Planning a trip to France and don’t know where to go apart from Paris? Here are 9 places you need to add to your “Travel to France: Bucket List”.
This post is all about the places you need to add to your Travel to France bucket list.
And I promise, I won’t talk about Paris.
Loire Valley
Located 2 and a half hours from Paris, the Loire Valley is a must when planning a trip to France. The Valley is crossed by the Loire River and is often referred to as the Gardens of France.
The entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its landscapes and the richness of its monuments. The Loire Valley is home to 73 castles that you can visit, but also of an insane number of vineyards.
If you have time, and love the outdoors, you can rent a bike and cycle to castles and vineyards while enjoying the surrounding nature.
You will have a blast and this is for sure one of the most uniques things to do in France.
Verdon gorge
You can’t possibly take trips in France and miss the Verdon Gorge. It literally looks like another planet, and you will be amazed by the beauty of this place in the Southern part of France.
There is no road leading up to the Verdon Gorge so you will have to walk or kayak there.
Visualize that: You are taking a trip to France, kayaking in the deepest Gorge of the country, enjoying amazing sceneries under a nice and warm weather.
If this didn’t want to visit this unique place in France, I don’t know what will do.
Don’t miss out and go visit the Verdon Gorge while you are taking this trips in France.
Mont Saint-Michel
You have heard of this place before, I am sure. The Mont Saint-Michel is an iconic place in France and has to be part of your “Travel France Bucket List Itinerary”.
Located in the Northwest of France, in Normandy, The Mont Saint-Michel looks like the Disney Castle and might be one of the most precious castle of France.
When you are planning a trip to France, it would be a shame to miss it. And I promise you, you will regret it if you don’t make it part of your itinerary.
Honestly, I can’t even describe it to you, you HAVE to see it for yourself.
ETRETAT
Located further north than the Mont Saint-Michel, you should take the time to visit the municipality of Étretat.
Located on the North coast of France, the sceneries you will see there are uniques. And walking along these cliffs is one of the most uniques thing to do in France.
The cliffs carved by the water over the years are different from any other cliffs you will be able to see in France.
Even though the north of the country is often overlooked, I promise you won’t regret taking a trip there.
Carcassonne
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Carcassonne is a fortified medieval city located in the South of France and a must-see when you are planning a trip to France.
You might not need a whole day to visit this special place in France, but you will definitely want to take your time to be able to see every corner of it.
Just go and wander around the narrow streets of the fortified city and discover the history behind Carcassonne.
Dune of Pilat
One of the prettiest place I have ever seen in France, and maybe in the world, The Dune of Pilat.
Lush forest on one side and ocean on the other, while you are standing on a huge dune of sand. How could life get better than that?
I lived in this area for a year and at the time I was going to the Dune of Pilat at least once a week.
If you can go outside the European Summer vacations it would be better though as the place get crowded during French summer.
French rivera
If you are planning a trip to France, you are probably already planning on visiting the French Rivera. And you would be right to do so. It is a gorgeous part of France.
But here are my best tips to make your time there perfect.
- Visit the small villages over the bigger cities: If you want to really discover how charming the French Rivera can be, you will have to go to the countryside and look for smaller villages. Some of my favorites for you: Eze, Saint-Paul de Vence, Menton, Gordes… They are part of the most uniques places I have visited in France.
- Try to avoid peak season: For two reasons. First, the French Rivera is CROWDED during summer. But really crowded. As most French people go there for their vacations, and foreigners too. Secondly, summers in France can be hot, 40 °C hot. And this can really ruin your experience in the South of France.
- Be aware of the pickpockets: That applies for most European touristic places, really. Be aware of the pickpockets. They will rob you, and you won’t even realize it until it’s too late.