Things to See in France: The 22 Best Highlights

All France Attractions on One Map

Before we get into the details, here’s a quick overview of where to find all the highlights we’re covering in this article.

The Classic Attractions in France

Let’s start with the most famous things to see in France — the ones everyone’s heard of at least once.

Eiffel Tower

It’s not just one of the most popular attractions in Paris — it’s one of the most iconic on the entire planet: the Eiffel Tower.

No matter which viewpoint you visit during your Paris weekend trip — whether the Arc de Triomphe, the Tour Montparnasse, or Sacré-Cœur — the Eiffel Tower is always your main photo subject.

It’s an icon of architecture, and there’s probably no other motif that dangles in miniature form from so many backpacks and keychains around the world.

Even during our trip to Paris with kids, visiting the Eiffel Tower was the absolute highlight for our children.

It’s a place you simply have to visit at least once in your life.

You can even book a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower if you really want to make the most of it.

For everything you need to plan your visit — tickets, timing, tips — check out our dedicated Eiffel Tower article:

Louvre

There’s probably no painting as famous as the Mona Lisa. And that’s likely exactly why there’s no museum as famous as the Louvre — because that’s where it hangs.

But there’s so much more! Across a space larger than eight soccer fields, over 35,000 works by the most renowned artists in history are on display. It’s no surprise the Louvre tops the list of museums in Paris and ranks among the most visited and largest museums in the world.

Everything you need to know for your visit is in our full Louvre guide:

Palace of Versailles

Versailles — the palace is just as beautiful as its name sounds. Located just a few kilometers from Paris in the town of the same name, it’s a true gem.

The former residence of the Sun King Louis XIV is a tourist magnet, and it’s simply magnificent both inside and out. The sprawling gardens are at least as stunning as the palace itself.

All the ticket options, how to get there, and everything else you need for your visit are in our Palace of Versailles article:

Mont-Saint-Michel

Out of Paris and into the rest of France! Mont-Saint-Michel is probably the most famous thing to see in France outside of the capital. The sight of the monastery island is simply breathtaking.

The bay experiences the strongest tides in Europe. At high tide, Mont-Saint-Michel becomes an island; at low tide, it sits on the beach. It makes for a stunning photo subject at any time of day.

The island itself is free to enter, but adults 26 and older need a ticket for the monastery, starting at 13 euros.

Get your ticket for the Abbey of Le Mont-Saint-Michel

Strasbourg Cathedral

Strasbourg Cathedral is seriously awe-inspiring — it’ll leave you speechless even if you’ve already seen the Sagrada Família in Barcelona or the cathedral in Cologne.

The church stands 142 meters tall and its Gothic architecture is incredibly intricate and detailed. Admission is free, but you’ll need a ticket for the Astronomical Clock, which costs 4 euros.

And it’s not just the cathedral — Strasbourg as a whole is absolutely worth a visit. We’ve pulled all our tips together in our Strasbourg articles:

Vieux Nice

Nice — the heart of the Côte d’Azur and one of the best places to visit in France. Not just because the occasional A-lister loves to vacation here, but because the city is incredibly diverse. That’s exactly why the historic quarter of Vieux Nice had to make our list of top France highlights.

Thanks to its proximity to Italy, Vieux Nice blends French flair with Italian charm. And just behind the old quarter, Nice’s long beach and the sparkling Mediterranean come into view — an absolute dream!

Find out where to stay in Nice and what else you need to see in our Nice articles:

The Best Natural Highlights in France

Towering mountains, dreamy beaches, swimming lakes — France has everything you could wish for in a nature vacation.

Gorges du Verdon

The Gorges du Verdon is one of the deepest canyons in Europe, tucked into the hinterland of the Côte d’Azur. With its shimmering turquoise water and dramatic rock walls, it’s a seriously impressive sight and one of the best places to visit in France if you love nature.

You can easily combine a trip here with a vacation on the Côte d’Azur. All our tips for this region — including the Gorges du Verdon — are in our Côte d’Azur articles:

Étretat

The beach at Étretat and the surrounding landscape look like something out of a storybook. The 70-meter-high sea cliffs form incredible rock formations that are unlike anything else in France.

What’s particularly fascinating? The cliffs look almost identical on both sides of the beach — there’s even a natural arch on each side. If you can’t get a great photo here, we honestly don’t know what to tell you!

Étretat sits on the Atlantic coast in Normandy, about 200 kilometers from Paris — making it an easy day trip from the capital.

Parc des Calanques

This stunning national park sits right on the Mediterranean coast near Marseille. A quick note on the name: calanques are fjord-like inlets nestled between limestone cliffs — and they’re absolutely spectacular.

You can jump into turquoise-blue water, soak in the spectacular scenery, or hike through the park and climb its mountains for panoramic views that are simply fantastic.

More about the Parc des Calanques — plus where to stay nearby — is in our Marseille articles:

Dune du Pilat

At an impressive 110 meters, it’s the tallest migrating dune in Europe: the Dune du Pilat on the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux.

From the top, you get a stunning panoramic view of the ocean and the Cap Ferret peninsula. What makes it extra cool? It’s the only dune for miles around — everything else is green. And it’s constantly on the move, shifting a little further east every year.

How to get there and what else to discover nearby is all in our Bordeaux articles:

Mont Blanc

At 4,809 meters, Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe. Reaching the summit is considered one of the most dangerous climbs in the world, but the sight of the mountain itself is absolutely overwhelming — you don’t need to be a mountaineer to appreciate it.

