France Top Attractions

Top 34 things to see and do in France

1 Palace of Versailles

8 /10

Part of Palace of Versailles near Paris, France.

The "City of Light" is undoubtedly one of the world's most beautiful and fascinating cities - you could spend a lifetime here and not see everything that Paris has to offer. An easy day trip from Paris is to the Palace of Versailles, one of Europe's most spectacular and largest royal homes. Versailles is about a 30-minute train ride from the center of the city.King Louis XIV – the "Sun King" - commissioned the palace in 1668 as well as the spacious and beautiful gardens ...
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2 Musee d'Orsay

7.9 /10

Famous clock in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France.

In Paris, France, Musee d'Orsay is a museum located in what used to be a railway station, the Gare d'Orsay. This museum boasts a huge collection of paintings by Renoir, Monet, Delacroix, Degas, Gaugin, Van Gogh, and other impressionist artists. It also focuses on the art scene between 1848 and 1915, which is the early modern era for art in France. The collection also includes not just paintings but furniture, photographs, and sculptures ...
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3 La Sainte Chapelle

7.8 /10

A view of the Sainte Chapelle's ceiling in Paris, France.

A jewelry box. A light show. A diamond reflecting the light with its many facets.This is La Sainte Chapelle in Paris and more. It is best to visit this chapel's gem during the day when there is plenty of sunlight. La Sainte Chapelle may be small, but oh, the wonder and excitement when you see how natural light plays with it!La Sainte Chapelle (or Holy Chapel) harks back to 1246 when it was built as a home to the True Cross's relics ...
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4 Centre Pompidou

7.8 /10

Exterior view of Centre Pompidou in Paris.

The Centre Georges Pompidou is to be found in the Beaubourg area of Paris, France. It is near Marais and Les Halles at the IVe arrondissement. This controversial building was constructed in the 1970s and now houses a variety of institutions. These include the National Museum of Modern Art, a library (Bibliothèque Publique d'Information) and others.Ever since it opened its doors in 1977, it has been the subject of many arguments because of its bold 'exo-skeletal' design made of glass and metal and the use of brightly colored pipes that are visible to all ...
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5 Champs-Elysées

7.8 /10

One side of the Champs-Élisées in Paris.

Undoubtedly the most famous avenue in the world, Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, is blessed with a unique elegance and charm. That is also why it is considered the world's most beautiful avenue. Even with traffic surging along it, there really is something special in the experience of ambling along Champs-Elysees. The streetlamps at dusk provide an exceptional atmosphere to the length that spans from the Place Charles de Gaulle (where you can find the Arc de Triomphe) to Place de la Concorde ...
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6 Promenade de la Croisette

7.7 /10

The Promenade de la Croisette street in Cannes.

The first thing that comes to mind when you say Cannes is the Cannes Film Festival, with all its glitz and glamour. And yes, La Croisette is very much part of this, as this promenade is very much a part of the activities for the film festival.
Promenade de la Croisette (which, in English, means the 'Avenue of the Little Cross' is a famous boulevard that spans its share of the Mediterranean Sea ...
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7 Jardins des Plantes

7.7 /10

A nice panorama of the Plants Garden in Montpellier, France.

Visit the oldest garden in all of France – the Jardins des Plantes in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Rousillon region. It may come as a surprise to most tourists, but this haven is just 20 minutes walk from the Place de la Comedie. But these lovely gardens are a welcome respite and a haven of peace and tranquility. Do come here to relax and breathe in the fresh air that only gardens seem to have ...
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8 La Conciergerie

7.7 /10

The facade of La Conciergerie by the Seine River.

The Conciergerie is a fortress in Paris, France that used to house kings and subsequently prisoners. It served as the Royal Apartments before completing the Louvre, which became the new Royal Residence. La Conciergerie was constructed during the early part of the 14th century. It came with a guardroom, a kitchen and a men-at-arms room. This was built by the architects Jean de Saint-Germer and Nicolas des Chaumes ...
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9 Eiffel Tower

7.6 /10

Looking up at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

In Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower was constructed by Alexander-Gustave Eiffel in commemoration of the French Revolution and completed in 1889 at the cost of 1.5 million dollars. The design beat out 700 others competing for the opportunity, and the structure was completed in just 21 months. At 986 feet, it was the tallest building in the known world after being unveiled at the Paris World's Fair. This open-latticed, brown wrought iron structure has since become one of the world's major tourist attractions, even though dozens of buildings have now surpassed it in height ...
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10 Mont Saint-Michel

7.6 /10

Mont St-Michel in France

Mont Saint-Michel, France, as seen from afar, is mystical, imposing, and magical. It stands majestic as it gazes down from its lofty heights. It stands in the bay that is daily assaulted by the highest tides in Europe. Seated from its lofty height, it provides you with magnificent panoramas of the Bretagne and Normandy coastline.Legend says that the whole fortification was made at the request of Michael, the archangel ...
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11 Basilique du Sacré Coeur

7.6 /10

The Basilique du Sacré Coeur exterior.

