35 In Europe

10 Amazing Places to Visit in France (That Aren’t Paris)

I’m going to preface this post by clarifying that I don’t dislike Paris. I’m as big of a sucker for the Champs-Elysées and Montmartre as anyone. I’ve had the good fortune of studying and working in this beautiful city, in addition to visiting a handful of times, and I haven’t gotten sick of it yet.

But while I wish I could claim credit for the revelation that sometimes it’s a good idea to stray from a country’s most popular city for a more authentic experience of a place, I know I’m far from the first to take note of that. (I will not argue, however, if you’d like to give me all the cred.)

As Audrey Hepburn once said, “Paris is always a good idea.” Let’s be honest, though: France is always a good idea, whether the City of Lights is on the itinerary or not. Keep scrolling to see ten French cities other than Paris that just might warrant a spot on your wanderlist.

Lille

Lille is a city in northern France with a huge student population and a beautiful city center filled with historic, cobbled streets and impressive architecture. As an added bonus, it can be easily reached from several major cities: by train, you can get there from London in an hour and a half, from Paris in an hour and from Brussels in just thirty minutes. Don’t leave without tucking into a healthy serving of Welsh, a regional specialty inspired by Welsh Rarebit. It’ll be the cheesiest food-venture of your life. (Read more about the French dish and its inspiration here.)

grande place main square lille
La Grande Place in Lille

Strasbourg

In 1988, Strasbourg’s Grand Île district was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the very first time the prestigious distinction was given to an entire city center. And once you see it, you’ll understand why. The medieval houses and shop fronts adorned with brightly-colored shutters and exposed timber beams look like a scene straight out of a fairy tale, and the unique details you’ll find on each building make it hard to walk anywhere without stopping a dozen times for closer examination.

I was lucky enough to visit Strasbourg in December when their storied Christmas markets were underway. The very first Christmas market in Europe took place in Strasbourg in 1570, and fortunately for us, the tradition is alive and well today, with over 300 stalls to enjoy while sipping on some mulled wine and enjoying a pastry (or three).

For an equally beautiful Alsatian village but on a smaller scale, visit nearby Colmar.

strasbourg france
Strasbourg
colmar france
Colmar
colmar france
Building details in Colmar

Belfort

I spent eight months in Belfort teaching English, and while I would venture to say that it’s a better city to live in than to visit, it does have some major advantages. On a geographical level, it’s right by the Swiss and German borders, making it easy to combine your stay with time in other great cities like Basel in Switzerland and Freiburg in Germany. It’s also just south of Alsace, so getting there to or from Strasbourg and Colmar is easy, too.

Belfort is home to several great annual events: Les Eurockéenes is one of Europe’s largest music festivals, the Foire aux Livres is a giant book sale taking place over the course of three weeks and boasting 250,000+ new and used books, and Belflorissimo is a flower market that brightens the banks of the Savoreuse River for several days each May. The city is also surrounded by lush, green countryside, perfect for hiking, biking, swimming and more.

belfort france
Downtown Belfort
la colline de salbert belfort france
Hiking La Colline de Salbert on the outskirts of Belfort

Dijon

The capital city of Burgundy is perfect for wine lovers. Sadly, the popular spicy mustard that received its name from the city is no longer produced locally, but don’t let that keep you away; you can still taste a variety of authentic Burgundy mustard (made with mustard seeds actually grown in Burgundy) at family-run shop Edmond Fallot (16 Rue de la Chouette). Speaking of chouettes, or owls, they serve as the icon of the city. You can take a self-guided tour of the main sights by following the owl plates in the ground.

Dijon’s picturesque city center, largely undamaged during World War II, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. Base yourself here for a few days to explore the surrounding vineyards and eat your way through Les Halles, the city’s indoor marketplace. While I wasn’t personally a fan of regional specialty jambon persillé, there were plenty of other stalls to keep my tastebuds busy.

clos de la perriere de vougeot proprietaire bertagna bourgogne burgundy france
A vineyard in Burgundy

Lyon

Lyon is situated in France’s Rhône-Alpes region. Be on the lookout for the city’s traboules: networks of covered, mostly hidden passageways (often opening up into picturesque courtyards) that cut through apartment buildings and sometimes entire city blocks. For something extra special, time your trip to coincide with the city’s annual festival of lights, La Fête des Lumières. Lyon is known as being a foodie city, so be sure to try some of the city’s gastronomical mainstays while you’re there; my favorite is la salade lyonnaise, made with frisée, lardons (tiny strips of crispy bacon), and a poached egg. C’est parfait.

la fête des lumières lyon france
Lyon during La Fête des Lumières
la fête des lumières lyon france
A view of Lyon the day after we enjoyed La Fête des Lumières – note the balloons from the first photo!

