{"id":642,"date":"2024-07-03T04:44:39","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T20:44:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/first-time-france-where-to-go-and-what-to-do\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:07","slug":"first-time-france-where-to-go-and-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=642","title":{"rendered":"First-time France: where to go and what to do"},"content":{"rendered":"
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France is the world\u2019s top tourist destination for good reason \u2013 artistic and architectural masterpieces, remarkable museums and natural landscapes, and a history harking back far beyond the Romans. Top it off with fine wine, food, and a culinary culture that permeates through every city and small town. This first-timer’s guide to things to do in France can help you narrow down the best places to go, along with other top tips to make the most of your visit.<\/p>\n

\"Paris
The Eiffel Tower is an essential stop on a trip to Paris. seng chye teo \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paris<\/h2>\n

France\u2019s chic, sexy capital has to be experienced at least once. Mix picture-postcard icons with simple Parisian moments and you’ll truly fall in love with the city. Scale the Eiffel Tower then walk or cycle along the Seine, or cruise down it on a bateau-mouche. Stroll by Notre Dame, which is closed for extensive renovation works following the 2019 fire, and grab a coffee at Caf\u00e9 Saint-R\u00e9gis, ice-cream at Berthillon or super juice at literary cafe of mythical bookshop Shakespeare & Company. Hit the Louvre then collapse on a bench with a Pierre Herm\u00e9 macaron in the Tuileries or Jardin du Palais Royal. Delve into hilltop Montmartre with a local Paris Greeter. Escape to posh leafy Versailles and come back blown away by France\u2019s most famous chateau.<\/p>\n

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You might like: When is the best time to go to Paris?<\/p>\n

\"Chateau
Ch\u00e2teau de Chambord is one of the Loire Valley’s most visited chateaux. StevanZZ \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loire Valley<\/h2>\n

The lush Loire Valley is scattered with stunning French castles, or ch\u00e2teaux. Stand in awe of the Renaissance castle Ch\u00e2teau de Chambord, and graceful Ch\u00e2teau de Chenonceau astride the Cher River. Ch\u00e2teau de Blois, with its whistle-stop tour of French architecture, and classical Ch\u00e2teau de Cheverny is the perfect one-day combo. In summer put the gardens at Ch\u00e2teau de Villandry and Ch\u00e2teau d\u2019Azay-le-Rideau after dark on your hit list. Base yourself in Tours, Blois or Amboise; hire a bike to pedal along the Loire riverbanks at least once; and try to catch a son-et-lumi\u00e8re (sound-and-light) show.<\/p>\n

French Riviera<\/h2>\n

This strip of seashore on the big blue Med has it all \u2013 hence the extreme crowds in summer. The seaside town of Nice is the queen of the Riviera with its cutting-edge art museums, belle \u00e9poque architecture, pebble beaches and legendary promenade. Take glitzy day trips keeping an eye out for film stars in Cannes, Formula One drivers in Monaco, and hobnobbing celebs and socialites in St-Tropez. Sensational views make the drive along the three coastal roads from Nice to Menton an absolute must. Otherwise, grab your hiking boots and stride out in the fiery Massif de l\u2019Est\u00e9rel for brilliant red-rock mountain scenery.<\/p>\n

\"Lavender
Summer brings incredible colors to the fields in Provence. Linhking \/ 500px<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Provence<\/h2>\n

Check all devices are fully charged: the extraordinary light and landscape in this part of France\u2019s south demands constant snapping and sharing. Start with Marseille, a millennia-old port with striking museums such as the anthropological MuCEM and coastline straight off a film set. Inland, zoom in on glorious Roman amphitheaters and aqueducts in N\u00eemes, Orange and at the Pont du Gard. Drive past lavender fields and cherry orchards to hilltop villages and food markets in the bucolic Luberon and Vaucluse regions. No lens is large enough for the peak of Mont Ventoux (a cyclist’s paradise) or the Gorges du Verdon, Europe\u2019s deepest canyon with 2620ft (800m) sheer-drop cliffs and startling emerald green water, no filter required.<\/p>\n

