Best Places to Visit in France: 10 Hidden Gems for UK Tourists

France is one of the most rewarding short-haul trips from the UK, with Eurostar connections from London and direct flights from UK regional airports putting much of the country within easy reach in just a few hours. 

The best places to visit in France stretch far beyond Paris, covering medieval citadels, canyon landscapes, and Atlantic harbour towns that most visitors never fully explore.

From cliff-carved villages in the Lot Valley to pastel-fronted canal towns in Alsace, these are some of the finest places to go in France that belong on every UK visitor's 2026 itinerary. 

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Here are 10 of France's best places to see, chosen for their depth, variety, and real-world accessibility:

1. Colmar, Alsace

Colmar is a half-timbered Alsatian town on France's eastern border with Germany, where flower-filled canals and pastel facades create one of the most photogenic streetscapes in the country. 

The surrounding Alsace Grand Cru wine route, with vineyards within 20 minutes of the town centre, makes it well worth staying beyond a single day.

• Best Time to Visit: May to June and December for the Christmas markets
• Getting There: Fly to Basel-Mulhouse (EuroAirport); 45 minutes by train to Colmar
• Top Experience: Stroll the La Petite Venise canal district at dusk
• Local Dish to Try: Flammekueche and choucroute garnie
• Budget Per Day: £80 to £120

2. Gorges du Verdon, Provence

Often described as Europe's answer to the Grand Canyon, the Gorges du Verdon cuts through limestone cliffs up to 700 metres deep in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, with vivid turquoise water threading through below. 

It is one of the best places to visit in France for outdoor adventure, well away from the tourist trail.

• Best Time to Visit: May to September
• Getting There: Fly to Nice or Marseille; hire a car (2 to 2.5 hours to the gorge)
• Top Experience: Kayak through the canyon between Castellane and Lac de Sainte-Croix
• Local Dish to Try: Slow-roasted Haute-Provence lamb with herbes de Provence
• Budget Per Day: £70 to £110

3. Étretat, Normandy

Étretat is a small coastal town on the Normandy coast where natural chalk arches rise directly from the sea, a landscape painted by both Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet during the 19th century.

It is important to have your France eSIM active before arriving keeps you connected across this stretch of the coast, where the rural Normandy signal varies noticeably between carriers.

• Best Time to Visit: April to October
• Getting There: Eurostar to Paris, then train to Le Havre, and 30 minutes by bus to Étretat
• Top Experience: Walk the clifftop path from Falaise d'Aval to the Needle rock stack
• Local Dish to Try: moules marinières and tarte aux pommes normande
• Budget Per Day: £70 to £100

4. Carcassonne, Occitanie

Carcassonne is a UNESCO-listed medieval citadel in southern France with double-walled ramparts and 52 towers, making it one of the most complete examples of medieval military architecture in Europe. 

It is one of the best places to go in France for history, and with direct flights from UK airports to Carcassonne, it makes a practical long weekend destination.

• Best Time to Visit: April to June and September to October
• Getting There: Direct flights to Carcassonne Airport from London Stansted and Manchester
• Top Experience: Walk the full 3-kilometre rampart circuit of the Cité at golden hour
• Local Dish to Try: Cassoulet, the slow-cooked bean, pork, and duck casserole native to this region
• Budget Per Day: £65 to £95

5. Annecy, French Alps

Annecy sits beside one of the cleanest lakes in Europe, surrounded on three sides by Alpine peaks, with a beautifully preserved old town of canals and flower-covered bridges in the Haute-Savoie department.

It consistently ranks among the best places to visit in France for mountain scenery, at noticeably lower daily costs than the Swiss Alps across the border.

• Best Time to Visit: June to September for the lake; December to March for skiing
• Getting There: Fly to Geneva Airport; 45 minutes by bus or train to Annecy
• Top Experience: Swim at Plage d'Albigny with uninterrupted mountain views on all sides
• Local Dish to Try: Tartiflette made with Reblochon cheese and fresh lake perch fillets
• Budget Per Day: £85 to £130

6. Rocamadour, Lot Valley

Rocamadour is a UNESCO-listed medieval pilgrimage village built directly into a cliff face in the Lot Valley, with seven sanctuaries and chapels carved into the rock and one of the most dramatically positioned religious sites in the country.

It is one of the most distinctive things to do in France for travellers seeking something visually unlike anywhere else in Europe.

• Best Time to Visit: May to October
• Getting There: Fly to Brive-la-Gaillarde or Rodez; hire a car (under 1 hour to Rocamadour)
• Top Experience: Climb the 216-step Grand Escalier to the clifftop Sanctuary
• Local Dish to Try: Rocamadour goat's cheese AOC, one of France's most celebrated regional cheeses
• Budget Per Day: £60 to £90

7. Saint-Malo, Brittany

Saint-Malo is a granite-walled port city on the Brittany coast with a fully intact intra-muros old town, tidal islands reachable on foot at low tide, and a direct overnight ferry crossing from Portsmouth.

It is one of the most accessible places to visit in France for UK travellers who want coastal history alongside excellent fresh seafood without boarding a plane.

