Best places to visit in France

There’s no need to limit your selection of places to visit in France to the chic city streets of Paris or the age-old elegance of the Cote d’Azur, regional differences in France are what makes the country such a joy to explore. Whatever your interests, from food to fashion, vineyards to castles, we can arrange for you to explore this diverse country with tailored excursions that will pique your passions.

On a privately guided walking tour of the fashionable area of Le Marais in Paris, you might seek out the very best chocolate and pastry stores, or in Bordeaux follow a bespoke journey through the world-leading wineries of Saint-Émilion. In the Loire Valley, discover the tales behind the turrets with a personal guide, while in the Dordogne you could canoe the Dordogne River or venture deep into troglodyte caves where your guide will demystify the prehistoric artwork.

Paris

Why visit: art galleries, architecture & cuisine

Paris is the beating cultural heart of France and our specialists have handpicked a selection of experiences here that will give you a true Parisian adventure. You might want to start with a vintage car tour of the city, to get your bearings in style, before heading around the fashionable Le Marais area of the town on foot, where your private guide will lead you between the famous chocolate and pastry shops that line these narrow streets.

If that’s teased your tastebuds, you could join a private tour of Aligre market or enroll in a cooking class with a professional French chef, we can arrange private classes in everything from baking the traditional baguette to learning the skillful art of the perfect Parisian macaron. Alternatively, you may be inspired to learn about the pioneering French perfume industry and create your own signature scent at a leading perfume house.

Dig deeper: Paris is at its most romantic after dark, when the best-loved monuments are illuminated by a myriad of sparkling lights. We can arrange for a private driver to tour you around the city’s highlights, while you sit back and sip Champagne.

Don’t miss: Long associated with artists, writers and intellectuals, Montmartre boasts unbeatable views across the whole of Paris. A privately guided walking tour here will lead you to squares with alluring cafes, surrounded by portrait artists, and up narrow, stepped streets to the hilltop views from the crowning Sacré-Coeur Basilica.

Get me there: Paris in depth

Normandy

Why visit: war memorials, Calvados & Gothic Rouen

The invocation of standing on the beaches where so many fought for freedom in World War II holds a power like few other locations. We offer many ways for you to explore, learn about and experience this historic coastline and its poignant memorials.

You may choose to spend the day with a private driver guide, who will build the day around your priorities from the American, Canadian, and British landing sites and their respective cemeteries, illuminating the histories of each. You may also want to include a visit to the first village to be freed by American forces — Saint-Mère-Église.

Normandy holds appeal for a myriad of reasons beyond the war — you could choose to visit the Domaine d’Apreval cider and Calvados farm and indulge in a gourmet picnic, wander the 17th century Château de Versailles, or explore Rouen — the historic, Gothic capital of Normandy — with a private guide.

Dig deeper: You can spend the day with a guide taking you on a private journey through the military preparations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, while visiting key sites such as the Overlord and Memorial Museums, Arromanches’ artificial port and Longues-sur-Mer’s German Battery.

Don’t miss: Pay a visiting to the private home of the artist Claude Monet in the small rural town of Giverny. Touring with your private guide, you’ll explore the house (now a museum), see replicas of his vast collection of contemporary masterpieces, and tour the gardens that inspired so many of his classic paintings.

Get me there: Classic Paris & the Normandy D-Day beaches

Lyon

Why visit: gastronomy, silk & markets

The “capital of cuisine”, Lyon is revered by the French for its gastronomic heritage. You can take part in a cooking class here, with a professionally trained chef sharing the skills required to cook Lyonnais specialties. Alternatively, we can arrange a gastronomic walking tour, wandering the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon with a private guide who will recount tales of the famous chefs and restaurants that have brought this city its fame. You’ll finish the tour at Les Halles Paul Bocuse with its bountiful stalls of fresh produce where your guide will steer you between mouthwatering tasting opportunities.

If you like to be on two wheels, our E-bike tours take you through the heart of the city and along the banks of the River Rhône. Or, you may choose to visit the Musée des Beaux Arts de Lyon, with its vast collection of art set in the buildings of the former 17th-century royal abbey.

Dig deeper: Until World War II, silk was the main industry in Lyon and you can explore the city’s weaving heritage with a privately guided visit to a silk studio, where the owner will explain the craft’s history with a practical demonstration.

Don’t miss: Riding the funicular up to the Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica, your private guide will talk you through the eclectic mix of design inspiration for this church. You’ll also get the chance to tour the crypt, which is used for atmospheric candlelit concerts. The view over Lyon from here is spectacular.

