Located in the north of Spain, there are many things to do and places to see in France. It is one of the top tourist destinations for Spanish tourists due to its geographical proximity as well as its great culture, gastronomy and leisure activities.
No matter what your travel interests are, France will not disappoint. From its impressive landmarks and incredible local dishes to its variety of activities and small towns to visit, you’ll discover wonders at every turn.
France has a lot of important cities to visit, and as we understand that it’s impossible to see them all in one trip, we’ve put together a list of the top cities to visit if you’re travelling to this spectacular country. Read on to find out more!
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The best places to see in France
Of course, the first place to see on your visit to France is its magnificent capital. Paris is an incredibly large city with a thousand things to do and see. That’s why we’ve grouped together some of the places you can’t miss when in Paris.
Paris
Every visit to Paris should start with its most iconic landmark. We are of course talking about the impressive Eiffel Tower. At 300 metres tall, this structure is one of the most symbolic features of Paris and without a doubt the most visited by travellers.
The next place we recommend visiting is the Champs Elysées, one of the most beautiful places in Paris. Located just 20 minutes from the Eiffel Tower, you can stroll along its long avenue and end up at the Arc de Triomphe, another of Paris’ most impressive landmarks. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
After an intense morning visiting some of the city’s most iconic spots, we recommend immersing yourself in the alternative atmosphere of the Latin Quarter, where you can stroll through its countless streets and stop for a snack in one of its stalls or cafés.
Of course, you can’t leave the city of love without spending a day at Disneyland Paris. Perfect for young and old guests alike, you’ll go back to your childhood surrounded by the world’s most famous animated characters and experiencing the adrenaline rush of its countless themed attractions.
If you’re still hungry for more, you can always read about all the things to do in Paris.
Toulouse
You can’t miss a visit to the incredible city of Toulouse, also known as the pink city and the third most visited city in France. This city offers a wide range of historical and cultural attractions that will not disappoint.
We recommend starting your trip with a visit to the Couvent des Jacobins, a real architectural jewel that is home to a series of visual wonders such as stained glass windows and columns. It is also attached to a beautiful labyrinth that intertwines nature with the church.
You’ve probably heard of the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse, which is considered a must-see if you’re in the city. It is the ideal place to visit, especially if you are travelling with children, who will enjoy a unique astronomical experience.
You can continue your route through this beautiful city by visiting Saint-Etienne Cathedral, the city’s main religious centre and one of the most visited places in the city. It has a beautiful façade, but the most impressive thing is undoubtedly the interior, where you can enjoy a mixture of art that will leave you in awe.
When you feel like taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, we recommend a stroll through the beautiful themed Japanese Garden, located on the outskirts of the city. You’ll be immersed in nature in the truest Japanese style – a natural jewel in the heart of Toulouse!
Finally, to end the day in this amazing city, we suggest watching the sunset on the Pont Neuf, one of the most impressive bridges in Toulouse. It is located over the Garonne River, reflecting in the water its powerful pink brick colour and creating a truly spectacular effect. You can’t miss it!
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in France, and is mainly famous for its wine production and great historical importance. Offering a wide range of both urban, natural and cultural activities, you will not regret choosing Bordeaux as one of the destinations to visit in France.
Starting with the most visited and impressive place in Bordeaux, the Place de la Bourse is a vast area where thousands of tourists and locals stroll every day. Here you will find the magnificent building of the National Customs Museum, whose architecture will leave you speechless. You can also enjoy the visual spectacle of the Mirror of Water, which creates a mirror effect across the entire square.
Next, we recommend a walk across the Pont de Pierre, which is made entirely of stone and decorated with excellent lighting. You’ll enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the city, especially at sunset.
Among other things, Bordeaux is famous for having one of the most beautiful historic centres to see in France. The Saint-Pierre district is the historic heart of the city, and as you wander through its narrow streets you will discover some of the most symbolic features of Bordeaux.
Find out more about the things to do in Bordeaux on our blog!
Lyon
Lyon is undoubtedly one of the top cities to see in France. With an unbeatable location between two of the country’s most important rivers, Lyon offers a wealth of culture and history that will make your trip a truly unique experience.
The Notre-Dame de Fourvière is one of the most important and popular landmarks in the city of Lyon. You will be impressed when admiring the facade’s architecture. Once you have contemplated its imposing exterior, you can go inside of the basilica and get to discover all its features.
First of all, we recommend strolling through the little streets of Vieux Lyon, the old town. You’ll have a colourful experience as you immerse yourself in its traditional artisanal atmosphere thanks to the countless little stalls you’ll come across. Don’t forget to visit one of the famous Traboules, the traditional Lyon-style courtyards.
Lyon’s murals are one of the city’s most iconic features. You can start a tour in search of them and photograph them one by one. You’ll be fascinated by the sheer scale of these paintings, which take up entire façades and fill them with colour. What’s more, they all tell everyday stories about the city of Lyon. There are definitely a lot of things to do in Lyon.
Nice
One of the first places to visit on your trip to Nice is the famous Promenade des Anglais, a favourite tourist spot and one of the busiest walks in the city.
St. Nicholas Cathedral is an impressive Russian-style cathedral, one of the greatest architectural gems to be found in Nice and one of the most beautiful religious monuments to see in France. Characterised by its striking decorative features, you cannot leave Nice without seeing this marvel. To get to it, you will have to go a little way out of the city, but it is certainly worth it.
