Europe’s most popular city is the world capital of romance, a place of fine food, epoch-defining art and, rising serenely above it all, the Eiffel Tower. Whether it’s the scent of coffee and croissants from a boulangerie or haute cuisine at a temple of gastronomy, Paris goes to work on its stomach.
A city by the sea, famous for its beautiful Promenade des Anglais, Nice enjoys dazzling sunshine and has a lust for life that is made manifest in its sensational food, flower markets and beautiful pebbled beaches. Whether you’re here for the culture, the Riviera life or to feast, you won’t be disappointed.
For those in the know, France’s third-largest city is a gourmet destination that serves up Lyonnaise specialties in traditional bouchons. without compare. It also has marvellous markets, seemingly unchanged from the 19th century, the bijou but brilliant Musée des Beaux Arts and Renaissance treasures aplenty to discover.
La Ville Rose blushes pink with terracotta, giving this city a charm that seeps into your soul. Head straight the old quarter (Vieux Quartier) to tap straight into what makes this city so special, where bell towers and cathedrals share space with pavement cafes and locals living life.
Here in south-western France sits a famously pretty city, surrounded by tumbling vineyards and imbued with a rare beauty. Everywhere you turn seems to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the 18th century core of the city like a place from the past set in aspic. Bordeaux is also moving forward, with new and energetic areas coming to the fore.
Much of Brittany’s capital dates from the 18th century, all wonderfully preserved half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. The perfect Cathédrale St-Pierre is even older, with a dramatic ceiling and a sense of peace that is a perfect respite before this lively north-west student city comes alive at night.
This port city on the French Riviera is gritty and disarmingly pretty. Yachts bob in the bay, in full view of a harbour that the Romans were using some 2,000 years ago. It’s a destination defined by the sea, teeming with culture and brimming with museums historical architecture and unique character.
One of France’s more understated cities, Montpellier is effortlessly charming, with its graceful buildings facing up to beaches of soft, white sand. Spot the Rubens and Monet masterpieces in the Musée Fabre, take to the sea or head out in your hire car to explore the luscious Languedoc.
There’s much more to Dijon than its famed mustard. This is a historic city full of unexpected pleasures, such as architecture from the Renaissance and the staggering collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Wander the Les Halles market, designed by Gustave Eiffel, then delight in Burgundian cuisine after sunset.
The Alsace region's premier city, Strasbourg is a wonderful culture clash of French and German influences, with half-timbered houses, Gothic cathedrals and one of Europe's great Christmas markets. The contrasts continue in the modern EU Quarter, where the European Union conducts its business just moments from canals and quintessentially Alsatian cuisine.