• Best Time to Visit: June to September
• Getting There: Direct ferry from Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries (overnight crossing, approximately 8 to 11 hours depending on route)
• Top Experience: Cross to Grand Bé island on foot at low tide to reach Chateaubriand's clifftop tomb
• Local Dish to Try: Galettes de blé noir and Cancale oysters from 15 kilometres along the coast
• Budget Per Day: £80 to £120

8. Honfleur, Normandy

Honfleur is a historic harbour town at the mouth of the Seine estuary, known for its tall slate-fronted townhouses lining the Vieux-Bassin and its direct connection to French Impressionism through Eugène Boudin, who was born here and later mentored Claude Monet.

The things to do in France in this part of Normandy extend well beyond the harbour, with the Pays d'Auge cider route and Camembert country just inland.

• Best Time to Visit: April to October
• Getting There: Eurostar to Paris, then train to Caen and bus to Honfleur (around 4 hours total)
• Top Experience: Walk the Vieux-Bassin quayside at high tide when the slate townhouses reflect on the water
• Local Dish to Try: Sole meunière and Camembert with a glass of local Pays d'Auge cider
• Budget Per Day: £75 to £115

9. Strasbourg, Alsace

Strasbourg is the designated seat of the European Parliament's plenary sessions and home to a Grande Île old town that is entirely UNESCO-listed, with a 142-metre Vosges sandstone cathedral and the canal-laced Petite France quarter within easy walking distance of each other.

It sits among the best places to visit in France for culture and architecture, and is one of the most rewarding places to go in France to reach by TGV from Paris.

• Best Time to Visit: May to September; December for one of Europe's most celebrated Christmas markets
• Getting There: Eurostar to Paris, then TGV to Strasbourg (under 2 hours from Paris)
• Top Experience: Climb the Strasbourg Cathedral viewing platform for panoramic views across the Rhine plain into Germany
• Local Dish to Try: Baeckeoffe, a slow-baked casserole of meat, potatoes, and Alsatian white wine
• Budget Per Day: £85 to £130

10. Paris: Beyond the Landmarks

Paris is the most visited city in the world, but the best places to visit in Paris for UK travellers who have already seen the major landmarks lie in its quieter arrondissements.

Le Marais, Canal Saint-Martin, and the 19th-century covered passages of the 2nd arrondissement are among the most rewarding places to visit in France for visitors who want genuine neighbourhood culture away from the tourist circuit.

• Best Time to Visit: April to June and September to October
• Getting There: Eurostar from London St Pancras arrives at Paris Gare du Nord in approximately 2 hours 16 minutes
• Top Experience: Explore the covered passages of the 2nd and 9th arrondissements on a quiet morning
• Local Dish to Try: Steak frites at a classic zinc bar and a Paris-Brest pastry from a neighbourhood pâtisserie
• Budget Per Day: £120 to £180

These 10 France best places to see go well beyond the standard city break itinerary, and each one rewards the extra planning it takes to get there.

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Covering 10 destinations across a country the size of France means your data needs to work in Alsatian old towns, Alpine lakesides, and remote cliff villages, not just Paris. 

UK carrier roaming across a multi-stop French itinerary adds up quickly, and sorting a local SIM at each regional airport wastes the first hour of every new destination. 

A France eSIM is the straightforward alternative, giving you active data before you even leave home.

The Jetpac France eSIM activates before you leave home and works from the moment you land at Charles de Gaulle, step off the Eurostar at Gare du Nord, or arrive by ferry at Saint-Malo.

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FAQs

Do UK visitors need ETIAS to enter France in 2026?

ETIAS applies to visa-exempt travellers entering the Schengen Area. Its launch has faced repeated delays, check etias.eu before booking for the current status.

What is the fastest and most affordable way to reach France?

Eurostar from London St Pancras reaches Paris Gare du Nord in approximately 2 hours 16 minutes. Budget airlines serve Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, and Carcassonne directly from multiple UK airports.

Can UK visitors drive in France on a standard UK licence?

Yes. A full UK driving licence is accepted for hiring a car in France without an International Driving Permit. You must drive on the right. Major French cities, including Paris, Lyon, and Grenoble, operate low-emission zones with access restrictions based on a vehicle's Crit'Air sticker rating, so check requirements if you plan to drive into city centres.

Is France expensive for UK visitors outside Paris?

Destinations like Rocamadour, Carcassonne, and Étretat comfortably run £60-£100 per day. Paris sits closer to £120-£180. Rail travel and staying just outside city centres cuts costs noticeably.

What should UK visitors know about paying in France?

France uses the Euro. UK debit and credit cards are widely accepted in cities, restaurants, and supermarkets across the country. Some rural markets and smaller vendors in areas like the Lot Valley and Normandy still prefer cash, so carrying a small amount of euros is advisable. A multi-currency card, such as Wise or Revolut, helps avoid foreign transaction fees throughout your trip.

Disclaimer

The information is based on publicly available sources at the time of writing. Travel costs, transport schedules, and local conditions may vary. Network performance and eSIM compatibility depend on device, carrier, and location. Jetpac is not responsible for third-party data accuracy or service variations. No endorsement of any destination or service is implied. Always verify current travel advisories, entry requirements, and local conditions before booking.