I have absolutely not visited the whole country, so the list of sights is the only one I have seen and that is absolutely not everything in France. There are many sights I still have to discover, but here are my personal highlights in France that I visited. 

Explore the mighty Paris

Paris is one of the most famous cities in the world and probably the biggest highlight for people in France. There are so many sights to discover that you can be here for weeks without being bored for a second. There are also a lot of great restaurants in this city, where dining is going to another level. The biggest disadvantage of the city is the prices, but just don't eat or drink at the most touristy spots to reduce the prices. There are many non-touristy neighbourhoods where the prices are decent and are more fun than where the big sights of the cities are. 

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How to get here: Paris is probably one of the easiest reachable cities in the world. Many national and international trains and buses are going to the capital of France.  By flight it is even more easy as it is has of the biggest airports of the continent.

How much time needed: 4-5 days, but you can do more if you want to.

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Visit the old town of Carcassonne 

On the other side of the country there is the old town of Carcassonne. This city may be famous for a small board game, but the fortified city is absolutely worth having a visit. There are a lot of old buildings and traditional crafts to enjoy, and walking through it is a very nice thing to do. The city outside the fortified city is also worth having a stroll.

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How to get here: Carcassonne can be reached by car, train, and even by plane.

How much time needed: 4-5 days, but you can do more if you want to.

Feel local at Bize Minervois or another French Village

To be honest, this could be a lot of other villages in France, but we ended up in Bize Minervois. Bize Minervois is a very cute village in southern France. You can have a lovely walk in town, have a swim, get a nice croissant or baguette at the local bakery, and just enjoy the relaxed vibe of village life.

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: One day is enough, but you can stay as long as you want to!

Have a walk in Coupiac and surroundings

Coupiac is another village, but it is a bit bigger than Bize Minervois. The village is very cute, and it has some gorgeous views of the chateau and the square. The village is located in the Grand Causses national park, so there are some good hikes and cool places in the area. Coupiac may not be a must-do sight, but this is a very cool village to see when you are in the neighbourhood.

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How to get here: Coupiac is mostly reachable by car.

How much time needed: One day in the area is the perfect amount of time

Visit a local party in a village called a vête

If you are driving through France in summer, you can see some signs for a vête. This is the moment to skip the plans you had and head to the place. This is mostly the reason to go to a certain small village. There are mostly some local specialities and nice drinks often accompanied by live music, markets, and attractions. This is very nice to do, and when driving, there is no chance you will not find one. You will be with locals, which makes it even more interesting.

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: A lovely evening is perfect

See the beauty of Clermont Ferrand

Clermont Ferrand is a city with one of the most beautiful cathedrals I have visited. The city in central France is a fun stop to have some good times at a nice restaurant or lovely terrace, but the absolute highlight is still the cathedral. This is a fun stop in a bigger city when you come from the south of France.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: Clermont Ferrand can be reached from multiple areas of the country. Paris is 4.5 hours by car and 5.5 hours by train. Lyon is two hours by car and 2.5 hours by train. 

How much time needed: One day in the area is the perfect amount of time

Drive through southern France

One of the best things to do in France is just driving around on small roads in the South, enjoying the fantastic views of hills and mountains. The roads are often quiet, and you can stop and enjoy the views. On the highway we randomly drove on the Millau Viaduct, which is the highest bridge in the world.

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: Take your time in the south and you will do it as much as you want.

Head to a chateau to taste wine

If you think about France, wine is probably one of the first things you think of. There are many chateaus where you can do a tour and tasting, and this is probably the best thing to do in France. Sometimes you can have a walk or hike around the vineyards in many places. We were mostly in Burgundy, and there were many options. We went to Chateau Pierreclos (picture above), which was a very cool tour in a castle and wine tasting in a cellar. Another great option was Chateau de la Greffière (picture below), where we had a great wine tasting and hike.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: A tour often takes about an hour, but you can stay for longer

Wine in general

As I said, wine is very popular and interesting to learn about. When in Burgundy (as we were) or in many other regions in France. You can have red, white, rosé, champagne, and much more. You can drink it everywhere, and the quality is very high. You cannot visit France and not drink their local water.

