France Travelers Recommend

Paris is a dream destination for travelers around the world, and that popularity comes with some major crowds. Plan ahead to secure your spot at the very best sites—see below for our top picks and experiences you can't miss in the City of Light.

Between Paris and the English Channel lies the region of Normandy, abounding in historic sites, moody countryside and culinary hotspots. You can visit some of the area’s highlights on a day trip from the French capital, or take your time and let the Normans conquer you with charm. One of the region’s premier sights is the breathtaking tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel. The island is connected to the coastline via a causeway, ringed with a defensive wall and dominated by the soaring spire of its abbey which dates back to the 8th century. The town of Saint Malo, although in neighboring Brittany, offers a similarly well-preserved center within forbidding walls. The charming town of Honfleur, with its unique wooden church and jumble of houses surrounding a peaceful harbor, was passed back and forth between the English and the French in the Middle Ages. More recent history is remembered in the sands of Normandy’s beaches.

Day 1: Cruising, Art and Cabaret Cruise the Seine or take a stroll along the river to explore the famous monuments and museums. Visit the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Pompidou Centre or take the hop-on hop-off bus to see all the sights. Then see the spectacular cabaret shows of the Moulin Rouge, Lido or paradise Latin show. Day 2: Culture, Food & Shopping Explore the ancient streets and lively cafés of the Latin Quarter, and the Left Bank homes of Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and Jim Morrison, or the high fashion shops in St Germain des Prés. Day 3: Paris Day Trips Explore France's royal and cultural history on a trip to Monet's garden and Louis XIV's grand palace of Versailles. Discover the magnificent vineyards and world class cellars of the Champagne region home to Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon and Mumm.

One of the most popular tourism options in Paris is to check out one of the historic cabarets: Moulin Rouge, Le Lido, Paradis Latin, Crazy Horse, Nouvelle Eve, Mugler Follies and Folies Bergère. All offer similar forms of adult entertainment in the form of dance and acrobatic numbers featuring men and women in various states of undress, and occasionally without any clothes at all. Cabaret shows are an adult experience, highly suggestive and not for children. That does not mean, however, that cabarets are like strip clubs in America. Instead, they're like a sexy Cirque du Soleil. There is a range of viewing options, from simply sitting at the bar to sipping Champagne and eating a multi-course meal at one of the best tables in the joint. You'll pay between €100 and €300 for this evening out, depending on what time of year you go and what drinking and dining options you choose, but you will have an experience that cannot be found outside of the City Of Light.

"On July 14, 1789, the French Revolution kicked off with the Storming of the Bastilles. Today, you can find French nationals and Francophones celebrating this historic event around the globe, with Paris serving as the hot spot for commemorating the momentous occasion. Visitors to the City of Light can kick off Bastille Day with the morning Military Parade on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. This annual tradition showcases the French military’s regiments and pays homage to an age-old tradition of national honor and protection. The president of the French Republic makes an appearance and tourists are treated to a foot parade, mounted troops and a motorized brigade until noon. Travelers looking for a delightful mix of color, sound and lights can catch an impressive fireworks display launched from the iconic Eiffel Tower. This annual event is one of the most popular highlights of Bastille Day, marking the historic battle with truly epic fanfare. A scenic dinner cruise along

Your time in France is not complete without a visit to the world-renowned Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles), located just 15 miles (25 km) southwest of Paris. This impressive estate, built by Louis XIV as a symbol of absolute monarchy, boasts extravagant facades, elaborate furnishings and the magnificent 2,000-acre (800-hectare) Gardens of Versailles (Jardins de Versailles). You have two options for getting to Versailles. Take a day trip to Versailles from Paris, or, if you’re already staying in Versailles, meet your guide and head straight to the palace and gardens. Make sure you book the right tour by choosing your correct departure location. If you’re staying in Paris, escape the busy city and enjoy a relaxing trip to Versailles. Take a half-day or full-day trip to take advantage of all that Versailles has to offer. The Versailles Small-Group Day Trip from Paris offers convenient round-trip car transportation.

