7 Places to Visit in France that aren’t Paris
Paris is a promising and infamous city in France. It’s incredible and probably a place you’ll want to see for yourself at least once. But there are so many other charming and beautiful places in France you’ll also want to add to your list. Here’s a few to start:
Provence
Provence is a region of France home to the famously stunning lavender fields covering the rolling hills. This beautiful place is well worth a visit. It has unique landscapes and charming villages that you will be sure to fall in love with. Head into town to load up on local wine from the barrel or have a picnic under the olive trees. It's nothing short of charming French countryside not far from the sea.
To Eat:
Le Pont de l’Orme, Malaucene
L’Agape, Avignon
Le Viver, L’Isle Sur-la-Sorge
L’Oustau de Baumaniere
L’Oustalet
To Do:
Wander olive groves and lavender fields
Palace of the Popes
Roman Theater of Orange
Shop at the Markets
2. Calanques
Calanques is a national park in the south of France. When people hear France, they don't necessarily consider it a national park. However, this incredibly diverse park is home to tons of trails that lead to outstanding views of the Mediterranean. Calanques is between Marseille, the second-largest city in France, and Cassis, a charming fishing village. Marseille is quite a big city with all the typical downfalls of a big city, so we recommend staying in Cassis and maybe enjoying a day trip to Marseille on the water to eat some of the new local restaurants.
3. Bordeaux
Even if you aren't familiar with France, you may have heard this name before. That's because this region of France is known as a wine-growing region, creating some fabulous bottles of Bordeaux wine. Spend your time visiting wineries or enjoying a quaint French village. Besides wine, Bordeaux is known for its 18-19th century mansions and incredible museums. It's home to lush gardens along the river and the Gothic Cathedrale Saint-Andre. Some lovely day trips are easily accessible from the city.
To Eat:
La Brasserie Bordelaise
Le Chien de Pavlov
Le Petit Commerce
Le Pavillon des Boulevards
To Do:
Place de la Bourse
Visit wineries
Bordeux Cathedral
4. The Cote d'Azur
The Cote d'Azur, or French Riviera, is a must when visiting France. This Mediterranean coast of southeastern France holds stunning beaches, incredible hotels, glamorous restaurants, and idyllic streets. Saint-Tropez and Cannes are two quite popular locations to visit in this area, but anywhere in this region will leave you feeling full of pleasure and relaxation.
Cannes is quite a well-known name based on the famous Cannes Film Festival hosted there every year filled with celebrities, filmmakers, and socialites. It's a pretty popular location in France, for a good reason, but due to this, it might make an excellent day trip. Staying in Cannes can be a bit touristy and overpriced. However, if you find yourself loving the upbeat vibe, Parisian-chic vibes, there are some beautiful hotels and villas on the water.
Saint-Tropez is another popularized coastal town in this area with appeal as Cannes. It was once an old fishing village and still holds true to bits of its heritage with the cobblestoned streets. It's a stunning place to play in the ocean, relax on the beach, eat and shop. It's also known for some incredible nightlife.
5. Normandy
Normandy, located in the northern region of France, is a special place for history alone. This coastal area is rural yet inviting, with rich history and culture. It is home to lush countryside, gorgeous coastlines, and charming ports and villages. Visit the Etretat cliffs or the D-Day beaches. Tour Normandy's cheese and cider route if you're looking for something a little less historical but still cultural. This part of France trades luxury for hospitality and friendliness.
To Eat:
Restaurant Gill
Restaurant Jean-Luc Tartarin
La Biscuiterie de l’Abbaye
Gill Cote Bistro
To Do:
Visit Étretat Cliffs
Mont-Saint-Michel
Tatihou Island
Omaha Beach
6. Champagne
If the bubbly celebratory drink is your go-to, then this will be your place. If there are any Emily in Paris fans reading this, you might be familiar with the historic wine region of Champaign. It's full of rolling hills and hot air balloons. In fact, these hills have now earned UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE status. A trendy thing to do here, of course, is champagne tasting. There are 360 champagne houses and 16,000+ winemakers to choose from in Champagne. No matter where you decide to taste, you can't go wrong. Read the Eaters Guide to Eating and Drinking your way around Champagne here.
To Eat:
Piot-Sevillano
Racine
Au Bon Manger
Le Bocal
Sacré Burger
To Do:
Champagne tasting (duh)
Reims Cathedral
Abbey of Saint-Remi
7. Lyon
The capitol of the French Alps region and known for its food, Lyon is also home to several UNESCO world heritage sites. It also happens to be a favorite of my European soul sister’s. Although I have never been here, I trust her. There are idyllic secret passageways hidden throughout the city, and stunning Roman theatres. Lyon also holds an intimate charm in an urban city. Enjoy a coffee at a quaint café or stroll along the riverbanks. Whatever you do, you MUST enjoy a good meal and the authentic French culture.
To Eat:
Le Poivron Bleu
Restaurant Paul Bocuse
Le Tete De Lard
Carmelo
Le Pain d’Hippolyte
To Do:
Vieux Lyon
Fourviere Basilica
Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
Ancient Theatre of Fourviere
Lyon Cathedral
Looking for an itinerary for any of the above? Contact us here.
