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π«π·Things to Do in France
From the Eiffel Tower to the tidal abbey of Mont Saint-Michel - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
France is the world's most-visited country, and it earns that title without leaning on any one city. Paris carries the icons - the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame - but the rest of the country holds just as much: Norman coastline, Alpine peaks, Renaissance chateaux, wine country, and villages that gave whole regions their names. Here are 10 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Eiffel Tower
Paris's iron landmark, finished in 1889. Book the summit ahead in high season, or skip the queue by climbing the stairs to the second floor.
π Paris
π Nearest station: Bir-Hakeim (Metro 6) or Trocadero (Metro 6 and 9); RER C stops at Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel, about five minutes' walk away.
The Louvre
The world's largest art museum, home to the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Give it at least half a day - it holds over 30,000 works on display.
π Paris
π Nearest station: Palais-Royal-Musee du Louvre (Metro 1 and 7), which exits directly into the Carrousel du Louvre under the museum.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The 12th-century Gothic cathedral on Ile de la Cite, reopened to the public in December 2024 after the 2019 fire and a five-year restoration.
π Paris
π Nearest station: Cite (Metro 4) on the island itself, or Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame for RER B and C, a two-minute walk across the bridge.
Palace of Versailles
Louis XIV's royal palace outside Paris - the Hall of Mirrors and the formal gardens are worth the short train ride on their own.
π Versailles, Γle-de-France
π Nearest station: Versailles Chateau-Rive Gauche, the end of RER C from central Paris (about 45 minutes), then a 10-minute walk to the gates.
Mont Saint-Michel
A tidal island abbey off the Normandy coast, rebuilt across a thousand years. Check the tide tables - the causeway floods twice a day.
π Normandy
π No station on the island: take a TGV to Rennes or Pontorson-Mont Saint-Michel, then the Keolis shuttle bus, which runs to the free car park where the causeway shuttles depart.
French Riviera
Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez along the Cote d'Azur - Mediterranean beaches, coastal footpaths, and the film festival every May.
π Nice, Cannes & Saint-Tropez, CΓ΄te d'Azur
π Nice-Ville is the main station, with frequent TER trains along the coast calling at Antibes, Cannes and Monaco - the coastal line is the easiest way to move between Riviera towns.
Loire Valley Chateaux
Chambord, Chenonceau and dozens more Renaissance castles strung along the Loire river, a couple of hours from Paris by train or car.
π Loire Valley
π Tours and Blois-Chambord stations put you within a shuttle-bus ride of most chateaux; Chenonceaux has its own small station a few minutes' walk from the castle gates.
French Alps & Chamonix
Mont Blanc's home town - cable cars up to glacier viewpoints in summer, and some of Europe's best-connected ski terrain in winter.
π Chamonix, French Alps
π Nearest station: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, served by the Mont-Blanc Express from Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet, which is the TGV railhead from Paris.
Bordeaux & the Wine Routes
France's wine capital - Saint-Emilion and the Medoc chateaux are a short drive out, and the city's own riverfront is worth a day by itself.
π Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
π Nearest station: Bordeaux Saint-Jean, about two hours from Paris by TGV, with trams C and B running into the old town and out towards the riverfront.
Provence & the Lavender Fields
Hilltop villages like Gordes and Roussillon, and the Luberon and Valensole lavender fields in full bloom from late June through July.
π Provence
π Avignon TGV is the gateway station, with a shuttle to Avignon Centre; buses to Gordes and Roussillon are infrequent, so most visitors rent a car for the lavender routes.
Mark France, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in France?
A week covers Paris and one region well - the Loire Valley or Normandy are both easy add-ons by train. Two weeks is enough to combine Paris with the Riviera or the Alps without rushing.
What's the best time to visit France?
Late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September) bring mild weather and thinner crowds than midsummer. Ski season in the Alps runs December through March; Provence's lavender fields peak in July.
Is France good for a first-time visit?
Yes - the train network (TGV) connects every region on this list without a rental car, and Paris alone justifies a first trip before branching out to the coast or the mountains.
Do I need a visa to visit France?
It depends on your nationality. France is part of the Schengen Area, so citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa arranged in advance. Check the official France-Visas portal for the exact rule for your passport: france-visas.gouv.fr.
What are some things to do in France on a tight budget?
Notre-Dame, SacrΓ©-CΕur and most of Paris's churches are free to enter, and national museums (including the Louvre) are free on the first Sunday of the month, October through March. Picnicking along the Seine or in the Luxembourg Gardens, and joining a free walking tour of the Marais or Montmartre, cost nothing beyond a tip.
Can I rent a car in France, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and it is the practical way to reach Provence's hill villages, the Loire chateaux and the Normandy coast. An EU or EEA licence is valid as it is. A US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand licence is accepted for visits, but bring an International Driving Permit alongside it - rental desks often ask for one, and it is required if your licence is not in the Latin alphabet. Expect a minimum age of 21, a young-driver surcharge under 25, and a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. The official rules for driving on a foreign licence are on service-public.fr; the big rental networks are Europcar, Sixt and Hertz.