France Travel Insights

Insights, ideas and itineraries from kimkim's trusted network of Local Travel Specialists and Experts in France
Provence countryside in winter
Map of Discover Provence by E-Bike: Sault, Fontaine de Vaucluse, Avignon, & More - 12 Days
Discover Provence by E-Bike: Sault, Fontaine de Vaucluse, Avignon, & More - 12 Days

If you've got twelve free days and adventure on your mind, head to romantic Provence for an e-bike tour you'll never forget. Ride along secured off-the-beaten-path roads across two nature parks as you visit small medieval towns, browse Provençal food markets to find local specialties, and visit the landscapes that inspired famous French painter Cezanne.

Vaison Village
Map of Discover Provence by E-Bike: Sault, Roussillon, Avignon, & More - 14 Days
Discover Provence by E-Bike: Sault, Roussillon, Avignon, & More - 14 Days

Spend two weeks exploring Provence the best way we know how: by e-bike! Enjoy the "douceur de Vivre" and let the electric assistance pedaling system do all the work for you. Browse Provençal food markets to find local specialties, see Roussillon’s famous ochre cliffs, spend a day in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse & see the springs, and more!

Village of Sault
Map of Discover Provence by E-Bike: Grignan, Sault, Roussillon, Avignon, & More - 16 Days
Discover Provence by E-Bike: Grignan, Sault, Roussillon, Avignon, & More - 16 Days

Visit the landscapes that inspired famous French painter Cezanne and enjoy views of Mont Ventoux as you bike along quiet countryside roads on this 16-day itinerary. From the cozy cafes and wide boulevards of Paris to romantic Aix-en-Provence, you'll relax and enjoy the "douceur de vivre" as the electric assistance pedaling system on the bikes gives your legs a break.

Mount Sainte-Victoire in Provence
Map of Discover Provence by E-Bike: Grignan, Roussillon, Avignon, Aix, & More - 17 Days
Discover Provence by E-Bike: Grignan, Roussillon, Avignon, Aix, & More - 17 Days

Everyone's heard of Provence, but few have cycled its quiet countryside roads and explored its many medieval village. You'll get the chance to do just that—effortlessly, on an e-bike. In this 17-day itinerary, which leads from Grignan to Aix-en-Provence in the south, you'll ride pleasant, off-the-beaten-path roads through two nature parks and experience the Provence way of life as you visit the landscapes that inspired the famous French painter Cezanne.

View of Lyon from the Fourviere cathedral
Map of Highlights of Spain & France: Barcelona & Lyon - 6 Days
Highlights of Spain & France: Barcelona & Lyon - 6 Days

Immerse yourself in Southern European culture and Mediterranean landscapes, from the vibrant and trendy Barcelona, "the pearl of Catalunya", to Lyon, the unofficial capital of French cuisine. Visit 2000-year-old Vieux Lyon, a UNESCO Heritage Site, and sample authentic Spanish tapas in Barcelona

Traditional street in Barcelona's Poble Espanyol
Map of Highlights of Spain & France: Barcelona & Lyon - 7 Days
Highlights of Spain & France: Barcelona & Lyon - 7 Days

If you're short on time but don't want to cut back on the experience, this packed 7-day itinerary is for you. Start in Barcelona for authentic tapas and Art Nouveau, then explore Dali's life along the coast. Fly to Lyon for the second half of the week, where French wine and world-class cuisine await.

La Sagrada Familia
Map of Spain and France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, & Lyon - 8 Days
Spain and France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, & Lyon - 8 Days

Eight days is the perfect amount of time for a quick getaway to see the Mediterranean and Provence. Sample tapas and learn about Salvador Dali's life in Barcelona, then head to Carcassone in France to tour ancient ruins and see the incredible Cathar Castles. Drive to Lyon, stopping to visit Roman ruins and Avignon along the way.

Costa Brava between Cadaques and Portlligat
Map of Spain and France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, Aix-en-Provence, Lyon, & More - 11 Days
Spain and France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, Aix-en-Provence, Lyon, & More - 11 Days

Get to know the Mediterranean Coast and Provence region on this eleven-day trip. Stroll around Barcelona’s Magic Fountain of Montjuic at night, trace Salvador Dali’s path in Catalan, and tour one of Europe's most formidable defensive fortresses in Carcassone. Top it off with drives down peaceful country roads and contemplating beauty & history in quiet medieval churches.

Mont Saint-Michel
How kimkim Trips Work in France

France is known for its world-class wines, picturesque countryside, and variegated history. With the help of our local experts, you'll discover both the highlights and hidden treasures of Paris, stroll through romantic hidden villages and indulge in French gastronomy to your heart's content. In this article, we'll go over how kimkim will help you craft the perfect French adventure.

Gordes at dusk
Map of Spain and France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Provence, Lyon, & More - 19 Days
Spain and France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Provence, Lyon, & More - 19 Days

If you've ever wanted to explore art in Barcelona, stroll through Avignon's quiet streets, or go wine tasting in the south of France, this 19-day itinerary is perfect for you. From Salvador Dali's legacy in sunny Catalan to Cathar Castles in Carcassone, you'll see the region's highlights and dig deep into the local culture. End the trip with a road trip north to Lyon along Napoleon's route for a sampling of France's best cuisine.

