france

FRANCE TRAVEL GUIDE

Wine, cheese, the Eiffel Tower, snooty waiters – France is famous for a lot of things and for good reason. It’s beautiful with stunning coastlines, valleys, wine country, forests, and beaches; has some of the best food and wine in the world; historic towns and chateaus, and a long and rich history. And, despite what you might hear, the French are a wonderful people who love to stop and smell the roses. There’s nothing like a picnic along the Seine or a day through the French countryside to make life seem beautiful. France is everything that people make it out to be and then some. Its long history lends itself to beautiful ruins, castles, architecture, and culture. Traveling France is a very expensive affair, second only to traveling through Italy in mainland Europe.

Normandy landings

Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France at 06:30. The target 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.The Normandy landings were the landing operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II.

                                  

Palace of Versailles:-

The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the Kings of France from Louis XIV in 1682 until the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. It contains over 700 rooms, over 60 staircases and over 1,200 fireplaces.It’s as awe-inspiring today as it was back then. It was used by the French Kings until the French Revolution in 1789. You definitely don’t want to miss it!

Lyon

Lyon, the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its center reflects 2,000 years of history from the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the modern Confluence district on Presqu'île peninsula. Traboules, covered passageways between buildings, connect Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse hill.

Area: 47.87 km²

Local time: Wednesday, 9:53 AM

Weather: 23°C, Wind N at 13 km/h, 56% Humidity

Elevation: 162–349 m (531–1,145 ft)

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a minor basilica in Lyon. It was built with private funds between 1872 and 1884 in a dominant position overlooking the city

Vieux Lyon

The Vieux Lyon is the largest Renaissance district of Lyon. In 1954, Vieux-Lyon, the city's oldest district, became the first site in France to be protected under the Malraux law to protect France's cultural sites.

Permanent & temporary exhibitions about anthropology & science amid dramatic modern architecture.



The substantial ruins of a pair of Roman theaters, now used for open-air concerts & festivals.

Monaco:-

Monaco is a tiny independent city-state on France’s Mediterranean coastline known for its upscale casinos, yacht-lined harbor and prestigious Grand Prix motor race, which runs through Monaco’s streets once a year. Monte-Carlo, its major district, is home to an elegant belle-époque casino complex and ornate Salle Garnier opera house. It also has many luxe hotels, boutiques, nightclubs and restaurants.

Accommodation – Dorm rooms will range from 15-40 EUR per night, depending on where you’re staying in the country, with Paris being on the higher end. Private rooms in hostels will cost around 75 EUR or more. Budget hotels begin around 60 EUR per night for a double room with free WiFi and air-conditioning. Accommodations are cheaper outside Paris, Bordeaux, and the French Riviera. Also look into renting rooms or apartments, through services like Airbnb. In an expensive city like Paris, this will be the best value. Airbnb rates start around 15 EUR for a shared room and 45 EUR for an entire apartment.

Food – Buying your own food in France can be very cheap and the best way to experience the country’s cuisine. The market is your friend! There are many bread, cheese, and meat shops around – and it’s how the French eat. They go to their local markets, buy food, and cook. You can make your own lunch for around 10 EUR for two people (including wine if you’re savvy enough). Pre-made sandwiches at cheap local shops will cost about 4-7 EUR. Conversely, eating at a restaurant will cost between 20-35 EUR for a meal including a glass of wine. If you shop for all your food, you can expect to spend around 45-65 EUR for a week’s worth of groceries, but if you find a discount grocer like Aldi or Lidl, you’ll pay way less.

Transportation – The best way to get around France is via trains, but it can be expensive. Overnight trains cost the least, while the fast TGV lines (high-speed train) cost the most. Book ahead of time to get the best savings. Bought the day of or very close to departure, a train trip from Paris to Nice costs 160-180 EUR. A train trip from Paris to Strasbourg costs 75-85 EUR. But if you buy in advance, Paris-Nice is around 25 EUR in 2nd class and Paris-Strasbourg starts around 25 EUR as well. Good discounts on train travel exist for travelers under 26-years-old. A different option, which takes longer but costs less money, is Megabus/FlixBus. A bus trip from Paris to Marseille, for example, will cost around 30 EUR while a trip from Paris to Strasbourg costs 17-24 EUR. Local transit systems are reliable and cost between 1-3 EUR per trip. Transportation to and from the airport into the city center is generally affordable and user-friendly. Expect about 10 EUR to get to Paris from Charles de Gaulle. Taxis will be tough on the budget, so avoid when you can.

