Are you looking for the best places to visit in France? Search no further, as I’ve rounded up the top destinations to see in France, whether you’re traveling by car, train, or bus. From Paris to Bordeaux – not to mention Nice and Lyon – get ready to discover amazing, beautiful, and jaw-dropping sites!

France is one of the best countries to visit in Europe and has destinations for all types of travelers. Whether you’re looking for a seaside city, a medieval town, a large cosmopolitan center, or a mountainous landscape, there’s no shortage of stunning and enchanting places to explore in France!

So, do you want to know more about the 15 Best Places To Visit In France (Besides Paris)? Keep reading!

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Best Places to Visit in France

1. Paris (Île-de-France)

Paris is, undoubtedly, one of the best places to visit in France and one of the best cities to visit in Europe. Located in the north-central part of the country, the capital of France and the Île-de-France administrative region is a perfect destination for art lovers, cultural travelers, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in Paris include:

• Arc de Triomphe
• Avenue des Champs-Élysées
• Basilique du Sacré-Cœur
• Bois de Boulogne
• Bois de Vincennes
• Catacombes de Paris
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
• Centre Pompidou
• Champs des Mars
• Conciergerie
• Église Saint-Sulpice
• Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
• Grande Galerie de l’Évolution
• Jardin des Plantes
• Jardin des Tuileries
• Jardin du Luxembourg
• Musée Carnavalet (Musée de l’Histoire de Paris)
• Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
• Musée de Cluny (Musée National du Moyen Âge)
• Musée de l’Armée (Hôtel National des Invalides)
• Musée de la Vie Romantique
• Musée de l’Orangerie
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris
• Musée d’Orsay
• Musée du Louvre
• Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac
• Musée Grévin
• Musée Guimet (Musée National des Arts Asiatiques)
• Musée Gustave Moreau
• Musée Marmottan Monet
• Musée National Eugène Delacroix
• Musée Picasso Paris
• Musée Rodin
• Palais Garnier (Opéra Garnier)
• Panthéon de Paris
• Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
• Place de la Concorde
• Pont Alexandre III
• Sainte-Chapelle
• Tour Eiffel

2. Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

Bordeaux is one of the best places to visit in France, besides Paris. Situated in the southwest of France, the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine administrative region is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, wine enthusiasts, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in Bordeaux include:

• Basilique Saint-Michel de Bordeaux
• Basilique Saint-Seurin de Bordeaux
• Cathédrale-Primatiale Saint-André de Bordéus
• Cité du Vin
• Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux
• Grosse Cloche
• Mirroir d’Eau
• Musée d’Aquitaine
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux
• Place de la Bourse
• Place de la Victoire
• Place des Quinconces
• Pont de Pierre
• Porte Cailhau

3. Nice (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)

Nice is one of the best places to visit in France, other than Paris. Located in the southeast of France (on the famous French Riviera), the second-largest city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur administrative region is a perfect destination for beach lovers, cultural travelers, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in Nice include:

• Basilique Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Nice
• Blue Beach
• Castle Plage
• Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe Saint-Nicolas de Nice
• Cathédrale Sainte Reparate de Nice
• Château de Nice
• Monastere de Cimiez
• Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain de Nice
• Musée Masséna
• Musée National Marc Chagall
• Plage de Carras
• Plage des Ponchettes

4. Lyon (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)

Lyon is one of the best places to visit in France, besides Paris. Situated in the center-east of France, the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes administrative region is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, food enthusiasts, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in Lyon include:

• Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière de Lyon
• Cathédrale Primatiale Saint-Jean de Lyon
• Musée d’Art Contemporain de Lyon
• Musée des Confluences
• Musee du Cinema et de la Miniature
• Musée Lumière
• Place Bellecour
• Théâtre Antique de Lyon

5. Loire Valley (Pays de la Loire & Centre-Val de Loire)

The Loire Valley (in French, Val de Loire) is one of the best places to visit in France, other than Paris. Located in central France, the famous valley of the Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire administrative regions is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, cultural travelers, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in the Loire Valley include:

• Château d’Amboise
• Château d’Azay-le-Rideau
• Château de Beauregard
• Château de Blois
• Château de Chambord
• Château de Chanteloup
• Château de Châteaudun
• Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
• Château de Chenonceau
• Château de Cheverny
• Château de Gien
• Château de Langeais
• Château de Loches
• Château de Meillant
• Château de Plessis-lèz-Tours
• Château de Richelieu
• Château de Sully-sur-Loire
• Château de Tours
• Château de Valençay
• Château de Villandry
• Château du Clos Lucé
• Château d’Ussé
• Château-Gaillard
• Forteresse Royale de Chinon
• Palais Jacques-Cœur

6. Mont Saint-Michel (Normandy)

Mont Saint-Michel is one of the best places to visit in France, besides Paris. Situated in the northwest of France, the tidal island in the Normandy administrative region (in French, Normandie) is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, cultural travelers, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in Mont Saint-Michel include:

• Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel
• Archéoscope
• Église Saint-Pierre du Mont-Saint-Michel
• Jardins de la Croix de Jérusalem
• Logis Tiphaine
• Musée Historique
• Pont Passerelle du Mont-Saint-Michel
• Tour de la Liberté
• Tour du Nord
• Tour Gabriel

Read my complete guide to Mont Saint-Michel, one of the best places to visit in France!

7. Strasbourg (Grand Est)

Strasbourg is one of the best places to visit in France, other than Paris. Located in the northeast of France, the capital of the Grand Est administrative region is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, wine enthusiasts, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in Strasbourg include:

• Barrage Vauban
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg
• Église Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Catholique de Strasbourg
• Église Saint-Thomas de Strasbourg
• Grande Île de Strasbourg
• La Petite France
• Le Vaisseau
• Musée Alsacien
• Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg
• Musée Historique de Strasbourg
• Neustadt
• Palais Rohan
• Parc de l’Orangerie
• Parlement Européen
• Place Kléber
• Ponts Couverts de Strasbourg

8. Marseille (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)

Marseille is one of the best places to visit in France, besides Paris. Situated in southern France (in the famous French Riviera), the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur administrative region is a perfect destination for beach lovers, fish and seafood enthusiasts, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in Marseille include:

• Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde de Marseille
• Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille
• Centre de la Vieille Charité
• Château d’If
• Fort Saint-Jean
• MuCEM – Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée
• Musée du Savon de Marseille
• Palais Longchamp

9. Cannes (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)

Cannes is one of the best places to visit in France, other than Paris. Located in southern France (in the famous French Riviera), the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur administrative region is a perfect destination for beach lovers, fish, and seafood enthusiasts, and cultural travelers!

The best things to do in Cannes include:

• Église Notre-Dame-d’Espérance de Cannes
• Île Sainte-Marguerite
• Île Saint-Honorat
• Îles de Lérins
• La Croisette
• Le Suquet
• Marché Forville
• Musée de la Castre (Musée des Explorations du Monde)
• Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes
• Rue d’Antibes
• Villa Domergue

10. Colmar (Grand Est)

Colmar is one of the best places to visit in France, besides Paris. Situated in the northeast of France, the city in the Grand Est administrative region is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, wine enthusiasts, and fans of Christmas markets!

The best things to do in Colmar include:

• Ancienne Douane
• Église des Dominicains de Colmar
• Église Saint-Martin de Colmar
• Église Saint-Matthieu de Colmar
• Fontaine Roesselmann
• Fontaine Schwendi
• Musée Bartholdi
• Musée du Jouet de Colmar
• Musée d’Unterlinden
• Parc du Champ de Mars

11. Avignon (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)

Avignon is one of the best places to visit in France, other than Paris. Located in southern France, the city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur administrative region is a perfect destination for art lovers, cultural travelers, and collectors of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The best things to do in Avignon include:

• Basilique Saint-Pierre d’Avignon
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d’Avignon
• Collection Lambert
• Jardin du Rocher des Doms
• Musée Calvet
• Musée du Petit Palais
• Musée Lapidaire
• Palais des Papes
• Pont Saint-Bénézet (Pont d’Avignon)
• Remparts d’Avignon

Read my complete guide to Avignon, one of the best places to visit in France!

12. Montpellier (Occitania)

Montpellier is one of the best places to visit in France, besides Paris. Situated in southern France, the city in the Occitania administrative region (in French, Occitanie) is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, wine enthusiasts, and cultural travelers!

The best things to do in Montpellier include:

• Arc de Triomphe (Porte du Peyrou)
• Carré Sainte-Anne
• Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier
• Église Saint-Roch de Montpellier
• Jardin des Plantes
• Musée Fabre
• Pavillon Populaire
• Place de la Comédie
• Promenade du Peyrou
• Tour de la Babote

13. Étretat (Normandy)

Étretat is one of the best places to visit in France, other than Paris. Located in the northwest of France, the town of the Normandy administrative region (in French, Normandie) is a perfect destination for beach lovers, hiking enthusiasts, and cultural travelers!

The best things to do in Étretat include:

• Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde
• Chemin des Douaniers
• Falaise d’Amont
• Falaise d’Aval
• Jardins de Étretat
• Monument “L’Oiseau Blanc”
• Musée du Patrimoine d’Étretat
• Plage d’Etretat
• Promenade de Étretat

Read my complete guide to Étretat, one of the best places to visit in France!

14. Rouen (Normandy)

Rouen is one of the best places to visit in France, besides Paris. Situated in the northwest of France, the capital of the Normandy administrative region (in French, Normandie) is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, food enthusiasts, and cultural travelers!

The best things to do in Rouen include:

• Abbaye Saint-Ouen de Rouen
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen
• Colline Sainte-Catherine
• Église Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc de Rouen
• Église Saint-Godard de Rouen
• Église Saint-Maclou de Rouen
• Gros Horloge
• Jardin de l’Hôtel-de-Ville
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen
• Musée Le Secq des Tournelles
• Place du Vieux Marché

Read my complete guide to Rouen, one of the best places to visit in France!

15. Honfleur (Normandy)

Honfleur is one of the best places to visit in France, other than Paris. Located in the northwest of France, the town of the Normandy administrative region (in French, Normandie) is a perfect destination for architecture lovers, food enthusiasts, and cultural travelers!

The best things to do in Honfleur include:

• Bassin de l’Est
• Église Sainte-Catherine de Honfleur
• Église Saint-Léonard de Honfleur
• Jardin des Personnalités
• La Lieutenance
• Maisons Satie
• Musée de la Marine
• Musée d’Ethnographie
• Musée Eugène Boudin
• Vieux Bassin

Read my complete guide to Honfleur, one of the best places to visit in France!

Map of the Best Places to Visit in France

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• Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless
• Camera Lens: Fujinon XF 18-55 mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS
• Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action
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