The birthplace of the high-spirited can-can and subject of Toulouse-Lautrec’s iconic paintings, the Moulin Rouge is not only the world’s most famous cabaret, but one of Paris’ most popular tourist attractions. Since opening its doors in 1889 during the French Belle Époque era, the Moulin Rouge has inspired pop culture around the world, immortalized in the award-winning 2001 musical film of the same name, as well as the hit song “Lady Marmalade.” Walking down Boulevard de Clichy in Paris’ famous Pigalle district, you can’t miss the Moulin Rouge, with its distinctive red windmill and dazzling neon sign, and spending an evening at the legendary cabaret is a quintessential Parisian experience. Opt for dinner and a show with or without transport, and tuck into a gourmet three-course meal while watching the Moulin Rouge’s “Feerie” show – a fast-paced performance featuring 60 Doriss Girls, 100 artists, spectacular sets (including a giant aquarium).

Inside, the huge palace's 700 rooms are replete with gilded cornices, frescoed ceilings and carved details. Outside, it is surrounded by famously formal gardens with geometrically designed walkways, fountains, canals and terraces. Any visit to Versailles must include seeing the Hall of Mirrors, the King's Grand Chambers, the Grand Trianon and Marie-Antoinette's famous estate where she went to play at being a simple country girl. There is a lot to see, so plan your visit based on the chateau's four sections: the multiple-winged palace building, the vast gardens and two smaller palaces, the Grand Trianon and Pteit Trianon. Book your skip-the-line Palace of Versailles day trip from Paris and leave the long queues behind! Skip past the entrance lines with your priority-access ticket and then head inside the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palace of Versailles.

It’s impossible to mention the name Bordeaux without thoughts of ruby red wine, so charge your glass and drink deep of the region's many charms. This lovely city on the lower Atlantic coast is a Neo-Classical beauty with pedestrianized boulevards, gorgeous architecture and a boisterous university population ensuring a lively mix of bars and cafes. Start the day with a stroll along Bordeaux’s pedestrianized shopping strip, Ste-Catherine, for window shopping at chic boutiques and breakfast in a sidewalk cafe. Then choose from art, history and culture at the city’s museums, perhaps 17th century paintings at the Beaux-Arts Museum, housed in the 1770s town hall. For a primer on French taste, view exquisite gilt, porcelain and furnishings at the Museum of Decorative Arts. As the afternoon lengthens, take a stroll in Bordeaux's English-style gardens before choosing a classic French brasserie for Atlantic oysters and duck confit.

With its beautiful scenery, historic towns and magnificent chateaux, the Loire Valley lies in easy reach of Paris. During the Renaissance period French aristocrats built lavish residences on or near the Loire River. Over 300 chateaux were built in the region, with only a few open to public visits. Among them is the 11th century Chateau d’Amboise, where Amboise’s most famous non-royal resident, Leonardo da Vinci worked. Da Vinci may be responsible for designs to an even more spectacular chateau – Chambord – namely the double-helix staircase. Chambord’s façade is one of the Loire’s most famous, rising from a solid base and becoming more fanciful the higher it climbs. Meanwhile, instantly recognisable Chenonceau is one of the great monuments of the French Renaissance. While all of these buildings express the aspirations of different ages, the rambling Chateau de Blois, offers a whole range of styles in one spot.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the views of Paris’ major attractions lining the beautiful river Seine, whose historic riverbanks are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Starting at the imposing Eiffel Tower, your route takes in the iconic Notre Dame-Cathedral, the buzzing Latin Quarter and the Parisian Statue of Liberty, as well as world-famous museums such as the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre, as you cruise to La Bibliothèque Nationale and back. Your boat’s glass roof and large panoramic windows offer great views from every seat. Enjoy a delicious lunch as you drift slowly past the sights of Paris.

Bayeux makes an ideal launching place to take a trip through history to the final stages of the Second World War. It was on the Normandy coast near Bayeux that the Allies undertook the biggest amphibious landing in history. It was the first stage of the campaign that would lead to victory. You can pay tribute to the soldiers who fought at Omaha Beach on an afternoon tour of the Normandy beaches from Bayeux. You'll visit some of the famous battlefield sites of the campaign and gain invaluable insights into the wartime experience of the soldiers who fought and died there. A tour of Sword, Beach, and the British Airborne Sector takes you through the famous site of Pegasus Bridge, captured just after midnight on D-Day by elements of the 6th Airborne Division, as well as the Hillman Bunker complex. Alternatively, you can choose your own itinerary from sites including Utah Beach, Sainte Mère Église, Pointe du Hoc, Longues sur Mer, and the American and German cemeteries.