Why Fly to France
France delivers on almost every front — food, history, architecture, coastline, mountains, and wine. Paris alone could keep you busy for two weeks, but the country rewards travelers who push beyond it. Lyon will feed you better than almost anywhere in Europe. Marseille is raw, loud, and genuinely exciting. The French Riviera is as glamorous as advertised. Bordeaux sits in the middle of one of the world's great wine regions with a beautiful city to match. There is a reason France consistently ranks as the most visited country on earth — it earns it.
Beyond the headline cities, the regions punch hard. Normandy carries serious historical weight. The Loire Valley is all châteaux and cycling routes. Alsace feels like it can't decide whether it's French or German, which makes it fascinating. Provence has lavender fields, Roman ruins, and village markets that feel untouched. Wherever you land in France, the food and drink scene will be a highlight, not an afterthought.
Best Time to Visit France
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the sweet spots. Temperatures sit between 15°C and 25°C, crowds are manageable, and prices are lower than peak summer. Paris in April or October is genuinely one of the great city-break experiences anywhere.
July and August are hot, busy, and expensive — particularly on the Riviera and in Paris. That said, if sun and beach time is the goal, the south of France in summer delivers. Winter works well for the Alps (ski season runs December to March) and Christmas markets in Alsace and Strasbourg are worth the trip on their own. Avoid major French public holidays if you want quieter roads and open restaurants — many locals still take the full month of August off.
Getting Around France
The TGV high-speed train network is excellent and should be your first choice for intercity travel. Paris to Lyon takes two hours. Paris to Marseille is three hours. Paris to Bordeaux is just over two hours. Book TGV tickets in advance through SNCF Connect for the best prices — last-minute fares get expensive fast. Eurostar connects London to Paris in around two and a half hours if you're coming from the UK.
Domestic flights exist but rarely make sense when trains are this fast and city-center to city-center. Renting a car is worth it for Provence, the Loire Valley, Normandy, or anywhere rural — the rural road network is good and driving in France is straightforward outside of Paris, where you simply don't need a car. In cities, the Metro (especially in Paris) is cheap, frequent, and covers everything you need.
Visa & Entry Requirements
EU citizens enter France freely with no additional requirements. UK and US passport holders can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period under the Schengen rules — your passport needs to be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date (carry six months validity to avoid airline check-in issues). Starting in late 2026, UK and US travelers will need an ETIAS travel authorization before arriving — it's an online application, costs €7, and stays valid for up to three years. Apply through the official ETIAS portal before you book flights. Overstaying your 90 days in the Schengen Area can result in a ban of up to three years, so track your days carefully if you're moving around Europe.
Money & Budget
France uses the euro (€). Contactless card payments are standard in cities and most towns — Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work well in urban areas. That said, carry some cash for village markets, small cafés, and rural spots where card machines are less reliable. Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card where possible and check ATM fees before withdrawing — independent ATMs in tourist areas sometimes charge extra.
Budget travelers can get by on €60–100 per day using hostels, picnic lunches, and affordable bistros. A comfortable mid-range trip — decent hotels, sit-down meals, museum entries — runs €150–200 per day. Paris skews higher across the board. Luxury travel with fine dining and high-end hotels starts at €300+ per day and has no real ceiling. Eating lunch as your main meal (many restaurants offer a set prix-fixe lunch menu) is the single best way to eat well and spend less.
Top Cities to Visit in France
- Paris: The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Seine-side walks, world-class restaurants, and neighborhoods like Le Marais and Montmartre that reward slow exploration — Paris justifies every superlative.
- Lyon: France's undisputed food capital, with bouchons (traditional Lyonnaise bistros), Roman ruins on the hill above the city, and a compact old town that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Marseille: France's second city is loud, multicultural, and underrated — the calanques (dramatic limestone coves) outside the city are stunning, and the Vieux-Port fish market is the real deal.
- Bordeaux: A beautifully preserved 18th-century port city surrounded by some of the world's most famous wine estates — day trips to Saint-Émilion or Médoc are essential.
- Nice: The capital of the French Riviera with a long coastal promenade, a vibrant old town market, and easy access to Monaco, Antibes, and the Alpes-Maritimes.
- Strasbourg: Straddling the French-German border, Strasbourg has a fairy-tale old town, the European Parliament, and the best Christmas market in France by some distance.
FAQ — Flights to France
Which airports should I fly into for France?
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the main international hub and connects easily to the city and the rest of France by train. Paris Orly (ORY) is smaller and handles more budget carriers. Lyon-Saint Exupéry, Nice Côte d'Azur, and Bordeaux-Mérignac are solid regional options if you're heading straight to those areas — flying into a regional airport can save significant travel time compared to landing in Paris and taking a TGV south.
When is the cheapest time to fly to France?
Flights are cheapest in November, January, and February — outside school holidays and peak summer. Spring (April to May) offers a good balance of reasonable fares and good weather. July and August see the highest airfares into Paris and the Riviera. Booking six to ten weeks in advance typically gets you the best mid-range pricing; last-minute deals exist but are unreliable on popular routes.
Do I need travel insurance for France?
It's not a legal requirement, but you'd be foolish to skip it. EU citizens with a valid EHIC or GHIC card get access to French public healthcare on the same terms as French residents — useful for emergencies, but not a substitute for proper travel insurance covering cancellations, lost luggage, and repatriation. UK and US travelers especially should carry comprehensive travel insurance, as medical costs without coverage can be significant.