Champagne<\/h2>\n

The sparkling viticulture region of Champagne in northern France is all class. Where else can you sip champers in centuries-old cellars and taste your way through vineyards and medieval villages straight out of a Renoir painting? Stay in Reims (pronounced something similar to “rance”) or \u00c9pernay to visit Pommery, Mumm, Mo\u00ebt & Chandon and other big-name Champagne houses. In Reims, pick a clear day to scale the tower of the cathedral where dozens of French kings were crowned. From both towns, scenic Champagne driving routes thrust motorists into the heart of this intoxicating region.<\/p>\n

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\"The
Don’t miss the magical abbey of Mont St-Michel. Jean Surprenant \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brittany and Normandy<\/h2>\n

A wind-buffeted part of northern France, Brittany and Normandy were created especially for outdoor fiends and history buffs with sensational seafood, cliff-top walks, a craggy coastline and ancient sights steeped in lore and legend. Top billing is Mont St-Michel, a magical mysterious abbey-island, best approached barefoot across the sand with a guide. Hire a bicycle to explore the Carnac megaliths strewn along Brittany\u2019s southern coast (wear a windbreaker). Normandy\u2019s time-travel masterpiece is the Bayeux tapestry but it’s the heart-wrenching D-Day beaches and WWII war cemeteries nearby that will really take you back to a moment in history.<\/p>\n

Read more: How to explore the D-Day beaches<\/p>\n

\"Frozen
Outdoor enthusiasts will love it in the French Alps. egyjanek \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

French Alps<\/h2>\n

The French Alps is one massive outdoor playground, which pumps during the ski season (December to April) when insanely challenging slopes and trails entice adrenaline junkies from everywhere. Mont Blanc prevails, and party town Chamonix is the place to get up close to its might and majesty \u2013 the mountain panorama from the top of the Aiguille du Midi cable car is the best there is, whatever the season. If small and chic is more your style then strap on the skis in Meg\u00e9ve-St-Gervais. To let rip after dark over hardcore apr\u00e8s-ski head to Val d\u2019Is\u00e8re or M\u00e9ribel and Courchevel in Les Trois Vall\u00e9es.<\/p>\n

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    Walking shoes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    French phrasebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Lonely Planet’s Paris City Guides App<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Adaptor for France\u2019s two-pin plugs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Raincoat and umbrella (particularly for Paris and northern climes)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Sunscreen and mosquito repellent (particularly for southern France)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Detailed road map and\/or GPS device<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Essential phrases<\/h2>\n

    Hello: Bonjour
    Good afternoon: Bon apr\u00e8s-midi
    Good evening: Bonne soir\u00e9e
    Goodbye: Au revoir
    Please: S\u2019il vous pla\u00eet
    Thank you: Merci
    Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais?
    I am lost!: Je suis perdu!
    Please can I reserve a table for two\/four people: Je voudrais r\u00e9server une table pour deux\/quatre personnes s\u2019il vous pla\u00eet.<\/p>\n

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    \"An
    TGV are high-speed trains. Enzojz \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Getting around<\/h2>\n

    Regular trains link cities and main towns. Check schedules and buy tickets at SNCF. Traveling around by car buys freedom, flexibility and a ticket to rural France. Motorists drive on the right side of the road and pay to use autoroutes (motorways). Plot routes, toll and fuel costs with autoroutes.<\/p>\n

    Bicycle is a brilliant way of navigating towns and cities, including Paris. Sleek cycling paths link sights in the gorgeous and flat Loire Valley, Provence (not so flat) and Brittany. Research routes with France V\u00e9lo Tourisme.<\/p>\n

    Read more: How to get around in France<\/p>\n

    You might also like:<\/p>\n

    14 of the best places to visit in France
    Do you need a visa to go to France?
    The 12 best beaches in France<\/p>\n

    Article first published in June 2015 and last updated in July 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    France is the world\u2019s top<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-france-travel-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=642"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1078,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642\/revisions\/1078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}