France for Every Traveler

France works for almost every kind of traveler, but each group runs into different surprises: tiny hotel rooms for families, stairs everywhere for wheelchair users, discounts that only apply to EU residents. This page gathers what we tell friends in each situation, with links to the detailed pages on this site.

Families

French culture is very child-friendly in practice: kids eat in restaurants, play in squares until late in summer and get free or reduced entry almost everywhere. What trips up American families is pace, space and logistics.

Pacing by age

• Babies and toddlers: plan one major sight a day, with a park in between. Pharmacies sell formula, diapers (couches) and baby food, and supermarkets stock all three. Many cafés have no changing tables, so museums and department stores are your friends.
• Ages 5–11: castles, boat rides, beaches and anything with a carousel. The Loire châteaux, Mont-Saint-Michel, the Dordogne caves and Carcassonne's ramparts are big hits. Theme parks include Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix north of Paris, Puy du Fou in the Vendée (a history park with huge outdoor shows) and Futuroscope near Poitiers.
• Teens: give them some control, such as a day in Paris planned by them, a surf lesson in Biarritz or a bike day on the Loire. D-Day sites in Normandy land well with teenagers studying WWII. See American heritage.

French children eat lunch around noon to 1:30 p.m., have an afternoon snack (goûter) around 4:30, and dinner from about 7:30. Most restaurants offer a children's menu (menu enfant) at lunch and dinner, often for €10–15 (about $11–17). Kitchens close between lunch and dinner, so carry snacks.

Family rooms and lodging

French hotel rooms are small, and many are only sold for two. Look for chambres familiales (rooms for three or four), connecting rooms (chambres communicantes) or suites. Apartment hotels such as Citadines and Adagio have kitchens and sofa beds. In the countryside, a gîte (self-catering rental) or a campground with mobile homes, pools and kids' clubs is often the best value; France has some of Europe's best family campgrounds. Ask whether a crib (lit bébé) is free; it often is. See Where to stay.

Car seats: the law

French law requires children under 10 to ride in an approved child seat or booster suited to their weight and height, unless they're already big enough to use an adult seat belt properly. Under-10s may not ride in the front seat, except in a rear-facing baby seat with the airbag turned off, or when the car has no back seat or every back seat is taken by other young children. Police fine violations.

Rental companies rent seats for a daily fee, usually capped per rental; reserve them when you book. Taxis and ride-hailing cars don't carry seats as standard, so for airport transfers book a private transfer that supplies the right seats, or bring your own. French law calls for seats approved to European standards, and a US seat doesn't carry that label, so a rental seat is the safer legal choice on the road. See Driving.

Trains with kids

Trains are the easiest way to travel with kids: no security lines, space to walk and a café car. On SNCF trains, children under 4 need a ticket at the toddler fare (tarif bambin), which covers a ride on your lap; book a full child ticket if you want them to have a seat. All three Avantage cards (Jeune, Adulte and Senior, €49 each) give 60% off for up to three children aged 4 to 11 booked with the cardholder, and traveling with a child under 4 unlocks the Avantage Adulte discount on any day. SNCF's Junior & Cie service escorts unaccompanied children. Reserve seats facing each other (a carré) with a table. See Trains.

For Paris with kids, from playgrounds to strollers on the Métro, see Paris with kids & for free.

Honeymoons and romance

Best regions for couples

Special stays

Look for château hotels and the Relais & Châteaux collection for splurges, Michelin-starred restaurants with rooms in the countryside (often cheaper than the city), and luxury hotel barges on the Burgundy canals or the Canal du Midi. Tell hotels you're on your honeymoon (voyage de noces): upgrades and champagne aren't guaranteed, but they're common.

Proposing at the Eiffel Tower

You don't need permission to propose at the Eiffel Tower, and staff see it often. Some practical points:

• Security screening: everyone goes through a bag check at the entrance. A ring box shows up in a bag scan; keep it in a pocket and stay calm. Book tickets on the official site well ahead, and choose the top when you buy, since you can't upgrade once you're up there. The official site warns about fake ticket sellers.
• Best spots: the champagne bar at the top, at sunset; the first floor's quieter terraces; or dinner at one of the tower's restaurants (book weeks or months ahead). Many couples prefer to propose with the tower in view: at the Trocadéro at sunrise, on the Pont de Bir-Hakeim or in the Champ-de-Mars gardens.
• Photographers: hire a local proposal photographer to hide in the crowd. Drones are banned over Paris without authorization, so skip drone shots.
• Light show: after dark the tower sparkles for a few minutes at the start of every hour, a natural cue for the big moment.
• Watch out for pickpockets and the "found gold ring" scam at the Trocadéro, ironically common in exactly this spot. See Safety.

