Getting to know France

The world's most visited country, for good reason

France welcomes more international visitors than any other country, and most of them start in Paris — a city of grand boulevards, neighborhood cafés and some of the world's great museums. But the country beyond the capital is just as rewarding: the Loire Valley's Renaissance châteaux, the D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, the lavender and hill towns of Provence, and the glamorous French Riviera.

Food and wine are central to French life, and every region has its own specialties — butter and cream in Normandy, olive oil and herbs in Provence, and wine country from Bordeaux and Burgundy to Champagne. Lunch is taken seriously, dinner starts around 8 p.m., and a simple "Bonjour" when you enter any shop goes a long way.

France is easy to combine. High-speed TGV trains reach Provence from Paris in about three hours, Eurostar links Paris with London in about two and a half, and river cruises on the Seine and Rhône connect Paris, Normandy, Burgundy and Provence without the need to pack and unpack.

Planning notes

Planning notes for France

• Reserve the big sights. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower summit and Versailles all use timed tickets; we book them ahead.
• Trains over cars. TGV trains make Paris-to-Provence or Bordeaux easy; a car is best only for the countryside of Normandy, the Loire or Provence.
• August slows down. Many Parisians leave on holiday in August and some small restaurants close. May, June and September are ideal.
• Entry requirements. France is in the Schengen Area, and new entry-registration and ETIAS systems are being phased in — check current requirements; we confirm them for you.