France is one of those countries that’s stunning no matter which direction you go for the first time. The countryside is gorgeous, the food is legendary, and almost every city has its own personality. But if you've been thinking where to go beyond the obvious, this guide is for you.
We've rounded up some of the best cities to visit in France from a sunny southern port city to a UNESCO-listed capital of gastronomy. Each of these destinations brings something different to the table. Read on to find your next French favorite! 🇫🇷
Paris
The Louvre Museum glowing at dusk in Paris
Paris still belongs on any list of the best cities to visit in France. It's iconic for a reason. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Seine, they're all as good as they look in photos, and somehow even better in person.
Beyond the big landmarks, Paris has something for you to explore. Grab a coffee in Le Marais, walk along the Canal Saint-Martin, or spend an afternoon at the Musée d'Orsay. The city moves at its own pace, and once you slow down to match it, everything clicks.
Things to do in Paris
Visit the Louvre Museum
The world's most visited museum holds thousands of years of art and history across its vast galleries, from the Mona Lisa to ancient Egyptian artifacts. Book your Louvre Museum skip-the-line guided tour in advance so you spend more time looking at art and less time standing in line.
Cruise along the Seine
There's no better way to see Paris's most famous bridges, monuments, and riverbanks than from the water. The Seine river cruise is a relaxed, scenic way to take in the city without covering kilometers on foot.
Explore Montmartre on a food tour
This hilltop neighborhood is one of the most atmospheric parts of Paris, and it's best experienced with a local who knows where to eat. The Montmartre food tour takes you through the village-like streets with tastings along the way.
Lyon
Elegant fountain at Place des Jacobins, Lyon | Photo Credit: Mihai Vlasceanu on Pexels
If you care about food (and in France, you should), Lyon is worth visiting. Known across the country as the gastronomic capital, this city in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has been feeding travelers and locals well for centuries. Bouchons, the city's traditional bistro-style restaurants, serve up hearty Lyonnaise classics that you won't find anywhere else.
Plus, the city itself is beautiful in a quieter, less crowded way than Paris. The old town, Vieux-Lyon, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the traboules, hidden passageways that cut through Renaissance-era buildings, are worth exploring on foot.
Things to do in Lyon
Join a walking tour with food tastings
Lyon's old town is one of the finest Renaissance neighborhoods in Europe, and a guided walk is the best way to understand it. The Lyon walking tour with tastings pairs city history with local cheeses, charcuterie, and wine stops, a very Lyon combination.
Try a secret food tour
Lyon's food scene runs deep, and the secret food tour in Lyon gets into the lesser-known spots that don't show up on tourist maps. Expect bouchon-style classics, local market stops, and a guide who actually eats here.
Cruise the Saône river at dinner
The rivers are a big part of Lyon's character, and an evening on the water is genuinely lovely. The Lyon dinner cruise on the Saône combines a scenic float through the city with a proper French dinner on board.
Nice
The colorful waterfront and marina in Nice | Photo Credit: Huy Phan on Pexels
Nice sits right on the French Riviera, with a waterfront promenade, pastel-colored buildings, and easy access to some of the most glamorous spots in Europe. The old town (Vieux-Nice) is compact and colorful, full of markets and narrow alleyways that smell like fresh-baked socca (a chickpea crepe).
The city is also a brilliant base for day trips. Monaco, Èze, Cannes, and Antibes are all within reach, making Nice one of the best cities in France for exploring the south.
Things to do in Nice
Ride the hop-on hop-off bus
Nice is easy to cover on your own schedule with the Nice hop-on hop-off bus tour. It loops past the Promenade des Anglais, the old port, and up to the Castle Hill viewpoint, a solid way to see iconic spots on day one.
Day trip to Monaco and the medieval villages
Some of the most dramatic scenery in France sits just outside Nice. The Monaco and perched medieval villages tour takes you up into the hills above the coast, with stops at cliff-top villages and sweeping views over the Mediterranean.
Explore the French Riviera by e-bike
Getting around Nice on two wheels is a genuinely enjoyable way to cover ground. The panoramic e-bike tour in Nice takes you along the seafront and through the city's most scenic spots with a guide setting the pace.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg’s canals and medieval towers at sunset | Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Strasbourg is unlike anywhere else in France. It’s right on the border with Germany, which gives it a genuinely distinct identity: half French, half Alsatian, and fully fascinating. The Grande Île (the historic island at the city's center) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Gothic cathedral that towers over it is one of the finest in Europe.
The La Petite France quarter, with its timber-framed houses and flower-lined canals, is exactly what you'd picture if someone said "storybook French village." On top of the architecture, Alsace is known for its excellent wines including crisp Rieslings and Gewürztraminers that pair beautifully with local dishes like choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with meats).
Things to do in Strasbourg
Take the Alsace vineyard tour
The Alsace Wine Route is one of the most scenic drives in France, and the Alsace vineyard tour from Strasbourg brings you through the vine-covered villages with tastings of the region's signature Rieslings and Gewürztraminers included.
Discover the Pearls of Alsace on a tour
If you want to see more of the region in one go, the Pearls of Alsace full-day tour from Strasbourg covers the most charming villages in the area, including some that are nearly impossible to reach independently without a car.
Bordeaux
Riverside gardens and historic buildings in Bordeaux | Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Bordeaux gets a lot of attention for its wine, and that attention is completely deserved. The surrounding region produces some of the world's most celebrated reds, Saint-Émilion, Médoc, Pomerol, and a trip here without at least one vineyard visit feels like leaving money on the table.