Grenoble

When the time came for me to study abroad, I had two options if I wanted to go to France: Paris and Grenoble. Having never heard of Grenoble before (and, let’s be honest, having watched Amélie several times) I had my heart set on Paris, and I was heartbroken when it turned out I didn’t have enough language credits to go directly there. I decided to pair a spring semester in Grenoble with a summer semester in Paris. In the end, I fell absolutely in love with Grenoble and felt relieved that I had been “forced” to go there first. I was – and still am – so thankful for my time there. Once I moved to Paris, I found myself missing Grenoble daily. (An experience that may have inspired this post…)

I know I’m biased, and I don’t expect the average person to forge the same emotional connection with the city that I developed during my time there, but I can’t say enough positive things about Grenoble! The city’s efficient tram and bus system makes it an easy place to get around, and it’s pretty as hell to boot. Walking around the city center, I always felt like I was standing at the bottom of a bowl: Grenoble itself is very flat, with three picturesque mountain ranges (Vercors, Belledonne and Chartreuse) rising up around it on all sides. Those mountains, by the way, are the French Alps – you may have heard of them? – making the city the perfect place to base yourself if you fancy some skiing, snowshoeing or other wintery outdoor activity. (Unsurprisingly, Grenoble hosted the Winter Olympics in 1968.)

For first-time visitors especially, it’s a must to climb to the top of the Bastille, the prominent fortification overlooking the city. You can reach the top by riding in Les Bulles (a set of cable cars) or by throwing on your sneakers and climbing the relatively steep trail yourself. If you walk, you can easily combine it with a visit to the Musée Dauphinois, as you’ll pass right by it on your way. After getting to the top (and getting that heart rate up a bit), you can enjoy panoramic views over the city, the Isère River, and the awe-inspiring mountain ranges surrounding the city. On a clear day, you’ll even catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc!

bastille grenoble france
Views of Grenoble from the Bastille

Back in the city center, my favorite go-to spot for a delicious meal was always a tartine and a tarte au citron from Pain et Cie (1 bis Rue Lafayette). At the risk of writing 10x more for Grenoble than the other cities on this list, I’ll stop now. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like more specific recommendations!

Toulouse

Located in southwestern France, Toulouse is nicknamed la ville rose (the pink city) for its abundance of pink-hued terra cotta buildings. Take a walk along the Garonne river, relax a while at the peaceful Jardin des Plantes, and sample some cassoulet: a stew made with white beans, duck, saucisse de Toulouse and herbs. For a fun day trip, hop on the train to nearby Carcassonne, a medieval fortified city that’s been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

garonne river toulouse
The banks of the Garonne River in Toulouse

Nîmes

You might find yourself wondering if you’ve actually ended up in Italy when you arrive in this beautiful Southern French city. Les Arènes, an almost impossibly well-preserved Roman amphitheater, still holds annual bull fighting festivals. Nearby you’ll find La Maison Carré, a first century Roman temple reminiscent of the Pantheon. After a walk down the uber-picturesque Quai de la Fontaine (have your camera ready) you’ll come upon the Jardin de la Fontaine, where you’ll find the Temple of Diane and the Tour Magne, a tower you can climb for unbeatable views of the city and its surrounds. You may have guessed it by now, but Nîmes boasts the best collection of Roman ruins in all of France. Ruins aside, the city’s old town is completely charming. After ruin-hopping, grab a seat at a café on the Place de Marché and enjoy the Mediterranean haze of this underrated beauty.

nîmes france
Les Arènes in Nîmes

Marseille

I don’t usually expect beautiful city views as I exit from train stations, but Marseille proved me wrong on this point. Upon exiting the Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles, you’ll find yourself atop a large platform offering sweeping views over the city’s downtown, with the dramatic Notre-Dame de la Garde church perched in the distance atop the highest natural point in the city. It’s a must-see not only for the church’s unique beauty but also for the amazing views from its hilltop location.

Spend time by the water at the Vieux Port (Old Harbor). Wander the impressive Palais Longchamps, which houses the city’s Museum of Natural History in its west wing and the Museum of Fine Arts in its east wing. Grab some tickets to see beloved football team Olympique de Marseille play a match at the Stade Velodrome.

