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Which City to Visit in France?
- Sylvain Van Wynendaele
- Oct 7
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 8
While talking with people, we noticed that many foreigners ask the exact same question about France; Where should I go? And, what should I avoid? Happily some members of Northern Latitudes lived long enough in France to provide some useful information on France. Therefore, let’s answer these questions.
Lyon
Lyon is France’s third largest city by population. It is well known for its history, and some even call it the gastronomic capital of France. Lyon is where the Lumière Brothers invented the “cinématographe”, thus inventing cinéma. The city is also very popular for its food with the “Bouchon Lyonnais”, local restaurants with some of the French’s best food. Another popular part of Lyon is the “Vieux Lyon”, historic streets of the city classed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3 Activities:
Visit the Vieux Lyon
Eat at the “Bouchons”
Walk around the “Park de la Tête d’Or”
Bordeaux
On the other side of France lies the city of Bordeaux. The city is renowned worldwide for its wine (named Bordeaux as well), and features the Wine festival. But it is also a beautiful city from an architectural standpoint. Additionally the climate and rich culture make it a destination worth checking. We would recommend Bordeaux if you are looking for less popular places in France, and would also encourage you to keep your stay short there.
3 Activities:
Visit the “Cité du Vin”
See the “Place de la Bourse”
Place des Quiconces
Nîmes
The “French Rome” is the nickname of that city in the south of France. Nîmes is mostly popular for its architecture. The city features several historic buildings and some even inspired buildings in the United States. Indeed, Thomas Jefferson based the Virginia Capitol on the “Maison Carrée” in Nîmes. Other noteworthy buildings include Arena of Nîmes, and the “Pond du Gard”, both reflecting the city’s Roman past. Nimes really has a special charm, and we find it very convenient as a gateway to other areas of the south of France.
3 Activities:
See the “Pont du Gard”
Walk around the “Jardin de La Fontaine”
Do some sightseeing in Nîmes old town.
Colmar
Something that many do not know about France is that each region has its own identity, mostly shaped by the surrounding culture(s). Colmar reflects the German past of the region of Alsace. The small town is well known for its colorful medieval architecture along small rivers. It is also a good place to discover wine, with many wineries being located in the area. Finally, did you know that the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was born there? Well, now you have the little fun fact that will make it sound like you did your homeworks before visiting.
3 Activities:
Little Venice
Quai de la Poissonnerie
Taste some wine
Lille
Nicknamed “The capital of flanders”, Lille lies in the north of france. This city has a rich culture, commercial and industrial past that reflects in the city. It is also well known for its architecture and flea markets. Many foreigners as well as locals like to visit Lille for the reason mentioned above, but also the convenient location of the city. Driving from Paris to Lille takes less than 3 hours and about 1 hour by using the train. On the other side, Lille is located right next to the Belgian border, and it takes less than 2 hours using a car or about 30min by train. We definitely recommend it if you are looking for something to visit not too far from Paris.
3 Activities:
Grande Place
Vieux-Lille
Old Stock Exchange
Annecy
Annecy is popular for its beautiful lake. Because many of the buildings are located next to rivers, some have called it the “Venice of the Alps”. We would definitely recommend a visit there during summer. The rivers and flowers really offer a special mood.
3 Activities:
Vielle Ville
Chateau d’Annecy
Jardins de L’Europe
Paris
Finally, the most obvious of them, the City of Lights. Paris is one of the world’s most visited cities. It is full of beautiful architecture, good food and history. If you plan on going there, don’t just limit yourself to the classic Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe. You would be missing out on a lot of things. We think that anyone going to France should visit Paris at least once. The city is very touristy, so like in any big city you want to be careful about scams or pickpockets. However, don’t get stopped by the “cliche” side of the destination, whether you decide to stay a few days, or a lot more you will always find something to see and do.
3 Classic Activities:
Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triomphe
Catacombs de Paris
3 Bonus Activities:
Jardin des Plantes de Paris
Musee d’Orsay
Galeries Laffayette
How to Move Around France?
Most big cities in France have an airport, meaning that you can fly to a lot of the places mentioned above from a big airport like Paris, CDG.
Driving is also a good option. The quality of drivers within France is subject to debate (it's actually good), but there are several things to keep in mind if you drive there. For example, you can’t turn right on red lights (it's illegal). You should also know that spaces for vehicles (roads, parking spots, etc…) are much narrower than in some countries like the United States. Know your code and be prepared for roundabouts, they are very common in France. Overall, driving in France is okay, but there are some very good transit systems within the local cities, so driving is not as important as it could be in other countries. One of the main systems is the train which operates nearly all rail transport in France. It is a very effective way of moving around, even though they have the reputation of being late.
Things You Should Know Before You Visit France
French people do not tip.
Depending on where you come from, tipping may be in your culture, but you should know that it is not mandatory in France. Nonetheless, it is not rude either. Staff may appreciate tips, but they won’t wait for one. Since tipping is not common, you will generally need to leave your tip in cash, as there are rarely machines for it.
Beware of your surroundings.
France is generally not a dangerous country, but crimes like pickpockets or robbery are common, especially in touristy areas or the subway. Know where you put your feet and beware of what is happening around you.
Not All French Speak English.
English classes are mandatory in French schools, but it does not mean people actually speak English. In touristic areas like Paris, a lot of people may have at least a basic knowledge of English, but in more rural areas (or even in Paris actually) many (especially older ones) do not speak English.
Dressing in France.
Generally speaking, most clothing styles are accepted in France. Nonetheless, being well dressed is seen as important by most French. Therefore, don’t show up to fancy restaurants in shorts, flip flops and socks!
Basic Everyday Etiquette
French follows some specific etiquette in their everyday life. For instance, it is polite to hold the door for people, using some basic politeness words (we made a list you can check under) or put hands before the mouth when yawning and sneezing (most of the time french will use their hand and not their arm).
Basic French Polite Words:
Bonjour = Hello
Aurevoir = Bye
S’il vous plaît = Please
Merci = Thank you
De rien = Your welcome
Excusez moi = Excuse me
Pardon = Sorry
Restaurant Etiquette.
When it comes to food, French have a lot of codes, especially in gastronomical restaurants. The ones that probably differ the most from what can be seen in America are the following. In France you should wait for everyone to be served before you start to eat. People like to take their time to eat, and will do so step by step. You should also keep your elbows off the table. Finally, it is always nice to say “Bonne appetit” to the people eating at the same table as you.
Power outlets are different.
Many people easily forget about this, but power outlets in France are different than in many other countries. Therefore, plan on taking an adapter.
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