Exploring France

Ah, France. Just the sound of its name probably has you dreaming of charming cobblestone streets, chic cafés, and iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur.

Getting out of the big cities and exploring charming small towns where everything closes at noon for lunch is just one of the exciting things you’ll encounter by exploring France in depth. If you’re interested in ancient history, beautiful old buildings and charming towns with great restaurants, then France is the place for you.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and buy something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep this blog running— thank you! Read full disclosure here.

Browse by Section

Quick Facts

Attractions

Travel Guides

France Travel Facts

  • Visa-Free: U.S. passport holders can stay for 90 days within the Schengen Area.
  • Currency: Euro (EUR). Approx. 1 USD = 0.95 EUR.
  • Language: French. English is common in tourist areas, but learning basic French phrases helps!
  • Best Time to Visit: Spring (April–June) and Fall (September–October) for mild weather and fewer crowds.

Essential Resources

Quick French

Knowing even a few key phrases in French can help a lot!

Bonjour! (bohn-zhoor) – Hello / Good morning (Pro tip: Say this when you enter a shop, before you talk to staff! They’ll be much friendlier!)

Merci! (mehr-see) – Thank you

Au revoir! (oh ruh-vwahr) – Goodbye

Un café, s’il vous plaît. (uh kah-fay, seel voo pleh) – A coffee, please.

Où est le Louvre? (oo ay luh loovruh) – Where is the Louvre?

more french for tourists

Book a Hotel

Must-See Sights

  • Paris: Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
  • Provence: Lavender fields and charming hilltop villages.
  • French Riviera: Glamorous beaches in Nice and Cannes.
  • Loire Valley: Majestic châteaux and vineyards.
  • Mont Saint-Michel: A medieval abbey on a tidal island.

Off-the-Beaten Path

  • Colmar: A fairytale-like town with colorful half-timbered houses.
  • Verdon Gorge: Europe’s Grand Canyon with turquoise waters.
  • Rocamadour: A clifftop village with breathtaking views.
  • Annecy: Known as the Venice of the Alps, with canals and stunning scenery.
  • Camargue: A wild region of salt flats, flamingos, and white horses.

Paris Tours

Flower stall in Paris, France

Nervous about traveling alone? Just want to hang out with some people while exploring? Book a day tour! Bonus: having a travel guide who can give you ALL the info about what you’re looking at, while you’re looking at it, AND knows the best places to have dinner.

Explore tours

France Travel Guides

I visited France in 2022. It was my first time in a non-English speaking foreign country, and I was VERY nervous to go. I speak a tiny bit of French due to taking two years of it in university, but I’m not really able to hold a conversations beyond “Hello, do you speak English?” and “One baguette, please.”

But I really wanted to visit ancient Roman cities, see old buildings, and eat a lot of French bread with butter and cheese. So I sucked it up and went over to explore for just under 3 months. Here’s all the articles I’ve written about traveling in France!

All France Posts