Enjoy the French cuisine

French cuisine is one of the most famous in the world, and that is for a reason. The French have such good cuisine that it is a real treat heading to a restaurant. Steak tartare, moules (mussels), croque monsieur, quiche, coq au vin (chicken), and many more. The products are also very tasty, such as croissants, pâté, bread, and cheese (although I don't like cheese). 

Have a wonderful Saturday in Cluny

Cluny was one of our best stops in France, especially on a Saturday, because on a Saturday (and maybe more often) there is a very cute market with a lot of great French products like fantastic bread, fruits, wines, and much more. Besides, you can visit the impressive abbey of Cluny, which was one of the most important abbeys of the Catholic Church. The costs are €11 per person, and it takes around 1-2 hours to visit. You have nice places inside and outside. Afterwards head to one of the great restaurants, where Chez Sissis is my favourite, as it is a very French restaurant, and it is good. I recommend making a reservation!

Tourist occurrence: Low

How to get here: Lyon is one hour drive to the South and 2 hours by public transport. Paris is a 4.5 hours drive or 3.5 by public transport.

How much time needed: A morning and afternoon is perfect here. 

Spend some time in Beaune

Beaune is in the heart of Burgundy, so there are a lot of good wines to taste, which you absolutely should try. Besides, the city is very cute and absolutely worth a trip. My personal highlight was the Hospice/Hotel Dieu, which is a former place for very sick people. You can do an audio tour, which is very interesting. The costs are €12, and it will take around 2 hours. Another good sight is the Notre Dame and a wine cellar (there are several different options). A fun and tasteful way to eat sushi is at Koki, and The Publican is one of the best places to have a drink, as you can sit outside very nicely. 

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: Lyon is a 1.5 hour drive to the South and a 2.5 hours by public transport. Paris is a 3.5 hours drive or 2.5 by public transport.

How much time needed: 2 days

Enjoy the sights of Dijon

Dijon is a pleasant city to visit. There are a lot of sights, and older buildings are very interesting. A nice stroll to see the German-style buildings is also a nice addition to the stay. The most important things to do are:

• Les Halles, a nice market you can visit when in Dijon to buy fresh products

• Notre Dame Dijon, Cathedral de Saint Benigne (the least of the three) and Eglisé Saint Michel are good churches to visit

• Place de la Liberation with the mighty Palais des Ducs et des Etats des Bourgogne

• Check out Musee Rude with extremely impressive statues (see picture above). This is free and my personal highlight of Dijon
• See Port Guillaume, the Dijon version of the Arc de Triomph
• Have a relaxed moment in Jardin Darcy

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Paris is a 3.5 hours drive or 1.5 hours by public transport.

How much time needed: 1-2 days

Feel in Belgium in Lille

In the North, close to the Belgium border, you have the cosy city of Lille. The city is a student city, which gives it a vibrant feeling. It is more influenced by Belgium as the city drinks more beer than wine. Good bars are La Capsule and l'Illustration. The biggest sights are several neighbourhoods, Eglisé Saint Maurice, and Place du General de Gaulle (see picture above). Have a nice stroll through this small city.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Lille can easily be reached from several parts of France, Belgium, and The Netherlands

How much time needed: 1-2 days

Things I have not done, but could be cool

As I mentioned before, I did not visit the whole country of France, so there are many highlights I have not done. These are my highlights, which I have done, but I really want to visit Marseilles, Versailles, Normandy, Bordeaux, and many more places. This is a country with so much to do, so find yourself your favourite route!

Final thoughts

France is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and that is for a reason. By visiting smaller villages, you can escape the crowds and enjoy the country on your own. The country has a lot to offer: cute villages, the mighty Paris, gorgeous nature, and a tasty cuisine.

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