Got La Travel Bug? 8 of the Best Cities in France You Have to See Before You Die

city in France

Ah, France, the country of the true romantics and…the most extramarital affairs that don’t end in divorce? What can we say, the practice of French Mistresses goes way back.

Mistresses aside (and included) are a part of the rich French history, and there’s more to France than just Paris. Given that France is roughly the size of Texas, you can see all the cities below in a good amount of time.

Want to get started by learning the best cities in France? Keep reading below.

1. Aix En Provence

If you’ve never been to the south of France, you’re doing something wrong. Unless, of course, you’re planning to.

There’s no way to explain the general warmth that the south of France brings to your soul – and to your eyes. All the buildings, at least the older ones, are painted gorgeous warm colors. Yellows, oranges, and even some pinks.

If you want to see some brighter colors, like the kind on paper, you need to check out their art museum. It’s nestled in an old part of town. But the art inside it is anything but.

There are two main museums you need to check out – museum Granet and Museum Arbaud. If you have time and you love Cezanne, make some time to see his Atelier (or workshop).

Spend a few hours just walking the old streets, some even have their original stones. You’ll pass by restaurants, shops, and even cathedrals that are about the same age as the United States.

If you rented a car or you don’t mind taking city buses, stay in this grand chateau.

2. Amboise

When you think Leonardo de Vinci, what country do you think of? Italy, right?

Well, think again. The king of France invited the inventor to live in the town of Amboise in the Loire valley. As a gift, they let him live in the Chateau de Clos Luce – which is what we’d call a mansion more than a castle.

The whole house and its grounds are preserved and dedicated to the inventor. It’s almost eerie how many of his inventions exist today, even though his drawings never went anywhere, per se.

The town of Amboise itself has a castle, which you can walk around if you’d like. But it’s worth giving the town a good hour or two as well. Along the beginning of the town, there is some evidence of old cave dwellings.

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And we don’t mean cave men. These are houses, with doors, that are carved into the mountainside itself. They’re very cool to see.

Then, hop in your rental car and drive in any direction. You’ll find Caves (c-ave-s) all around. The Loire Valley is one of the main wine regions of France and they most all offer tastings.

3. Epernay, Champagne Region

We’re going to let you in on a little secret. What’s the difference between sparkling wine, prosecco, and champagne? You can only call something champagne if it was made in the Champagne region of France.

And yes, you can get nice and drunk in the town of your choosing. Champagne is a full region, or what we’d see as a large county. It has different towns. but we recommend Epernay.

It has that classic old-city charm that you want to see when you travel in the heart of France. But of course, you have options.

There’s

  • Reims
  • Bouzy
  • Chaumont
  • Bar Sur Aube
  • Troyes

You can take a train to the region in about an hour from Paris or drive in under two.

4. Eze

This is a tiny town you’ll likely visit on a day trip while you’re seeing city number (7). Why take this twenty-minute bus trip away from the ocean and up the hill?

There are two reasons, and both of them appeal to two different senses.

The most impressive to see (and touch, if you’re brave enough) is the cactus garden. It’s at the very top of the town with a little hike to get to the top. But it’s totally worth the climb.

Why? Over hundreds of years, the citizens of Eze have brought back cacti from exotic locations. And their cactus garden is unmatched in terms of diversity.

We suggest you go around seven at night, or the hour before the sun sets. The golden light will shine through the spines and you can watch the sunset over the Mediterranean in the distance.

Then there’s a sight for your nose – which would be Fragonard perfumery. It’s a France based perfume brand and they offer factory tours. Then you can shop their gift shop for your good smelling souvenirs.

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5. Lyons

Lyons is one of the biggest cities in France, other than Paris, obviously. It’s pronounced Lee-Ons, not lyons, as it seems.

The city itself was built at the intersection of two rivers, the Rhone and the Saone. It’s a historic town without the tourist craze of Paris itself.

And when we say historic – we mean that. While you can see some Roman remains in the heart of Paris – there are some here as well.

The 2,000-year-old city was the high point of the silk trade at one point which means the interiors of historic buildings are beautifully done. Think of it as Venice for France, in terms of fashion, and without the canals.

While there aren’t true canals, there are cool tunnels you can roam around. They’re called the Traboules and you can find them around Rue de Trois Maries.

But don’t be raucous – most of these tunnels now wall or go past residential homes. The French do not like to be disturbed at home.

Don’t leave town without checking out one of the most beautiful churches in France. It’s the Fourviere hill Basilica is in the oldest part of the city. Underneath the church (and around it) are some of the Roman remains.

While Sacre Coeur in Paris is beautiful (and on a hill) it doesn’t quite top this landmark.

6. Paris

You didn’t think we could write a list about French cities without putting Paris on it, did you?

That would be silly. The city of about two million people houses some of the most famous French landmarks. But don’t just traipse around and see the Eiffel tower.

The real Paris is hidden and can only be revealed on private or at least Parisian guided tours.

7. Nice

This is where you’ll likely stay if you want to see some gorgeous Mediterranean beaches – and weather. It’s also the town about a twenty-five-minute bus ride away from Eze (#4).

You’re likely to spot some celebs here if you go in the high season. There are Roman ruins as museums galore. Like the museum entirely dedicated to Henri Matisse, if you’re into his art.

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Since the city is built upon a hill we recommend taking a bus to destinations. You can always take the tourist bus around and let it take you to the stops you’re interested in.

If you plan to swim, we’d recommend you bring some sort of swim shoes. The beaches are rockier than sandy – which can be a pain on bare feet in the hot sun.

And please, keep your clothes on. Most people do not go topless tanning on the main drag of Nice beach – it’s fully visible from the road above.

8. Reims

Also in the Loire valley and part of the Champagne region is Reims. It’s known for its giant cathedral that puts Notre Dame to shame. Though it’s much larger, it shares a name with the Parisian landmark.

The full name is Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Reims. What’s so special about this church? Part of it is the beauty, but it’s also where 25 French kings were crowned. And it has some history including Joan of Arc.

From an architectural standpoint, it was the tallest church in France at one point. Remember that they were building with heavy stone and wood – so achieving height was difficult.

If you can only go to one town in champagne and you like architecture, then Reims is the town for you.

And just so you know, this city is famously hard to pronounce. It’s more like the word Reigns than how it sounds – but just try your best.

The Best Cities in France

You really can’t go wrong traveling in France. You can find things to do even in the most nondescript of cities. There are usually historic ruins and cool museums to be seen – even in industrial centers like Calais.

Just make sure you do what so many people fail to when they’re in France – learn a few French phrases. The idea that French people are rude (they’re not) comes from decades of tourists yelling another language at a local and expecting them to understand.

Want to travel to other destinations, not on the list of best cities in France? Get a look at our favorites here.