Things to See & Do in France

France overview

France rewards fewer bases. Paris and Strasbourg sit at either end of one high-speed line, so you see two very different sides of the country without an internal flight.

Paris

Choose the neighbourhood before the hotel. Le Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés are central and very walkable; Montmartre is hillier and more village-like. Reserve the big museums: the Louvre asks every visitor to book a time slot, and the Musée d’Orsay does too.

The Eiffel Tower at the end of a cobbled Paris street
The Eiffel Tower from a Paris street
Visitors standing in front of the Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa, with a crowd in front of it

Strasbourg

The old town, the Grande Île, sits on an island in the Ill River and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the later Neustadt district. Expect the red-sandstone cathedral, the canals and half-timbered houses of Petite France, and cooking that borrows from both France and Germany.

Half-timbered houses reflected in a calm canal in Strasbourg’s Petite France, framed by autumn leaves
Petite France in Strasbourg, from my trip

The Alsace wine route

The Route des Vins d’Alsace runs roughly 170 km along the Vosges foothills, through villages like Riquewihr, Eguisheim and Kaysersberg. Colmar, about 30 minutes from Strasbourg by train, is the easiest base without a car; a guided day or a rental car opens up the smaller villages.

A colourful half-timbered street, with castle ruins on the hill above
A half-timbered street in a wine village
A canal lined with half-timbered houses in Colmar
A canal in Colmar

Christmas markets

Strasbourg has held a Christmas market since 1570, making it one of the oldest in Europe. The markets usually run from late November to December 24, and hotels in Strasbourg and Colmar fill early — December is a trip to plan months ahead.

A glowing blue arch of lights reading Strasbourg Capitale de Noël above a street at night
Strasbourg’s Christmas lights, from my trip

Back to the France overview

Let’s plan your France trip

Tell me how long you have, whether Paris is a first visit or a return, and if December markets are on the list. I’ll plan the route and book the stays and trains.

The initial 30-minute consultation is complimentary. The professional research fee is $50 per traveller aged 2 or older, paid before research begins.

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