France holiday ideas and inspiration
You know that you want to come to France...but don't yet know where, or what to do?
See below for some inspiration with ideas based on our own extensive travels in France, whatever type of visit you are searching for, from a fortnight on a beach in summer to a springtime tour of the best gardens in France - some are very well known, others a little off the beaten track...
We recommend you also browse through our hundreds of featured France travel articles for more ideas.
Perros-Guirec
COAST: On the Code de Granit Rose in northern Brittany, Perros-Guirec is well placed to explore lovely beaches and coastline
Perros-Guirec (Brittany)
Arcachon
COAST: Arcachon is a lovely resort with impressive sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast in south-west France
Arcachon (Aquitaine)
Deauville
COAST: With its 19th century architecture and popular beach Deauville is among our favourite Normandy resorts
Deauville (Normandy)
Nice, Riviera
COAST: The most visited resort in France, Nice is also a major city with an extensive historic centre & numerous attractions
Nice (Alpes-Maritimes)
Gorges du Tarn
SCENERY: the stunning beauty of the Gorges du Tarn is further enhanced by the traditional pretty villages along the gorges
Gorges du Tarn (Midi-Pyrenees)
Ardeche
VILLAGES: enjoy a few days exploring the countryside and villages in the Ardeche region
Ardeche (Rhône-Alpes)
Luberon
SCENERY / VILLAGES: the Luberon in Provence has numerous medieval villages set in exceptional scenery
Luberon (Provence)
Lot Valley
SCENERY: the Lot Valley contains some very picturesque scenery and also lovely villages
Lot Valley (Midi-Pyrenees)
Visit Corsica
Beaches & Scenery: Corsica has remarkable mountain scenery and a beautiful coastline and beaches
tours of Corsica
Dordogne Castles
CASTLES: as well as some of the loveliest scenery & villages in France, the Dordogne has numerous medieval castles
Dordogne Châteaux
Loire Castles
CASTLES: the Loire Valley is famous for the stunning Renaissance castles built in the region
Loire Valley Châteaux
Vendee
CHILDREN: Vendee has exceptional family friendly beaches and lots of other children activities
Vendee (Pays-de-la-Loire)
Amusement Parks
CHILDREN: As well as Disneyland, France contains many other popular Theme Parks
Theme Parks in France
Long weekends
SHORT BREAKS: There are lots of towns in France that make perfect 'short getaway' destinations...
Short Breaks in France
Collioure
COAST: the picturesque seaside resort of Collioure also has a pretty old town to explore
Collioure (Languedoc)
Jura
SCENERY: often overlooked by visitors, the Jura has exceptional scenery, vineyards, villages...
Jura (Franche-Comté)Need more travel inspiration?
For more suggestions perhaps one of these these will inspire you:
- the most beautiful villages of France
- the listed heritage sites of France
- the listed towns in France that have further development controlled as 'secteurs sauvegardés' - historical towns in France
- Explore the bastide towns of the south of France or the perched villages of Provence
- the National Monuments of France
- visit the classified Grand Sites of France (mostly scenic highlights)
- find 'French towns in bloom' near your destination
- there is a listing of the popular coastal regions at France beach
Long visits and short trips
Take a long Break in France and Spain
The camino pilgrimage paths across France pass through many beautiful places en route - and can take a couple of months to complete. See French pilgrim paths
or a Short Break in France
For a short break in France, see our hints to get you organised quickly and at low cost - Short break in France and for those with even less time to spare - perhaps a day trip to France!
Activity Holidays
- Cycling - cycling holidays in France
- Canal boats - spend a quiet week exploring the canals of France
The above are just a few suggestions and don't begin to cover the many beautiful places to be discovered in all regions of France. Be sure to explore the site to discover hundreds more options for your visit, and let us know if your 'inspiration' is somewhere else altogether different...