Get me there: A family journey through Paris & the French Alps

French Riviera

Why visit: boutiques, beaches & boats

The French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur as it’s called in French, extends roughly from Toulon in the west to Menton in the east. You can enjoy privately guided tours here to get a feel for the region, walking the walls of old Antibes and touring its lively port, wandering the cobbled, hilltop alleyways in Tourettes- sur-Loup, and exploring the 13th-century fortified town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence with its picturesque artisanal boutiques, art galleries, and cafes. You’ll drive between each town along scenic routes with stunning views over the coastline and surrounding countryside.

In the hills above Cannes, Grasse is the “world capital of perfume” and you can join a tour and workshop here at Fragonard perfumery, introducing you to the traditional techniques of perfume creation. Perfect to wear for legendary sunsets along the French Riviera, which we can arrange for you to enjoy from the water, aboard a private yacht.

Dig deeper: To fully immerse yourself in the glamour of the Cote d’Azur, we recommend a privately guided tour of Monaco. You’ll walk the old town, including the ornate 19th-century casino, royal palace, Formula One Grand Prix route, and Grace Kelly’s grave.

Don’t miss: For a different perspective, sail the French Riviera on a private boat. You’ll cruise across the turquoise waters to Monaco and back, passing the medieval town of Èze and across the bays of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Villefranche-sur-Mer, slowly sipping on champagne and with plenty of opportunities to drop anchor and dive in.

Get me there: Luxury Provence & the French Riviera

Provence

Why visit: lavender, ochre & antiques

Provence is a shining star among places to visit in France with its historic cities, winding mountain roads, and neat lines of vineyards and lavender fields. Your visit could start with a privately guided tour to either Avignon’s colossal Palais de Papes — the largest Gothic building in Europe — or Aix-en-Provence, notable for its grand boulevards, atmospheric old town, and plethora of fountained squares. Your tour here will include the Granet Museum, where treasures from artists such as Cézanne, Picasso, and Giacometti are on display.

To delve into Provençal cuisine, you can join a full-day cooking class with a professionally trained chef, including a gourmet market visit to sample and select the local ingredients that you’ll cook with. Alternatively, you could head into the Lubéron National Park with a guide, to wind your way between the hilltop villages — including dipping into Roussillon’s ochre quarry, and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue’s antique markets.

Dig deeper: A privately guided heritage tour will immerse you in the region’s rich history. Starting at the Roman amphitheatre in Arles, you’ll then visit the medieval Uzès, wandering its labyrinthine streets, before finishing at the staggering Pont-du-Gard Roman aqueduct.

Don’t miss: The heady scent and purple haze of the Provençal lavender fields draw many visitors and you can include them with a guided tour of the Abbaye de Sénanque, an impressive 12th-century monastery, before visiting the ancient stone houses and olive trees of Village des Bories, and the medieval town of Gordes.

Get me there: Paris, Provence & Barcelona

Bordeaux

Why visit: wine, cheese & architecture

The beating heart of the French wine industry, Bordeaux is a fantastic place to base yourself for a Premier Cru wine tour. A full-day tour of the Médoc wine region, about an hour north of the city, includes the venerable wine towns of Margaux, Saint-Julien and Pauillac.

With a private guide, you’ll travel along the Gironde estuary visiting three local wineries where you’ll be introduced to experts from the domain, who will talk you through the history of their chateau, introduce you to the traditional methods of production specific to the region, and tour you around the grounds.

Alternatively, explore Bordeaux on a gourmet, walking food tour. Your guide will introduce you to Bordeaux’s respected local cuisine, from tasting cheeses in the cave of a 15th-century convent turned “affinage” (cheese ager and purveyor), to Médoc hazelnuts and Bordeaux canelé. All this while walking among the landmark sights of the city.

Dig deeper: You may wish to explore the nearby Bassin d’Arcachon by traditional “pinasse” (wooden fishing boat). You’ll sail past the Dune du Pyla — the tallest sand dune in Europe — before sailing around the Cap Ferret to stop at the small village of Piraillan where you can taste oysters at the farmers’ waterside eateries known as “cabanes”.

Don’t miss: We can arrange a private full-day tour of the Saint-Émilion wine region, visiting two chateaux in the Saint Emilion appellation, touring the vineyards and sampling the wines, plus exploring the cobblestoned town itself. The tour also includes visiting an organic wine chateau in nearby Pomerol or Fronsac.

Get me there: An introduction to French wine

The Loire Valley

Why visit: chateaux, gardens & wine

The castles of the Loire Valley, known as chateaux in French, are the main attraction for visiting this region of France. We can arrange for you to experience them in style, including a private speedboat ride along the River Cher towards Château de Chenonceau, one of the most famous chateau in the Loire Valley, where your boat will sail directly beneath the arches of the castle, giving an unparalleled view of its majestic structure.

You’ll enjoy the benefit of private guides at each chateau you visit, who’ll tell the tales behind the turrets and offer additional insights into these grandiose buildings. They’ll walk you through the gardens and interiors describing everything that you encounter.