A 10-day romantic route

1. Days 1–3

   Paris

   Settle into Saint-Germain. Louvre or Orsay one morning, a Seine cruise at sunset, Montmartre in the early morning before the crowds, dinner in a classic bistro.

2. Day 4

   Champagne

   TGV to Reims, a cellar tour and tasting, overnight at a vineyard hotel near Épernay.

3. Days 5–6

   Provence

   TGV to Avignon (from Champagne, allow 3.5 to 4 hours with a connection; Paris to Avignon is about 2 hours 40 minutes), pick up a car and stay in a mas in the Luberon. Village markets, a winery lunch, sunset in Roussillon.

4. Days 7–9

   Riviera

   Drive or take the train to Nice. Stay in Villefranche or Èze, swim, take the coastal path at Cap Ferrat, and splurge on a dinner with a sea view.

5. Day 10

   Fly home

   Nice has nonstop flights to New York in season, or fly via Paris. See Flights.

LGBTQ+ travelers

France is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries in Europe. Same-sex marriage and adoption have been legal since May 2013, and civil unions (the PACS) since 1999. Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal, and since 2016 transgender people can change their legal gender without surgery. Paris and several big cities have long-established scenes, and same-sex couples rarely attract attention in central neighborhoods.

Where to go

• Paris: the Marais is the historic center of gay life, especially Rue des Archives, Rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie and Rue Vieille-du-Temple, with bars, cafés and shops. Queer nightlife has spread to Pigalle, Oberkampf and Belleville, and the Centre LGBTQI+ Paris Île-de-France on Rue Beaubourg is a good first stop for information.
• Montpellier: young, Mediterranean and one of France's most openly gay-friendly cities; it hosted France's first same-sex wedding in 2013.
• Marseille, Nice and Lyon: active bar scenes and Pride events. Nice and the Riviera have gay-friendly beaches and hotels.
• Lille, Toulouse and Bordeaux: smaller but lively scenes, with university crowds.
• The Alps: the European Snow Pride gay ski week has been held in Tignes in recent winters.

Pride in 2027

Paris Pride (Marche des Fiertés) is normally held on the last Saturday of June, which would be June 26, 2027, with events across the second half of June. In 2026, police postponed the march to October because of a heat wave, so confirm the date close to your trip. Other cities hold their own marches, mostly in June and July: Lyon and Montpellier usually in June, Marseille in early July. Check each organizer's site in spring.

Safety

Holding hands in central Paris, Lyon or Montpellier is unremarkable. Homophobic and transphobic attacks do happen, and the national association SOS Homophobie logged 1,771 cases in its 2026 annual report, more in some suburbs and rural areas. Use the same judgment you would in a mid-sized US city: be more discreet late at night, in some outer neighborhoods and in very rural areas. Report an attack to the police (17 or 112); hate motivation is an aggravating circumstance under French law.

Travelers with disabilities

France has strong accessibility laws, but much of the country is old stone, cobbles and stairs. Plan ahead, choose your base carefully and use the systems that work.

Paris transit: the reality

• Métro: fewer than 10% of stations are accessible to wheelchair users. Most stations were built long before accessibility rules, and the 2005 disability law didn't require retrofitting. Line 14 is the exception: every station has elevators, including its 2024 extensions north to Saint-Denis Pleyel and south to Orly airport. Newer extensions of other lines are accessible, as will be the Grand Paris Express lines now under construction.
• Buses and trams: all are accessible, with ramps and a wheelchair space. For most wheelchair users, buses are the way to get around Paris.
• RER and suburban trains: many stations have elevators, but not all, and there can be gaps between the platform and the train. Check each station in the Île-de-France Mobilités or RATP app, which can filter for step-free routes.
• Taxis: G7, the largest Paris taxi company, runs G7 Access, a fleet for passengers with reduced mobility. Book through the G7 app, g7.fr or by phone on 3607, and say you need an accessible vehicle. Licensed taxis must accept guide dogs at no extra charge.

