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.
And honestly, those clichés? They exist for a reason!
Paris really is as romantic as they say, but there’s so much more to France than the City of Light. 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.
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• france travel tips •
Having the right essentials can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth, stress-free trip. Here’s a list of must-haves to keep you prepared and ready for whatever France throws your way!
- Grab an eSIM from Airalo
- Book a hotel: Booking.com or Hostelworld
- Avoid foreign transaction fees with a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card
- Find tours and experiences on Viator
- Want to rent a car? DiscoverCars has you covered
- Protect your personal info with ExpressVPN
- Get travel and health insurance with Visitors Coverage
Guidebook: Rick Steves is my go-to guy for Europe travel info and his France guidebook was just updated in June 2024.
new!
Effortless Trip Planning, All in One Place
Say goodbye to disorganized travel chaos! Everything you need, from pre-trip planning to your daily itinerary to your return home, in one simple tool.
My Travels in France
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. I stayed in AirBNBs and hostels, and used trains to get around, and only spent about $62 USD/day!
Despite not being able to speak the language, I had a great time! During my visit to France I visited big and small cities: Amiens, Bayeux, Cannes, Carcassonne, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Narbonne, Paris, Perpignon, Toulouse, and Yvetot. I ate a ton of French butter, walked Roman stone paths and ran into more sewer stink than I’d prefer.
This page is a collection of posts written about my time in France, plus suggestions for resources and tours to make your own France visit memorable and exciting. Enjoy!
France Tours
Nervous about traveling alone? Just want to hang out with some people while exploring a country? Book a group 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.
Contiki Adventures
If you’re between 18 and 35 and love making new friends while exploring the world, Contiki’s your go-to tour company. They’re known for being highly social and packing in tons of adventure—whether it’s Europe, Asia, or somewhere else. Think of it as traveling with a friend group that’s just as pumped as you are!
Featured tour: Paris For Christmas
G adventures
G Adventures is perfect if you’re all about authentic experiences and small groups, but without giving up the adventure part. Their trips take you all over the globe—from trekking in Peru to exploring the African savanna. They welcome everyone from fresh graduates to seasoned explorers, so no worries if you’re not 22 and backpacking anymore!
Featured tour: Paris to Barcelona: Tapas & Train Rides
Viator
If you’re the type who loves planning every detail of your trip (or, let’s be honest, if you need a little help), Viator’s got you covered. They’ve got everything from guided city tours to adrenaline-pumping adventures, all over France. It’s like having a local friend who knows all the cool spots—without the awkward small talk!
Featured tour: 3 days in Lourdes a Journey of Faith and Renewal
All France Posts
