Country guide
Flights to France
Paris is the gateway; the high-speed rail network is the reason to leave it
Almost every US itinerary to France arrives in Paris, which is reasonable — it has the flights and it is the obvious first stop. What visitors underuse is what happens next, because the high-speed rail network puts a remarkable amount of the country within a few hours of the capital.
That changes the shape of a sensible trip. Rather than picking Paris or Provence, most people can have both, and the train usually beats a domestic flight once airport time is counted at each end.
Cities we have guides for
Where to go beyond the obvious
Provence and the Côte d'Azur
Avignon and Aix are around three hours from Paris by TGV, Nice a little more. Lavender is late June to mid-July; the coast in August is at its most crowded and most expensive.
The Loire Valley
Châteaux country, an hour or so from Paris by train to Tours, then a car or organised tour. Works well as a two-day addition rather than a day trip.
Normandy and Brittany
The D-Day beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel and a rugged coastline. Reachable by train to Caen or Rennes, but a car makes a real difference once you arrive.
Lyon and the Alps
Lyon is two hours from Paris by TGV and is the country's serious food city. The Alps beyond it are a winter destination in their own right, with their own seasonality.
When to go
May, June and September are the best months across most of the country: warm, long days and lighter crowds than midsummer. September in particular is excellent in the south, when the sea is still warm and the August crowds have gone.
August is when France takes its holiday. The coast is packed, Paris empties of Parisians, and many independent restaurants and shops close for several weeks. It is the least representative month to visit.
November to March is quiet and cheap in the cities and cold in the countryside. Paris holds up well; rural regions largely shut down.
Getting around
The TGV is the backbone and it is fast. Book ahead for the cheapest fares, and note that the arrival station in a city is usually central, which is a real advantage over flying.
A car matters for the Loire, Normandy, Brittany and rural Provence, where the sights are spread out and rail does not reach. In Paris it is pointless.
Domestic flights rarely beat the TGV for anything under about four hours of rail time, once you count getting to and from airports.
The basics
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- French; English is common in Paris and tourist areas, less so in rural regions
- Time zone
- CET, or CEST from late March to late October
- Power
- Type E plug, 230V
- Driving
- On the right
- Entry for US passports
- Short visits are visa-free, but the EU is introducing an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors. Confirm the current requirement with French or EU authorities.
Before you book
Book TGV tickets early
Advance fares are dramatically cheaper than buying on the day, and popular routes on summer weekends sell out. This is where the savings are on a France trip.
Fly into Paris, out of Nice
An open-jaw itinerary avoids backtracking to Paris at the end of a trip south, and often costs little more than a straightforward return.
August is the month to avoid
The coast is at its busiest and much of urban France is closed for the holidays. If your dates are flexible, almost any other month is a better trip.
Lunch has a window
Outside the big cities, kitchens close in the afternoon and reopen for dinner. Arriving at two thirty expecting a meal is a common and avoidable disappointment.
Routes to France
Flight times are non-stop estimates from great-circle distance. Actual schedules and whether a non-stop exists on your dates come from a live search.
Airport guides
FAQ
Flights to France — common questions
If yours isn't here, just call — we're happy to explain.
Should I fly into Paris or somewhere else in France?
Paris has by far the most transatlantic flights and the best rail connections onward, which makes it the practical arrival point for most trips. If you are heading straight to the south, Nice has some direct service and can save a long backtrack. An open-jaw itinerary — in through one, out through the other — is often the best answer and costs little more.
Is the train or a domestic flight better in France?
The train, in almost every case under about four hours of rail time. TGV stations are central at both ends, whereas a flight adds airport transfers, security and check-in at each end. Paris to Lyon or Avignon is comfortably faster door to door by rail, and the fare booked in advance is usually lower too.
When is the best time to visit France?
May, June and September. You get warm weather and long days without the August peak, when the coast is crowded, prices are highest and much of urban France closes for the holidays. September in the south is particularly good, with warm sea and far fewer people.
Still have a question? We're happy to explain — just call.
Call now — +1 (888) 410-4445 →