Country guide

Walking tours in France

France rewards a first trip with a route that changes character every couple of days: the monument density of Paris, a food city in Lyon, a walled papal capital in Avignon, and Mediterranean light in Nice. Wayside has self-guided walking tours in Paris and Nice, covering the Seine islands, Montmartre, the covered passages, Vieux Nice, and the Promenade des Anglais. This country page links those anchors by high-speed rail through Lyon and Avignon, so a visitor gets the capital, the Rhône valley, and the Riviera without renting a car.

Photo by Antony BEC on Unsplash

When to go

When is the best time to visit France?

Spring

Months: March to May
Weather: Spring sits outside the summer and Christmas rail peaks, so long-distance seats are easier to find. The Mediterranean coast warms up by April while Paris and the north stay showery.SourceApp Savvy Traveller
Crowds: A calmer shoulder season. Easter and the May holidays bring domestic crowds to the coast and the big cities.

Summer

Months: June to August
Weather: July and August are the rail network's peak, with higher fares and TGV seats that sell out, so book ahead. The south is hot and dry, the north warm but more changeable, and heatwaves can make inland cities uncomfortable.SourceApp Savvy Traveller
Crowds: The busiest stretch, especially along the coast, in Paris, and anywhere near the sea. Book trains, hotels, and headline sights early.

Autumn

Months: September to November
Weather: After the summer peak, September and October ease on the railways. Early autumn is often warm and golden, with rain building through November.SourceApp Savvy Traveller
Crowds: September is the sweet spot in the south: warm water and fewer families. November is quiet and wetter.

Winter

Months: December to February
Weather: Christmas is a peak rail period and seats sell out early. The Alps and Pyrenees are in ski season while the Riviera stays mild; the north is damp and grey.SourceApp Savvy Traveller
Crowds: Quiet in most cities outside the Christmas markets and the February school-holiday ski weeks, which book up fast.

When to visit France, by season
Season	Months	Weather	Crowds
Spring	March to May	Spring sits outside the summer and Christmas rail peaks, so long-distance seats are easier to find. The Mediterranean coast warms up by April while Paris and the north stay showery.SourceApp Savvy Traveller	A calmer shoulder season. Easter and the May holidays bring domestic crowds to the coast and the big cities.
Summer	June to August	July and August are the rail network's peak, with higher fares and TGV seats that sell out, so book ahead. The south is hot and dry, the north warm but more changeable, and heatwaves can make inland cities uncomfortable.SourceApp Savvy Traveller	The busiest stretch, especially along the coast, in Paris, and anywhere near the sea. Book trains, hotels, and headline sights early.
Autumn	September to November	After the summer peak, September and October ease on the railways. Early autumn is often warm and golden, with rain building through November.SourceApp Savvy Traveller	September is the sweet spot in the south: warm water and fewer families. November is quiet and wetter.
Winter	December to February	Christmas is a peak rail period and seats sell out early. The Alps and Pyrenees are in ski season while the Riviera stays mild; the north is damp and grey.SourceApp Savvy Traveller	Quiet in most cities outside the Christmas markets and the February school-holiday ski weeks, which book up fast.

What you'll see

Highlights across France

Cities to explore

Where to walk in France

3 tours

AvignonProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

7 tours

BordeauxNew Aquitaine, France

3 tours

Clermont-FerrandRhône-Alpes, France

3 tours

LilleHauts-de-France, France

7 tours

LyonRhône-Alpes, France

7 tours

MarseilleProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

5 tours

NiceProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

8 tours

ParisÎle-de-France, France

5 tours

StrasbourgGrand Est, France

Questions about visiting

Planning a trip to France

Do I need a visa for France?

Most US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand visitors can enter France visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and EU citizens need only a passport or ID card. Check France Visas for your nationality, and watch for the EU's ETIAS entry authorization, which is expected to apply to visa-exempt visitors.

Is France expensive?

France runs a wide range. A budget traveler can get by on roughly 85 to 120 euros a day outside Paris, while a mid-range trip runs 150 to 250 euros a day, with Paris at the top of every tier.

SourceFrance Travel Wiki, France travel budget

Which cities should I visit?

For a first trip, Paris, Lyon, Avignon, and Nice give you the capital, the food city, the papal Rhône, and the Mediterranean in one train line. Wayside has walking tours in Paris and Nice, with more cities coming.

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