See Getting around Paris for fares and routes.

Trains: SNCF Assist'enGare

SNCF's free assistance service, Assist'enGare (it replaced the older Accès Plus service), meets you at the station, helps you to your seat and from your seat to the exit or a connection. Book when you buy your ticket, and at least 24 hours before departure: online through the Gares & Connexions site, by phone on 3212 in France or +33 9 72 72 00 92 from abroad (daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). On TGV INOUI, wheelchair users travel in first class at the second-class price, and a companion gets the same deal. Wheelchair spaces are limited, so book early. OUIGO's slower classic trains don't take wheelchair users. Companion discounts usually require a French disability card, so ask what applies to you. See Trains.

Accessible sights

Disabled visitors and one companion get in free at national museums and monuments, Americans included; bring proof of disability. The Louvre, for example, admits a disabled visitor and companion free with priority access, and lends wheelchairs, canes and folding stools at no charge. Orsay, Versailles and most big museums also have elevators, loaner wheelchairs and step-free routes. The Eiffel Tower is accessible to the second floor. Hard places include Mont-Saint-Michel's abbey (hundreds of steps), Montmartre (use the funicular), medieval hill villages and many châteaux upper floors. See Paris sights.

The national Tourisme & Handicap label marks hotels, sights, restaurants and tourist offices assessed for one or more of four types of disability: mobility, hearing, vision and cognitive. Look for the blue logo and search the label's directory before you book. In hotels, ask for an "adapted room" (chambre adaptée or chambre PMR) and confirm the exact shower and door widths; elevators in older buildings can be tiny.

Equipment and parking

• Wheelchair and scooter rental: pharmacies and medical supply stores rent manual wheelchairs by the week, and several companies deliver to hotels. Book ahead in summer.
• Parking: France recognizes EU disability parking cards. A US placard has no formal legal standing in France, though some towns tolerate it. Ask your rental company and don't rely on it.
• Batteries: check airline rules for lithium mobility-aid batteries, and bring a plug adapter. France uses 230 volts; see Staying connected.

Hearing and vision

French Sign Language (LSF) is a historical ancestor of American Sign Language, but the two are now quite different. Many museums offer LSF tours and audio-description tours, as well as tactile objects. Deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers can reach emergency services through 114, which takes SMS, chat and video calls 24 hours a day and has its own app. Guide and assistance dogs are allowed by law in restaurants, shops, taxis, hotels and all public transport, free of charge. See Traveling with pets.

Seniors

France is a comfortable destination for older travelers, with good trains, excellent pharmacies and plenty of places to sit at a café. A few things are different from home.

Discounts: mostly not for you

Many French discounts depend on EU residency, not age. National museums are free for EU residents under 26 but rarely offer senior rates, and city transit discounts for seniors are usually for residents. Where senior prices exist, at some monuments, cinemas, ski lifts (often free over 75) and private sights, they usually start at 60 or 65; carry your passport as proof. The SNCF Carte Avantage Senior is available to anyone 60 or older for €49 (about $55) a year and gives 30% off TGV INOUI and Intercités fares. It pays for itself in two or three long trips. See Trains.

Health and mobility

• Insurance: Medicare generally doesn't cover care in France, and Medigap foreign travel coverage is limited. Buy travel medical insurance with evacuation coverage. See Safety & health.
• Medications: bring enough for the trip in original packaging, with a copy of your prescriptions using generic names. French pharmacists are highly trained and a good first stop for minor problems.
• Heat: summer heat waves now regularly push temperatures above 95°F (35°C), and many older hotels and apartments lack air conditioning. Book air-conditioned rooms from June to September.
• Walking: expect cobblestones, stairs in the Métro, hilly old towns and long museum corridors. Good shoes and a folding cane seat help. Base yourself near a bus line or taxi stand.
• Luggage: travel light, or use SNCF's paid luggage pickup and delivery service (Mes Bagages) so you don't have to lift bags onto trains.

River cruises

River cruises are popular with older Americans because you unpack once and the boat does the moving. The main French itineraries:

• Seine: Paris to Rouen and Honfleur, with excursions to Giverny and the D-Day beaches.
• Rhône and Saône: Lyon to Avignon and Arles, with Beaujolais, Burgundy and Provence excursions.
• Bordeaux: loops on the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde estuary to Saint-Émilion, the Médoc and Blaye.

