My 12 Favourite Towns In France & Why You Must Visit!

My 12 Favourite Towns In France & Why You Must Visit!

Before I went Interrailing around Europe, France remained a mystery to me. A country that was only blocked by the channel but a channel that separated us for 21 and a half years before I ever made the leapt into my French fairytale.

I stayed in London on my first night, then got the Eurostar across the water onto French soil and into the heart of the country – Paris.

I then spent 3 weeks travelling around the largest country in Europe, from Mont Saint Michel to Marseille to Lyon, I ticked off French cities like there was no tomorrow.

With the SNCF train announcement engrained into my brain, I went from never having stepped foot into France to having visited more French towns than I can even remember.

It is a lovely country that swept me away with its vast architecture, art and beauty. So, today, I have decided to comprise a list of ‘My 12 Favourite Towns In France & Why You Must Visit!’

Please let me know your favourite town in this spectacular country in the comments below!

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12. Cannes

Home to the most famous International Film Festival in the world, Cannes appears as a place of luxury.

Situated in the French Riveria, you must visit Cannes if you are a cinephile or not. It is one of the most prominent spots in the film industry but also hosts many gorgeous beaches and seaside glamour.

You can easily do a day trip out here from Nice with a train directing you there in only a speedy 40 minutes.

I place Cannes at the bottom of this list, mainly because there aren’t loads to do there compared to the rest of the destinations coming up. Maybe, a walk into the old town would make me contemplate placing it higher but right now, Cannes sits at number 12 for me.

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11. Montpellier

Continuing with the glorious French Riveria region of the country, I place Montpellier at 11.

Montpellier is a small town on the west end of the riveria and has stunning orange tiled terracotta roofs that I couldn’t get enough off.

Plus, it was my first destination in the French Riveria and seeing palm trees and feeling the sea breeze was such a delight. It is easy to forget how extensive France is. The country has it all from stunning coastlines to dramatic alpine mountains to castles galore.

the bottom side is dominated by relaxation under the Mediterranean sun and Montpellier is no exception. However, with sunny spells comes horrible thunderstorms and I truly only rate this on the bottom end of my list because I had no luck with the weather.

On my 2 days in the city, it thundered down the entirety and I got drenched. It was not a nice vibe. I’d love to return someday and see if better conditions will not cloud my judgement.

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10. Rennes

I had actually never heard of this city until I was planning my route and figuring out how in the world can I get out to Mont Saint Michel.

If you were only doing a day trip to the fantasy island out on the Normandy coastline, this would be the spot you picked. I instead vouched for a hotel near the island so that I wasn’t pressured by public transport but I still ended up visiting Rennes regardless.

Rennes is a lovely city that isn’t flocked by tourists like Marseille and Paris. This led to a more authentic experience as I strolled the streets and followed the canal around this graceful town.

Furthermore, the authentic nature of Rennes was also conveyed throughout its old, captivating architecture which still had a squint, rundown renaissance style to its appearance. This mixed with the greenery from its parks which the city takes great pride in makes it totally worth your time!

I rank Rennes lower on my list just because there wasn’t as much to do here compared to the bigger French cities. Although, I’d definitely be eager to return to the Britanny region and explore some of the surrounding areas. What it lacks in activities, it makes up for with natural charm.

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9. Chambery

I only had a fleeting visit to this alpine town en route to Lyon but that was enough time to place it ninth on this list.

Chambery is a gateway into the French side of the alps and due to its proximity to the Swiss and Italian borders it shares a common trend in design.

I loved the way the town was nestled amongst such a breathtaking backdrop, I don’t know what I preferred more – the cobbled streets or the mountains behind.

Plus, with the flags situated around the town and the medieval architecture, I felt like I was teleported into Shrek. This is a fantasyland come to life and one I highly recommend visiting whether you are intrigued to try skiing or not.

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8. Nantes

Another location that I only had a few hours in but that was enough time to make a statement was Nantes.

Nantes is situated on the west side of France and I used it as a passing point between Rennes and Bordeaux.

The city totally surprised me.

From its greenery (it was once the greenest city in Europe) to its history, I didn’t know there would be this much to see and do in Nantes. Plus, it has a castle and that always ranks it higher in my book.

Not only is its castle fascinating with an epic overview of the city, Nantes is also home to one of the most incredible Notre Dames in France. Tres Bein to that!

I may rank Nantes higher one day but for that, I really need more time there. Good thing Ryanair do fly there from Edinburgh so it may not be long until I make my grand return.

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7. Nice

Nice truly deserves its name, it is such a nice place!

In my final stop along the French Riveria, I met up with my Grandparents situating ourselves in Nice and exploring the town plus, Cannes and Monaco. This was such a good base.

Not only is Nice really vibrant with the most amazing seaside vibes, it has great links to many smaller, less touristic spots on the Riveria.

Thus, making it a rather special spot. I had such a fun time here and would gladly come back.

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6. Bordeaux

Bordeaux should take a glass of wine and raise a toast to this very delightful placement.

I really enjoyed Bordeaux. The vineyard scenery on the outskirts had already raised my expectations upon entering the city and then from there it just got better with a sunny sandy-coloured architecture and very elegant design seen across the entire city.

