France: Complete Travel Guide for 2025
Everything about France: Paris, Provence, French Riviera, cuisine, budget and practical tips for your trip.
Why France Is Unmissable
France is the world's most visited country, welcoming nearly 100 million tourists yearly. Paris is the City of Light, but France is so much more: Provence's lavender fields, Loire Valley castles, the French Riviera, the Alps and a cuisine that defines haute cooking worldwide.
Top Destinations
Paris
The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Montmartre, the Champs-Elysees and Le Marais cafes. Paris is romantic, cultural and gastronomic in equal measure.
Daily budget: 90-150€
Provence
Lavender fields (June-July), Provencal markets, villages like Gordes and Roussillon, and the world's most famous rose wine.
Daily budget: 60-100€
French Riviera
Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Monaco. Glamour, beaches and the Mediterranean at its finest.
Daily budget: 80-150€
Loire Valley
Over 300 Renaissance castles. Chambord, Chenonceau and Amboise are the most impressive.
Daily budget: 60-100€
Lyon
France's food capital. Bouchons lyonnais, traboules (secret passageways) and the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers.
Daily budget: 60-100€
French Cuisine
- Croissant — The classic buttery, flaky breakfast pastry
- Coq au Vin — Chicken braised in red wine
- Ratatouille — Provencal vegetable stew
- Boeuf Bourguignon — Beef stew in Burgundy wine
- Crepes — Sweet (Nutella, sugar) or savory (galettes with ham and cheese)
- Cheese — Over 400 varieties: camembert, brie, roquefort, comte...
- Foie Gras — The quintessential French delicacy
- Macarons — Laduree and Pierre Herme in Paris make the best
Getting Around
- TGV — High-speed trains connect Paris to all cities in just hours
- Domestic flights: Air France and easyJet offer affordable routes
- Car rental: Essential for Provence, Loire castles and villages
Practical Tips
Tip
Buy the Paris Museum Pass (2, 4 or 6 days) for unlimited skip-the-line access to over 50 museums and monuments.
- Language — French people appreciate if you try French, even just a "Bonjour"
- Tipping — Included in the bill (service compris). Leaving coins is a kind gesture
- Paris Metro — Buy a 10-ticket carnet to save money
- Sundays — Most shops close. Museums usually stay open
- August — Many Parisians go on vacation. Some restaurants may close