in this historic city, which will guide you through the amphitheater and a few more sites. You can even customize the plan to suit your needs.
Book Tours : Arles 2-Hour Private Walking Tour
18. Toulouse
In the pursuit of amazing architecture, you can also visit Toulouse. This city in Southern France is also known as the ‘Pink City’, due to the fact that most buildings are built with pale-colored bricks. The town hall that looks a lot like Buckingham Palace in London is also a great example of structure designing. You can go to each place one after another, but the easiest way to explore the main attractions in Toulouse is by getting a ticket for this hop-on hop-off tour. This tour bus will be covering a total of 26 landmarks, including Saint-Etienne Cathedral, Saint Sernin Basilica, and more. The multi-language audio guide will be available to you.
Book Tours : Toulouse Sightseeing Bus Tour
19. Rennes
We all know that the northwestern region of France is known as Brittany, but not a lot of people are aware of the fact that it was also a medieval feudal state known as the Duchy of Brittany. Rennes was one of the major cities of this empire. Today, this is still a big city in this region, and it is known for many architectural landmarks. Moreover, this tourist destination is classified as a city of art and history. Opt to take this three-hour walking tour with a capable guide, and explore the major attractions like Place Sainte-Anne, Saint-Germain Church, Saint Georges Palace, Opera of Rennes, and more.
Book Tours : Private walking tour in Rennes
20. Carcassonne
Carcassonne, an ancient walled city in southern France, is a popular tourist destination. The Gauls found this city’s geography strategically important and decided to settle here during the sixth century BC. However, the Romans were the first to fortify the hilltop during the first century BC, when they seized this land from the tribe. Construction of the fortification continued for centuries, and now we can see a three-kilometer (two-mile) long massive stone rampart with 52 towers and 40 entrances. Take this group tour to explore and learn the history of the city of Carcassonne. You will also visit the 13th-century Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus.
Book Tours : Carcassonne Sightseeing Tour
21. Versailles
Versailles of Paris was the royal residence and the government headquarters during the reign of Louis the 14th. He spent half of his state’s revenue to turn this former hunting lodge into an opulent complex suitable for the king of kings. The outcome of his endeavor is the world’s largest royal domain that sits in an area of over 80 million square feet (over 8 million square meters), and the main palace only occupies 712,000 square feet (67,000 square meters). Even the important sites are hard to cover in a day, which is why you should consider taking a private tour to explore all of Versailles.
22. Bordeaux
The city of Bordeaux in France is known for its signature red wine, its shopping streets, and its Roman history. It may also surprise you that when it comes to the subject of preserved historical buildings in this country, Bordeaux comes second to Paris. Aiming to preserve these historical monuments from pollution, this tour offers an eco-friendly way around the city. Get into a battery-powered car on a GPS guided journey that is pre-programmed to take you to the best attractions in Bordeaux. Enjoy 360° views of sites like Triangle d’Or, Porte Cailhau, Chartrons District and more. With this, you can stop the car and explore a landmark at your leisure.
23. Antibes
If you planning to visit Antibes, opt for a guided visit that runs through three destinations along the French Riviera. This is a good option if you’re already staying in Saint-Jeannet since this is the starting point for this tour. If you accept the offered tour, you will not only visit the coastal city of Antibes, but also the town of Vence and the town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. We are sure that you will be seeing many interesting landmarks on this day trip because every settlement has something special to offer its visitors. Antibes and Vence are considered renowned medieval sites already.
Book Tours : Full-Day Tour of Antibes from St-Jeannet
24. Lourdes
If you happen to be Catholic, chances are that you may have heard the name Lourdes before. For everyone else, this small town near the borderland of Spain is a renowned shrine for Christians around the globe. According to legend, apparitions of Mother Mary were witnessed by a 14-year old girl in this city during the year 1858. Now you know why this small town is visited by approximately six million pilgrims every year. Learn everything from that legend and see the rest of this beautiful town by booking this guided tour, which runs for approximately three hours.
Book Tours : Lourdes Private Pilgrimage Guided Tour
25. Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is an ancient port city that is located in the northwestern region of France. The world better knows this place for its corsair connections, as the city behind the fortified walls was once a pirate haven during the 17th and 18th centuries. However, it’s also a wonderful tourist destination because of the many heritage landmarks and its rich history, dating back to medieval times. If you’re interested in a visit, you can opt for a walking tour in this fortified city. A private guide will help you explore the inner as well as the outer parts of Saint-Malo. Explore and learn the history of La Ville Intra-Muros, Soldier Tower, Saint-Malo Cathedral, and other sites.
Book Tours : Walking tour in Saint-Malo
26. Lille
Lille is located on the northern tip of France, near the border of Belgium. It was an important city during the Middle Ages, between the 9th and the 14th century, however, the first sign of settlement has dated back to 2000 BC. Before becoming a part of France during the reign of Louis XIV, this territory used to be a part of the Spanish, Burgundian, and Flemish tribes. Hence, there is a lot to see here that’s historically important. This minibus tour is a great option so you can see all these places. Check out top sights like the Grand Palace, Town Hall Belfry, and nearly every landmark in the city of Lille.
Book Tours : Lille City Sightseeing Tour
27. Biarritz
Biarritz lies almost on the southwestern corner of this country, on the Atlantic coast. This city used to be a populated zone during the middle ages, but you wouldn’t see any notable landmarks from that time. Instead, this destination shows historical records from the French Revolution. You will see several Art-Deco buildings like Casino Barrière, Gothic structures like Crypte Sainte Eugénie, and much more. If you are interested in visiting, you may want to have a look at this private guided walking tour. It includes a visit to all the top attractions off and on the beach.
Book Tours : Biarritz: Private Guided Walking Tour
28. Lyon
Lyon is classified as the third-biggest city and the second-largest metropolitan area of France. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it was founded by the Romans in the first century. Because it has been inhabited since then, it still flaunts a number of architectural landmarks. The given tour is a hop-on hop-off sightseeing activity that covers nearly every top attraction of this historical city. You will be visiting many remarkable places, such as Vieux-Lyon, Musée des Confluences, Place Bellecour, Coline de Fourvière and more. An audio guide will also be available in eight languages to help you learn more about these major tourist attractions.
Book Tours : Lyon: 1-Hour City Tram Audio-Guided Tour
29. Nimes
If you’re interested in ancient Roman culture, then this place is a must-visit. The city of Nimes, located in the south, is actually known as a Roman city in France. Although this metropolis shows signs of settlement way before the Bronze Age, it was the Roman Empire that left a deep impression here. Arles, another city with Roman influences, had an amphitheater. Nimes also features one, along with a Roman temple, a three-tier aqueduct, a tower, a monument, and more. Take this private walking tour to explore all these locations and learn the history and story behind these attractions.
Book Tours : Nimes private walking tour
Discover the best of France
From the cities located on the Mediterranean coastline and the English Channel to the Atlantic and the Alpine destinations, we have covered nearly all the best places to visit in France. All you have to do now is get a map and mark your landing location and your must-visit cities. Be sure to cover your favorites by making a well-planned itinerary.
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