Spring
April brings blossoms and fresh markets; by May the gardens are in full bloom and café terraces fill up. The Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix make late May busy on the Riviera, so we book early for those weeks.
France
Paris in the evening light, lavender and hill towns in Provence, Champagne cellars and a long lunch on the Riviera. France rewards every kind of traveler, and every return visit.
By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated
- Best time to go
- May to June, September to October
- Trip length
- 10 to 14 days
- From Atlanta
- About 8.5 hours nonstop to Paris
- Time difference
- 6 hours ahead of Eastern
- Entry
- U.S. passport, no visa for stays up to 90 days
- Currency
- Euro. Bring a Type C/E plug adapter
Why France keeps calling people back
France is beautifully varied for its size: one of the world’s great cities, then vineyards, mountains and the Mediterranean, all a short train ride apart.
A first visit often starts with a few days in Paris, then rides the fast train south through Lyon to Provence, finishing on the Riviera. Fast trains link most of the big names, and in wine country a private driver means everyone can enjoy the tastings.
Come back and the country opens up: Champagne and Burgundy for wine, Normandy for history, the Loire for châteaux, Bordeaux for a city break with vineyards on the doorstep, or a river cruise that strings several regions together.
Getting around
- Paris to Reims (Champagne)About 45 minutes by fast train
- Paris to Tours (Loire Valley)About 1 hour by fast train
- Paris to Bayeux (Normandy)About 2.5 hours by train
- Paris to LyonAbout 2 hours by fast train
- Lyon to AvignonAbout 1 hour by fast train
- Paris to BordeauxAbout 2 hours by fast train
- Paris to NiceAbout 1.5 hours by air
When to go
Late spring and early fall are France at its best: warm days, long evenings and room to breathe. Summer belongs to lavender and the Riviera, and winter is Paris at its most intimate.
- JanQuiet museums, winter sales
- FebSki season, Menton’s lemon festival
- MarSpring stirs, short lines
- AprBlossoms, Easter crowds
- MayGardens in bloom, Cannes and Monaco
- JunLong days, lavender begins
- JulLavender, Bastille Day
- AugRiviera at its busiest
- SepWarm sea, harvest begins
- OctHarvest, fall color
- NovQuiet, cozy, truffle season
- DecChristmas lights and markets
Peak season Shoulder season Low season
Average temperatures and rainfall
Jan1.9″
Feb1.6″
Mar1.8″
Apr1.8″
May2.7″
Jun2.0″
Jul2.3″
Aug2.3″
Sep1.8″
Oct2.2″
Nov2.1″
Dec2.4″
Jan2.9″
Feb2.1″
Mar2.0″
Apr2.7″
May1.6″
Jun1.4″
Jul0.5″
Aug0.7″
Sep3.2″
Oct5.0″
Nov5.4″
Dec3.6″
Average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches.
Summer
Long, warm days, lavender in Provence from late June and the Riviera at full swing. Bastille Day on July 14 brings fireworks across the country. In August, many Parisians head out on vacation, so the city feels quieter.
Fall
Our favorite season. The sea is still warm in September, the harvest is underway in Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux, and October brings golden vineyards and cooler, comfortable days for walking.
Winter
Paris sparkles with holiday lights and cozy bistros, and museums are calmer. The Alps are in ski season from December, and the Riviera stays mild, with mimosa in bloom by February.
Where to go
The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.
Paris
Museums you could spend a lifetime in, café terraces, grand boulevards and evening walks along the Seine. Each neighborhood has its own personality, from the Marais to Saint-Germain.
Best for First impressions, art, dining
Provence
Hill towns, Roman ruins, markets and rosé in the shade. Base yourself near Avignon or in the Luberon, and time it for the lavender if you can.
Best for Slow days, villages, lavender
The French Riviera
Nice’s old town and seafront promenade, Cannes, Antibes, perched villages like Èze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and Monaco just up the coast.
Best for Sun, sea, glamour
Burgundy & Champagne
Champagne houses and chalk cellars around Reims and Épernay, then the vineyard villages of the Côte d’Or and the medieval heart of Beaune.
