12 Best Places to Visit in France in 2026 (With Tips and What's New)

France is the world's most visited country for good reason: Paris, castles, lavender fields, the Alps, the Riviera and the best food and wine you will find anywhere. Fast TGV trains make it easy to combine several regions in one trip.

Here are the 12 places most worth your time in 2026, with one practical tip for each and the changes you need to know this year.

1. Paris

Why go: The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame (reopened after the fire and free to visit), Montmartre, the Seine and a café on every corner.

Tips:

• Louvre: from 14 January 2026, tickets cost €32 for visitors from outside the EEA and €22 for EEA visitors. Booking a time slot is recommended for everyone. It is closed on Tuesdays and open late (until 9 pm) on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Notre-Dame: entry is free. You can reserve a free time slot on the cathedral's official website. Any site selling "Notre-Dame tickets" is not official.
• Book the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower for weekday mornings, and buy tickets only on official websites.

2. Versailles

Why go: The Hall of Mirrors, the royal apartments and huge gardens, an easy train ride from Paris.

Tip: Palace entry needs a fixed time slot. In high season (April to October) the Passport ticket costs €35 (€32 for EU/EEA visitors). Go early and see the gardens last.

3. Mont-Saint-Michel

Why go: A medieval abbey on a tidal island in Normandy, UNESCO-listed and one of France's most magical sights. The tides here are among the biggest in Europe.

Tip: Park on the mainland and take the free "Le Passeur" shuttle (about 12 minutes). Stay until evening, when the day-trippers leave.

4. The Loire Valley

Why go: More than 300 châteaux, including Chambord and Chenonceau, in a UNESCO-listed river valley of vineyards and gardens.

Tip: See it by bike: the "La Loire à Vélo" route is flat and links many of the châteaux.

5. Provence

Why go: Lavender fields, hilltop villages, Roman ruins and markets full of local food.

Tip: Lavender flowers from mid-June in the lower areas (Valensole, the Luberon) to the end of July higher up. Aim for late June to mid-July, and go early in the morning for the best light.

6. Nice and the Côte d'Azur

Why go: The French Riviera: the Promenade des Anglais, blue water, the old town of Nice and glamorous day trips.

Tip: Take the local train from Nice to Monaco. It is easy and cheap, and the coastline views are beautiful.

7. Lyon

Why go: France's food capital, with a UNESCO-listed old town, hidden traboules (secret passageways) and traditional bouchons restaurants. The Fête des Lumières light festival starts on 8 December.

Tip: Explore the traboules of Vieux Lyon and Croix-Rousse on foot, then book a bouchon for dinner.

8. Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion

Why go: Elegant Bordeaux and the UNESCO-listed wine village of Saint-Émilion, about 35 km away, with a church carved into the rock.

Tip: Book a wine tour with a driver so everyone can enjoy the tastings.

9. The Normandy D-Day beaches

Why go: A moving journey through history: Omaha and Utah beaches, museums and the Normandy American Cemetery, which holds more than 9,000 graves.

Tip: Go with a local guide for the full story, and check the cemetery's official website before your visit for any booking requirements.

10. Alsace: Strasbourg and Colmar

Why go: Half-timbered houses, wine villages and canals. Colmar's "Little Venice" looks like a fairy tale, and Strasbourg's Christmas market has run since 1570.

Tip: Visit from late November to December for the Christmas markets. They are busy, so book hotels early.

11. Chamonix, Mont Blanc and Annecy

Why go: Chamonix sits below Mont Blanc, and the Aiguille du Midi cable car climbs to 3,842 m with a glass box called "Step into the Void". Nearby Annecy, the "Venice of the Alps", has canals, a castle on an island and a crystal-clear lake.

Tip: Check the weather before going up the Aiguille du Midi. On a cloudy day you will see nothing. Children under 3 are not allowed.

12. Carcassonne

Why go: A walled medieval city with 52 towers and double ramparts, straight out of a storybook.

Tip: Walk the ramparts early in the morning or at sunset, and book castle tickets on the official website.

What is new in France in 2026

• Louvre price change: €32 for non-EEA visitors since 14 January 2026.
• Versailles prices changed on 14 January 2026, with separate EU/EEA rates.
• EU Entry/Exit System (EES): since 10 April 2026, non-EU visitors are registered digitally at the border (face photo and fingerprints) instead of getting passport stamps. Allow extra time on your first entry.
• ETIAS is not required yet. It is expected to start later, with a €20 fee. Check the official EU website before you travel.
• Paris tourist tax rose for 2026. It is charged per person per night and depends on your hotel's star rating, and is usually added to your hotel bill.

Best time to visit France

• Spring (April to June) and September are ideal: pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
• Late June to July for Provence lavender.
• July and August are busy and hot in the south. Many Parisians go on holiday in August.
• Late November to December for the Alsace Christmas markets and Lyon's festival of lights.
• Winter for skiing in the Alps.

Getting around France

• TGV high-speed trains link Paris with Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg and more. OUIGO is the low-cost TGV option.
• Rent a car for Provence, the Loire, Normandy and the Dordogne countryside.
• Tipping: service is included in restaurant prices by law. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated but not expected.

Staying connected in France

You will want data for train tickets, museum time slots, maps and restaurant bookings. A travel eSIM is the easiest option: install it at home and it connects when you land at CDG, Orly or Nice.

In our [2026 network data](/blog/which-network-does-my-travel-esim-use-by-country-2026), travel eSIMs in France connect to Orange, Free and Bouygues, with 5G on some plans. Coverage is excellent in cities and on the main train lines, with some gaps in the high mountains.

Visiting other countries too? A [Europe regional eSIM](/blog/esim-for-europe-trip-multi-country-regional) covers France and more than 30 other countries on one plan. Or see all [France eSIM plans](/destinations/esim-france).

Sample 10-day France itinerary

1. Days 1–4: Paris, including the Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and a day at Versailles.
2. Day 5: Mont-Saint-Michel, or the Normandy D-Day beaches.
3. Days 6–7: TGV to Lyon for food and the old town.
4. Days 8–10: Provence and Nice, with lavender in season, hilltop villages and a day trip to Monaco.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Louvre in 2026?

Since 14 January 2026, a Louvre ticket costs €32 for visitors from outside the EEA and €22 for visitors from the EEA. Under-18s go free. Booking a time slot is recommended.

Is Notre-Dame free to visit?

Yes. Entry to Notre-Dame Cathedral is free. You can reserve a free time slot on the official website to skip the longest line. Paid "tickets" from other websites are not official.

How many days do you need in France?

Ten days lets you combine Paris with one or two regions, such as Normandy and Provence. With a week, spend four days in Paris and three in one region.

When is lavender season in Provence?

From mid-June in the lower areas (Valensole, the Luberon) to the end of July in the higher areas. Late June to mid-July is usually the best time.

Do I need ETIAS to visit France in 2026?

Not yet. ETIAS has not started. Since April 2026, non-EU visitors are registered at the border in the new Entry/Exit System instead. Check the official EU website before you travel.

Can I use a travel eSIM in France?

Yes. Travel eSIMs connect to French networks (Orange, Free and Bouygues in our data). Install it before you fly and turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you land.

The bottom line

France rewards every kind of trip: art and food in Paris, castles in the Loire, lavender in Provence and mountains in the Alps. Book the Louvre and Versailles time slots in advance, remember the new 2026 prices for non-EEA visitors, and stay online everywhere with a [France eSIM](/destinations/esim-france).