The Best Places to Visit in France for First Time Visitors

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris and one of the top tourist attractions in France. The tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the Paris International Exposition of 1889. Since its construction, the tower has attracted more than 200,000,000 visitors. Indeed, it’s one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. If you travel to Paris without a picture of the Eiffel Tower, you haven’t visited the city.

Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles was built in 1624 by Louis XIII. It remained the official residence of the kings of France until October 1789 when the royal family was forced to return to Paris during the French Revolution.

The famous Versailles is a massive and imposing structure located in an area of ​​about 67,000 m². Furthermore, the Palace of Versailles is considered a symbol of the power of the French feudal dynasties with an architectural style that follows the strict standards of classicism. In 1979, Versailles was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. Thus, travel companies try to exploit this destination in their itinerary because of its uniqueness and rare attraction.

Chateau de Chambord

Actually, Chateau de Chambord is the second most visited palace in France, just after Versailles. It takes you about 2 hours to go to Chateau de Chambord from Paris. The château is a masterpiece of the French Renaissance. In fact, the construction of the Chateau de Chambord began in 1519 as a residence for King François I and for hunting in the nearby woods. However, this place is quite cold and too large. King François I only stay here less than 40 days a year.

Palais des Papes

One of the largest and most important Gothic buildings in the world, the Palais des Papes was built when Pope Clement V left Rome in 1309 and settled in Avignon. To describe, the wall is 3 meters thick, but the iron gates and watchtower make the castle splendid like a palace.

Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral is one of the typical architecture of the French Gothic style. Most of the cathedral’s original stained-glass windows are intact, while the architecture has changed since the early 13th century. Visiting Chartres Cathedral, you will be delighted to see interesting and unique details in design. Also, there are many spots for you to take some photos outside the church.

Louvre Museum

This is one of the most famous museums in the world. It displays and keeps the works, and artifacts of the historical and artistic value of France as well as of many other countries. Besides that, Louvre has a free virtual museum tour that you can watch online anywhere and anytime in the world.

Tourists visiting the museum will have the opportunity to get up close to many unique works of art. Of course, this place is one of the suitable places to visit in France for those who love art.

Gorges du Verdon

The Gorges du Verdon is 25 kilometers long and extends 700 meters from the Verdon River. This river is named Verdon because of the turquoise and clear color of the water. Also, this is the highlight of the canyon that attracts visitors. By buying a tour to Gorges du Verdon, you can enjoy the beautiful view of lavender fields, mountains, and the lakes of Sainte-Croix. Additionally, you can experience water sports such as rafting, kayaking, sailing, and windsurfing.

Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel Island’s location is 350km from Paris and 1km from the southwest coast of France. It is a small island off the coast of Normandy. Indeed, this is the smallest island in France with a very sparse population of only a few dozen people.

However, that does not mean that the island is less attractive. Mont Saint-Michel wears a mysterious beauty expressed in the harmony between architecture and nature. The island is famous for its one-of-a-kind Benedictine monastery, with its pointed spire pointing straight up into the sky. On the island, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Norman Benedictine monastery at the top of the rocky island, the winding streets, and the stylish architecture of the medieval town. With such a wild, classic, mysterious look, Mont Saint-Michel was once chosen as a filming location for “The Lord of the Rings”.

Saint-Tropez

Located in the French Riviera, Saint-Tropez is well-known for its famous and extremely wealthy summer guests. Even, this picturesque village is a special attraction for artists, writers, and filmmakers.

Chamonix

Chamonix is ​​a popular ski resort in the French Alps. It locates at the foot of Mont Blanc. Actually, this was the site of the first Winter Olympic games in 1924. In winter, you can watch world-class skiing or try your hand at the exciting skating rinks here. In contrast, during the summer months, Chamonix is ​​a mecca for climbers and mountain bikers…

Dune of Pilat

Located in the Arcachon Bay area, Grande Dune du Pilat is one of the highest sand dunes in Europe. Truly, at the top of the dunes, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Atlantic coast and a vast pine forest.

Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is located in the basin of the Loire River, including the 4 provinces of Loir-et-Cher, Indre-et-Loire, Loiret and Maine-et-Loire of France. Towns and cities in the Loire valley possess many valuable old architectural works such as Blois, Amboise, Orléans, Saumur,…

The Loire Valley also has more than 42 castles built in the Middle Ages and from the 14th century. Not stopping there, the strength of the Loire valley lies in its endless grape fields, which are a great source of raw materials to make premium French wines.

Côte d’Azur

In French, Côte d’Azur means “blue coast”. It stretches along the Mediterranean Sea from Toulon to the Italian border. Côte d’Azur converges with many radiant coastal cities such as Nice, Cannes, Antibes, and Monaco,… It is an attractive tourist destination for the elite and business people. Moreover, on the high mountains of Côte d’Azur, there are a series of lovely villages such as Eze, Saint-Paul, Peillon, Gourdon, and Saorge,… At the mountain, you can enjoy exciting experiences such as skateboarding, swimming, horseback riding, skiing, etc.

Paris

People praise the capital of France as “the Capital of Fashion”, “the City of Love”, and “the Capital of Light”,… Despite going through many ups and downs, Paris still remains a magnificent city. It’s one of the most modern cities in the world, while still preserving the inherent deep and ancient features.

Anyone who visits Paris will experience the vibrant and bustling life, enjoy delicious cuisine, and admire the top-quality entertainment shows. On top of that, the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Champs-Élysées, and Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris,… are attractive places to visit in Paris that you should not miss.

Read more: 9 DON’T to Remember in Your First Time Travel to Paris

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a city near the German border. Therefore, there is a subtle interference between two distinct German-French cultures. In particular, Strasbourg is a well-known city for its art scene. You will see France’s ancient history reflected in its edgy old churches, rustic wooden houses, and picturesque surroundings.

Nice

Nice a lovely, charming coastal city on the Mediterranean coast. The typical feature of this attractive city is the winding, beautiful beaches, where many bustling shopping centers are concentrated.

In addition, the city also takes place a series of colorful festivals that tourists cannot ignore such as the Carnaval festival, fireworks festival, music festival, etc.

Annecy

Annecy is surrounded by the Alps, located about 300km southeast of Paris. It is a romantic town, likened to the “Venice of France”. The scene in the city of Annecy is very peaceful, slow, and relaxing with a series of magnificent buildings and castles. Walking on the paved streets through the alleys around the town will make you feel like you are lost in some fairyland.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a port city in western France on the gentle Garonne river. Especially, it is the capital of the world wine industry with the Bordeaux brand. In fact, the wine industry in Bordeaux dates back to the 8th century.

At the same time, Bordeaux is also known as a “world heritage city” with many unique works recognized as world heritage sites. Suggested attractions that you should visit in Bordeaux are the Beaux-Arts museum, the Grand Theater, and the big bridge Pont de Pierre,…

Cannes

In the 19th century, Cannes was originally just a small, peaceful fishing village. Today, it is a beautiful coastal city, a luxurious and classy resort in the Southeast region of France. The climate in Cannes is cool and temperate thanks to the regulation of the large beaches. In addition, the city of Cannes is also associated with the name of the famous Cannes film festival, which is held annually.