But Bordeaux the city is more than just a base for wine tours. The 18th-century architecture along the Garonne riverfront is grand, and the pedestrianized city center is one of the largest in France. The Cité du Vin, a wine museum with a futuristic design, is worth a visit even if you're not a wine enthusiast.
Things to do in Bordeaux
Visit La Cité du Vin
This striking wine museum on the banks of the Garonne is one of the most interesting cultural spaces in France. The La Cité du Vin admission includes a tasting at the top-floor belvedere with views over the city, a great introduction to the region's wine culture even if you're not a wine expert.
Day trip to Saint-Émilion
The medieval village of Saint-Émilion, surrounded by some of the world's most celebrated vineyards, is an easy and very rewarding trip from Bordeaux. The Saint-Émilion full-day wine and village tour pairs a walk through the village with winery visits and tastings.
Cruise the Garonne river
Bordeaux looks great from the water. The Garonne river sightseeing cruise gives you a different perspective on the city's grand 18th-century waterfront, with commentary about the city's history and its long relationship with the river.
Marseille
Marseille’s busy Old Port with Notre-Dame de la Garde above | Photo Credit: Jo Kassis on Pexels
Marseille doesn’t always get the love it deserves. It’s bold, chaotic, and a little rough around the edges, but that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating. Founded by the Greeks more than 2,600 years ago, it’s the oldest city in France, and you can feel that rich history everywhere you go.
The Vieux-Port (old port) is the heartbeat of the city. Fishing boats come in each morning, the fish market gets going early, and the whole waterfront gets busy with activity. Just above the port, the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde watches over everything from a hilltop, giving you wide views over the city and the sea.
Things to do in Marseille
Visit the Château d'If
Made famous by Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, this island fortress just off the Marseille coast is one of the most atmospheric sites in the south of France. Join the Château d'If tour and take the short boat ride out for a look around the historic prison and the views back toward the city.
Go on a guided coastal hike
The Calanques coastline is one of France's most dramatic natural landscapes. The Marseille guided hiking tour takes you through the limestone cliffs and turquoise coves with a guide who knows the trails well.
Day trip to Aix-en-Provence
Just 30 kilometers from Marseille, Aix is a completely different pace with its elegant, leafy boulevards, fountain-dotted squares, and the legacy of Paul Cézanne around every corner. The Aix-en-Provence tour from Marseille is a comfortable way to fit it into your trip without renting a car.
Reims
The statue of Louis XV in central Reims | Photo Credit: Public Domain Pictures
Reims, a small city in the Champagne region, is home to one of the most magnificent Gothic cathedrals in France, a UNESCO-listed Roman gateway called the Porte de Mars, and the cellars of some of the most famous Champagne houses in the world.
The coronation of French kings took place here for centuries, which gives Reims historical significance. Today, tourists come for the cathedral, the museums, and the chance to tour the Champagne maisons where millions of bottles age quietly underground.
A day trip from Paris works well, but Reims is worth staying overnight if you want time to do a proper cellar visit and explore the city at a slower pace.
Things to do in Reims
Taste Champagne at Taittinger
Few experiences in France are as memorable as descending into the ancient chalk cellars beneath a great Champagne house. The Taittinger family grower tour takes you through the historic caves and finishes with a proper tasting — the full experience.
Day trip to Épernay and the Champagne houses
Épernay is the center of Champagne production, and its famous Avenue de Champagne is lined with the most recognizable names in the industry. The Reims–Épernay day tour with wine tastings combines both towns in one well-organized day out.
FAQs about the best cities to visit in France
Where is the best place to visit in France for the first time?
Paris is the natural starting point for first-time tourists to France. It covers a huge range of experiences with world-famous museums, iconic landmarks, excellent food, and an energy unlike any other city. That said, if you have more than a week, pairing Paris with a second city like Lyon or Nice gives you a much more rounded picture of what France has to offer.
What are the top 5 cities to visit in France?
Paris, Lyon, Nice, Strasbourg, and Bordeaux are among the best cities to visit in France, each offering something different. Paris shines for culture and history, Lyon for food, Nice for Mediterranean charm, Strasbourg for its French-German character, and Bordeaux for wine and elegant architecture. Marseille and Reims are also well worth adding to your itinerary.
What is the prettiest city in France?
France has a lot of beautiful cities like Strasbourg, with its timber-framed houses and canal-side streets, often tops people's lists. Nice and its pastel-painted Vieux-Nice is another strong contender. If you're looking for a city that genuinely surprises people with how beautiful it is, Lyon's old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tends to catch tourists off guard.
Which cities in France are best for culture and history?
Paris is the obvious answer for museums and art, but Reims rivals it when it comes to architectural history and cathedral drama. Lyon's Vieux-Lyon district is one of the best-preserved Renaissance neighborhoods in Europe. Strasbourg, as the seat of the European Parliament, carries a different kind of historical significance.
What are the best cities in France for food lovers?
Lyon is widely considered the gastronomic capital of France, possibly of all of Europe. Its bouchons serve up classic Lyonnaise cooking in a way that's unpretentious and deeply satisfying. Paris, of course, has every cuisine imaginable, from street-level crêperies to multi-starred restaurants.
Bordeaux pairs excellent food with wine culture, and Nice's Provençal cooking with socca, pissaladière (onion tart), and fresh seafood as some of the most distinctive regional foods in the country.
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