Moreover, it is renowned for its dedication to wine and a visit to La Cite Du Vin is a must when you are in the city. Not only do you learn about the history of wine in this museum, but you can also indulge in the fine pleasures of a glass or two at the rooftop bar.

I highly recommend Bordeaux as a city break option in France and it only stays put at this position because of personal choice on the incoming cities. France continues to surprise me with its grand beauty and artsy lifestyle.

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5. Colmar

Colmar is without a shadow of a doubt, one of France’s hidden gems. A picturesque town that looks like it got left in the 17th century. Everything is timeless within these walls.

I unfortunately only had a day in this cute village but I instantly fell in love – even while dragging my suitcase through the city centre in search for my Airbnb.

Colmar is located in the Alsace region of France which is multicultured due to changes hands between France and Germany over the years.

This is conveyed through the charming style of the buildings which are definitely the best of both worlds between the two countries. Furthermore, the town is often nicknamed “Little Venice”. This is because of the canals that give Colmar such a cosy vibe.

If you are in search of charm on your trip to France, this is the place to be. The only reason why I didn’t place it higher on my list is because I didn’t have too long to explore all of its wonders, plus, it isn’t the biggest location and simply only needs a day to get around it all. Unless you want to be lost in the beauty of it all, then yes, definitely stay there longer!

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4. Paris

Did you expect the French Capital to be 4th on my list?

Often, Paris has a lot of bad rep. There is even this thing called “Paris Syndrome” for people who get a bit underwhelmed after their journey to the city of light. However, that wasn’t the case for me.

I think I had the opposite effect because I kept getting told to not prepare any expectations for Paris so therefore, I was a bit curious why nobody was the biggest fan despite it appearing so gorgeous across Google Images and Instagram.

As a result, I ultimately loved Paris and didn’t have to deal with any of the misconceptions that I was warned about. I might even write a bit more on this story in further detail another time but currently, I can tell you to place your own judgement on Paris – don’t listen to anyone else.

Paris was actually at the top spot on this list for so long. Only recently being shifted into 4th after some deep reflection.

Firstly, I loved the entire vibe and boldness of the city. It was just one big Instagram spot and I gleefully walked around the Arc De Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Montmarte in adoration for what was in front of me.

Next up, I can’t forget to mention that the city has so many restaurants and bars to keep you well-fed and hydrated. The capital is on the pricier end of things but it feels so good to treat yourself to some bubbly in such a royal location.

And finally, I should insist that a day trip out to the Palace of Versailles is an incredible use of your time! If you think Paris is majestic, wait until you see that!

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3. Lyon

To me, personally, Lyon feels like Paris but to a lesser extent. It has an Eiffel Tower (bet you didn’t know that!), great food (it is actually the gastronomy capital of the world) and lots of beauty within the city.

From the world’s first funicular railway to a free zoo which was made accessible to everyone as the city thought that it shouldn’t be just limited to the upper class, Lyon will keep you busy till the sun goes down.

I really enjoyed Paris but I rank Lyon a tiny bit higher because unlike Paris where I did have slight expectations, I had no idea what to expect in this wonderful city.

Also, it has two rivers – the Rhône and Saône. Whereas, Paris only has one – the Seine. And in my experience around the globe, the more rivers the merrier.

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2. Annecy

Annecy is certainly one of the most magical places I have stepped foot in. It is like being warped straight into a fairytale book, I was obsessed.

The town isn’t that large and you can delightfully walk around at your own leisure. This made my time in Annecy a bit less hectic than exploring the other larger cities of France.

What makes Annecy so spectacular to me, would be the way that the buildings surround the canal. It has kept quite a timeless feel to the overall layout of the city and I hope it stays that way as it is a special place.

You can also stroll out towards Lake Annecy which is nestled amongst huge mountains and looks so tranquil in the early hours of the morning. If you are into watersports, there are plenty of activities around the lake to keep you busy.

If you don’t fancy staying in Annecy, it is a short journey from Lyon but I highly recommend staying within the heart of this beautiful town as it can get rather crowded during peak times, hindering the overall experience.

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1. Strasbourg

Finally, I rank Strasbourg as my number one town in the entirety of this beautiful country. It was just an outstanding place!

The city is the capital of the Alsace region and continues to keep its influence from the bordering country of Germany. It feels like a mix of both cultures and just left an astonishing display of grace and charm.

Moreover, it was lively and just a very free city. Everyone was either digging into French cuisine in one of the many restaurants or drinking at the side of the canal as the sun begins to fade down on this enchanting place.

Although, what truly attracted me to Strasbourg would certainly be the cathedral. From one of the streets, the cathedral looks like another planet staring down at the people below. I was jaw dropped at the scale and intensity of such a building. Even more so in the evening when it lit up like a Christmas tree.

Ultimately, I prefer my towns to teleport me back to another time and France had many of those to choose from. Therefore, Strasbourg takes the top spot for me. I have heard it is an incredible atmosphere here during Christmas, so I guess that gives me more reason to rediscover my list once more!

Where will you be travelling in France? Let me know!