Most ships have elevators between decks but not always to the sun deck, and docks may require walking or a gangway. Ask the line about mobility before booking.

Students and young travelers

• Museums: under-18s get in free at national museums whatever their nationality. The free entry for 18–25s applies to EU residents, which includes US students holding a French long-stay student visa. With only a US passport, you pay full price. The ISIC student card brings few discounts in France; age and residency matter more.
• Trains: the Carte Avantage Jeune (ages 12–27) costs €49 (about $55) for a year and gives 30% off TGV INOUI and Intercités fares, plus regional discounts. Low-cost OUIGO trains, FlixBus coaches and BlaBlaCar ride-sharing are even cheaper. Eurail passes have youth prices for travelers under 28. See Trains.
• Hostels: Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Bordeaux have good modern hostels from chains like Generator, St Christopher's, Meininger and The People, plus the HI-affiliated youth hostels (FUAJ). Dorm beds in Paris typically cost €35–60 (about $39–67) a night.
• Drinking and nightlife: the legal age to buy alcohol is 18. Clubs may have strict door policies; dress up a little and go in small groups.
• Budget food: bakeries, market picnics, university cafeterias (some open to visitors) and lunch set menus (formules) keep costs down. See Budget.

Planning to study, intern or work as an au pair or English teaching assistant? See Staying longer for student visas and Campus France.

Solo travelers and solo women

France is a good country to travel alone. Trains are easy, dining alone at a café or bistro counter is completely normal, and walking tours, cooking classes and wine tastings are easy places to meet people. Hostels and guesthouses are more sociable than hotels.

Solo women

Women generally travel safely in France, but street harassment (catcalling, following, persistent approaches) happens, especially in big cities. French law makes sexist harassment in public (outrage sexiste) an offense with fines. What helps:

• A firm "Laissez-moi tranquille" (leave me alone) and walking into a shop or café usually ends unwanted attention.
• Many bars take part in the "Demandez Angela" (Ask for Angela) scheme: ask staff for Angela and they'll quietly help you leave safely.
• Watch your drink. Drink spiking is reported in bars and clubs.
• After 10 p.m. on Paris buses, you can ask the driver to let you off between two stops, closer to your door.
• Around Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles and parts of the 18th and 19th arrondissements late at night, take a taxi instead of walking.
• The national helpline for women facing violence is 3919, free and anonymous. For emergencies, call 17 (police) or 112.

See Safety for scams and pickpocketing, and Etiquette for how not to look like a tourist.

Black travelers

Paris has drawn Black Americans for more than a century, from the soldiers and jazz musicians of World War I to the writers and artists who came in the 1920s through the 1960s seeking a freedom they couldn't find at home. Today France has a large Black population with roots in West and Central Africa and the French Caribbean, and its influence on food, music and fashion is everywhere.

Black history to see

• Montmartre and Pigalle: the 1920s jazz clubs where Bricktop, Sidney Bechet and Josephine Baker performed. Baker, the American-born entertainer, Resistance agent and civil rights activist, entered the Panthéon in 2021, the first Black woman so honored.
• The Latin Quarter: Richard Wright lived at 14 Rue Monsieur-le-Prince (look for the plaque), and writers including Chester Himes and James Baldwin gathered in nearby cafés. Baldwin spent his final years in Saint-Paul-de-Vence on the Riviera.
• The Panthéon also holds Alexandre Dumas, the grandson of an enslaved woman from Saint-Domingue, and honors Aimé Césaire and Toussaint Louverture with plaques. A monument to Dumas's father, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, stands on Place du Général-Catroux in the 17th.
• Outside Paris: the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes, the slave trade galleries of the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux and the Musée du Nouveau Monde in La Rochelle confront France's role in the Atlantic slave trade. Toussaint Louverture died in captivity at the Fort de Joux in the Jura, which can be visited.

France marks its national day of remembrance of slavery and its abolition on May 10.

Experiences and tours

Several Black-led companies run walking tours and food tours of Black Paris, such as Le Paris Noir and Little Africa, whose tours cover the African markets of Château Rouge and the Goutte d'Or in the 18th. The area around Château d'Eau and Strasbourg-Saint-Denis in the 10th is the center of Afro hair salons and beauty supply shops. Eat Senegalese thiéboudienne, Ivorian attiéké or Antillean accras in the 18th, 19th and 20th arrondissements.

