France

France Tour

The Art, Romance & Savoir-Faire of France

Embark on a timeless journey to France-where grand boulevards, sun-splashed vineyards, snow-dusted Alpine peaks, and Mediterranean coves meet cutting-edge culture and centuries of craft. From Parisian icons and Loire Valley châteaux to lavender-lined Provence lanes, medieval villages, Atlantic surf towns, and ski-perfect slopes, France blends elegance with effortless everyday pleasures. Feast on market-fresh bistro plates, sip beloved wines where they’re born, and wander museums that shaped the world. Whether you’re cruising the Seine at sunset, tracing D-Day beaches, tasting Champagne in historic cellars, or hiking beneath Mont Blanc, France delivers a richly layered, life-affirming escape.

With Ocean6 Holidays’ curated France packages, discover a nation that pairs world-class art and cuisine with soul-stirring landscapes-where style, heritage, and joie de vivre take center stage.

France Tourism: A Quick Overview
Continent: Europe
Official Language: French
Dial Code: +33
Population: ~68.6 million
Currency: Euro (€)
Time Zone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2 in summer)
Area: ~632,700 km² (metropolitan + overseas regions)

Highlights of France

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Paris & the Classics:

Eiffel Tower sunsets, the Louvre & Musée d’Orsay, café terraces, and the Seine’s glittering bridges-eternal icons with fresh energy.

Châteaux & Countryside:

Storybook Loire castles, Dordogne villages, Burgundy cloisters, and half-timbered Alsace towns wrapped in vineyards and forest.

Wine & Gastronomy:

Bordeaux grands crus, Burgundy pinot & chardonnay, Champagne caves, Provençal markets-and bistros from timeless to avant-garde.

Coastlines & Riviera:

Sandy Atlantic strands and surf, the glamorous Côte d’Azur, calanques, and sun-drenched islands from Corsica to Îles d’Hyères.

Mountains & Outdoors:

The Alps and Pyrenees for world-class skiing, hiking, cycling, and Mont Blanc panoramas.

UNESCO & Heritage:

A treasure-house of cathedrals, prehistoric caves, fortresses, canals, and historic quarters.

Cities of France

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Paris

The city of light-and layers. Masterpieces in the Louvre, Impressionism at Orsay, Notre-Dame’s rebirth, chic shopping, and bistros from classic zinc counters to neo-bistronomie.

Lyon

Capital of silk and bouchon dining; Roman amphitheatre meets riverside promenades and a dynamic food market scene.

Marseille

A Mediterranean port with multicultural verve-old harbour views, Mucem architecture, and bouillabaisse by the sea.

Nice & the Riviera

Belle-Époque facades, an elegant promenade, art museums, and quick hops to Cannes, Antibes, Èze, and Monaco.

Bordeaux

Pedestrian-friendly squares and a gateway to fabled vineyards and Atlantic oysters.

Strasbourg

Fair-tale timbered lanes, a soaring cathedral, and canals at the crossroads of French-German culture.

Toulouse

The “Pink City” of rose-hued brick, aerospace innovation, and convivial southern squares.

Lille

Flemish-flair markets, design-forward museums, and easy rail links to London, Paris, and Brussels.

Attractions of France

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Eiffel Tower & the Seine:

Cruises, skyline views, and sparkling nights in the world’s favourite cityscape.

The Louvre & Musée d’Orsay:

From antiquities and Mona Lisa to Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh on the banks of the Seine.

Versailles Palace & Gardens:

Hall of Mirrors grandeur and André Le Nôtre’s immaculate parterres.

Mont Saint-Michel:

A gravity-defying abbey rising from tidal sands on Normandy’s coast.

Loire Valley Châteaux:

Chenonceau over the water, Chambord’s spirals, and Amboise’s royal views.

Provence & the Lavender Route:

Hill towns, Roman arenas, Cézanne light, and summer fields in bloom.

Prehistoric Caves of the Dordogne:

Lascaux’s extraordinary Paleolithic art (replica complex) and river-carved valleys.

D-Day Beaches:

Profound WWII remembrance on Normandy’s shores.

Alps & Chamonix–Mont Blanc:

Aerial trams, glacier vistas, and trails with Europe’s highest peak as your backdrop.

Shopping in France

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From haute couture maisons and concept stores in Paris to Provençal markets and Alsatian Christmas stalls-find fashion, perfume, table linens, Laguiole knives, copper cookware, artisan chocolates, salted-caramel treats, and cellar-door wines direct from the source.

Cuisine of France

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A feast of terroirs: baguettes still warm, 1,000+ cheeses, oysters & fruits de mer, steak-frites, cassoulet, bouillabaisse, crêpes, and airy Paris-Brest. Sip Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Loire, Alsace whites, and true Champagne. Bistro culture thrives-reserve for dinner, linger for dessert, and say “bonjour” when you enter.

Interesting Facts About France

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World’s No.1 Visitor Magnet:

France welcomes more international arrivals than any other country.

UNESCO Powerhouse:

Dozens of World Heritage Sites-cathedrals, fortified towns, cultural landscapes.

Haute Couture Home:

Paris helped define high fashion and modern perfume craft.

TGV Nation:

High-speed trains stitch together cities and wine regions with ease.

Mountain to Med:

Ski the Alps by morning, dine by the Riviera at sunset.

