This price is shown in GBP . You’ll see the final price in your selected currency on the trip page.
This price is shown in GBP . You’ll see the final price in your selected currency on the trip page.
What more can be said about France? Distinct from its neighbours, this European giant is a cultural behemoth, and a travel treasure trove.
It's a country of artists, and we're not just talking about Monet and Manet. Sure there are painters and poets, composers, filmmakers and more, but this radical creative spirit pulsates through every aspect of French life. From the dainty handiwork of local patisserie masters in Paris to the soiled nails of grape-growing winemakers in Bordeaux, everything made in France is made with an artist's touch.
So be sure to savour this country's many creations, be that in the famous art galleries of the capital or the vineyards of the Loire Valley. Take in the opulence of Versailles or the majesty of Mont-Saint-Michel, and don't forget to admire some of the greatest works of art in all of France - the natural ones, like the French Riviera, the Pyrenees Mountains and the dense forests of the Ardennes.
That depends on what you want. For good weather it has to be summer (June-August) when the southern coast will be smothered in sunshine and northern cities resplendent under clear blue skies. If you’re visiting Paris, avoid school holidays at all costs if you want to enjoy big attractions like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre. The capital is a delight in spring and autumn, when the weather is ok but the crowds are much less suffocating. Ski season in the French Alps runs from December to April.
France has a temperate climate that rarely encounters any extreme weather conditions. The country does span a huge chunk of Europe, though, so expect wide regional variance. The southern coast is Mediterranean and much warmer, while the northern reaches are much more reminiscent of mild British weather. Expect windy winters on the Atlantic coast and snow in the high altitudes of the French Alps.
That totally depends on how much you want to see. Five days is enough to do Paris pretty well, but if you want to add another city or a bit of countryside to your itinerary, then we recommend at least a week. If you want the full France experience, you’ll probably need between two weeks and a whole month to see the finest cities, quaint rural towns, luscious wine regions and the best of the southern Riviera.
Euro
French. There are also some regional languages still spoken today, including Alsatian on the German border, Basque on the Spanish border, and Breton – a Celtic language similar to Welsh – in the northwest.
France follows Central European Time (UTC+1), which is one hour ahead of London, 6 ahead of New York and 9 ahead of Los Angeles.
