France Budget Travel Guide (Updated 2024) (2024)

Other Things to See and Do in France

1. See the D-Day beaches in Normandy

On June 6th, 1944, the Allies of World War II launched Operation Overlord, the largest seaborne invasion in history. Over 300,000 Allied troops were involved in the operation, which took place in Normandy (some 20,000 troops died in this operation alone). Here you can learn about the D-Day landings along the beaches of northern France and see the memorials and museums detailing the history of the event. You can still see some of the old bunkers and fortifications too. Full-day guided tours of the D-Day Landings cost around 150 EUR.

2. Wander the Palace of Versailles

Located very close to Paris, this royal palace was completed by Louis XIV in 1715 and was used by the French kings until the French Revolution in 1789. Constructed at the height of French power, the complex sought to show off the monarch’s tremendous wealth. Over 10 million people visit this extravagant palace each year. After the Eiffel Tower, it’s the most popular attraction in the country. While everyone goes to the main palace, be sure to spend time around the gardens and Marie Antoinette’s palace and village. You’ll find a lot fewer people there.

Tickets to the entire complex cost 27 EUR. If you want to beat the crowds (which I highly recommend), skip-the-line tickets are available for 55 EUR. Since upwards of 10,000 people visit per day, skipping the line will save you a ton of time. The wait to get tickets can last hours. Moreover, go during the week if you can for fewer crowds.

For a more in-depth experience, this Versailles tour is led by a local expert guide and includes round-trip transportation from Paris at a time that avoids most of the crowds.

3. Explore history in Lyon

Located around two hours south of Paris by train, this is the third-largest city in the country. The area around Lyon is home to wonderful castles and small villages. It’s great for those looking to explore the French countryside and take a trip back to medieval France. The whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t miss the relaxing 20-acre botanical garden, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière (which dates to the 19th century), and touring the city’s Old Quarter. This university town also has a lot of jazz and a large live music scene.

4. Hobnob with the rich in Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city-state on the French Riviera. This tiny kingdom is home to winding streets, beautiful buildings, a world-famous casino, gigantic modern yachts, and just 39,000 people (over 30% of whom are millionaires!). Hang out with society’s well-heeled who flock to the Cote D’Azur from other parts of France during the summer. Spanning just a couple of square kilometers, it’s one of the smallest countries in the world. Be sure to stop by the famous Monte Carlo Casino (where several James Bond films as well as Ocean’s Twelve were filmed) for the decor and wander the palace grounds as the gardens there are lovely. It’s worth a day trip from Nice though I wouldn’t spend more time than that there.

5. See Alsace

This northeast region along the border with Germany is a magnificent place to visit. The mixing of Germanic and French influences characterizes the region (since it has been owned and annexed by both countries), with the old town of Colmar being the main attraction (Belle’s town in Beauty and the Beast is based off of it). The postcard-perfect downtown is lined with cobblestone streets and old half-timber houses — some of which date back to the 1300s. Be sure to see the Gothic 13th-century church too. Don’t miss the largest city in the region either, Strasbourg, with its towering cathedral and incredible plazas and riverfront. And, if you love wine, drive the Alsace Wine Route, which you can explore over a few days and see the region’s best vineyards. The region also has the best Christmas markets in France.

6. Wander through Parc de la Villette

This Parisian park — the third-largest in the city after the Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne — is host to Europe’s largest science museum and some other odd attractions. There is a large collection of architectural follies (buildings constructed for decoration), theme gardens, and open spaces for activity and exploration. It was designed for children as well as adults and is a neat place to check out. It’s in the 19th arrondissem*nt and totally worth visiting. It doesn’t get a lot of visitors so you’ll have the place mostly to yourself.

7. Visit the trenches of World War I

France was ground zero during World War I (1914-1918) and there are still many indicators of the damage caused during those years around the country. Two important battles took place at Vimy Ridge (which marked a huge success for Canadian forces) and Verdun (the longest battle of the war that saw over 700,000 people killed or wounded). Both sites have set up excellent tourist centers and visiting facilities so you can learn about the war and its impact on France and the world. They are very moving and educational experiences. You can reach Verdun from Paris in around three hours by car while Vimy Ridge is just over two hours away.

8. Explore Roman ruins

France has some of the best Roman ruins outside of Italy. Orange, Nimes, and Arles all have beautiful Roman theaters, and Nimes also contains one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the entire region of the former Empire, which dates back to around 2 CE. I loved Nimes a lot. It was an old Roman outpost and has an amazing double-tiered area that dates back to 70 CE. It’s certainly a surprise to see so many indicators of Roman rule in the south of France, and these sites are definitely worth a visit. Half-day tours around the region (including admission) cost around 80 EUR.

9. Visit the Medieval town of Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a medieval walled city. Legend has it that the town survived a siege when one of the townswomen had the bright idea of feeding the remaining food to a pig. Once they fattened it up, they threw it over the fortifications so that it appeared that they were so well-fed that they were being wasteful and gluttonous. The attacking troops gave up and went home. That’s probably not true, but this town still retains a lot of medieval character and offers plenty of interesting shops and alleys to explore. Don’t miss a tour of the castle and ramparts while you’re here!

10. Go skiing

The French Alps offer some of the best ski slopes in Europe. If you’re in Europe in the winter months and at a loss for what to do, consider getting a group together and renting a ski chalet, or staying at one of the slope-side hotels or hostels. Bring plenty of beer and wine to warm you up after a long day on the hills. Note that skiing in France is not cheap (lift passes usually cost upwards of 75 EUR per day). Some of the most popular ski resorts include La Clusaz, Avoriaz, Val d’Isère, and Chamonix.

11. See Dune de Pyla

This sand dune is located an hour outside Bordeaux in Pyla Sur Mer, a resort town where many of France’s well-to-do spend the summer. It’s the largest sand dune in Europe and the result of winds eroding one shore of the bay and blowing sand over. The dune is nearly 3 kilometers (2 miles) long and up to 110 meters (360 feet) high in some places. Visit at dawn or dusk for the best views. You can walk along the entire dune in around 90 minutes.

12. Wander the Louvre

The Louvre is the biggest museum in the world, with thousands of square feet of space and millions of artifacts and works of art (including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo). To see it all, you need at least two full days, but you can do the highlights in a full afternoon. Admission costs 17 EUR, while timed skip-the-line tickets are an additional 17 EUR. Due to capacity restrictions, you MUST get your ticket in advance. They sell out these days so if you don’t get your ticket in advance, you run the risk of showing up and being denied entrance.

13. Go diving

Diving may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of France, but Marseille is making a name for itself as the country’s diving capital. Take a trip out into the Mediterranean, where you can explore tunnels, caves, and admire colorful sea sponges, anemones, and sea fans. You can also spot moray eels and octopuses as well as numerous shipwrecks, such as Le Liban (1882) and Le Chaouen (1961). Go from June to October, when the water is a bit warmer, for the best diving and visibility. Prices start at 110 EUR.

For more information on specific cities in France, check out these guides: