Top 10 Best & Most Popular Places to Visit in France (Updated)

France is one of the Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in the World. According to Euro News, prior to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, France had an estimated 88.1 million visitors in 2019. So in this number one most visited place in the world, what are the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Places to Visit? Here exclusively at the World’s #1 Source of Research-Based Content, The Daily Top 10, we have compiled a list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in France for you to plan your next vacation to this magical destination.

France has gained an exemplary reputation as a country and as a nationality. Observations made by Mon Petit Four reveal that French people generally prioritise living life with pleasure and enjoyment. To achieve this, they beautify their everyday surroundings and as such France is filled with beautiful scenic places to visit. They also derive pleasure from preparing mouthwatering meals to gratify their taste buds and also they take special care in presentation so that each dish is a delight to the eyes as well. French Cuisine is famous worldwide and some of the most elite chefs in the world were educated at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France.

So in France, where the country is teeming with tourist destinations, being the most famous places to visit is no small feat? What do you think is the top contender in our list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in France? Read on to find out.

What is the Best and Most Popular Place to Visit in France?

After a long spell of being succumbed to travel restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic, travel enthusiasts around the world are slowly getting back to their globetrotting pleasures. As the most popular travel destination, France is a very attractive option to many tourists. According to Global Data, in future France is looking at improvements on its already impressive travel system. The new 8,000km long Ultra Rapid rail line will pass through Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland.

In this sea of possibilities, What is our number one Best and Most Popular Place to Visit in France? Let’s discover the other contenders in our list before we reveal our number one.

TOP 10: Dune du Pilat (Dune of Pilat)

The Dune du Pilat is located in La Teste-de-Buch in the Arcachon Bay area of France. It is the largest sand dune in Europe and according to the BBC, it was formed naturally over time. It started out near the coastline where Western Atlantic Winds kept depositing the sand from the coast side of the dune onto the land side.The dune gradually migrated inwards and came to rest over a pine forest where the sand enveloped the trees.

It is possible to walk along the ridge of the dune and it takes an estimated one hour and thirty minutes to travel its entirety. The constantly changing landscape gives variety to each visit. This 2.7km long hiking trail offers a slight rising and falling sensation as you walk along it for a hike with a difference.

TOP 9: Strasbourg

A city in France with a most intriguing history. Strasbourg which means the city of streets sits on the border of Germany and France and exudes a harmonious blend of both cultures. In 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, it became a part of Germany for a brief time, but was liberated on 23rd November 1944 after undergoing changes in nationality four times during this period, as mentioned in Wikipedia.

But an interesting history is not the only attraction that Strasbourg has to offer. UNESCO has declared Strasbourg as a World Heritage Site. According to their Official Website, it was given this distinction due to outstanding universal value. The cathedrals, museums and ancient architecture display a blend of many cultures such as Gothic, German, French, Roman and others which have all culminated to tell the story of Strasbourg.

TOP 8: Bordeaux

Bordeaux is renowned worldwide for being the World Capital of Wine. According to European Waterways, in Bordeaux’s many picturesque vineyards, around 158 million US gallons of wine are produced each year. Its fame in wine production is only reiterated by the fact that Bordeaux is also the host city of the world’s main wine fair Vinexpo.

As the popularity of the wine produced in Bordeaux grew, Châteaux Puybarbe details how the other regions began to produce their wine and label them as wine produced in Bordeaux.  The government felt that they needed to intervene to protect the authenticity of French wine and implemented a law that only wine which was produced in Bordeaux may bear the name on the label.

TOP 7: Nice

Initially an Ancient Greek colony, Nice was originally named Nike after the Goddess of Victory. Nice is the home of many places of interest such as the Marc Chagall National Museum, Parc de la Colline du Château, Gardens Of The Monastère Notre-Dame-de-Cimiez and more.

Nice is the 5th largest city in France and it is recommended to spend around 4 to 5 days there in order to experience it properly. There are many museums to explore along with Mediterranean beaches to visit and relax. The century old promenade is a must see attraction when you visit Nice.

TOP 6: Mont-St-Michel

Another amazing destination which has been declared as a World Heritage Site. So what is special about Mont St Michel? According to Normandy Tourism, the Abbey was built in the 8th century when the Bishop of Avranches declared that Michael the Archangel himself had proclaimed to him in a vision to build a church atop this island off the coast. Visiting the island is like a trip back in time.

Due to its precarious placement, Farming and other man made activities such as the construction of a causeway to reach the mount, the bay of Mont St Michel has been prone to silting and a major conservation project was implemented in 2015 to save the island from further damage. The Abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel became a world famous centre of learning, attracting the greatest minds in Europe. A large number of pilgrims visited, despite endless cross-Channel conflicts.

