Your ultimate guide to France

There’s a lot that France is famous for. Cheese, for one thing. Paris, for another. Rose by the gallon. Quaint rural villages to be explored with a floppy hat on. In fact, beaches might not even be one of the first things that come to you when you think of France.  But if thats the case, youre missing out. France’s beaches rival some of the best in the world, with crystal-clear waters, hidden coves and jaw-dropping sunsets for days. We’ve rounded up the best beaches in France to add to your European bucket list, and you’ll find everything from tranquil swimming spots to high-end resorts on our list. Here are the best beaches in France.  RECOMMENDED:✈️ The best places to visit in France🏨 The best hotels in France☀️ The best hotels in the South of France📍 The best city breaks in Europe for 2024 Heidi Fuller-Love is a travel writer based between Greece and France. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Make no mistake about it; France lives up to the hype. This famous country means a lot of things to a lot of people, but there are plenty of reasons why it remains one of the most visited places on the planet. The cities are iconic (how many dream of falling in love in Paris?), the beaches are elite, and the rural villages are as picturesque as rural villages get. And yet all that stuff just scratches the surface of France’s charms. This place is overspilling with beautiful stuff, from its natural landscapes filled with lavender fields, gorges and lakes to its man-made wonders like its towns and feats of engineering. France is a brilliant place to simply see – hence why we wrote up this list. Below is the absolute cream of France’s aesthetic crop: the most essential, gorgeous, awesome sights in this fabulous country.  RECOMMENDED:🏡 The best places to visit in France📍 The best things to do in France🌳 The prettiest villages in France🏖 The best beaches in France🏰 Spectacular French châteaux you can rent🏡 The best hotels in Provence

A little bit of realistic thinking is required. It is important to accept that covering everything in France is an impossible task that would take several lifetimes to complete. Best to focus on the best of the best then, right? The best things to do in France are enough to make travel obsessives out of cynics, covering everything from the tops of mountains to secret coves between the seas. France is famous for many reasons, but ‘being France’ is probably the most important.Paris gets most of the attention, yet falling in love with a beautiful village here is almost a rite of passage. The cuisine is as good as our species has produced, while the beaches somehow stay rugged and stylish. France is France, and it can never be anything else. This is the best that France has to offer. RECOMMENDED:🛏 The best hotels in the South of France🏰 The best French châteaux you can rent on Airbnb😋 The best restaurants in France

Some places you go to for the food. Others you go to for the culture. You get all of this in France and more, but if you’re looking for a picturesque, postcard-worthy little town, that will make you feel like you’re in a rom-com? You have to choose one of its prettiest villages.  France’s villages are full of peaceful river walks, sweet little trinket shops, jaw-dropping churches and towers and tons of romantic ruins. The likes of Paris and Lyon might take all the limelight, but don’t sleep on these smaller spots. Warning, things are seriously romantic here, so be prepared for true love to await you. Read on for our guide to the prettiest villages in France.  RECOMMENDED:🇫🇷 The best places to visit in France🏖️ The best beaches in France🏨 The best hotels in the South of France🏞️ The best places to stay on the French Riviera🏠 The best Airbnbs in Toulouse Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts. 

Considered by many to be the culinary capital of the world, France does not disappoint when it comes to delicious and decadent dining. From top-notch seafood along dramatic coasts to one-of-a-kind wine bars and brasseries, these are the best places to go for a meal out in the country right now whether you're looking for one of the best restaurants in Paris or just one of the best things to do in France. RECOMMENDED: 🛏 The best hotels in France

From vintage gems to clothes and endless bric-à-brac, find bargains galore at the very best flea markets in Paris

From bistros and brasseries to Michelin fare (and everything in between) here’s where you should eat in the City of Light this year

Where do you start in this marvellous metropolis? We’ll help. Here’s our ultimate Paris bucket list

Here’s how to eat out for under €20 in the French capital – without sacrificing on flavour (or vibes)

The Louvre might be one of the greatest spectacles in the world, but there's so much more to the best museums in Paris

We accepted the challenge and chomped our way through the best jambon-beurres in Paris. Because it's not just sandwich – it's an institution.

From cheap to boutique to all-out luxury, the best hotels in Paris have something for everyone – here are our top picks

From warehouse raves and basement bangers, to deep house and heavy metal, the best night clubs in Paris party from dusk 'til dawn.

The best bakeries in Paris have got everything you need to sink your sweet tooth in, and we know where to find them

Get your fill of steak-frites, soupe à l’oignon and other French classics at one of the very best bistros in Paris

Just outside Marseille, the Calanques National Park is one of France’s most breathtaking spots. Here’s everything you need to plan a visit

From beachside shacks to communal fine dining, here’s where to eat in the city everyone’s talking about

France’s Mediterranean port city has it all, from picture-perfect coves to super-cool arts venues and decades-old independent shops

Marseille ain’t just a city break, and these brilliant beaches prove it

The Marseille-born author of ‘Taste the World in Marseille’ shares her favourite pizza spots in the city – and what makes pizza the city’s real signature dish

Want to experience the city like a local? We’ve got you covered with this ultimate neighbourhood guide

Our top picks of the best things to do, see and eat in the world’s coolest neighbourhood right now

From Calanque-hopping to sunset cruises, Marseille’s best boat trips are the way to make the most of the city’s Mediterranean setting

From cosy city centre apartments to strikingly modern beach villas, these are the best Airbnbs in Marseille