Activities – Wine tours will be your priciest activity at around 90 EUR per day. Most attractions and museum entrance fees cost between 9-20 EUR. Going up the Eiffel Tower will cost between 7-17 EUR. Visiting the Versailles Palace and Gardens will cost 25 EUR.

1. Have a picnic – Eating out in France, especially in Paris, is an expensive affair. Restaurants can break a day’s budget quickly. Thankfully, there’s nothing more French than a picnic. Head to the local market; buy some wonderful cheese, bread, fruits, and meats, and have a picnic and watch people go by. You can have a great meal for less than 10 EUR.
2. Take the (slow) train – Train travel in Europe is really cheap, and it’s the easiest way to get around France. The TGV line can be expensive, but if you get the slow train or have a Eurail pass, you’ll save money.
3. Drink wine – In France, the wine is cheaper than water. While you shouldn’t skip drinking water, drink wine over other forms of alcohol and save big. A nice bottle can cost as little as 3 EUR!
4. Shop at the markets – Want great French cuisine? Do what the locals do, and head to the outdoor markets. Visit the cheese guy, the fish guy, the bread guy, and everyone else to get the best local ingredients to make yourself a perfect French meal. It will save you a lot of money as an alternative to eating out.
5. Pre-game your night out – Drinking in bars is incredibly overpriced, especially in Paris. Drink cheap wine before you go out and save on drinks a the bars.
6. Skip the clubs – Clubs in France are expensive and charge an entrance fee upwards of 23 EUR. Drinks cost 12 EUR or more. If you don’t want to spend a 90 EUR in one night, skip the clubs.
7. Rideshare – If you’re flexible in your schedule, use the ridesharing service BlaBlaCar and catch rides with locals between cities (or countries). Drivers are verified and it’s perfectly safe (though sometimes rides don’t show up, which is why you need to be flexible).
8. Eat a prix-fixe meal – It’s a set menu that offers you a deal on a 2-3 course meal for about 20 EUR. To save even more money, consider lunch instead of dinner (which, in France, is still typically 2 courses), which costs about half the price.
9. Couchsurf – Nothing’s cheaper than sleeping for free. Couchsurfing connects you with locals who will give you not only a free place to stay, but also a local tour guide who can introduce you to all the great places to see. There are a lot of hosts in this country. I highly recommend using the site at least once to lower your accommodation costs, make a friend, and have a kitchen to cook in!
10. Take advantage of being under 26 – France has EXTENSIVE discounts for people who are under 26 if they have the ISIC card so be sure to get one!!!

 Top 4 Things to See and Do in France

1. Paris

Paris has everything – the Louvre, impressionist museums, the Eiffel Tower, the Seine, magnificent parks, jazz, and great food. It’s as magical as people say and, while it would take a lifetime to see it all, four or five days can give you a good idea. This is one of my favorite cities in the world, and I always find something new when I am here.

2. Explore the Loire Valley

The Loire is lovely and picturesque, with tons of vineyards and chateaus. You will find some of the best wine in the world, beautiful small towns, and great food. It’s an area not to be missed (though often missed by solo travelers and backpackers. Tsk tsk.)

3. Go to Marseille

Marseille is a metropolitan city that also has a rich history filled with nightlife, great restaurants, theaters, museums, and even an international soccer stadium. While the city is a bit gritty and industrial, it’s worth a visit for its beautiful waterfront and exciting mix of cultures.

4. Hang out in Nice

Nice is nice (get it?). This seaside town in the south is a popular destination for budget travelers who want to soak up some sun but might not be able to afford Cannes or Monaco. I don’t think the beach here is that great, but the central location makes it easy to explore the rest of the coast (and its better beaches).

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