Your best bet for getting as close as possible is the small Alpine town of Chamonix Mont-Blanc. Even from down in the village the view is spectacular, but the best vantage point is from the Aiguille du Midi, reachable by cable car.

Lac d'Annecy

For us, Lac d’Annecy is the most beautiful lake in all of France. Turquoise-blue, crystal-clear, incredibly clean water — you just want to jump right in. One heads-up though: outside of summer the water is ice cold, since this mountain lake sits at over 400 meters above sea level in the French Alps.

On the shores sits the charming Alpine town of Annecy, laced with small canals — it’s often called the Venice of the Alps, and honestly, the comparison holds up. Annecy also pairs perfectly with a city trip to Lyon.

All our best tips for the town and the lake are in our Annecy article:

Lavender Fields in Provence

The colors of the lavender fields in Provence are just as intense and breathtakingly beautiful in person as they are in photos. Seriously — no filter needed.

Just keep in mind it only works during lavender season, roughly mid-June to mid-August. If you’re visiting France during those months, don’t miss this.

Beautiful lavender fields are scattered across Provence. One of our top picks is near Valensole, which is also conveniently close to the Gorges du Verdon.

Stone Rows of Carnac

This one takes us to Brittany in the northwest of France. Known in French as the Alignements de Carnac, these stone rows date back to around 5,000 years before Christ — just try to wrap your head around that.

What’s particularly incredible is that the roughly 3,000 menhirs are arranged in almost perfectly parallel rows — it looks a little like a line of dominoes standing side by side. One of the most underrated things to see in France.

Côte des Basques in Biarritz

If we could point you to just one spot to watch the sunset in France, it would be the Côte des Basques in Biarritz on the Atlantic coast.

During the day, daring surfers throw themselves into the waves. By evening, the atmosphere becomes wonderfully laid-back. From the viewpoint, you get a gorgeous view of the sun sinking over the Atlantic — it’s really something.

Everything else to see and do in Biarritz is in our article on the best highlights in Biarritz:

Plage de Pampelonne

The Plage de Pampelonne near Saint-Tropez is, for us, one of the most beautiful beaches on the Côte d’Azur and in all of France. A soft, white sand beach that gently slopes into turquoise-blue water — what more could you ask for?

No wonder Saint-Tropez is such a favorite among the rich and famous. Plage de Pampelonne is truly a beach everyone wants to stretch out on.

Ready to start planning a beach vacation? Let our article on the most beautiful beaches on the Côte d’Azur inspire you:

Hidden Gems in France

Beyond the big-name highlights, France has some wonderful lesser-known spots that are absolutely worth your time.

Château de Chambord

France has around 45,000 castles in total. Some of the most magnificent line the Loire River — and the standout is the royal Château de Chambord, right in the heart of the country.

The castle dates back to the Renaissance era, and there’s even speculation that Leonardo da Vinci had a hand in its design. To top it all off, the castle grounds are larger in area than Paris itself.

You’ll need a ticket to visit — it costs 19 euros for adults.

Get your skip-the-line ticket for Château de Chambord

Cap Fréhel

Cap Fréhel is a real under-the-radar pick among French attractions. Located in Brittany, its dramatic landscape offers great hiking trails and rugged rocky coastlines along a roaring ocean.

It’s rarely crowded here, which means you can get fantastic photos of deserted beaches and the coastline almost to yourself. Just be prepared for wind — it can get seriously breezy at Cap Fréhel.

King of Aragon's Staircase in Corsica

Legend has it the King of Aragon’s Staircase in Corsica was built in a single night. Whether that’s true is debatable — but what’s not up for debate is how worth it the climb is. The 187 steps run along a breathtaking cliff face, and the views you get are simply fantastic.

The staircase leads you along an impressive rock face at the town of Bonifacio on the island of Corsica, and it’s widely considered the island’s absolute must-see.

La Petite Venise in Colmar

In the Alsace region, which borders Germany — or more specifically Baden-Württemberg — sits the charming small town of Colmar.

It’s far less well known than its neighbor Strasbourg, but every bit as beautiful. In particular, the La Petite Venise neighborhood with its half-timbered houses and little canal is a real highlight. Great photos are practically guaranteed here.

And if you’re coming from Freiburg, you’re less than an hour away by car.

Cité de Carcassonne

Carcassonne sits in southern France, roughly between Toulouse, Montpellier, and Perpignan. And it’s home to one of the most jaw-dropping things to see in France: the Cité de Carcassonne. It’s not just a fortress — it’s a full-on fortified city.

One of the largest fortress complexes in Europe, and still remarkably well preserved. Entry requires a ticket for 13 euros.

Even better is to explore it on a guided tour — you’ll hear some truly fascinating stories about the Cité’s history.

Get your skip-the-line ticket for the Cité de Carcassonne

Book a private guided tour of the Cité de Carcassonne

Pont du Gard

Few aqueducts in the world are as well preserved as the Pont du Gard, spanning the Gardon River between Avignon and Nîmes.

What is essentially a 275-meter-long water channel built by the Romans looks absolutely stunning — a true architectural masterpiece. The structure stands 49 meters tall and looks like three bridges stacked on top of one another.

In summer, you can go for a swim in the river below or rent a canoe or kayak — photos of the Pont du Gard from the water are especially beautiful!