The village of Cassis is a beautiful day trip, and the coastline between the two is a famed destination in itself: le Parc National des Calanques, or the Calanque National Park, features a collection of imposing, rocky bluffs rising up from the sparkly blue waters of the Mediterranean and providing a series of beautiful hiking paths and secluded beaches, some of which can only be reached by boat.

vieux old port marseille
Marseille’s Vieux Port
marseille france
Mediterranean views from Notre-Dame de la Garde
cassis france
Cassis

Nice

Situated in the French Riviera on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it’s hard to not fall in love with Nice. Climb the Colline du Château for a view of the uber-picturesque Vieille Ville (Old Town) from above, or snag a spot along the Promenade des Anglais to enjoy the dreamy blue water of the Bay of Angels. Just be warned that despite its beauty, the beach scene in Nice is not the best for sunbathing; instead of soft sand, the beaches are made up of small stones. (I once spent the night on this beach with two friends. At the time, we thought we were being money smart and super adventurous. In reality it was just very uncomfortable and pretty eerie!)

That’s okay, though, because you’ll be too busy exploring the city and its surrounds to be bummed about uncomfy beaches, Nice being the perfect jump-off point for countless side trips, from Èze to Saint-Paul-de-Vence to Monaco and more. And did I mention that Nice is one of the main ports to catch a ferry to Corsica…? Looks like you’ve got some decisions to make. Ponder it all over a dish of the renowned ice cream at Fennochio on Place Rosetti. With close to 100 flavors, which day trips to take won’t be the only tough decision you’re faced with in Nice.

nice france
Nice
eze france
Èze
st paul de vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence

While I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time in France, there’s still so much I want to see that I haven’t been able to yet – the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and Annecy to name a few! What’s your dream destination in France? Let me know in the Comments!

Pin this for later

best places to visit in france that aren't paris

You Might Also Like

35 Comments

  • Reply
    Tom
    February 26, 2017 at 4:33 pm

    Did you ever get a chance to visit Chamonix? It is in the shadows of Mont Blanc and a hub for adventure-seekers. Should definitely check it out! And if you already have, then I’m disappointed it didn’t make the list.

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 2, 2017 at 12:17 pm

      Hey Tom! I haven’t made it to Chamonix (yet!). It looks beautiful from your posts and I hope to make it there at some point!

  • Reply
    California Globetrotter
    March 1, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    Definitely a fabulous list of cities in France! FRANCE is always a good idea! There’s so much more beyond Paris I am DYING to visit! I didn’t know that that Dijon mustard is no longer produced in Dijon! That’s kinda sad! #FarawayFiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 20, 2018 at 11:36 am

      It’s a little bizarre, right?! And I agree – even though I’ve been lucky to visit many other areas, there are still so many more I want to see!

  • Reply
    Kat
    March 2, 2018 at 3:42 am

    Oh I had always thought Strasbourg was in Germany, didn’t know it was in France! Your photo of the riverbank in Toulouse is breathtaking – oh I can imagine myself relaxing by the riverbank on a sunny day with a picnic basket, food and wine! 🙂 Had been to Nice a couple of years ago but sadly, didn’t really explore the place because we made a day trip to Monaco by bus instead. Thanks for this post – great tip and good to know that we should explore other parts of France apart from Paris 🙂 #FarawayFiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 20, 2018 at 11:35 am

      The city has actually changed hands between Germany and France several times so it’s not surprising that you thought that! 🙂 Thanks for reading, Kat!

  • Reply
    Janet
    March 2, 2018 at 10:19 am

    That’s really informative – I think from reading that I choose Nimes, as I would love to see the Roman amphitheatre. Strasbourg looks so floral though #Farawayfiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 20, 2018 at 11:31 am

      I loved exploring Nîmes – it felt so different from other cities I’ve visited in France! And Strasbourg definitely holds a place in my heart! The architecture is stunning. 🙂

  • Reply
    Katy Clarke
    March 2, 2018 at 6:16 pm

    I love France and have explored a lot but haven’t been to so many of these places. Thanks for the inspiration! I’d love to explore more of south west France so my pick would be Toulouse from your list. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 20, 2018 at 11:30 am

      Toulouse is so great and there are many day trip options from there as well! Thanks for reading, Katy 🙂

  • Reply
    Clare (Suitcases and Sandcastles)
    March 4, 2018 at 6:48 am

    Such a great, informative post, Caity. I think so many people just gravitate towards Paris and forget about the rest of this extraordinary country. I’m a huge Francophile – I studied French at university and lived in Paris for a while. There’s so much more to discover here. #FarawayFiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 20, 2018 at 11:29 am

      I agree, Clare! It sounds like we have that in common – I also studied French (as a minor) and spent a summer in Paris! It’s a country I absolutely adore and am always so excited to visit. 🙂

