# FranceStarter (https://francestarter.com) > Plan your first trip to France with confidence. Complete multi-language travel guide covering 34,742 French communes, 17 flagship destinations, 20 practical travel guides, 5 itineraries, and 15 interactive trip-planning calculators. - Canonical URL: https://francestarter.com/ - Full AI Reference Guide: https://francestarter.com/llms-full.txt - Sitemap Index: https://francestarter.com/sitemap-index.xml - Primary Sitemap: https://francestarter.com/sitemap.xml - RSS 2.0 Feed: https://francestarter.com/feed.xml - Pinterest RSS Feed: https://francestarter.com/feed-pins.xml - JSON Feed: https://francestarter.com/feed.json - Sister Travel Portals: [Japan Starter](https://japanstarter.com/) · [Italy Starter](https://italystarter.com/) · [Korea Starter](https://koreanstarter.com/) · [Switzerland Starter](https://switzerlandstarter.com/) · [Spain Starter](https://spainstarter.com/) ## Flagship Destinations - [Paris (Île-de-France)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/paris/): France's capital of grand Haussmann boulevards, world-renowned art museums, neighborhood boulangeries, and candlelit Left Bank bistros along the Seine. - [Nice (Vieux Nice & Baie des Anges) (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/nice/): Ochre-hued Baroque lanes of Vieux Nice, the Cours Saleya flower and socca market, Castle Hill viewpoints, and the sunlit Promenade des Anglais. - [Nice & the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur) (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/nice-french-riviera/): Sunlight-drenched Belle Époque seafront along the Baie des Anges paired with cliffside Eze, Antibes, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and coastal TER trains. - [Lyon (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/lyon/): France's undisputed gastronomic capital at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, famed for Renaissance traboules and traditional bouchons. - [Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/bordeaux/): UNESCO-listed 18th-century limestone avenues along the Garonne River, world-class wine estates, and the futuristic Cité du Vin. - [Marseille & Calanques (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/marseille/): France's oldest port city (founded 600 BC), blending Vieux-Port fishing boats, Mucem seafront architecture, and turquoise limestone Calanques fjords. - [Strasbourg (Grand Est)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/strasbourg/): Alsace's canal-ringed capital on the Grande Île, where a 142-meter pink-sandstone Gothic cathedral spire towers over half-timbered Petite France. - [Mont-Saint-Michel & Normandy (Normandy)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/mont-saint-michel/): Medieval Benedictine abbey rising from Europe's highest tidal bay alongside the Bayeux Tapestry, D-Day landing beaches, and Honfleur harbor. - [Chamonix & Mont-Blanc (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/chamonix/): High-alpine valley at the foot of 4,808-meter Mont-Blanc, home to the Aiguille du Midi cable car, Mer de Glace glacier train, and Savoyard chalets. - [Aix-en-Provence, Avignon & Luberon (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/provence/): Fountain-lined Cours Mirabeau in Aix, Avignon's colossal Papal Palace, hilltop Luberon stone villages, and violet lavender plateaus. - [Loire Valley (Tours & Amboise) (Centre-Val de Loire)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/loire-valley/): The 'Garden of France,' where white-tuffeau Renaissance royal châteaux span rivers and forests alongside Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc vineyards. - [Annecy & Lake Annecy (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/annecy/): The 'Venice of the Alps,' where pastel arcaded lanes and flower-bedecked canals empty into Europe's purest turquoise alpine lake. - [Colmar & the Alsace Wine Route (Grand Est)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/colmar/): Storybook Alsatian town of pastel half-timbered houses along the Petite Venise canal, the Unterlinden Museum's Isenheim Altarpiece, and vineyard villages. - [Provence: Avignon, Aix & Luberon Villages (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/provence-avignon-aix/): Base yourself between Avignon's Gothic Palais des Papes and Aix-en-Provence's Cours Mirabeau for Luberon hilltop villages, Roman Pont du Gard, and rosé vineyards. - [Strasbourg, Colmar & Alsace Route (Grand Est)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/strasbourg-colmar/): Combine Strasbourg's UNESCO Grande Île and Petite France canals with Colmar's Little Venice and the Alsace Wine Route villages by 30-minute TER train. - [Normandy, Bayeux & D-Day Coast (Normandy)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/normandy/): Chalk cliffs of Étretat, half-timbered Rouen and Honfleur, the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, Omaha Beach memorials, and Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. - [Chamonix-Mont-Blanc & Annecy Alpine Loop (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)](https://francestarter.com/destinations/chamonix-annecy/): Pair Lake Annecy's flower-lined canals and turquoise waters with Chamonix's 3,842 m Aiguille du Midi cable car and Mer de Glace glacier. ## Travel Guides - [First-Time in France Checklist: 15 Steps Before You Fly](https://francestarter.com/guides/first-time-in-france-checklist/): A chronological countdown from 90 days out to departure day covering Schengen passport validity, SNCF TGV booking windows, Louvre timed tickets, and Navigo setup. - [France Visa, Schengen 90/180-Day Rule, EES & ETIAS Guide](https://francestarter.com/guides/visa-and-entry-requirements/): Everything US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and global travelers need to know about Schengen short-stay rules, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), and ETIAS. - [SNCF TGV InOui, Ouigo, TER & Eurail France Pass Guide](https://francestarter.com/guides/rail-passes-and-tgv-trains/): How to ride France's 320 km/h high-speed rail network, choose between TGV InOui and low-cost Ouigo, and know which Paris terminal serves your city. - [Paris Navigo Easy, Liberté+, Single €2.50 Fares & French City Transit](https://francestarter.com/guides/city-transit-cards-and-passes/): Mastering Paris's simplified 2025/2026 RATP fare system (€2.50 Métro/RER, €2.00 Bus/Tram) plus contactless tap-to-ride in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nice. - [Paris CDG, Orly, Nice & Lyon Airport Transfers: Train vs. Taxi](https://francestarter.com/guides/airport-transfers/): Exact fares and travel times for CDG RER B, Orly Metro Line 14, RoissyBus, official G7 flat-rate Paris taxis, and Nice Tram Line 2. - [SNCF Mandatory Luggage Tags, TGV Bag Limits & Consignes Automatiques](https://francestarter.com/guides/luggage-and-station-lockers/): How SNCF's 2024/2026 luggage size rules, mandatory name tags, and station left-luggage lockers work across France. - [Driving in France: Crit'Air Clean-Air Stickers, Autoroute Tolls & ZFE Zones](https://francestarter.com/guides/driving-and-car-rental/): When to rent a car in Provence, Normandy, or the Dordogne—and how to avoid ZFE cameras, speed radar fines, and toll booth surprises. - [Money in France: Euro (€), Contactless Cards ('Sans Contact') & Bank ATMs](https://francestarter.com/guides/money-cash-and-cards/): Why Visa and Mastercard work for €1.50 baguettes, how to avoid DCC currency traps, and which French bank ATMs ('Distributeurs') are fee-free. - [France Trip Cost & Daily Budget Breakdown in Euros (€)](https://francestarter.com/guides/trip-budget-and-costs/): Realistic 2026 prices in Euros (€) for hotels, TGV trains, bistro formules, museum passes, and daily spending across Paris and regional France. - [France VAT Refund ('Détaxe') Guide: How to Claim 12% Back Over €100.01](https://francestarter.com/guides/tax-free-shopping/): Step-by-step instructions for non-EU residents to qualify for France's €100.01 Détaxe threshold and scan PABLO barcodes at CDG, Orly, Nice, or Eurostar. - [Best eSIM & SIM Cards for France: Orange, Free Mobile, Bouygues & Airalo](https://francestarter.com/guides/esim-pocket-wifi-and-sim/): Comparing French network coverage (Orange, Bouygues, SFR, Free) for SNCFConnect, Google Maps, and