Top 55 Things To Do in France in 2026

Paris earns the top spot on almost every list of things to do in France, and it holds up to the hype. The best things to do in Paris, France, mix world-famous landmarks with neighbourhood life that's just as memorable.

• Climb or picnic below the Eiffel Tower at sunset to watch the hourly light show.
• Spend a half-day at the Louvre Museum, focusing only on two or three wings.
• Walk Montmartre's cobbled streets up to Sacré-Cœur for a stunning panoramic rooftop view.
• Cruise the Seine River past iconic sights like Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and Musée d'Orsay.
• Browse Le Marais to discover unique vintage shops, independent galleries, and falafel stands.
• Watch a cabaret show at the legendary Moulin Rouge for a classic Parisian night.
• Day trip to Versailles by taking a short 45-minute train ride from central Paris.

For fun things to do in Paris, France beyond the landmarks, try a food-tasting walk through Le Marais, a bike ride along the Canal Saint-Martin, or an evening at one of the city's smaller jazz clubs in Saint-Germain. 

Nice is the anchor city of the French Riviera, and it works well both as a standalone base and as the starting point for day trips along the coast. Activities in Nice, France, centre on the water, the Old Town, and a handful of small but excellent museums.

• Walk or cycle the iconic Promenade des Anglais, Nice's famous long seafront boulevard.
• Relax on pebble beaches using the free public areas, or book a private beach club sunbed near Place Masséna. 
• Wander Vieux Nice to discover narrow lanes, fresh gelato, and the daily Cours Saleya Market.
• Visit local museums like Musée Matisse or Musée Marc Chagall for focused, compact two-hour art visits. 
• Take the train to nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer or Èze Village for an easy, scenic half-day trip.

April to June and September to October bring the most comfortable weather and the smallest crowds.

Cannes is smaller and more polished than Nice, built around one famous stretch of coastline. Things to do in Cannes, France, work well as a one- or two-night addition to a longer Riviera trip rather than a standalone destination.

• Stroll La Croisette, the palm-lined boulevard where the Cannes Film Festival red carpet unrolls every May.
• Visit the Palais des Festivals, even outside festival season, to see celebrity handprints along the pavement. 
• Explore Le Suquet, the old town on the hill above the harbour, for panoramic views over the bay.
• Browse the boutiques and vibrant cafés located around the busy Rue d'Antibes shopping district.
• Take a ferry to the nearby Lérins Islands for pine forests, quiet coves, and the Saint-Honorat monastery.

Zooming out from any single city, things to do in southern France stretch well beyond Nice and Cannes. This is where France turns Mediterranean: lavender fields, hilltop villages, and coastal towns that feel unhurried even in peak summer.

• Visit glamorous Monaco on a quick half-day trip from Nice to see the historic Casino de Monte-Carlo and old town.
• Relax in peaceful Antibes to enjoy quieter Mediterranean beaches and explore the well-preserved old coastal fort.
• Explore historic Marseille by hiking trails or catamaran to see the stunning, turquoise inlets of the Calanques. 
• Tour vibrant Provence for Valensole's summer lavender fields, Avignon's Palace of the Popes, and Aix-en-Provence's weekly markets.
• Discover the untamed Camargue to explore beautiful protected marshlands famous for wild white horses and pink flamingos. 

Toulouse, known locally as La Ville Rose for its rose-brick buildings, is southwest France's biggest city and a practical base for exploring the region around the Pyrenees. Things to do in Toulouse, France, include:

• Wander pink-brick streets across the historic old town and the lively, central Place du Capitole.
• Tour Saint-Sernin Basilica to explore one of the largest, most significant Romanesque churches in Europe.
• Visit Cité de l'Espace to experience a hands-on space museum featuring a full-scale Mir station replica.
• Cycle the Canal du Midi or walk along a scenic stretch of this famous, UNESCO World Heritage waterway.

Toulouse pairs naturally with a Bordeaux or southern France leg on a multi-city trip. 

