Art, food, wine and endlessly varied landscapes
France is the world's most visited country, and it earns it with Paris, great food and wine and a huge range of landscapes. Beyond the capital there are castles in the Loire, beaches on the Riviera, Alpine peaks and lavender fields in Provence. Fast trains make it easy to combine cities and countryside. It suits almost everyone, from art lovers and foodies to hikers and families.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
The iron tower built for the 1889 World's Fair, now the symbol of Paris. You can climb or ride lifts to the top for wide views.
The world's most visited museum, in a former royal palace on the Seine. Its collection runs from ancient Egypt to the Mona Lisa.
The vast royal palace of Louis XIV, with the Hall of Mirrors and enormous formal gardens. It shows the power of the French monarchy at its height.
A medieval abbey on a rocky tidal island off the Normandy coast. At high tide the bay can surround it with water.
A river valley lined with Renaissance castles such as Chambord, Chenonceau and Amboise. Vineyards and cycling routes link them.
The Mediterranean coast from Saint Tropez to Menton, with Nice, Cannes and hilltop villages. It mixes beaches, glamour and art museums.
Hilltop villages, markets and lavender fields in the Luberon and on the Valensole plateau. Lavender usually blooms from late June to July.
Western Europe's highest mountain towers over the alpine town of Chamonix. Cable cars, hikes and skiing make it a year round base.
The beaches and cemeteries of the 1944 Allied landings, including Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Museums along the coast tell the story.
A walled medieval citadel with double ramparts and towers above the modern town. It looks straight out of a storybook.
A three tier Roman aqueduct bridge over the Gardon River, about 2,000 years old. You can swim in the river below in summer.
An elegant riverside city ringed by famous wine regions such as Saint-Emilion and the Medoc. The Cité du Vin explains the world of wine.
Strasbourg's island old town and the half timbered villages along the Alsace wine route mix French and German influences. Christmas markets here are famous.
A deep limestone canyon with turquoise water, often called Europe's Grand Canyon. Kayaking on Lake Sainte-Croix and the rim drive are popular.
France's food capital, with a Renaissance old town, traboule passageways and traditional bouchon restaurants. It sits where the Rhône and Saône meet.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Art, food and landmarks without equal.
art, food, gateway · Open the city guideRiviera base with beach, old town and day trips.
beach, food · Open the city guideThe country's food capital.
food, history · Open the city guideElegant city surrounded by vineyards.
wine, food · Open the city guideGritty, sunny port near the Calanques.
food, coast · Open the city guidePapal city and Provence base.
history, villages · Guide comingAlsace capital with an island old town.
history, Christmas markets · Open the city guideLoire Valley castle base.
castles, wine · Guide comingAlpine base for Mont Blanc.
hiking, skiing · Guide comingBase for Normandy beaches.
history · Guide comingThe capital and royal palaces around it.
Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Versailles
Green coast, cider and dramatic history.
Mont-Saint-Michel, D-Day beaches, Saint-Malo
Castles, rivers and vineyards.
Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise
Sun, markets, lavender and Mediterranean coast.
Nice, Avignon, Gorges du Verdon
Mountains and the food capital.
Chamonix, Annecy, Lyon
Wine, Atlantic beaches and medieval towns.
Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Biarritz
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: April to June and September to October. Mild weather and fewer crowds than the summer peak suit both cities and countryside.
The south is warm and dry from May to September, the Alps are best for skiing December to April and hiking in summer, and the north is cooler and wetter.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
43°F daily high, 37°F average, 2.1 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates France Level 2 (exercise increased caution) because of terrorism and unrest, while pickpocketing in Paris is the most common visitor problem.
The TGV high speed network links Paris with most big cities in a few hours, and regional trains and buses cover the rest.
Paris and the Riviera are expensive, but regional France and set lunch menus offer good value.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check visa and entry rules on the official France-Visas website (https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/) and on your own government's travel advice before you go, as rules can change. |
| Plugs | Type C, E; 230 V |
| Tap water | safe |
| Tipping | Service is included in restaurant bills, so tipping is optional, though leaving small change or rounding up is common. |
| Payments | Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, though some small places have a card minimum. |
| Emergency | 112, or 17 police, 15 ambulance, 18 fire |
| Etiquette | Always greet with bonjour when entering a shop or starting a conversation. Meals are unhurried, and asking for the bill is normal rather than rude. Speak quietly on public transport. |
| What to wear | Cover shoulders in churches and cathedrals. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | High speed TGV trains link Paris with Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and more, and should be booked ahead for the best fares. Regional TER trains and buses reach smaller towns, while a car helps in Provence, the Loire and rural areas. Paris has an extensive metro. |
| Main airports | CDG, ORY, NCE, LYS, MRS, BOD, TLS |
| Ride apps | Uber, Bolt, G7 |
Celtic Gaul was conquered by Rome, and later Frankish kings laid the foundations of France. The monarchy reached its peak under Louis XIV at Versailles before the Revolution of 1789 ended it. Napoleon, two world wars and a long colonial era shaped the modern state. Today France is a republic, a founding member of the EU and uses the euro.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.