What to expect

France officially doesn't collect statistics by race, and many French people are uncomfortable talking about race at all. Many Black Americans report being treated first as Americans, which can feel freeing. Others encounter racism, from stares in rural areas to discrimination at nightclub doors. French studies, including by the national rights ombudsman, have found that young Black and Arab men are stopped for police ID checks far more often than others. Carry a copy of your passport, stay calm and polite, and contact the US Embassy if you have a serious problem.

Jewish heritage and kosher travel

France has the largest Jewish community in Europe, and roughly 2,000 years of Jewish history.

Paris

• The Marais: the old Jewish quarter, known as the Pletzl, centers on Rue des Rosiers, with falafel stands, bakeries and Judaica shops. The synagogue on Rue Pavée was designed by Hector Guimard, the architect of the Art Nouveau Métro entrances.
• Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme (MAHJ), in a 17th-century mansion on Rue du Temple, covers Jewish life in France and Europe.
• Mémorial de la Shoah, 17 Rue Geoffroy-l'Asnier (Métro Saint-Paul or Pont-Marie): free museum and memorial, no booking needed, open Sunday to Friday and closed Saturdays, with the Wall of Names listing the roughly 76,000 Jews deported from France. Its annex at Drancy, site of the main transit camp, is reached by RER and bus.
• Vel d'Hiv memorial near the Bir-Hakeim Métro station, for the July 1942 roundup.
• Grande Synagogue de la Victoire in the 9th, the main synagogue of the Paris consistory.

Beyond Paris

• Provence: Carpentras has the oldest synagogue still in use in France, founded in the 14th century, and Cavaillon's 18th-century synagogue houses a small museum. Both date from the "Pope's Jews" who lived under papal protection in the Comtat Venaissin. The Camp des Milles memorial near Aix-en-Provence is a former internment camp.
• Alsace: rural synagogues, Jewish cemeteries and the Jewish-Alsatian museum in Bouxwiller. See Alsace.
• Troyes: the Maison Rashi honors the great medieval commentator. See Champagne.
• Bayonne and Bordeaux: Sephardic communities founded by Jews fleeing Spain and Portugal, who are credited with bringing chocolate-making to Bayonne.
• Izieu: the house where 44 Jewish children were hidden before their arrest in 1944 is a moving memorial near Lyon.

Kosher food and Shabbat

Paris has a large number of kosher restaurants and shops, concentrated in the Marais, the 9th (around Rue Richer and Rue Cadet), the 17th and the 19th. Most are supervised by the Beth Din of Paris; look for its certificate in the window. Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Strasbourg also have kosher restaurants. Kosher restaurants close for Shabbat, so plan Friday dinner and Saturday lunch ahead; Chabad centers in Paris and several other cities can help arrange Shabbat meals.

Faith travel

Worship in English

• Catholic: St. Joseph's Church, 50 Avenue Hoche (8th), is Paris's English-speaking Catholic parish, with Sunday Masses in English at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., a Saturday vigil at 6:30 p.m. and weekday Mass at 8:30 a.m. Lourdes has Masses in English in season.
• Protestant: the American Cathedral in Paris (Episcopal, Avenue George V), the American Church in Paris (interdenominational, Quai d'Orsay) and St. Michael's Church (Anglican, Rue d'Aguesseau, just off Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré). The Riviera has English-speaking Anglican churches in Nice and Cannes.
• Notre-Dame de Paris, reopened in December 2024 after the fire, holds daily Masses; entry is free.

The Grande Mosquée de Paris offers guided visits and a tea room, and Paris has synagogues of every tradition. Dress modestly in churches (shoulders and knees covered at the major shrines), and don't sightsee during services.

Business travelers

Meeting culture

• Greetings: a firm handshake and "Bonjour Madame" or "Bonjour Monsieur". Use vous and last names until invited otherwise; French colleagues move to first names more slowly than Americans. Cheek kisses (la bise) are for friends, not first meetings.
• Style: meetings often involve real debate and challenging ideas, which isn't hostility. Decisions can take longer and often go up the hierarchy. Bring well-reasoned arguments over enthusiasm.
• Punctuality: be on time. Your French host may run a few minutes late.
• Language: English is common in multinationals and tech, less so in traditional firms and regions. Opening with a few sentences in French earns goodwill. See Phrases.