At Château de Chambord, the largest in the Loire, this will include staircases designed by Leonardo da Vinci, rooftop pathways between soaring spires, and parklands used as hunting grounds under the reign of Louis XIV.

Dig deeper: Not simply castellated, the Loire Valley is also one of France’s premier wine regions, producing sparkling white wines and full-bodied reds. We can arrange for you to visit three of the area’s leading wineries with cellar tours and tastings.

Don’t miss: Some of the lesser-known chateaux can outshine the headliners here and we can help you select the best. You may choose to visit the Château de Rivau, famed for its link to Joan of Arc and boasting an original drawbridge as well as magnificent gardens. Or, the Château de L’Islette — still inhabited by its owners.

Get me there: Introduction to French art & architecture

Rhône-Alpes

Why visit: mountains, lakes & wine

A winter playground for snow sports lovers, the Rhône-Alpes is a treat to explore year-round. You can accompany a mountain guide and hike high up to the soaring peak of Mont Blanc — the tallest mountain in Western Europe — and enjoy a well-deserved picnic lunch on a mountain-top meadow. Alternatively, you can explore some of the region’s wines, with half-day guided visits to selected wineries of Burgundy, Mâconnais, or Beaujolais.

The city of Annecy dates to the Middle Ages and we can arrange a private guide to walk its narrow streets with you. You’ll explore the city’s crisscrossing canals, visit the hilltop castle, old city gates, and cathedral before stopping at a local, family-run cheese shop where you’ll learn about the region’s cheese-making history and taste some samples. In the evening, you can board a private boat for a sunset cruise around Lac d’Annecy, apéritif in hand.

Dig deeper: For a bird’s-eye perspective of the Annecy region, you can accompany a guide for a hike through pastures and around lakes to the top of Le Semnoz, the mountain peak that dominates the western shores of Lake Annecy.

Don’t miss: If you’ve a head for heights, there is little to match the experience of riding one of the longest cable-car ascents in the world, rising 3000m above Chamonix to the peak of the Aiguille du Midi, before taking the cog train to the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) — the largest glacier in the Alps.

Get me there: The Rhône-Alpes in depth

Dordogne

Why visit: rivers, caves and chateaux

With castles to rival the Loire Valley and hilltop villages to match those in Provence, the Dordogne is a popular choice for travellers. You can choose to have a private tour of the region, with your guide picking out highlights. These might include Domme, a typical 13th-century "bastide” village with fortified walls and an enticing central square, 12th-century Château de Beynac with its turreted ramparts, or the troglodyte village of La Roque-Gageac, built into caves along the Dordogne River, where you could join a small boat cruise in a traditional gabarre boat.

The Dordogne is a good base for exploring the Médoc or Saint-Émilion wine regions. Alternatively, you could focus on its medieval settlements, including Sarlat-la-Canéda, where a half-day private tour will create a vivid picture of the history of this 11th-century market city with its cobblestoned back streets, multitude of bustling squares, and small Romanesque cathedral.

Dig deeper: For a different perspective on the region, you may choose to swim in or canoe along the Dordogne River, past the highlights of La Roque-Gageac and Castelnaud and Beynac Castles, which are majestic when viewed from the water.

Don’t miss: In such a prehistorically important area, you’ll gain invaluable insights with a privately guided tour. You’ll take the small train deep into Rouffignac cave with its original cave-wall artwork, visit the National Museum of Prehistory at Les Eyzies, and see reproductions of the 20,000 year old cave art at Lascaux IV.

Get me there: Highlights of Bordeaux & the Dordogne

Mont Saint-Michel

Why visit: an island abbey, tapestry, and cathedral

Sitting proudly off the coast of Normandy, the impressive sight of Mont Saint-Michel is a highlight for many visitors to the north of the country. What was once a simple stone church on a small, rugged island, is now a towering village of spiraling narrow streets topped by a Benedictine abbey and monastery.

Touring the island with a private guide will enable you to view some of the lesser-known areas of the site. Your guide will help you navigate the narrow cobble-stoned streets, picking out the best viewpoints and hidden emblems inside the abbey and pin-pointing the highlights from the extended history of this monumental landmark.

Dig deeper: William the Conqueror visited Mont Saint-Michel on his journey to England in 1066. You can visit the Bayeaux Tapestry (closed for renovation from September 2025) to see a depiction of his epic victory at the Battle of Hastings, and the resultant Norman conquest of England.

Don’t miss: The nearby town of Bayeaux has a medieval heart and a guided walking tour here brings to life the area surrounding Mont Saint-Michel. From the half-timbered houses lining the long Roman road of the “decumanus”, to the cobblestoned streets and stone bridges leading to the Gothic façade of the Notre-Dame cathedral.

Get me there: Grand tour of France