The Spinny Index: France
Spinny's verdict: unscientific, but built on a lot of travel. 5 wheels = maximum.
Paris: Montmartre views, world-class art and the banks of the Seine
Climb Montmartre to the white domes of the Sacré-Cœur. From the top of the dome, the whole city spreads out below you.
The Louvre was once a palace of the French kings and is now home to the Mona Lisa. Across the river, the Musée d'Orsay fills a former railway station with Impressionist art.
The banks of the Seine are a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire. For more ideas, see our guide to city breaks in France.
Best for: art, food, romance · Spinny tip: Climb the Sacré-Cœur dome, not just the steps outside. The view is worth the extra stairs.
The French are obsessed with…
The Riviera and Provence: turquoise bays, lavender and Roman stones
On the French Riviera, the Promenade des Anglais follows Nice's Bay of Angels. Regional trains run along the coast to Menton, near the Italian border.
Inland, Provence is hilltop villages and markets. Around the Valensole plateau, the lavender blooms from about mid-June to mid-July.
In Avignon, the Palais des Papes was home to the popes in the 14th century. Further west, the Romans left the Pont du Gard aqueduct bridge and amphitheaters in Arles and Nîmes.
Best for: beaches, road trips, history · Spinny tip: See the lavender in early July. The harvest starts in mid-July and the fields soon go bare.
Spinny's food dare
Four words that open doors
| Hello | Bonjour | bon-ZHUR |
| Thank you | Merci | mer-SI |
| Cheers! | Santé ! | san-TE |
| Goodbye | Au revoir | o-rə-VWAR |
Capitals = stressed syllable. ə = a short, neutral vowel.
Normandy and the Loire: an island abbey, D-Day beaches and Renaissance châteaux
Mont-Saint-Michel is an abbey on a rocky islet, in a bay known for its powerful tides.
On the Normandy coast, Allied troops came ashore on the D-Day beaches on June 6, 1944.
In the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you'll find Chambord and Chenonceau, a château that bridges the River Cher. Pair the castles with our guide to French wine.
Best for: history, castles, road trips · Spinny tip: Check the tide times before visiting Mont-Saint-Michel. The bay looks completely different at high and low tide.
France in 60 seconds
- 52 BC Julius Caesar defeats the Gaulish leader Vercingetorix at Alesia.
- 800 Charlemagne is crowned emperor in Rome on Christmas Day.
- 1789 Parisians storm the Bastille on July 14, and the Revolution begins.
- 1889 The Eiffel Tower opens for the World's Fair in Paris.
- Today A republic with Paris as its capital, linked by high-speed TGV trains.
The Alps and Corsica: Mont Blanc views, canal towns and a wild island
From Chamonix, a cable car climbs to the Aiguille du Midi, with views of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in western Europe.
Nearby, Annecy has an old town threaded with canals, on the shore of Lake Annecy.
Out in the Mediterranean, Corsica is home to the GR20, often called Europe's toughest walking trail.
Best for: hiking, skiing, nature · Spinny tip: Ride up to the Aiguille du Midi on a clear day. Clouds can hide Mont Blanc completely.
France: three easy mistakes
France by numbers
Myth vs truth
💶 What it costs
Paris and the Riviera are the most expensive parts of France, while smaller towns and the countryside cost noticeably less. Some major sights, like the Louvre, charge visitors from outside the EEA a higher price.
🛂 Visa & entry (tourist stays)
- EU/EEA citizens: No visa needed. A valid passport or national ID card is enough. (Official source)
- US citizens: No visa needed for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave. (Official source)
- UK citizens: No visa needed for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave. (Official source)
Other nationalities, longer stays or work: check the official source.
General guidance only, not legal advice. This information is collected automatically and may be incomplete or out of date. SpinYourDestination takes no responsibility for your entry to any country – always check the official source or the embassy before you travel.
