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Travel guide

France holidays: a travel guide for UK visitors

From the lavender hills of Provence to the Atlantic ports of Brittany, France pairs world-class food, wine and art with a coastline made for cruising.

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Why visit France

France is a country of distinct regions, each with its own table and temperament. The Riviera glitters with Nice, Cannes and the perfume town of Grasse; the Atlantic west offers the oyster beds of Brittany and the wine quays of Bordeaux; and inland, river journeys glide past the châteaux of the Loire and the vineyards of Burgundy. Paris needs no introduction, but France is at its best taken slowly — a market in the morning, a long lunch, a stroll through a hilltop village as the light softens. Few destinations reward unhurried travel so generously.

Best time to visit

Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) bring warm, settled weather and the grape and lavender harvests, with fewer crowds than midsummer. July and August are hot and busy on the Riviera, while spring and autumn are perfect for the Atlantic coast and the wine regions.

Top things to do in France

  1. 1

    Explore the French Riviera

    Nice, Cannes, Antibes and the perched village of Èze line the Côte d’Azur, with the principality of Monaco a short hop away. A glamorous stretch of Mediterranean coast and a regular cruise call from ports such as Villefranche.

  2. 2

    Sail the Atlantic coast and Brittany

    Walled Saint-Malo, the oyster towns of the Gulf of Morbihan and the wine quays of Bordeaux give France’s Atlantic seaboard a wilder, cooler character, often combined with northern Spain on Bay of Biscay sailings.

  3. 3

    Discover Provence and its markets

    Lavender fields, Roman ruins at Arles and Avignon, and bustling Provençal markets make the south of France a feast for the senses, easily reached from Mediterranean cruise ports near Marseille and Toulon.

The cheapest France holidays right now

Lowest lead-in prices first, from live availability. Open one for its dates, and book directly with its operator.

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France travel questions

When is the best time to visit France?
Late spring and early autumn are ideal, with warm weather, the lavender and grape harvests, and fewer crowds than midsummer. The Riviera is busiest in July and August, while the Atlantic coast is lovely from May to September.
Do UK citizens need a visa for France?
No. UK passport holders can visit France without a visa for tourism and stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
What currency is used in France?
France uses the Euro (EUR). Card payments are accepted almost everywhere, though small markets, bakeries and rural cafés sometimes prefer cash, so a little is handy.
Is France expensive to visit?
France can be pricey in Paris and on the Riviera, but it offers good value elsewhere, especially for wine and a fixed-price lunch menu. Travelling outside July and August keeps costs and crowds down.
Do they speak English in France?
English is understood in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas, though less universally than in northern Europe. A few words of French — bonjour, merci, s’il vous plaît — go a long way and are always appreciated.
How many hours ahead is France compared with the UK?
France is one hour ahead of the UK on Central European Time, and the clocks change on the same dates, so the one-hour difference holds throughout the year.
Is France safe for tourists?
France is a safe destination for visitors. As in any busy country, watch for pickpockets around major Paris sights and on the metro. Keep valuables secure and ordinary precautions are all you need.
Do I need a travel adaptor for France?
Yes. France uses Type E sockets at 230V, so you will need a European travel adaptor for your UK three-pin plugs. UK devices run happily on the local voltage.
Which French ports do cruises visit?
On the Mediterranean, Villefranche (for Nice and Monaco) and Marseille (for Provence) are common calls. On the Atlantic, Bordeaux, Saint-Malo and Le Havre (for Paris and Normandy) feature on Bay of Biscay and Northern Europe itineraries.
What is the best region of France for first-time visitors?
It depends on your taste: the Riviera for glamour and sunshine, Provence for markets and lavender, Normandy and Brittany for history and seafood, or Bordeaux for wine. A cruise lets you sample several in one trip.

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