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France

France Travel Guide

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Woman enjoying the lavender fields in Provence. France. Aerial view.

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Overview

France seduces travelers with iconic landmarks and cafe terraces, epic history and bustling village life. Experiences - and cuisine - to be savored.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • TOULOUSE, FRANCE - JULY, 2018: The planetarium  in the City of Space 'Cite de l'espace', decorated as planet Earth; Shutterstock ID 1154206081; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI
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    Cité de l’Espace

    Toulouse

    The fantastic space museum on the city's eastern outskirts brings Toulouse's illustrious aeronautical history to life through hands-on exhibits, including…

  • Church of the Jacobins aerial panoramic view, a Roman Catholic church located in Toulouse city, France
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    Couvent des Jacobins

    Toulouse

    With its palm tree vaulted ceiling, the Couvent des Jacobins is one of Toulouse’s oldest and most recognizable buildings

  • Wide shot of Eiffel Tower with blue sky, Paris, France.

    Eiffel Tower

    Paris

    There are different ways to experience the Eiffel Tower, from a daytime trip or an evening ascent amid twinkling lights, to a meal in one of its…

  • Paris, France - August 13, 2016: The Pompidou Centre is a complex building in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement. It houses the Public Information Library and the museum of Modern art.

    Centre Pompidou

    Paris

    Home to Europe's largest collection of modern and contemporary art, Centre Pompidou has amazed and delighted visitors ever since it opened in 1977, not…

  • MARCH 16, 2017: a stained glass window inside the Sainte Chapelle church.

    Sainte-Chapelle

    Paris

    Visit Sainte-Chapelle on a sunny day when Paris’ oldest, finest stained glass (1242–48) is at its dazzling best. The chapel is famous for its stained…

  • September 2016 - Paris, France- Le Louvre museum in daytime

    Musée du Louvre

    Paris

    It isn’t until you’re standing in the vast courtyard of the Louvre, with its glass pyramid and ornate façade, that you can truly say you’ve been to Paris.

  • The royal Chateau de Chambord in the evening, France. This castle is located in the Loire Valley, was built in the 16th century and is one of the most recognizable chateaux in the world.

    Château de Chambord

    The Loire Valley

    If you only have time to visit one château in the Loire, you might as well make it the grandest – and Chambord is the most lavish of them all, and the…

  • Skulls and bones in Paris Catacombs

    Les Catacombes

    Paris

    It’s gruesome, ghoulish and downright spooky, but it never fails to captivate visitors. In 1785, the subterranean tunnels of an abandoned quarry were…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

(Warning: this article will make you want to book a trip.)

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Best Places to Visit

From soaring mountains to sparkling coastlines to medieval hilltop villages, France has something for everyone. Here are 10 places that stand out.

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Best Time to Visit

Fantastic France has something to offer travelers every month of the year. Here’s a full season-by-season guide.

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Things to Know

It's easy to assume familiarity in France, where it's ubiquitous in art and cinema. Here's the inside track on travel advice only French locals can give.

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Transportation

From cycling to catching trains, buses and river barges, here's everything you need to know about getting around in France.

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Visa Requirements

From visa-free travel in the Schengen Zone to working holidays, here's everything you need to know about the visa requirements for France.

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Money and Costs

France is a country associated with luxury, but with these top tips, it's possible to experience it on a limited budget.

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Traveling with Kids

A Parisian break with children needn’t be a pain. Here’s our guide to traveling in France with children, whatever their age.

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Best Road Trips

Explore France by car with our favorite road-tripping routes.

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Spending Diaries

Senior Director of Publishing Laura Motta shows us how she threw together a quick, inexpensive weekend in Bordeaux, France.

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Plan with a local

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