Things to do in 

France

Follow your curiosity to alternative things to do in Paris courtyards, seaside lanes in Brittany, and vineyard towns in Burgundy, where small daily rituals welcome you in softly.

Cultural experiences: In Paris, try a hands-on bookbinding or perfumery workshop around Canal Saint‑Martin, then share aperitif bites at a cozy wine cave—great for couples. In Lyon (2 hours from Paris by train), cook a simple bouchon menu with a local chef and learn why praline tarts matter. Near Avignon, join a truffle hunt in Uzès’ garrigue, a gentle forest walk seniors enjoy. In Bayonne, watch a Basque pelota practice and taste sheep’s cheese at the market; luxury travellers can add a private ciderhouse dinner in nearby San Sebastián style.

Day trip ideas: From Paris, ride out to Provins (1h25) for medieval ramparts and a calm lunch under stone arches; or to Auvers‑sur‑Oise (45 minutes) to trace Van Gogh’s last paths. From Lyon, wander Pérouges (40 minutes) and roll through Beaujolais villages for easy tastings. From Nice, ride the TER to Menton (40 minutes) for lemon groves and pastel facades, or climb to Èze (30 minutes) for perfumers and cliff views—couples love the slow tempo.

Explore France's regions: In Provence and the Riviera, base in Avignon or Nice for market mornings, olive mills, and coastal footpaths. In Normandy, split time between Bayeux and Honfleur for cider farms and tidal walks near Mont‑Saint‑Michel. In the Loire Valley, use Tours or Amboise for châteaux-by-bike days and troglodyte wine caves. In Burgundy, stay in Beaune for cellar tastings and vineyard lanes that suit seniors and families. In Dordogne around Sarlat, combine river paddles with prehistoric cave art and walnut farms.

Travel tip: Give 7–10 days to Paris plus one region (Normandy, Loire, or Provence). For three to four regions—say Paris, Burgundy, Dordogne, and the Riviera—plan 14–21 days to keep transfers short and days pleasantly full.

More places to see in France

Beyond Paris, set your sights on food halls, sea air, and quiet river bends. Each region brings its own rhythm, and a few days on the ground opens it up in an easy, memorable way.

Lyon: Slip through the traboules of Vieux Lyon late morning, then graze at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse where locals line up for oysters and praline tarts. Toward evening, ride the funicular to Fourvière and watch the rooftops deepen in color before finding a small bouchon for dinner.

Marseille & the Calanques: Catch the Vieux-Port fish market at breakfast time and see what came off the boats, then wander Le Panier’s painted lanes for coffee and a view back to the harbor. In the late afternoon, hike or boat into the Calanques and swim in clear coves like Sormiou before eating by the water at Vallon des Auffes.

Dordogne: Start with Sarlat’s Saturday market for walnuts, cheeses, and a still-warm baguette, then paddle the Dordogne in the afternoon past Beynac and La Roque-Gageac as castle walls rise above the river. End the day at Domme’s belvedere when the valley softens and village lights blink on.

Alsace: Drift through Colmar’s Little Venice for a midday tarte flambée, then drive the Route des Vins to stone villages like Eguisheim and Riquewihr for an easy tasting of riesling or pinot gris. Settle into a winstub for dinner, wood tables close and the chatter humming around you.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Expect milder days to pull you onto café terraces as cherry and magnolia bloom across Paris parks and the Loire’s château gardens. Wander fresh markets for asparagus and strawberries, spot flamingos in the Camargue, and enjoy gentler crowd levels that suit seniors and anyone after an easier pace.

Summer: Head south to swim calm Mediterranean coves, breathe in lavender fields in Provence from late June to August, and hike flowered alpine trails in the morning cool. Join locals on 14 July for fireworks and village fêtes, browse lively night markets in the Dordogne, and linger over late dinners on a terrace while families kayak rivers and couples chase sunset viewpoints.

Fall: Follow the vendanges through Burgundy and Bordeaux to taste new releases, stroll golden vineyard lanes in Alsace, and browse truffle and mushroom markets as the air turns crisp. Cooler days make big-city exploring comfortable, with photographers and seniors appreciating slower sightseeing and cosy bistro stops.

Winter: Warm up at storybook Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar, sip vin chaud between timbered stalls, and admire light shows in Lyon as evenings arrive early. Seek powder in the Alps, settle into snug cafés and museums on quieter weekdays, and share galette des rois in January while couples enjoy softly lit neighbourhood walks.

Mark the calendar for Fête de la Musique on 21 June when streets across France fill with free concerts, and join Bastille Day celebrations on 14 July with parades and fireworks. In May, Nuit des Musées opens museums late for free entry, while September’s Journées Européennes du Patrimoine unlocks historic buildings usually closed to the public; summer brings Paris Plages along the Seine and roadside spectating as the Tour de France races past villages and mountain passes.