Why I love France

“France has been home for two decades yet I still feel on holiday – French art de vivre (art of living) is just too good. From my Haute-Savoie house on Lake Geneva's southern shore, the Jura's dark-green hills and un café in the wisteria-draped village bar are my wake-up call. Weekends of endless possibilities punctuate the gentle rhythm of village life: art museums in Lyon and Paris, Alpine hiking and skiing, paddle...” Read More

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Nicola Williams
Writer

Top experiences in France

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Bordeaux: a wine drinker’s holiday

There are many reasons to visit the gorgeous city of Bordeaux – walks along the winding Garonne river, superbly grand architecture and a decadent gourmet scene where freshly shucked oysters and succulent steaks take centre stage. But one particular attraction will always reign supreme: wine.

The clue’s in the name, after all. Connoisseurs and casual tipplers alike come here in search of the heady aromas and complex flavours that can be found swilling around a glass of Bordeaux: tobacco, blackberries, leather, dark cherries, musk, licorice… intoxicating is the word.
Helen Elfer
Lonely Planet Writer

Perfect Provence: an eater's guide

Even in a country as devoted to eating as France, there is something extra special about the feasts to be found in Provence.

Endless sunshine, sea and mineral-rich soil are responsible for the fantastic flavours that end up on your plate here: plump olives, fresh seafood and creamy goat's cheese are just some of the simple but beautiful local products on offer. Wash down these Provençal delicacies with a glass or two of the region's beloved rosé wine and you'll be in foodie heaven.
Louise Bastock
Lonely Planet Writer

Gourmet on the go: Parisian street eats

What do you get if you cross a city made for walking with seriously foodie locals? Gourmet street food. Few cities do takeaway with as much finesse as Paris. But then, this is a capital woven from Haussmann boulevards, elegant city parks, iconic food markets and an overwhelming desire to eat extraordinarily well.

Quality products – often local, seasonal and organic – plus a pinch of grassroots gastronomy and a generous dose of Parisian panache are chef essentials at these takeaway favourites, known for their distinctive gourmet twist.
Nicola Williams
Lonely Planet Writer
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France adventures

$113.19 Sightseeing tours

Versailles Small-Group Tour from Paris with Audio Guide

Experience the grandeur of Versailles Palace and Gardens on a small group tour from Paris. With a maximum of only eight per group, this small group trip to Versailles ensures a more intimate experience. Hotel pickup from centrally located Paris hotels is included, taking all the guess work out of your trip. You can choose from a half-day tour (independent tour), either in the morning or afternoon, or a full-day tour (guided tour). On both the half-day and full-day tours you'll also be able to wander around the garden's groves and pools. If you visit Versailles on a Saturday or Sunday during April to October, you can see the famous fountain show in the gardens. The display is accompanied by music composed at the time of Louis XIV's court.
$37.73 Sightseeing tours

City Sightseeing Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Discover Paris at your leisure with a one- or two-day ticket on this City Sightseeing Paris Hop-on Hop-off Tour. Create your own itinerary as you see the most popular sights of Paris, keeping to your own personal timetable and not others! You'll also receive a free walking tour.
$387.60 Small group tours

2-Day Normandy, Saint Malo and Mont St Michel Tour from Paris

Spend two days exploring France’s Normandy and Brittany regions on this tour from Paris with an overnight stay in Caen. Visit the beautiful historic cities of Rouen and Honfleur, and tour World War II sites including the infamous Normandy D-Day landing beaches and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. The next day, venture to the beautiful walled port city of Saint-Malo, followed by a tour of Mont St-Michel, one of France’s most iconic attractions. Overnight accommodation, meals, entrance fees and transport are included.
$113.19 Sightseeing tours

Paris City Tour with Seine River Cruise and Eiffel Tower Lunch

See all the Paris highlights on a morning or afternoon tour, including lunch at the Eiffel Tower and a Seine River cruise. You'll cover Paris' must-see attractions and sightseeing activities in a half-day tour, giving you a great overview of the city and leaving you time in the day to explore on your own.
$383.02 History & culture

Eiffel Tower Dinner, Seine River Cruise and Moulin Rouge Show by Minivan

Dine at 58 Tour Eiffel on the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower to enjoy panoramic views of Paris followed by a romantic Seine river cruise. Finish the evening with a cabaret show at the famous Moulin Rouge.
$85.75 Sightseeing tours

Paris City Tour by Minivan and Montmartre

Take this small group morning or afternoon tour to combine an overview of Paris' famous monuments, squares and buildings with some leisure time in Paris' most bohemian quarter, Montmartre. You'll be picked up and dropped off at your centrally located Paris hotel by air-conditioned minivan, which holds a maximum of only eight passengers and ensures you'll receive individual attention from your expert tour guide.
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