Basilique Sacre Coeur is a revered landmark in Paris, France. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart marks the city's highest point, on top of the hill of Montmartre. And from that lofty mount, it serves as a very visible reminder of Christian traditions.
The basilica is an immense example of the Roman-Byzantine style. It has soaring dome towers - 83 meters tall! It is built with Château-Landon stones that naturally maintains its white color as it bleaches with age ...
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12 Arc de Triomphe

7.5 /10

The Arc de Triomphe in the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

The monument stands for triumph – the triumph of the human spirit against the odds. In Paris, the Arc de Triomphe stands proudly, a fitting memorial to homage the brave ones who fought during the Napoleonic Wars for the honor and freedom of their beloved country, France. You can see this monument displayed in the middle of the Place Charles de Gaulle, right at the end of the magnificent Champs-Elysees ...
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13 Le Meurice Hotel

7.5 /10

Inside the Le Meurice Hotel in Paris

Le Meurice is a neo-classical 5-star hotel founded by Charles-Augustin Meurice in 1835. It is located at 228, rue de Rivoli in the 1st district of Paris.
It has been awarded the 'Palace' distinction in 2011 and the 'Living Heritage Company' distinction in 2012. It belongs to the Dorchester Collection hotel group, which also owns the Plaza Athénée.
The hotel enjoys views over the entire Tuileries Gardens, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, as well as the beginning of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Place de la Concorde ...
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14 InterContinental Carlton Cannes

7.5 /10

The exterior of the InterContinental Carlton Cannes hotel.

The Hôtel InterContinental Carlton Cannes is a luxury hotel built in 1911 on the Mediterranean Sea's shores on the Promenade de la Croisette in Cannes, France. It has been declared a historical monument.
This hotel was built for Henry Ruhl by the architects Charles Dalmas of Nice and Marcellin Mayère of Cannes between 1909 and 1913. With 343 rooms, including 39 suites, its façade is clad in two-tone faux stone. The decoration was cast in concrete ...
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15 Hôtel Negresco

7.5 /10

The exterior of the Hotel Negresco in Nice.

The Hotel Negresco is a five-star luxury hotel located on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. It is one of the few surviving hotels of the early 20th century and one of the last independent establishments of this class. Its facades are based on a neoclassical framework, with opulent, quasi-baroque ornamentation. Like the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, the Ritz in Paris and the Hotel Astoria in Brussels, it is one of the most famous luxury hotels ...
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16 Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat

7.5 /10

The exterior of the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat.

The building has stood since 1908, and its location has made it a legend. This large coastal hotel is installed facing the sea. And the show is obvious as soon as you walk through the door. Below, one of the most beautiful hotel gardens on the Riviera (Aleppo pines, purple bougainvillea, etc.), an infinity pool where the world's 'princes' have bathed, and then the Mediterranean, of insolent beauty under the sun ...
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17 Calanques Marseille-Cassis

7.4 /10

The Massif des Calanques offer a unique experience. This geological formation shaped like fingers mark the rocky coastline between Marseille and Cassis in Provence. Hiking, going on trails, diving, swimming and rock-climbing are just some of the sports that are yours to enjoy as you get a load of the Calanques. The rugged terrain beckons with its unique geological beauty ...
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18 Place de la Comedie

7 /10

Place de la Comedie is the "heart" of Montpellier in France. Although it is not its center in terms of geographical position, it is the center of Montpellier as it is where the locals, mostly the young, stay to hang out, people-watch and chat with friends. This plaza is where the life of the city ebbs and flows. You can join the locals and sit at the many cafes in the area and watch the hustle and bustle of the people going by, even as you sip your cup of hot latte ...
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19 D-Day Landing Beaches

7 /10

The D-Day Beaches in Normandy, France, with its gentle sand dunes and coves, lay witness to one of history's greatest moments during wartime. This is where 100,000 soldiers lost their lives in a bid to secure and liberate this section of Europe from the rule of the Germans. The coastline was a strategic line of defense, one that the Allied troops tried to breach and one the German forces tried to defend at all costs ...
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20 Musée Rodin

7 /10

The facade of the Musée Rodin.

The Musee Rodin in Paris is, as the name suggests, a showcase of the works of the renowned French sculptor, Auguste Rodin. In addition, you will find here many aspects of Rodin's life – Rodin the art collector, Rodin the painter, Rodin the person, and of course, there is a collection of sketches he made before transforming these into sculptural masterpieces.
The place used to be the Hotel Biron, which was Rodin's residence since the early 1900s ...
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21 Père Lachaise Cemetery

7 /10

Tombs and funeral monuments in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

No other cemetery is so good at name dropping than Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise in Paris, France. It is the final resting place of many famous personalities. The list of the persons buried there looks like the Who's Who of over two centuries' worth.
It is expansive and beautiful, with 44 hectares and over 5,000 trees. This makes it the largest park in the city. And the fact that many of the famous are buried here has made it into a pantheon garden and open air museum ...
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22 Opera Garnier

7 /10

The inside of the Opera Garnier theatre.

