Skip to content

15 Best Things to Do in France (2026 Local Guide)

/ Blog / By

⏱ 3 min read📖 651 words📅 May 2026
Table of Contents
  1. The 15 best things to do in France
  2. Helpful Packzup guides
  3. Frequently asked questions

Quick verdict: France beyond Paris – Provence lavender + Loire châteaux + Normandy beaches + Alps skiing + wine country. This guide ranks 15 essential French experiences for 2026.

The 15 best things to do in France

1

Eiffel Tower + Seine river cruise

Where: Paris / Half dayCost: EUR 30

Iconic Paris combination. Climb Eiffel ($30) + sunset Seine cruise. Tickets online ahead.

2

Louvre Museum

Where: Paris / Full dayCost: EUR 22

World’s largest museum. 2 million artifacts. Beat Mona Lisa crowds via Carrousel entrance. Friday late-opening best.

3

Versailles Palace + Gardens

Where: Outside Paris / Full dayCost: EUR 21

Most opulent palace in world. Hall of Mirrors + Trianon estates. 45 min RER C from Paris.

4

Mont Saint-Michel

Where: Normandy / Full dayCost: EUR 120-180 tour

Medieval abbey island. Tidal bay + walking on sand at low tide. Unforgettable. Long day from Paris.

5

Provence lavender fields

Where: Provence / Spring/summerCost: EUR 200/day base

Late June-early August. Senanque Abbey + Valensole plateau. Drive between fields. Iconic France photo.

6

Loire Valley château tour

Where: Loire / 2 daysCost: EUR 100-200

Chambord + Chenonceau + Cheverny. Wine tastings. Day tour from Paris ($100-200).

7

D-Day Beaches

Where: Normandy / Full dayCost: EUR 100-200 tour

American + British WWII landing beaches. Pointe du Hoc cliffs. American Cemetery. Sobering historical.

8

Champagne region

Where: Reims/Epernay / Day tripCost: EUR 80-120

Champagne house cellar tours + tastings. Reims cathedral. Moet, Veuve, Taittinger. 45 min Shinkansen.

9

French Riviera (Nice + Cannes + Monaco)

Where: Cote d’Azur / 2-3 daysCost: EUR 200-400/day

Mediterranean glamour. Nice old town + Monaco casino + Cannes beach. Most expensive French region.

10

Mont Blanc + Chamonix

Where: Alps / 2 daysCost: EUR 150-300/day

Highest Alps peak. Aiguille du Midi cable car (3,842m). Skiing in winter + hiking in summer.

11

Bordeaux wine country

Where: Bordeaux / 2-3 daysCost: EUR 150-300/day

World’s most famous wine region. Saint-Emilion medieval village + château tours. Better than Burgundy for beginners.

12

Strasbourg + Alsace wine route

Where: Alsace / 2 daysCost: EUR 100-200/day

Half-French half-German region. Strasbourg cathedral + half-timbered villages + Christmas markets (Dec).

13

French Pyrenees hiking

Where: Pyrenees / 3 daysCost: EUR 100-200/day

Less touristy than Alps. GR10 long trail (1000km). Cirque de Gavarnie UNESCO. Spanish border.

14

Lyon food capital

Where: Lyon / 2 daysCost: EUR 100-200/day

France’s culinary capital. Paul Bocuse legacy + bouchons (traditional restaurants) + market culture.

15

Corsica beaches

Where: Corsica / 1 weekCost: EUR 150-300/day

Mediterranean island – French but feels Italian. Calanche Cliffs + Plage de Palombaggia + GR20 trail.

Ready to book?
Compare France tours and tickets →

Helpful Packzup guides

Frequently asked questions

How many days for France?
7 days minimum for Paris + 1 region. 14 days for Paris + 3 regions. 21 days for complete France circuit.
Best time to visit France?
April-June + September-October. Lavender July-early August (Provence). Christmas markets November-December (Alsace).
France on a budget?
Mid-range €120-220/day. Paris is the priciest. Country regions (Loire, Burgundy) 30% cheaper. Bakeries + markets save money.
France in 2026 – new?
Notre-Dame fully reopened post-restoration. Post-Olympics Paris improvements. New Bordeaux winery openings.
Best French region beyond Paris?
Provence (lavender + Roman ruins + cuisine). Or French Riviera (glamour + Mediterranean). Or Burgundy/Bordeaux (wine).

Updated 2026. Some links on Packzup are affiliate links.

John Morrison

Written by

John Morrison

John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.