The Best Places To Visit in France For A Dream Getaway

France has long drawn travellers for its blend of history, culinary delights, and landscapes that shift from rugged coastlines to lavender fields. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, there’s always something new to uncover!

You’ll wander through charming lanes, sip wine in sunlit terraces, or visit ancient cathedrals and appreciate France’s variety. This guide sketches out five top spots you really shouldn’t miss, including Paris, Provence, Bordeaux, the French Riviera and the Loire Valley. 

This should help you to plan your next dream getaway! No fluff, just things you’ll want to see, sense, taste and remember on the ground. Ready to experience the best that France has to offer? Let's dive in!

Paris

Paris remains a must on every French itinerary, the city of art, cafes, and restless energy. You’ll stroll riverside on the Seine, peek into museums like the Louvre or Musée d’Orsay, then rest your legs with pastry and espresso. 

When thinking of accommodation in Paris, consider the Marais or Saint-Germain region, central enough for walking and quiet enough for sleep. Don’t skip a walk at dusk around Notre-Dame or the Île de la Cité. Shop in small boutiques, savour crepes along side streets, and look for hidden courtyards. Even at night, the city hums, with music spilling from bars and lights on the river. 

Paris isn’t static; it changes with your pace. Explore a district deeply rather than breezing through them all.

French Riviera

The French Riviera (Côte d’Azur) is glamour meeting sunlit shoreline, from Cannes to Nice and beyond. You’ll bask on pebble beaches, wander promenades lined with palms, and hop coastal trains that hug the cliffs.

 In Nice, stroll the Vieux Nice (old town), sample socca and gaze at azure seas. Further east, smaller towns like Menton or Villefranche feel more intimate, less starched, and more local. Art fans will want to visit the Fondation Maeght or Picasso’s alleyways in Antibes.

 In summer, you’ll sip rosé by the waves; off-peak, you’ll appreciate cooler crowds and mellow light. Dinner on a terrace, salt wind in your hair, the Mediterranean stretching ahead. Riviera is a contrast of chic and simple; you can indulge or just soak.

Provence

Provence feels like a world apart, with soft light, olive groves, vineyards and villages that seem paused in time. You’ll drive (or ride) past stone farmhouses and fields of lavender, especially in summer, and visit hilltop towns like Gordes or Roussillon. 

For your lodging, check out villas in Provence tucked into the countryside or perched above vineyards. These give you privacy, character, and an authentic base from which to explore. Markets brim with fresh produce, terraces serve rosé and olive oil, and quiet lanes lure you to wander.

In smaller towns, you’ll hear church bells at dawn and catch that silence between cicada buzzes. It’s slower here. Balance your days between gentle hikes, local food, and just sitting; sometimes that’s the point.

Loire Valley 

The Loire Valley is ideal if you like castles, countryside rides and quiet riverside villages. You’ll visit châteaux like Chambord, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau and more, each with gardens, rooms and histories to explore. 

Between castles, the scenery is soft, with rolling fields, vineyards and quiet villages. Rent a bike to cycle paths along the Loire itself, stop at small cafés, sample goat’s cheese and Loire wines. You might pop into Amboise or Blois for winding lanes and local markets. 

The pace is gentle here. Take guided tours in certain castles, wander in gardens, and rest under the shade of trees. It’s perfect when you want a slower chapter of your trip, between big cities and coastlines.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a treat for wine lovers and those who love balance, with elegant architecture, river walks, and glass after glass of red (or white). The old city centre, with its wide boulevards and classical façades, invites exploration on foot or by tram. 

From here, take day trips into the countryside wine regions. You can discover luxury France tours that guide you through châteaux, vineyards, and tastings in Médoc, Saint-Émilion or Pessac. These guided trips save you stress (and wrong turns). Back in the city, sample canelés and plateaux de fromage in cosy bistros. 

In the evening, the Garonne riverbanks glow under streetlamps. Bordeaux mixes urban polish and rural charm, so don’t rush, let each glass, each view, settle in.

Summary

From Paris’s energy and architectural wonders, to the soft landscapes of Provence, the wine routes of Bordeaux, the glamour of the Riviera and the castle-strewn Loire Valley, your dream French getaway has variety.

Each region offers something different: art and cafés, lavender and vineyards, or timeless châteaux. Choose your mix, linger where you feel comfortable, and connect with local life. We hope this article has helped you navigate your next French escape - remember to slow down, listen, taste, and wander!