Location of France

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France anchors Western Europe from the Atlantic to the Rhine and the Mediterranean. It borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain; maritime frontier with the UK. Paris crowns the Île-de-France region in the north center; mountains frame the southeast and southwest; coasts unfurl north, west, and south.

Best Time to Visit France

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France rewards every season- choose by vibe, festivals, and regions you love.

Spring (April-May)

Weather:

Mild, blooming, and bright-ideal for cities and countryside.

Experiences:

Paris gardens, Loire blossoms, Provencal markets awakening.

Good to know:

Easter & May holidays can be busy-book museums/rail early.

Summer (June-September)

Weather:

Warm to hot; Riviera and Atlantic coasts shine; Alps are prime for hiking.

Experiences:

Lavender in July, Bastille Day fireworks, outdoor festivals, beach days, vineyard picnics.

Tips:

Peak season-reserve hotels, trains, and top restaurants in advance.

Autumn (September-October)

Weather:

Pleasant days, cool evenings; vineyard harvest colours.

Experiences:

Wine tastings, truffle menus, lighter crowds in cities and châteaux.

Tips:

Pack layers; shorter days but golden light for photos.

Winter (November-March)

Weather:

Chilly in the north; Alpine snow; softer sun along the Med.

Experiences:

Christmas markets (Alsace!), museum-hopping, fondue by the fire, world-class skiing.

Tips:

Great value outside holidays; consider museum passes for Paris.

How to Get to France

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By Air

Fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY). Major gateways also include Nice (NCE), Lyon (LYS), Marseille (MRS), Bordeaux (BOD), Toulouse (TLS), and Nantes (NTE).

By Rail

TGV high-speed network links Paris with Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Lille, Marseille/Nice, and beyond. Eurostar connects London-Paris/Lille; Thalys/ICE connect Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.

By Road

Excellent motorways from Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and beyond (tolls apply).

By Sea

Ferries link the UK, Ireland, Corsica, and Mediterranean ports.

Best Places & Experiences by Region

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Île-de-France (Paris & Environs)

Do: Seine cruise, museum triad (Louvre-Orsay-Orangerie), pastry class.
See: Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors.

Normandy & Brittany

Do: D-Day history tours, oyster tastings, coastal hikes.
See: Mont Saint-Michel, half-timbered Bayeux, pink-granite shores.

Loire Valley

Do: Cycle riverside paths, hot-air balloon rides, wine caves.
See: Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise.

Provence & Côte d’Azur

Do: Market foraging & cooking class, calanques boat trip, art trails (Van Gogh/Cézanne/Matisse).
See: Gordes & Roussillon, Roman Arles & Nîmes, Nice-Cannes-Antibes.

French Alps

Do: Ski the Trois Vallées or Chamonix, summer hiking and via ferrata.
See: Aiguille du Midi, Lake Annecy’s old town.

Bordeaux & the Atlantic Coast

Do: Left & Right Bank tastings, Arcachon Bay oysters, dune climbs.
See: Place de la Bourse, Dune du Pilat, Biarritz surf.

Alsace & Champagne

Do: Half-timbered wine villages, cellar tastings, Christmas markets.
See: Strasbourg & Colmar canals; Reims cathedral & Champagne houses.

Occitanie & Dordogne

Do: Kayak the Dordogne, truffle hunts, canal boat days on the Canal du Midi.
See: Carcassonne’s ramparts; Lascaux Centre.

Corsica

Do: Coastal hikes, beach days, citadel strolls, boat to hidden coves.
See: Calvi, Bonifacio’s cliffs, GR20 segments.

Suggested Experiences with Ocean6 Holidays

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Paris & the Loire (6-8 Days):

Iconic Paris + château-hopping and wine tastings in the Loire Valley.

Riviera & Provence Charms (7-10 Days):

Nice base with Côte d’Azur day trips, lavender/Provencal villages, calanques cruise.

Grand France (10-14 Days):

Paris, Normandy & Mont Saint-Michel, Loire, Provence, and the Riviera-icons to coastlines.

Alps & Annecy Escape (5-7 Days):

Chamonix panoramas, Mer de Glace, lakeside Annecy, and Savoyard cuisine.

Wine Trails (7-10 Days):

Bordeaux estates, Burgundy cellars, and a sparkling finale in Champagne.

Practical Tips

Greetings matter:

Always start with “bonjour/bonsoir”-it opens doors and smiles.

Dining rhythm:

Lunch ~12-2 pm; dinner from 7:30 pm. Reserve popular spots; many bistros close mid-afternoon.

Museum passes:

City and national passes save time-book timed entries for top sites.

Getting around:

TGV for long hops; metros and trams within cities; consider contactless payments or passes.

Safety & savvy:

Watch for pickpockets in crowded zones; keep copies of IDs; check for occasional strikes when planning rail days.

Why France with Ocean6 Holidays

We orchestrate the details-timed entries, rail seats, driver-guides, and stays with character-so you can sip, stroll, and savour. From private Louvre tours and Champagne caves to Provence villas and Alpine retreats, we tailor France to your pace and passions. Dreaming of a sunset Seine cruise, a lavender-gold road trip, or first tracks on fresh Alpine snow? Ocean6 Holidays turns your French reverie into your favourite memory.

Ready to live la belle vie?
Explore our France packages and let art, cuisine, and countryside wonder welcome you to France.

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