Lille sits in northern France, close enough to Paris (about an hour by high-speed train) and Belgium to make it an easy add-on rather than a dedicated week-long stop. Things to do in Lille, France, include:

• Explore Vieux Lille, with its Flemish-style architecture and cobbled squares.
• Browse the Palais des Beaux-Arts, one of France's largest fine art museums outside Paris.
• Shop the Grand Braderie de Lille if visiting during the first weekend of September — one of Europe's biggest flea markets.
• Try local specialities like carbonnade flamande and waffles in the Grand Place cafés.

Lille works well as a short detour for travellers already routing between Paris and Belgium or the UK on a longer France itinerary.

Chamonix sits at the base of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest peak, and is built almost entirely around the mountains. Things to do in Chamonix, France include:

• Ride the Aiguille du Midi cable car up to 3,842 metres for a close-up view of Mont Blanc's glaciers.
• Ski or snowboard across Chamonix's linked resorts in winter.
• Hike sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc in summer, without needing to commit to the full multi-day route.
• Take the Montenvers train to see the Mer de Glace glacier.

Winter (December to March) suits skiing; June to September is better for hiking and clearer mountain views. A Chamonix stop pairs well with a Geneva or Alps-focused leg on a customised France adventure package.

Colmar, in the Alsace region near the German border, is one of France's best-preserved medieval towns. Things to do in Colmar, France, include:

• Walk through La Petite Venise, Colmar's canal-side district of half-timbered houses.
• Visit the Unterlinden Museum, home to the Isenheim Altarpiece.
• Follow the Alsace Wine Route through nearby villages for tastings of Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
• Time a visit for late November to December for one of France's most photographed Christmas markets.

Colmar sits about 75 minutes from Strasbourg by train, and the two cities are often combined on the same trip.

Tours is the practical gateway to the Loire Valley, France's château country. Things to do in Tours, France, include:

• Explore the old town around Place Plumereau, with its half-timbered houses and café terraces.
• Day-trip to the châteaux of Chenonceau, Chambord, and Amboise, all within an hour's drive.
• Cycle a section of the Loire à Vélo cycling route, which runs along the river through vineyard country.
• Visit Tours Cathedral and the old Basilica of Saint Martin.

Most travellers base themselves in Tours for two to three nights purely for château access — it's rarely a standalone destination but works well as part of a longer France trip that also covers Paris and the Loire Valley.

Corsica is France's Mediterranean island, and it feels closer to Sardinia than mainland France in both landscape and pace. Things to do in Corsica, France include:

• Drive the coastal roads between Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, and Calvi — a car is close to essential here.
• Swim at Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, two of Corsica's most photographed beaches.
• Hike a section of the GR20, one of Europe's toughest long-distance trails, or an easier day segment of it.
• Walk the clifftop old town of Bonifacio, perched dramatically above the sea.

Corsica suits travellers who've already covered mainland France and want a beach-and-hiking add-on, or a self-contained one-week trip on its own.

Fun things to do in France often come from smaller, less-scripted experiences rather than the headline landmarks:

• Hot-air ballooning over the Loire Valley châteaux at sunrise or sunset.
• Lyon's Fête des Lumières in early December, when the city's buildings turn into large-scale light installations.
• Cider tasting along Normandy's Cider Route, a well-marked circuit through apple orchards.
• A cabaret dinner show in Paris, pairing dinner with a Moulin Rouge or Paradis Latin performance.
• Kayaking through the Gorges du Verdon, a turquoise limestone canyon in Provence.

France in February is a shoulder-season month, and it rewards travellers who plan around the weather rather than fight it.

• Ski the French Alps — Chamonix, Les Trois Vallées, and other resorts are in full winter season.
• Catch Menton's Lemon Festival, held every February on the French Riviera, with giant citrus sculptures and parades.
• Visit Paris museums without the summer queues — the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay are noticeably quieter.
• Pack for cold, wetter weather in the north (Paris, Lille, Normandy) and milder but still cool conditions in the south (Nice, Provence).

February flights and hotels also tend to be cheaper than the June-to-August peak, which makes it a reasonable month for a Paris-plus-Alps combination trip.