Best for Wine lovers, food, small towns
Bordeaux
An elegant riverside city with a famous wine bar scene, ringed by Saint-Émilion, the Médoc and some of the world’s great châteaux.
Best for Wine, gastronomy, river cruising
The Loire Valley
Fairy-tale châteaux, Chenonceau and Chambord among them, plus gardens, cycling paths and crisp white wines, about an hour from Paris by fast train.
Best for Families, history, gardens
Normandy
The D-Day beaches and cemeteries, Monet’s garden at Giverny, half-timbered Honfleur and the island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Best for History, reflection, coastline
The French Alps
Mont Blanc views from Chamonix, alpine lakes like Annecy, and world-class skiing in winter. Geneva’s airport is the easy way in.
Best for Skiing, hiking, mountain air
In depth
France by river
A river cruise is one of the easiest ways to see several regions in one trip. You unpack once, the ship docks right in town, and the guided touring, wine and most meals are taken care of. Uniworld sails all three of France’s classic river routes, and Riverside Luxury Cruises sails the Rhône and Saône.
- The SeineParis, Giverny, Rouen and Normandy
- The Rhône & SaôneBurgundy, Lyon, Avignon and Arles
- Bordeaux’s riversBordeaux, Saint-Émilion and the Médoc
Spring and fall are lovely on every route. For Provence in lavender season, look at Rhône sailings from late June into July, and add a few nights in Paris or the Luberon on either end.
Good to know
The small things that make a big difference once you land.
Book the big sights ahead
The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower summit and Versailles all use timed entry. We reserve your slots and private guides early, which makes the busiest days feel calm.
Start with “bonjour”
A friendly “bonjour” when you walk into a shop or restaurant is expected, and it sets the tone. A little French goes a long way, and English is widely spoken in cities.
Dining rhythms
Lunch runs from about noon to 2, and dinner starts around 7:30 or later. Many restaurants close on Sundays or Mondays, and the best tables book up, so we reserve ahead.
Tipping
Service is included in restaurant bills. Leaving a few euros, or rounding up, for great service is a kind touch rather than an obligation.
Trains and drivers
Fast trains are the easy way between cities, and first class is worth it. In Provence and wine country, a private driver or guide lets everyone enjoy the tastings.
Cards and plugs
Cards with a chip work almost everywhere, and contactless is common. Outlets take Type C/E plugs at 230 volts, so bring an adapter; most phone and laptop chargers handle the voltage.
Questions we hear a lot
Do U.S. citizens need a visa for France?
No. With a U.S. passport you can visit France and the rest of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the day you leave the Schengen area and have a blank page, and we recommend six months of validity to be safe. Europe’s new Entry/Exit System now records your fingerprints and photo at the border on your first visit, and the EU plans to add an online travel authorization called ETIAS. Check current requirements before you travel; we’ll flag anything new as your trip gets closer.
When is lavender season in Provence?
Lavender usually blooms from late June through July, with the Valensole plateau at its most colorful in early to mid July and the higher fields around Sault a little later. Farmers start harvesting in July, so the first half of the month is the safest bet. Exact timing shifts with the weather each year.
How long should we plan for a first trip?
Ten to fourteen days is a comfortable first trip. That allows four or five nights in Paris, then the fast train south to Provence and a few days on the Riviera. With a little more time, add Champagne, Burgundy, Normandy or the Loire Valley.
Is a river cruise a good way to see France?
It’s a lovely one. You unpack once and wake up somewhere new: the Seine for Paris and Normandy, the Rhône and Saône for Burgundy, Lyon and Provence, or the rivers around Bordeaux for wine country. Many travelers add a few nights in Paris or Provence before or after.
When is the grape harvest?
Harvest usually runs from September into early October, starting earlier in warm years. Champagne and Burgundy tend to pick first, Bordeaux a little later. It’s a beautiful, busy time in the vineyards, and some estates limit visits while they work, so we plan tastings well ahead.
Can we see the D-Day beaches as a day trip from Paris?
You can, but it’s a long day. Bayeux is about two and a half hours from Paris by train, and the beaches are a short drive beyond. We suggest at least one night in Normandy, with a private guide for the beaches and cemeteries, and Mont-Saint-Michel on the way back if you have time.
Let’s plan your France trip
Tell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.