To end the day, you can’t miss a walk up Nice Castle Hill until you reach the top. Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the whole city, especially if you go up at sunset. If you still want to know more, check out all the things to see and do in Nice.
Montpellier
One of the must-see cities in France is Montpellier, one of the most touristic urban areas on the French Mediterranean coast. As well as having incredible beaches due to its location, it also has a lot of interesting culture. That’s why we’ve put together some of the must-see places in Montpellier.
The Place des Martyrs is one of the liveliest spots in Montpellier, and has an unbeatable location in the heart of the historic centre. You can take a pleasant stroll and admire the sculpture in the centre of the square, which honours the martyrs of the war. From this square you can get to other places of interest, which you can find more details on in our post on things to see and do in Montpellier.
The Place de la Comedie is Montpellier’s main square and one of the busiest places in the city. It has great historical and cultural value, and iconic buildings such as the Opera de la Comedie. You can’t miss it!
A great way to end the day is to stroll around the historic centre, known as the Quartier de L’Écusson. As one of the busiest places in the city, you’ll be able to get to know the essence of Montpellier in its narrow streets, as well as discovering some of the city’s most valuable historical features.
Marseille
What attracts travellers to Marseille is without a doubt its geographical location, its splendid climate and its seaside atmosphere. Not only is it one of the top destinations in France for tourists, but it is also a popular holiday destination for locals.
We recommend starting your visit to the city with the incredible Longchamp Palace, probably the most impressive building in Marseille. In addition to visiting a monument of great historical value, you can discover some culture in the two museums inside. Without a doubt one of the most recommended things to do on your trip to Marseille.
You’ve probably heard of Marseille’s Old Port, which is simply the most symbolic place in the city. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in a fishing environment, while enjoying the lively atmosphere of the place. You’ll also find some of the best Mediterranean food here.
Another landmark in Marseille is the Notre Dame de la Garde, located at the highest point of the city. Once there, you’ll be able to enjoy ubeatable views of the entire city of Marseille. Go at sunset!
If you want to know more about this city, read our post: Things to see and do in Marseille.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
The most beautiful villages to see in France
In addition to the main cities, some of the most popular tourist attractions in France are the small villages, famous for their unique charm and style. As well as being located in natural surroundings, these places hide a wealth of cultural and historical secrets.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is one of the must-see destinations on your trip to Toulouse. This walled town offers an authentic medieval experience with its narrow stone streets, impressive castle and traditional atmosphere. You won’t regret a visit to this cultural marvel!
Èze
Located just a short distance from Nice is Èze, a small village with a traditional, medieval style that will take you back in time. Once you’ve finished wandering its cobbled streets, you can head down to the cove and enjoy a sunny afternoon by the sea. It will become one of your favourite destinations on your trip to Nice.
Perouges
As much as there is to see in Lyon, you can’t skip a trip to one of the surrounding villages; we recommend a visit to Perouges, one of the most beautiful places to see in France. Located just 30 minutes from Lyon, this village has a medieval charm and an unbeatable hilltop location. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Saint-Émilion
Once you have finished seeing all the sites in Bordeaux, you can visit Saint-Émilion, one of the most charming villages in the surrounding area. The speciality of this place is wine, so we recommend a tasting of this incredible drink to get to know the whole production process in depth. We 100% recommend a visit.
Frequently asked questions
In this list you will find some of the most traditional dishes of French cuisine.
– First is Cassoulet, a duck or pork stew with white beans.
– Next, we recommend the Quiche Lorraine, a savoury tart with delicious ingredients such as fresh cream and bacon.
– Another dish not to be missed, especially if you visit Marseille, is Bouillabaisse, a fish soup mixed with tomato, mustard and aromatic herbs.
– The fourth option is snails. You can try them in various ways, each with its own unique texture and flavour.
– Finally, we recommend you try the famous Raclette, which consists of an incredible cheese fondue poured over potatoes and sausage.
France is a safe country to travel to, but as in most countries, be careful in big cities and avoid carrying valuables or large amounts of money.
The best time to travel to France is in spring, between April and June, or in autumn, between September and November. The climate is moderate and you can avoid the summer crowds.
– The adult rate to go up to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower by stairs is €10.50, while by lift it is €16.70. If you want to go to the top by lift, the price is €26.10, while if you choose the stairs and lift to the top, the price is €19.90.
– The youth rate (12-24 years old) to go up to the first floor by stairs is €5.20, while by lift it is €8.40. If you want to go up to the top by lift, the price is €13.10, and if you go by stairs and lift to the top, the price is €9.90.
– Paris
– Corsica
– Nice
– Chamonix
– Lyon
– Bordeaux
– Strasbourg
– Marseille
– Beaune
– Aix-en-Provence
How to plan your itinerary of places to see in France?
Download the Passporter app to plan your itinerary through France in the most convenient and intuitive way. You can draw inspiration from the experiences of other travellers, as well as save websites that can help you. You can also save tickets and create routes easily with the help of Google Maps. Finally, you can choose the transport that best suits your needs and, the best part, you can post photos of your trip to France so that other people can visit your traveller profile.
If you want to know more about the Passporter app, read the details in our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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