translation apps. - [Where to Stay in France: Boutique Hotels, Chambres d'Hôtes, Gîtes & Châteaux](https://francestarter.com/guides/accommodation-types/): Understanding French hotel star ratings (Atout France 1–5★ & Palace), room sizes, rural B&Bs, and tourist tax ('Taxe de Séjour'). - [French Bistro, Brasserie & Boulangerie Guide: How to Order Like a Local](https://francestarter.com/guides/food-and-dining-guide/): Decoding Bistro vs. Brasserie vs. Bouillon, the 'Formule du Midi', 'Carafe d'Eau', steak doneness, and the 1993 Baguette de Tradition law. - [Visiting France with Celiac (Sans Gluten), Nut/Dairy Allergies, Vegetarian or Vegan](https://francestarter.com/guides/dietary-restrictions-vegetarian-allergies/): How to navigate butter-rich French kitchens safely using EU 14-Allergen charts, Noglu/Copains gluten-free bakeries, and our French Show-Cards. - [French Etiquette & Cultural Customs: The 'Bonjour' Rule & Café Manners](https://francestarter.com/guides/etiquette-and-customs/): Why 'Bonjour' is the golden key to France, how sidewalk café terraces divide coffee vs. dining tables, and market shopping rules. - [Best Time to Visit France: Month-by-Month Weather, Harvests & Crowds](https://francestarter.com/guides/best-time-to-visit/): Why May–June and September–October are France's golden shoulder seasons, plus Provence lavender dates (mid-June to mid-July) and August 'congés'. - [France Packing List: Cobblestone Shoes, Layers, Type E Adapter & Anti-Theft](https://francestarter.com/guides/packing-list-guide/): What to pack for Parisian bistros, Gothic cathedrals, TGV luggage racks, and changing Atlantic/Mediterranean weather. - [Safety in France, Pickpocket Prevention, Pharmacies ('Croix Verte') & 112](https://francestarter.com/guides/safety-and-emergencies/): How to stay alert on RER B and Metro Line 1, avoid petition/bracelet scams, use French green-cross pharmacies, and call 112 or SOS Médecins. - [Traveling to France with Kids & Babies: TGV Espace Famille & Free Museums](https://francestarter.com/guides/traveling-with-kids/): Family perks across France: free national museums under age 18, SNCF TGV nurseries and family fares, and Luxembourg Gardens sailboats. - [Accessible Travel in France: SNCF Accès Plus, Paris Bus Ramp Network & Priority Access](https://francestarter.com/guides/accessible-travel/): Wheelchair and reduced-mobility guide to Paris buses,Metro Line 14, SNCF Accès Plus ramp assistance, and priority museum entry. ## Itineraries - [7 Days in France: Paris, Lyon & the French Riviera: Day-by-Day SNCF TGV Route & Budget (7 Days)](https://francestarter.com/itineraries/7-day-highlights/): The classic one-week high-speed rail line down the spine of France: 3 days in Paris, 2 days of bouchon dining in Lyon, and 2 sun-soaked days in Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer. - [10 Days in France: Paris, Loire Valley, Provence & Côte d'Azur: Day-by-Day SNCF TGV Route & Budget (10 Days)](https://francestarter.com/itineraries/10-day-best-of/): Ten days linking Paris's grand museums, Renaissance châteaux in the Loire Valley, Lyon's traboules, Papal Avignon and Luberon villages, and the French Riviera. - [14 Days Grand Tour of France by TGV: Day-by-Day SNCF TGV Route & Budget (14 Days)](https://francestarter.com/itineraries/14-day-classic-france/): Our flagship two-week loop across France by high-speed rail: Paris, Versailles, Loire Valley, Lyon, Provence, Nice & the Côte d'Azur, Alsace (Strasbourg & Colmar), and Bordeaux. - [8-Day Family-Friendly France: Paris, Loire Castles & Alsace: Day-by-Day SNCF TGV Route & Budget (8 Days)](https://francestarter.com/itineraries/family-friendly/): Low-stress train hops with minimal hotel changes: Paris towers and boat cruises, Leonardo da Vinci's interactive inventions in Amboise, and storybook canals in Strasbourg and Colmar. - [9-Day France on a Budget: Ouigo Trains, Bouillons & Markets: Day-by-Day SNCF TGV Route & Budget (9 Days)](https://francestarter.com/itineraries/budget-traveler/): How to experience Paris, Lyon, Avignon, and Nice for under €110/day using €19 Ouigo high-speed trains, historic Parisian Bouillons, boulangerie picnics, and free museum days.