10 Reasons To Visit France That Aren’t Only About Paris

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Bienvenue en France! Grab a baguette, a glass of wine and a snazzy beret as we nudge (most of) the classic stereotypes out of the way to dig deep into some of the best reasons to visit France.

Full disclosure: my favorite city in the world is Paris, and I don’t care how many people think it’s overrated. To me, Paris was the start of a love affair with France I’ve had since I was a kid.

But there’s way more to western Europe’s largest country than its capital. So Allons-y, as the 10th Doctor would say – Let’s go…and discover what makes France so darned fantastique.

Where is France?

A mere 20-miles (32km) from the south coast of England you’ll cross into continental Europe. France stretches almost 1000-kilometers (600-miles) from the North Sea to the Mediterranean.

France borders 8 other European countries including Spain to the south, and Germany to the east.

From Paris you can be in Belgium, Luxembourg or Germany in a couple of hours, especially with France’s extensive rail network including high-speed trains.

As well as being an amazing country to travel around, this also makes France a great base for exploring Europe.

Where should I visit in France?

This is almost an impossible question to answer as there are so many deliciously wonderful places to visit in France. One of the best reasons to visit France is how it is so different depending on where you visit.

Of course no trip to France would be complete without gazing upon the Eiffel Tower and hanging out at some of the world’s best museums in Paris. The City of Light (and Love) is a magical stop on any France itinerary.

But don’t limit yourself to only Paris. Why not take a trip to the the sun-soaked French Riviera? I always loved Nice – a great mix of beaches, narrow streets with gorgeous terracotta-colored buildings and a rich history including some rather unique sites.

Or visit the stunningly fairytale-like towns and villages in the Alsace region close to the German border. Known for their half-timbered houses in an array of colors, you’ll love Colmar, Riquewihr or Strasbourg.

For a historical tour of France, why not check out Bayeaux, the Normandy coast, or my personal favorite Rouen, famous for being where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Top it all off with a wine-soaked vacation in Bordeaux or breathing in the fresh lavender fields of Provence.

With such a great train system there’s no real excuse not to get out and about in France. It’s also a relatively cheap way to travel, and doesn’t always require booking in advance.

Failing that, you can always rent a car. I once did a massive driving holiday with my family around northern France and it was such a wonderful experience (outside of our arguments over map reading, toll roads and accidental border crossings of course).

My Top Reasons to visit France

Too many to list them all, naturally, but let me start with just a few of my top reasons to visit France for your next vacation. Whatever you’re looking for in a holiday I think you’ll be able to find it here. Keep reading for some great ideas.

THE LANGUAGE

My basic grasp of the French language means I fumble my way through, and only get the gist of what’s being said, but it sure is pretty to listen to.

Most things seem to sound better in French – you could be yelling at me for anything and I’d still be mesmerized by every word.

I took French at school, and wish I’d done more to keep it going. But every trip to France brings my limited verbiage to the surface.

I’ve often struggled with knowing if my efforts are appreciated or not, since most of the time I get replies en anglais. But I do think it’s important to learn a few words and phrases in a local language before any international trip. At least the important ones: Plus de vin s’il vous plaît, for example.

THE CHEESE

You’d better brie-lieve I’m all about the cheese when I visit France. If one of the best reasons to visit France isn’t to eat your weight in stinky cheese, you might be doing France wrong.

Yes, by all means order all the cheesy dishes from the restaurants. But how about a visit to the supermarket to grab a few select fromages and a loaf of bread.

Simple. Delicious. And a cheap dinner you can eat picnic-style in a park with your favorite wine.

THE ICONIC SITES

The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe. All iconic places that immediately conjure up thoughts of France. Paris specifically. And yes, Paris has its fair share of iconic sites, but there’s more to see outside of the capital.

The Palace of Versailles, home to too many kings called Louis to count. Or the island of Mont-Saint-Michel, along the Normandy coast, separated from the mainland only when the tide is in.

And don’t forget the site in Rouen where the heroic Joan of Arc met her fate. Not everything is in Paris – don’t forget to get out of the capital and explore more of France.

THE HISTORY

Kings and Queens, palaces and castles, wars and revolutions, inventors and writers. France has had it all.

Like many places in Europe, you often can’t walk down any street without a glimpse into the past. A historic site, a commemorative plaque, a street named after a prominent person in French history.

Whether you’re exploring the Roman ruins in places like Arles or Nimes, or tracing the role your ancestors may have played on the beaches of Normandy. Learning the stories of heroine Saint Joan of Arc, or the work of Marie Curie. Whatever you’re into, France has something that will interest you.

THE ART

Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, Rodin’s The Thinker, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. Whether it’s paintings, sculptures or statues that appeal to your artistic eye, there’s a lot France has contributed over the years.

But it’s not just French art and artists that you should appreciate, it’s the artists who used France as their subject, and the museums and art galleries that now display their work.

Vincent van Gogh spent time in Arles, painting many stunning rural scenes. Or my favorite painting, Starry Night over the Rhône. While you’ll absolutely not want to miss the Louvre museum, famous for the Mona Lisa, my favorite museum in Paris is the Musée d’Orsay. I never leave Paris without visiting.

THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE

van Gogh was onto something, as were many other painters who were obsessed with the beautiful French countryside. Lush green fields punctuated by tiny French villages, rolling hills topped with vineyards and of course the perfumed purple fields of lavender.

Any city visit needs to be equally balanced with a nice drive into or rail journey through the French countryside.

Visiting the small villages of Alsace was one of my favorite holidays. So many adorably quaint towns surrounded by epically breathtaking scenic views.

THE SEA VIEWS

Head down the south of France at least once. It’s a different world down there. The warm azure Mediterranean sea bordering pristine beaches filled with perma-tanned locals who know just how to relax.

Likewise the stunning Atlantic coast of Bretagne, and the wild northern coast are equally worth visiting. The point is, not all of France is Paris and Paris is not all of France.

Sure, sitting on an evening with a view over the Seine is relaxing – but so is eating fresh seafood with an ocean view along thousands of miles of beautiful coastline.

THE WINE

I may not be let back into France for this, but I don’t really drink wine. That said, wine is a huge deal in France. And there’s plenty of it.

If ever there was a place to try more wine, it’s France. With all those cute little villages surrounding vineyards in the French countryside, what’s not to love?

A couple of my friends visited Bordeaux a few years ago solely for some wine-tasting relaxation. If you’re a little fancier, you might consider a trip to the Champagne region of France. Any guesses what you’ll find there? The good news? This region is not far from Paris and makes a great day trip – just leave the car behind.

THE ARCHITECTURE

The beauty about French architecture is that it changes so considerably the more you travel around the country.

In Paris you’ll often see much of the 19th Century Haussman-style buildings with their wrought iron Juliet balconies. But in the south you may see a lot more Mediterranean styles with terracotta colored roofing, or art deco style buildings.

Different again is the eastern Alsace region which where French and Germany styles meet. The half-timbered houses are my favorite as they just scream Disney-esque classic fairytale.

The point is, no matter where you go in France you’ll be busy looking up and down streets at the ever-changing style.

THE PASTRIES

I could go on and on about French pastries for days. If there’s always a number one stop for me when I visit France, it’s a boulangerie or pâtisserie. They’ll be my number 2, 3 and 27 stops too, but that’s besides the point.

Deliciously delicate and delectable pastries are probably one of my biggest reasons to visit France. Croissants, pain au chocolat, and éclairs filled with sumptuously rich chocolate ganache, coffee or fruit flavors or cream.

Then there are the macarons in every color you could imagine. Or my personal favorite, the little mini chouquettes – bite-sized choux pastry balls covered in crunchy sugar. I always grab a bag for the airplane ride home.

Tips for travelling around France

With your reasons to visit France covered, let’s cover a few tips for making the most of your trip. Having visited France a number of times, I like to think back to my first time there and what I wish I’d know.

• USE THE TRAINS – France is cutting down on domestic air travel, and why wouldn’t they with the incredible rail network they have. The TGV high-speed trains zip you from one main city to another in a fraction of the time driving can. And don’t even get me started on the wasted time of airport check ins vs. just stepping on a train
• TRY YOUR FRANÇAIS OUT – Speaking a little French might get you a bit more respect and separate you from the tourists who don’t even bother. You might get a response in English, or worse, a rapid French response you don’t understand, but I generally find I get better service when I make an effort.
• IN PARIS USE THE METRO – The subway is pretty easy to use once you get the hang of the ticket machines. But it’s the fastest way around the city. You’ll be tempted to walk as it “doesn’t look too far” but I’ve fallen for that before. Walk when you have nowhere to be, but if you’re on a schedule you might be better on the Metro.
• IT’S PROBABLY A SCAM – Get approached by someone at the Eiffel Tower, Louvre or Sacré-Cœur? Don’t engage. They’ll want you to sign a petition, give you a free bracelet or maybe even hold their baby. Don’t do it. There are so many scams around used as distractions for pickpocketing, it’s best to be vigilant.
• PREPARE FOR STAIRS – So many old European buildings still don’t have elevators, or they are super tiny. This is very true in Paris. If you’re at a big chain hotel you will likely be OK, but with small budget/independent hotels or apartments you might be hauling suitcases up a spiral staircase. Check the accessibility in your accommodation in advance.

So many reasons to visit France

France is the country I’ve probably visited the most, without living there. Although it has always been my dream to spend a year living in Paris. I think that’s a lot of people’s dreams. But it’s a popular one for some very good reasons.

The food, the art, the history, the scenery. Sipping a coffee from a sidewalk café when you’ve nowhere else to be. Living out your Disney-like dream in one of the prettiest little French villages. Or soaking up the sun in St. Tropez.

France is a relatively easy country to make your way around. A good deal of English is spoken, and most visitors understand a few words of French to help them on their way.

The trains and roads are easy to navigate, and domestic travel is relatively cheap. There are enough familiarities that you don’t feel the huge amount of culture shock as you would get in many other places.

But the bottom line is that there’s so much to see and do in every corner of France that you will not be bored. You won’t have a chance to be.