15 Best Things to Do in Toulon (France)

Grand Fountain on the main square in Toulon

Overshadowed by near neighbour Nice, Toulon doesn’t receive anywhere near the acclaim it deserves, despite having been the holiday destination of choose for French presidents. Capital of the Var department in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the city has a fine setting on France’s Mediterranean coast. A major port and trading centre since its founding … Read more

15 Best Things to Do in Rennes (France)

Rennes Historic Centre

The capital of Brittany in northwest France, Rennes is recognised throughout the country as a city of art and culture. Named the most liveable city in France by news magazine L’Express, it manages to successfully combine a long history with modern innovation. From medieval streets to modern museum spaces, here are the 15 best things … Read more

15 Best Things to Do in Montpellier (France)

Place de la Comédie, Montpellier

A sun-kissed southern French city, Montpellier lies between Perpignan and Marseille. It lies approximately ten kilometres inland from the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea, which is a result, it’s said, of the risk of pirate attacks on this area of coast when the city was founded in the tenth century. Now one of the … Read more

15 Best Things to Do in Bordeaux (France)

Cathédrale Saint André

The city of Bordeaux is like its wines – rich, colourful, complex, and ever-so desirable. Situated on a meander in the River Garonne in southwestern France, in Bordeaux life flitters between the left and right banks of the river, bistros tucked into attractive side streets, Europe’s largest public square, and submarine docks repurposed for a … Read more

15 Best Things to Do in Lille (France)

Porte de Paris, Lille

Nudging the border with Belgium at the northern corner of France, Lille lies in French Flanders, having been territories of both England and Spain during its long history. When its traditional industries, including mining, came to an end in the post-war period, Lille was considered a little drab. However, the city was given a new … Read more

15 Best Things to Do in Strasbourg (France)

Petite France

Unique among French cities in having spent as much of its history within German territory as it has a part of France, Strasbourg is the main population centre in Alsace, eastern France. Boasting an unusual Franco-German culture as a result, Strasbourg is awash with attractions, from its Gothic cathedral to the glass and steel architecture … Read more

15 Best Things to Do in Nantes (France)

Château des Ducs de Bretagne

A centre for Breton heritage (that’s no longer in Brittany after a controversial reshuffle of France’s regions after World War Two), Nantes is something of a link between the industrial northern and more Mediterranean southern halves of the country. Situated in the charming Loire Valley roughly 50 kilometres from France’s Atlantic coast, Nantes’ history is … Read more

25 Best Things to Do in Paris (France)

Eiffel Tower

Crammed into the list below are the places and experiences that a first-timer in the City of Light just can’t pass up. Some of these attractions are so rich and time-consuming that there’s enough for several trips. And not a moment would be wasted, in the thrall of some of the greatest art made by … Read more

15 Best Things to Do in Nice (France)

Vieux Nice

Playground of the rich and famous since the earliest days of tourism, Nice has welcomed everyone from British monarchs to artists including Matisse and Picasso. And who can blame them, given near year-round sunshine, a stunning Mediterranean coastline on the Côte d’Azur, and a reputation as the place to be seen? Beyond the bravado, visitors … Read more

15 Best Things to Do in Toulouse (France)

Place du Capitole, Toulouse

The largest city in southwestern France, central Toulouse sits astride the waters of the River Garonne in a symphony of red brick and terracotta rooftiles that gives it the nickname La Ville Rose – The Pink City. Wandering these ancient streets, it’s not hard to see that Toulouse has a history going back centuries, and … Read more