How to Get Around France

France's TGV high-speed rail network is the backbone of getting around the country -- Paris to Lyon takes under two hours, and to Marseille or Bordeaux around three, often faster door-to-door than flying once airport time is factored in. The regional TER network fills in slower, cheaper service almost everywhere else.

A car is genuinely useful, sometimes necessary, for rural regions like the Dordogne, much of Provence's countryside, and Brittany's coastline. It's a liability in central Paris, though -- narrow streets, expensive parking, and an excellent Métro/RER network make a car actively counterproductive there.

Domestic flights make sense mainly for Corsica or long north-south hops. Within cities, walking and public transit cover most historic centers on their own.