Sunset in Grenoble
Map of Spain and France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Provence, Lyon, & More - 20 Days
Spain and France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Provence, Lyon, & More - 20 Days

From the sunny, white-washed homes of Catalan to the snow-capped Alps of Grenoble, this 20-day trip showcases highlights and immerses you into the local culture. Stroll around Barcelona’s Magic Fountain of Montjuic at night, explore Roman ruins in Tarragona, and trace Salvador Dali’s path in Catalan. Drive peaceful country roads in the South of France as you check out the Cathar Castles and road trip along the Napoleon Route.

Bay of Collioure with fortified church of Notre-Dame des Anges
Map of Spain & France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Provence & Lyon - 21 Days
Spain & France Road Trip: Barcelona, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Provence & Lyon - 21 Days

See it all on this three-week trip to the Mediterranean Coast and the South of France. From tapas in Barcelona and Roman ruins in Tarragona to Cathar Castles and Luberon wine in Carcassone, there's no shortage of history and culinary delights. Drive peaceful country roads, browse markets in Aix-en-Provence, and explore the cuisine of Lyon—France's gastronomic epicenter.

The historic Palais des Papes (Pope's Palace) in Avignon
Best Time of Year to Visit Provence

The shoulder season months of May and September are the best times to visit Provence if you like warm weather, clear skies, and beaches without the throngs of tourists. But for travelers who can handle the crowds and surging prices, the summer (June to August) is a close second, as the lavender fields are in full bloom, and the French Riviera is open for business. If you're here in winter (December to February), enjoy a ski holiday in the Southern Alps or stick to the coast for wild carnival celebrations.

Caen city skyline
Map of Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, & More - 13 Days
Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, & More - 13 Days

If you've got thirteen days off and a family that wants to head to France, consider yourself lucky. Start in Paris, where art museum scavenger hunts and delicious treats keep youngsters entertained, then head west to the windswept beaches of Normandy to see the D-Day landing site and tour the 1,000-year-old Mont-Saint-Michel, among other ancient castles.

Baby enjoying the beach in Saint-Malo
Map of Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo & Bordeaux - 14 Days
Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo & Bordeaux - 14 Days

Two weeks is the perfect time to dive deeper into some of France's western regions with the family. Start in Paris to see the highlights like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, then head off the beaten path in the west. Older kids will enjoy learning about history at the D-Day site and canoeing in Dordogne before traveling back in time to explore the prehistoric Lascaux cave.

Canoeing on the Dordogne River
Map of Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, & More - 15 Days
Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, & More - 15 Days

Your fifteen-year-olds might smell like Cro Magnon man, but they've never seen anything like the prehistoric Lascaux cave—a perfect recreation of the original. See this and more on this fifteen-day tour, including ascending to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, viewing a D-Day documentary film in Normandy, and learning to make Bordeaux caneles (the sweet cakes) as a family.

Beach in Deauville
Map of Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, Basque, & More - 19 Days
Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, Basque, & More - 19 Days

Spend nineteen days exploring Paris and western France with the family on this comprehensive itinerary. Start in Paris where a Louvre scavenger hunt will entertain kids of all ages, then head west along the coast. Follow your nose to the paella booths at small-town farmer's markets, visit the 1,000-year-old Mont-Saint-Michel, then end your trip near Bordeaux to see prehistoric caves and medieval villages.

Dock at Concarneau
Map of Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, Basque, & More - 20 Days
Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Caen, Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, Basque, & More - 20 Days

Dive into history, culture, and nature on this comprehensive 20-day family itinerary of western France. Start in Paris for city highlights, like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, then head west to see the site of D-Day and tour medieval castles. Round your trip out with canoeing on the Dordogne, traveling back to the time of Cro Magnon in the Lascaux Caves, and sampling seafood on the Brittany coast.

Aerial view of Saint-Malo
Map of Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Normandy, Basque Country, & More - 21 Days
Family Adventure in Western France: Paris, Normandy, Basque Country, & More - 21 Days

From art museums in Paris and WWII history in Normandy to the pirate's haunt of Saint-Malo and the beaches of Southern Brittany, there's plenty for kids and young adults alike to do on this three-week adventure through France. And if your family likes to drink wine together, you'll especially look forward to the days in Bordeaux—one of the world's leading winemaking regions.

Eiffel Tower
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris & the French Riviera - 7 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris & the French Riviera - 7 Days

If you're short on time but don't want to compromise on experience, this 7-day whirlwind honeymoon trip to France is the perfect fit. Browse shops and feast on Parisian pastries in the city, then head to the South of France for some quality time on the sunny Mediterranean coast. 

Gilded halls of Versaille
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris & the French Riviera - 8 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris & the French Riviera - 8 Days

A honeymoon to France is the stuff of dreams, but this real-life itinerary is ready and waiting for you! Spend four days in the City of Lights, browsing art museums and enjoying romantic strolls along the Seine. For the second half of your trip head to the south, where Roman ruins, luxurious beaches, and sunny weather await.

