France
Give Paris four nights, then take a fast train to one region: the Riviera, Alsace, the Alps or the Breton coast.
How many days do you need in France?
A week covers Paris and one region, with four or five nights in the capital and the rest in Lyon, Alsace, Provence or the Riviera. Ten days allows two regions, linked by the high-speed network or a short internal flight. Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo pair naturally and take two nights together: Saint-Malo has direct trains from Paris, and the mount is reached by bus from Rennes.
Do you need a car in France?
Not for the cities. High-speed TGV trains run from Paris to Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg in about two hours and to Marseille in a little over three, and each city has trams or a metro. A car is worth having for the Alsace wine villages, around Avignon for the Pont du Gard and around Lake Annecy, and most motorways carry tolls paid by card at the barrier.
When is the best time to visit France?
May, June and September give long days and open terraces without the July and August peak, when the French school holidays fill the coast and the Alps. Paris thins out in August, and some small restaurants close for part of the month. December brings the Christmas markets of Strasbourg and Colmar and the Fête des Lumières in Lyon, held over four nights around 8 December.
Is English widely spoken in France?
French is the language, and English is routine in Paris hotels, museums and the main sights, at the airports and on the TGV. It thins out in small towns, markets and family restaurants away from the big cities. A greeting matters more than fluency: bonjour on entering a shop or a bakery, and bonsoir after dark, is expected before any request.
What currency does France use?
The euro. Cards are taken almost everywhere and contactless payment is standard, including at most bakeries and many market stalls, though some small traders set a minimum or prefer cash. A service charge is included in restaurant bills by law, so a tip is a small extra for good service and never an obligation.
Where do you fly into France?
Paris Charles de Gaulle handled about 72 million passengers in 2025, and Orly is the second Paris airport. CDG has its own TGV station at Terminal 2, with direct trains to Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Strasbourg. Nice, Lyon and Marseille take direct international flights for the south, Colmar is closest to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse, and the Eurostar reaches Paris from London in about two and a quarter hours.