Hours, calendar and dress

Offices typically run about 9 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., with a real lunch break from about 12:30 to 2. Don't schedule anything for lunchtime unless it's lunch. Avoid August, when much of France is on vacation, the weeks around Christmas, and May's holiday bridges. A French "right to disconnect" law means many colleagues won't answer email at night or on weekends. Dress is generally a step more formal than in the US: dark suits or tailored separates in finance, law and luxury, smart casual in tech.

Business lunches

A business lunch is a real meal, often with wine, and can last 90 minutes or more. Don't rush to business; talk about food, travel and culture first, and wait for the host to turn to work, often over the main course or coffee. The person who invited usually pays. Don't split the bill at the table. See Etiquette.

Coworking and getting work done

Paris has a large coworking scene, including WeWork, Morning, Wojo and Kwerk, with day passes and meeting rooms. Station F, the giant startup campus in the 13th, is for resident startups rather than drop-in work. Many Paris cafés frown on laptops at busy times, especially lunch and weekends. TGV INOUI trains have power outlets and Wi-Fi, and first class is quiet enough to work. The big trade fair venues are Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and Paris Nord Villepinte (near CDG). See Staying connected.

VAT on expenses

French prices include VAT (TVA): 20% on most things, 10% on restaurant meals, hotels and public transport. Ask for a proper invoice (une facture) with your company's name and the VAT shown separately, because a card slip isn't enough for accounting. Non-EU companies can reclaim some French VAT under the EU's refund procedure for non-EU businesses (the "13th Directive"), generally by June 30 of the following year. France requires a local tax representative for these claims, so most companies use a specialist recovery firm. Shopping VAT refunds for individuals are different; see Shopping & customs.

Cruise passengers

Ocean cruises call at several French ports, often with only 8 to 10 hours ashore. The key is knowing how far the sights are from the pier.

• Do the math on Paris from Le Havre. After travel time, you'll have five hours or less in the city. If you've never been, it can still be worth it; otherwise, Honfleur and Étretat are more relaxing.
• Allow a buffer to get back. If you go independently and miss all-aboard, the ship leaves without you. Strikes and traffic can delay trains and roads.
• Sundays and holidays: many shops close, though museums and restaurants usually open.
• Tender ports (Villefranche, Cannes) depend on the sea; in rough weather, the ship may skip the stop.
• Euros: bring a card that works for small purchases and some cash. See Money.

River cruises and canal boats

River cruises on the Seine, the Rhône and Saône, and the Bordeaux rivers are described in the seniors section above. For something more independent, you can rent a self-drive canal boat on the Canal du Midi, in Burgundy or in Alsace without a boating license; the rental company gives a short lesson. Luxury hotel barges with a crew and chef cruise the same canals.

Food, wine and art lovers

Food and wine

For many Americans, food is the reason to go. Our detailed pages cover it in depth: Food for regional dishes, markets, restaurants and how meals work, Eating in Paris for bistros, bakeries and food tours, and Wine for visiting vineyards region by region. A few ideas for building a trip around food:

• Cooking classes in English are easy to book in Paris, Lyon, Provence and Bordeaux, often with a market tour first.
• Lyon is France's food capital: bouchons, the Halles Paul Bocuse market and the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie. See Lyon.
• Wine regions: Bordeaux's Cité du Vin, Burgundy's Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, Champagne's cellars, Alsace's wine route and the Rhône Valley. Wineries labeled Vignobles & Découvertes welcome visitors. See Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace.
• Seasonal events: truffle markets in winter, the Beaujolais Nouveau in November, harvest in September and October. See Festivals.
• Bringing food home: hard cheeses and wine are fine; meat products aren't. See Shopping & customs.

Art lovers: the artists' trail

Beyond the Paris museums (see Paris sights), France lets you stand where the great painters worked. Note that the Centre Pompidou in Paris closed in 2025 for a renovation that runs to 2030. In the meantime, its collection appears in partner venues in Paris (including the Grand Palais and the Musée d'Art Moderne) and around France, including the Centre Pompidou-Metz and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.

Want help planning around one of these interests? Our trip planning service designs custom itineraries, and the Trip builder helps you sketch your own.