  • Reply
    Phoebe | Lou Messugo
    March 5, 2018 at 7:54 am

    Wonderful list, and probably the first time I’ve seen Belfort and Grenoble on such a list. It’s great to recommend such (relatively) unknown cities. I adore your photo of Lyon with the balloons. The Fête des Lumières is amazing isn’t it? I run a monthly linky #AllAboutFrance (which is now on) which I’d love you to link up to. #farawayfiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 20, 2018 at 11:27 am

      Thanks so much, Phoebe! I did end up linking the post to your #allaboutfrance link-up and I loved looking through the other articles! It’s a country I love so much and can’t wait to get back to. 🙂

  • Reply
    Trish @ Mum's Gone To
    March 5, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    From your list I’ve visited Nice, Lille and, of course, Paris. But you’ve given me food for thought. Love the look of Strasbourg but Nimes and Toulouse take my fancy too!
    #farawayfiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 20, 2018 at 11:26 am

      I think you would love all three and they’re all quite different, too! Thanks for reading!

  • Reply
    Corey Cook | fifi + hop
    March 5, 2018 at 11:25 pm

    For some reason France has really been on my radar recently so I really enjoyed reading this. Yes, there is so much more to this beautiful country beyond Paris! (though don’t get me wrong – I’ve been 4 times). There’s still so much I want to see I may just have to hop in my parents suitcase when they go this summer ;). #farawayfiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      March 20, 2018 at 11:24 am

      I totally agree – I daydream about trips back to Paris regularly and absolutely love it there. It’s definitely one of those countries I always want to go back to and see more of – I hope your parents have an amazing trip!

  • Reply
    Indira
    March 30, 2018 at 11:37 am

    Great list! I’ve been to Marseille and Nice. Although I wasn’t initially impressed with Marseille, the Calanques took my breath away. I also visited at pure and highly recommend that and Chamonix. Yvoire reminds me of the village Belle is from (Beauty and the Beast) 🙂

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      December 2, 2018 at 4:22 pm

      Thanks for reading, Indira! I’ve heard so many good things about Chamonix and I’d love to visit someday!

  • Reply
    Moira
    March 30, 2018 at 11:47 am

    I love this. France is such a beautiful country and I feel like the countryside is often overlooked because Paris is such a draw. Well done! #flyawayfriday

  • Reply
    Allison
    March 31, 2018 at 9:20 am

    I haven’t been to France yet, but it is definitely on my list. Although I definitely believe that Paris is a must (it’s been on my bucket list since I was a high schooler studying French) I am a firm believer that to really get to know a country you need to travel outside of the main tourist city. I’m pinning this for later when I can finally start planning my trip.

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      December 2, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      Thanks for reading, Allison! I hope it will be helpful for you later on. 🙂

  • Reply
    Cherie Rose Martin
    March 31, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    I am so pleased you mentioned the French Riviera as that is a total must in France. Have you explored the Dordogne region? Absolutely gorgeous. It’s like a fairytale land over there.

    #FlyAwayFriday

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      December 2, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      I have not been there but I would love to! Thank you for the tip!

  • Reply
    Ruth
    March 31, 2018 at 10:25 pm

    France has so many great places to visit. I agree it is a good idea to see more than Paris. Actually, I have heard about all the places here except Belfort. I imagine living there was a nice opportunity. I visited Alsace last year and fell in love with the area. I know it is close to other countries so, weekend trips to other countries are possible. #FlyAwayFriday

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      December 2, 2018 at 4:25 pm

      Thanks for reading, Ruth! Belfort was a great place to live – definitely not high on most tourism lists, but I loved it all the same! And Alsace is one of my favorites. Such a beautiful region!

  • Reply
    Janine Good
    April 11, 2018 at 9:22 am

    I am happy to say that I have been to a few of these cities! I love Nice and have fond memories of Dijon. I would love to check out Lyon. It looks beautiful. Thanks for coming to Fly Away Friday 🙂 See you this week!

  • Reply
    Kana
    April 12, 2018 at 9:19 am

    What a smart and creative post, since when people think of France, they immediately think of Paris! I’m definitely keeping this post saved for our Europe trip next year! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday, hope to see you again tomorrow! XO

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      December 2, 2018 at 4:27 pm

      Thanks, Kana! I hope it will be helpful for you!

  • Reply
    Chris
    April 13, 2018 at 7:37 pm

    Hi Caity, I stopped by your blog after reading about it in, The Wanderdarlings. Your photos look amazing, your content varied and exciting – so I’ve subscribed. I look forward to reading much more of your travel adventures, and seeing your amazing photos.

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      May 9, 2018 at 8:52 pm

      Hi Chris, thank you so much for stopping by and for subscribing! I appreciate your kind words and I hope you continue to enjoy the content. 🙂

    Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.