Skip to content
Indie Travel Podcast
  • Home
  • Start here
  • Destinations
  • Travel Blog
  • Travel Podcasts
  • Festivals
Indie Travel Podcast

France travel

Indie Travel » Europe » France travel

France travel pin
Pin me on Pinterest!

Vive la France! From the rugged Atlantic shores of Brittany to the glittering coastline of the French Riviera; from the majestic Alps to the little-explored Pyrenees; from the elegant avenues of Paris to the lavender fields of Provence, there is literally something for everyone who wishes to visit France.

France shares its borders with Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, and Italy. It packs a lot of geographic and cultural diversity into an area roughly the size of Texas, with impressive Roman ruins, Celtic roots in Brittany, Italian dialects in Nice, North African cuisine in Marseille and a Basque influence along the Bay of Biscay.

Its geography is equally diverse, and all of the country’s natural beauty is well maintained and proudly accessible to all.

No other country on earth reveres its culinary history and culture as much as France. And each region has its prized dish; locals will tell you where to find the best oysters, bouillabaisse, cassoulet and more. And don’t get them started on the wine!

Paris

What more can be said about Paris, a city that hasn been written, sung and painted about for centuries? The capital of France a must-visit destination for any first-time traveler to the country, and the most-visited destination in the world.

Lyon

But visitors shouldn’t miss out on France’s second-largest city: Lyon, a foodie mecca with a wonderful Old Town and lots to see and do. Pay homage to the Lumière brothers, who brought cinema to the masses; visit the unique Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière; and have your mind blown by the trompe-l’oeil work scattered about the city.

Getting to and from France

European budget airlines fly to many destinations in France, but almost all long-haul international flights arrive at one of Paris’s major airports – Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY). If you’re traveling on to another city in France, Air France offers many connecting flights to all over the country.

The Schengen agreement’s relaxed border policy has made it easy to cross into France by land, with no border controls between member countries (roughly the same as those in the EU). However, your passport will be checked on the Swiss border and there will often be spot checks on the eastern Spanish border, particularly if you are traveling by train or bus.

Another popular way to arrive in France is via the Eurostar train that goes through the Chunnel (English Channel tunnel), or by ferry from Dover in the UK, the preferred choice for those with cars. Because the UK is not a part of the Schengen agreement, there are strict border controls.

When crossing the Italian border into the French Riviera by train, it should be noted that there is no “direct” route; you must take the train that goes between Nice, France and Ventimiglia, Italy, and then connect in either one of those towns to further proceed with your trip.

The Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Méditerranée, or put more succinctly, ferries, link Marseille to Corsica, Sardinia, Tunisia and Algeria.

France travel resources

Book accommodation in France and travel insurance for France through us — we love it when you do that!

Check out our Best Cities in Europe podcast or browse the articles below.

This page by Christine Cantera.

spaceship in st heliers beach auckland new zealand

Spaceship Campers in the UK – everything you need to know

Reading Time: 5 minutes
Spaceships are compact campers that are available in England and Scotland without any add-on European travel or one-way fees – and that makes them perfect for exploring: fly into one city, road trip to another, and fly out with no added costs! In the UK, Spaceships has two types of vehicle: camper vans and motorhomes….
Rolling hills on the Cotswold Way.

My Cotswold Way packing list — and what I wish I had left behind!

Reading Time: 7 minutes
A light pack is always your friend, and when packing for the Cotswold Way, it’s easy to keep that weight down. Check out our Cotswold Way packing list.

The Cotswold Way: end-to-end hiking resources

Reading Time: 9 minutes
The Cotswold Way is a multi-day walk through some of England’s most picturesque landscape. Listen to our Cotswold Way podcast to learn about this English hike.

What to do in Bath, UK

Reading Time: 8 minutes
Travel to Bath, England and be rewarded with Roman Baths and Georgian architecture, all in a World Heritage site. Attractions and things to do in Bath, UK.
London is a great place to start when exploring England.

Top 5 things to do in London

Reading Time: 4 minutes
Delve into history, see a show, enjoy the parks — if you find yourself wondering what to do in London, England, these five things to do are a great place to start.
Stonehenge is definitely worth a visit.

Ten unmissable events in England

Reading Time: 6 minutes
Beer festivals, Diwali, music events — what are the best festivals and events to attend in England? Check out our list for our top England festival picks.

Posts navigation

1 2 3 4 Next Page

Indie Travel Podcast is sustained by display ads and affiliate programs, primarily Google Ads, travel insurance and tours. As an Amazon Associate we also earn from qualifying purchases.

© 2006-2023 Koru Group Ltd. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Scroll to top
  • Home
  • Start here
  • Destinations
  • Travel Blog
  • Travel Podcasts
  • Festivals
Search