# Where should I go in France besides Paris?

> Beyond Paris, top picks are Provence, the French Riviera, the Loire Valley, Normandy, Lyon, Bordeaux, Alsace and the French Alps.

Beyond Paris, the most rewarding places in France are Provence, the French Riviera, the Loire Valley, Normandy, Lyon, Bordeaux, Alsace and the French Alps. Each offers something different – lavender fields and Roman ruins, beaches, castles, D-Day history, food, wine, half-timbered villages or mountains – and most are a few hours from Paris by high-speed train.

## Top regions and cities

- **Provence** – Avignon, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, hilltop villages of the Luberon, and lavender fields in early summer.
- **French Riviera (Côte d'Azur)** – Nice, Antibes, Cannes and easy trips to Monaco and Èze.
- **Loire Valley** – châteaux such as Chambord and Chenonceau; good by car or bike.
- **Normandy** – D-Day beaches, Bayeux, Étretat cliffs and Mont-Saint-Michel on the Normandy–Brittany border.
- **Lyon** – France's food capital, with a UNESCO-listed old town.
- **Bordeaux** – elegant riverside city and gateway to famous vineyards.
- **Alsace** – Strasbourg and Colmar, with half-timbered houses and Christmas markets.
- **French Alps** – Chamonix and Mont Blanc for hiking and skiing.
- **Brittany and the Dordogne** – rugged coast in the northwest; prehistoric caves and riverside villages in the southwest.

## Easy day trips from Paris

Versailles, Giverny (Monet's garden), Reims for Champagne, Fontainebleau and Chartres can all be done in a day.

## How to get around

High-speed TGV trains connect Paris with Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Lille and more. Rent a car for countryside regions such as Provence, the Loire, Normandy and the Dordogne, where villages are spread out.

Just outside the city is Disneyland Paris; see [where it is and how to get there](https://inyourtravel.com/where-is-disneyland-paris-located/).

## FAQ

**How many days are enough for France?**
A week covers Paris plus one region; two weeks lets you combine two or three regions comfortably.

**Is seven days enough for France?**
Yes, if you pick Paris and one nearby region instead of trying to see the whole country.

**Where do French people go on holiday?**
Many head to the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts in summer and the Alps in winter.

**Which part of France is the most beautiful?**
It's personal, but Provence, the Côte d'Azur and the Alps are frequent favorites.

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https://inyourtravel.com/where-should-i-go-in-france-besides-paris/ · In Your Travel · Checked 2026-10-30