Another landmark in Paris, a city filled with great landmarks, is the Palais Garnier, also called the Opera Garnier, Opera de Paris or the Grand Opera House. Designed by the renowned Charles Garnier, this splendid structure is of the Neo-Baroque style tradition and is a grand masterpiece in architecture.
Completed in 1875, it is a tour de force for rococo, especially when you bear in mind that this was built during the glory days of the French Empire ...
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23 Colline du Château

7 /10

With medieval ruins, a waterfall and a flower-filled garden, Colline du Chateau in Nice, France is a favorite, and a frequently visited site, not just by tourists but by locals who want to take a breather from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Colline du Chateau can be found on a hill nestled between the Nice harbor and the old town. The hill upon which this park stands is called Castle Hill and has an elevation of around 92 meters. The park's position at the top of Castle Hill affords its visitors with great views of the city below ...
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24 Notre-Dame de la Garde

7 /10

Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde (or Our Lady of the Guard Basilica) stands as one of the highest points in the city of Marseille, France. And rightly so, as she is considered to be La Bonne Mere - "Our Good Mother" - who benevolently guards the people of Marseilles. At 154 meters, it seems that she is doing her job quite well. The statue, as well as the Basilica, is a well-loved landmark.

The magnificent Basilica never fails to shock and move you ...
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25 Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

7 /10

The exterior of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.

...
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26 Louvre Museum

7 /10

The building and glass pyramid at the Louvre.

In Paris, France, the Louver is one of the world's greatest museums – you could easily spend a month there and still not see all of its treasures. It's also one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, attracting around 8 million visitors every year.The building's statistics are staggering – the Louvre contains an estimated 380,000 works of art, sculptures, and paintings, of which only around 30,000 are on display at any one time ...
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27 Jurade of Saint Emilion

7 /10

Ban des Vendanges de St. Emilion (or Jurade de Saint Emilion) is not a place, but a special event held annually in medieval Saint-Emilion in the famous wine region of Bordeaux, France. It marks the beginning of the grape harvest, a special event for this part of France that is known for its excellent wines ...
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28 Musée des Beaux-Arts

6.9 /10

The Musee des Beaux-Arts (or the Museum of Fine Arts) in Lyon, France is one of biggest art collections in the country. Housed in the former Abbey of the Ladies of Saint Pierre, this museum provides one with a glimpse of the arts throughout the ages. There are works that are from the time of ancient Egypt and Greece, as well as works from the Medieval Age up until the present.

Indeed, Musee des Beaux-Arts offer an extensive collection for the world to view ...
Read more about the Musée des Beaux-Arts
29 Abbaye Saint-Victor

6.8 /10

Marseille, France boasts of awe-inspiring monuments, chief of which is the Abbaye Saint-Victor in Rue de l'Abbaye. This utterly beguiling abbey harks back to the 5th century and was built above the grounds where Saint Victor was buried.

This fortified abbey stands just above the Vieux-Port's bank, on its southern side. The view of the ancient building makes an interesting counterpoint with the sleek and modern yachts below, at the dry dock ...
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30 Grande Île

6.7 /10

Welcome to Grande Ile, in Strasbourg, France. This is the only city center that has the distinction of being declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. And indeed, Grande Ile is imbibed with a unique sense of culture, and is overflowing with a wealth of historical and cultural monuments. There are also 22 brass plates that celebrate its being a World Heritage Site – these can be found at the bridges that lead to Grand Ile ...
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31 Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral

6.2 /10

Part of the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Paris, France, is known for iconic structures. The Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the dome of Sacre Coeur on Montmartre are practically clichés when thinking of the City of Light. Perhaps no one building more perfectly encapsulates the city's soul as the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, located on Ile-de-la-Cite in the River Seine ...
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32 Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes

5.5 /10

Lourdes's Our Lady Sanctuary which encompasses the Catholic famous grottoes has long been a favorite among tourists in France. This is a place where people go to seek healing and to meet Our Lady of Lourdes, just as St. Bernadette did in one of the grottoes.

The story goes that Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year old French peasant girl, was able to see and converse with Mary, Jesus' mother, eighteen times in 1858 ...
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33 Saint Sernin Basilica

5.5 /10

Toulouse, France is home to the Saint Sernin Basilica, which is among the grandest, largest and most fabulous in the Western World. Its magnificent splendor never fails to draw "oohs and aahs" from those who are blessed to visit it. Saint Sernin Basilica's sheer size and utter architectural beauty are qualities that have that irresistible ability to draw people into itself. You cannot simply resist coming in for a visit ...
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34 Canal du Midi

5.1 /10

Canal du Midi in Toulouse, France, was built in the 17th century. It also has the distinction of being the world's oldest working canal. It is also counted as one of France's engineering marvels. Because of its significance to the engineering world, as well as to the history and culture of France, the canal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 ...
Read more about the Canal du Midi

* Regular pre-pandemic touristic activity level.

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