TOP 5: Normandy

Bringing in a blend of rural and seaside environments, Normandy is definitely a must visit destination in France especially if you are a fan of gourmet cuisine. On the whole, Normandy is famed for its cheese and apple cider. There are guided tours which take you along what is known as the cheese and cider route.

According to Family Search, the coast of Normandy was the site of the biggest airborne and sea invasion in history. This battle at Normandy was the landing operations of the Allied forces as part of Operation Overlord in World War II and was also famously known as the D-Day invasion. The almost thousand year old history of the dramatic events of this battle and the Battle of Hastings which was led by the Duke of Normandy, is captured in the Bayeux Tapestry, which is a 70-metre-long embroidered chronicle and an incredible masterpiece of Romanesque art and is worth the visit.

TOP 4: Marseille

The largest city in France and also the home of the largest port in France which in turn is the 7th largest port in Europe. This city in the south of France was known historically as an immensely valuable trading point and the main commercial port of the French Republic (ESA earth).

Modern day Marseille is teeming with nightlife and after hours the city awakens with live music venues, bars, nightclubs and even an opera and theatre. One unusual location is Carry Nation, which is a secret bar which is themed according to the 1920’s when consumption of alcohol was prohibited. Its location is secret and you will receive an email with the address and a secret access code only once you make a reservation with them. Note that this bar does not serve food but only a large variety of good cocktails and alcoholic beverages.

TOP 3: Lyon

Lyon is a beautiful city with an underrated reputation despite being the World’s capital of Gastronomy for nearly a century, according to My Favourite Escapes. Gastronomy is the art of selecting, preparing and enjoying only the best cuisines and Lyon is a paradise for food lovers. Its central position and close proximity to wine regions make Lyon an easy addition to any excursion through France.

The architecture of the inner city of Lyon will be of considerable interest to those with a love of history. Due to its many beautiful structures of ancient architecture, UNESCO has declared Lyon a World Heritage Site. Lyon is easy to navigate on foot and some streets form mazes that you can navigate to discover restaurants to satisfy your need for exceptional cooking.

TOP 2: Loire Valley

We are nearly at the end of our list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in France. In our number two position we find Loire Valley, a compulsory visit for wine lovers. Located centrally in France, Loire Valley is famous for its dry white wine and has the second highest number of sparkling wine producing vines in the country.

Another amazing place to visit in Loire Valley is the Château de Villandry. This 14th Century castle has the most amazing gardens and landscapes which are worth visiting. According to Wikipedia, the castle is owned by Joaquín Carvallo, a Spanish doctor, who purchased it in 1906 and used his resources to restore the castle to its former glory and to create the amazing landscaped gardens that millions of tourists come to enjoy each year.

TOP 1: Paris

Paris, the capital of France and the Fashion Capital of the world. Similarly, if you want to know more about shopping malls, check out the Top 10 Best and Biggest Shopping Malls in the World. Paris is an iconic representation of France worldwide since one cannot think of France without thinking of the Eiffel Tower. Its global fame can also be attributed to the fact that it is internationally known as the city of love thanks to all the Hollywood movies which have used Paris as the setting for many romantic scenes and backdrops. Paris attracts around 30 million visitors each year, as stated in Dream Big Travel Far.

But the Eiffel Tower is not the only site of significance in Paris, but it is also home to the World’s Largest Art Museum, the Louvre. This museum features priceless works of art and according to Paris Tickets, houses 480,000 pieces of artwork across 60,600 square metres. The Louvre was constructed in the 12th century as a fortress and was known as the Louvre Palace. It became a museum in 1793 and started out with only 500 paintings. The cuisine and fashion are at an elite level and should at least be experienced once in a lifetime.  Accordingly, Paris is the Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in France.

What are the Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in France?

In the most visited place in the world it’s hard to determine which places are the best. In our list, we have selected locations which are most popularly visited and will be interesting to anyone regardless of their affinity with nature or history. Even if you have no previous tendencies to explore ancient architecture, one glimpse of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will be enough to mesmerise you and the memory of it will last a lifetime.

So, if you are planning your next tour to France, think about the Top 10 Most Popular Fast Food Restaurants in the World, as food and travel have the closest relationship as our Travel-Food-Drink category.

Here are the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in France:

1. Paris
2. Loire Valley
3. Lyon
4. Marseille
5. Normandy
6. Mont-St-Michel
7. Nice
8. Bordeaux
9. Strasbourg
10. Dune du Pilat

We hope you found some interesting places that will inspire you to visit this beautiful country someday. In addition to the places listed above, France is teeming with hundreds of locations with historical and modern attractions that can interest people from any walk of life.

As a travel enthusiast, you can also read the Top 10 Best Places for First Time Travelers to Visit in Mexico, Top 10 Best and Most Popular Placed to Visit in Asia and Top 10 Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year in the World. However, let us know in the comments below if any of the places in our list caught your interest. The Daily Top 10 Team loves hearing from our readers who enjoy our content.