Latin quarter in Paris
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris & the French Riviera - 9 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris & the French Riviera - 9 Days

Head to France for nine days in the city of love—the perfect place for a honeymoon. Paris practically begs you to plan a romantic getaway, which is exactly what you'll do, from art viewing in the Louvre to day trips to storybook châteaux. Make sure to stop by the historic city of Avignon before wiling away the time on the sunny white-sand beaches of the south. 

Lake Annecy
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon & the French Riviera - 10 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon & the French Riviera - 10 Days

If you've got 10 days and a heart full of love, head to France for the perfect honeymoon getaway. Start in Paris, where you'll stroll shops and galleries by day and indulge in French wine at open-air cafés at night. See the Alps and tour Avignon, then end your tour on the sunny southern coast.

Colorful French macarons
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 11 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 11 Days

Leave it all behind and enjoy eleven magical days in France for your honeymoon (or any other special occasion!) Start in Paris, where romantic dinners at streetside cafes blend perfectly with relaxed strolls through the Louvre and a night at the Eiffel Tower. Wrap up your trip in Avignon and Nice, where history, nature, and wine await you and your sweetie.

The Abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 12 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 12 Days

Take a break from real life and immerse yourself in the city of love on this 12-day France honeymoon itinerary. You'll start in Paris—the perfect place for art museums, pastries, and a day trip to the resplendent Versailles. From here you'll head south to romantic Avignon and historic Lyon, ending in sunny Nice for plenty of beach time. 

Cap d’Antibes
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 13 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 13 Days

Thirteen days may be unlucky, but there's nothing unlucky about this thirteen-day honeymoon itinerary to France's main regions. Spend some time in Paris, where a day trip to the fairytale Chambord & Chenonceau chateaus whisks you away to a story. Stop in Lyon for some wine and Avignon for small villages, then end in Nice, where white-sand beaches and breathtaking sunsets await. 

Chenonceau castle and grounds
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon & the French Riviera - 14 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon & the French Riviera - 14 Days

Two weeks is the perfect amount of time to get away from it all, which is exactly what you'll do on this honeymoon itinerary. From Paris's busy streets to the quiet avenues of Aix-en-Provence, this itinerary has it all. Go wine tasting in the Beaujolais wine region, visit hilltop villages near Avignon, and immerse yourself in the luxurious atmosphere of Cannes and Monaco. 

Aerial view of Amboise
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 15 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 15 Days

Fifteen days is enough time to dive deep into several of France's most popular regions (and understand why they're a favorite!) Start in Paris, where mornings of fresh-baked pastries and hot espressos meld seamlessly into evenings of red wine and charcuteries. See the Chateau Chambord, immerse yourself in Avignon's history, and end your trip on a sunny note—along the warm beaches of the French Riviera. 

Cityscape of Blois
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Amboise, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 17 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Amboise, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 17 Days

This seventeen-day honeymoon itinerary has something for every couple (or non-couples!) Stop by Aix en Provence for coffee and people watching on the plaza, experience the magic of Paris at night, and wonder at the splendor of the Versailles estate. Explore the storybook towns of the Loire Valley and go wine tasting in the Beaujolais wine region before spending time in Cannes and Monaco. 

Chateau of Sully-sur-Loire
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Amboise, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 18 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Amboise, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 18 Days

With eighteen full days in the country, you'll get to experience the full variety of French cultures on this honeymoon trip. Learn about Parisian history in the heart of the city, search through the Louvre for hidden treasures, and explore the storybook towns of the Loire Valley. Stroll through historic Lyon, France’s third-most populous city, before stopping by Aix en Provence for coffee and people watching on the plaza. 

Chambord castle
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Amboise, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 19 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Amboise, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 19 Days

Leave your worries behind on this romantic 19-day honeymoon getaway to France. Experience the magic of Paris at night, bargain with vendors for regional specialties at farmer’s markets, and tour the fairytale Châteaus de Chambord & Chenonceau. Explore Roman ruins in Avignon and see the hilltop villages of the Luberon, before ending the trip in Cannes and Monaco. 

Chenonceau at sunset
Map of Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Amboise, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 20 Days
Honeymoon Romance in France: Paris, Amboise, Lyon, Avignon, & the French Riviera - 20 Days

With twenty full days to experience everything France has to offer, you're bound to come away with a bit more romance in your heart. On this honeymoon itinerary, you'll do everything from exploring Paris through pastries to bargaining with vendors for regional specialties at farmer’s markets. Stroll through historic Lyon, France’s third-most populous city, visit the hilltop villages of the Luberon, and stop by Aix en Provence for coffee and people watching on the plaza.

Vintage car tour of Paris
Map of Luxury, Art, & Food in France: Paris & Provence - 6 Days
Luxury, Art, & Food in France: Paris & Provence - 6 Days

If you're short on time but won't compromise on experiences, this six-day luxury tour of Paris and Provence is for you. Start with historic landmarks in Paris as you explore the city aboard a vintage car, then head south for a laid-back pace of life. End the trip in Aix-en-Provence where peaceful villages and farm-to-table cuisine beckon. 

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