12 Experiences in France I Want for Everyone

Every time I see a post on Eiffel Tower syndrome, I stop to reflect on my own first trip to Paris. While not everything was perfect, it was good enough to make me want to return. By the end of summer 2026, we will have spent 339 days in France, mostly since 2019. (Where does time go?!) Several of my friends have been planning trips to France this summer. Those conversations made me think about the most memorable experiences in France that I would want everyone to have.

We don’t always seek out unique experiences; we seek out authentic experiences that make sense for us and to learn more about culture (in all its forms). (For example, as beautiful as I find the lavender fields in Provence, I am deathly allergic to bees. I probably won’t be frolicking in a field.) When I’m looking for things to do in France, I’m looking for things that will enhance our understanding of things we love. I’m also looking for things that will push us to learn something new.

France is an extraordinary country with so much to offer. And yet, I think that many people don’t get to experience the best of it. I think part of it is not knowing. Part of it is not planning. And, part of it is just how we’re trained to think about travel. We think more about the things we must do in France, rather than what will make the experience better. Whether big or small, there are some experiences that I really hope that you won’t miss.

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Visit Paris AND Go Elsewhere in France

We LOVE Paris. It’s an easy non-stop flight from Dallas to Paris. Usually, there’s more than one per day. If we have a long weekend, chances are, you might find us in Paris for 4 days. We’ll eat at our favorite restaurants, take a tour or two, and visit some new places. Paris is a fantastic long weekend destination for us because there’s no pressure to see everything. (Because you just simply can’t see everything…) We truly enjoy going back to Paris.

HOWEVER, Paris isn’t France and France isn’t just Paris. We’ve had incredible experiences in France beyond Paris. Even when we had no idea what to expect (read: our trips to Avignon and Annecy), we’ve loved our experiences. Each region of France is rich with culinary specialities. They produce different wines (and some delicious cider in Normandy and Brittany). The museums are rich with France’s storied history and beautiful art that crosses a variety of time periods. I dare say there’s somewhere everyone will enjoy at least for a few days.

The best place in France to visit beyond Paris? It’s going to depend on your interests. And, once you go beyond Paris, you’ll start to understand that France is so much more… and I can tell you from personal experience, you’ll want to see more, too. The more you talk to the locals, the more recommendations you’ll get. Our next destination this summer is from talking to people. And, when we told our restauranteur in Aucey-la-Plaine yesterday where we were headed, he sighed happily… and then proceeded to give us another recommendation. “I love Paris. I love Rome more. But this place you are going is truly beautiful and interesting.” Be open to the world and realize that everyone experiences it differently. And then… take their advice if it makes sense for you!

Experience Mont St Michel without the Crowds

We’ve spent 3 summers in Mont St Michel. A lot of people ask me why we go back. After all, many people do the trip to Mont St Michel as a day trip from Paris. The truth is, there’s something magical about seeing this incredible sight that never gets old. Whether seen from a distance or biking up the footbridge, it’s truly a marvel for me. That said, it’s far more magical in the evenings when everyone has left for the day. You feel the whispers of 1,000 years of history as you roam the streets without the souvenir shops and the crowds. The smell of dinner wafts through the village in the evening. Since few restaurants are open, it’s likely someone approaching it with care.

In the three weeks we’ve stayed at Mont St Michel, I’ve experienced the crush of humanity once. I won’t make that mistake again. There is too much magic here to have that one day trip be your only experience. The long summer days are hard when I have to split my time between sightseeing and working. However, the sunsets at Mont St Michel are always beautiful.

(Another equally impressive sight and one of my favorite France experiences is the town of Carcassonne. It’s a little more difficult to get to (in my opinion), but it absolutely deserves a few nights on your trip to France, too.)

A Warm Baguette

When I studied abroad, many of my meals at home were comprised of baguettes. (They were the cheapest and most filling option.) However, it wasn’t until I had a fresh, warm baguette in France that I understood the magic of bread. We took a baguette and croissant cooking class, and I was hooked. Now when we travel and plan to eat at home, we’ll pick up our daily baguette traditionelle. And, if it happens to be warm, we’ll take a moment to enjoy it right then. (It’s too hard to anticipate when baguettes come out of the oven.) The simple act of enjoying fresh bread is one of life’s little pleasures.

There is a good bakery in every single city and town in France. It might require a little research. I find that to be part of the fun. Try to stay away from the large chains or the supermarche. Patronize the artisan boulangeries who preserve the art of bread-making. (The same is true of pâtisserie. Joy comes from the journey of trying them all!)

Part of the way that we extend our travel budget is by enjoying picnics in our hotel rooms. France is probably my favorite country for these in-room picnics. It’s also gotten us out of the problem of not making dinner reservations in advance. There are a lot of towns where all the restaurants are completely booked. It happened to us more than a few times, especially in the early days of our travels in France.

Enjoy an Entire Meal from a Local Market

I get it. Market days can be intimidating. They are filled with locals. Lots of French flying back and forth. For years, I enjoyed wandering around market days, but I felt too intimidated to try to purchase. In Amboise, however, the produce became too enticing. We stood in line, practiced our French, and purchased some of the best strawberries I’ve ever eaten in my life. We also bought a variety of cheese to try and some fresh pasta. Those little raviolis filled with a smoked orange cheese are something I would never buy at the grocery store. The meat pockets filled with braised feed and pork? I don’t know what kind of magic it was, but I ate way too many of them because I couldn’t bear to waste the flavors.

And, you don’t need to rent an apartment in France to make a meal from the local market. When we were visiting Beaune, we headed to the Saturday market and found charcuterie, cheese, and fresh fruit to make lunch in the room. Cherries were in season, and they were addicting. A picnic in our hotel room was the perfect place to beat the heatwave. And, it was refreshing to have food that tasted like real food.

Every time I return to the US, I start to realize how little food tastes like… what it’s supposed to taste like. One of my current culinary goals is to start cooking in season more… and learn to make vegetables like the French and the Italians.

If this feels too intimidating, I highly recommend booking a food tour or cooking class in France. You’ll learn a lot that can help you navigate the markets, especially in smaller towns. From there, you’ll hopefully feel a little more confident in making the most out of your market days in small town France.

Christmas Markets in the Alsace

If you’ve been reading here for awhile, you know that I love Christmas markets. No one celebrates Christmas as much as the fairytale towns of the Alsace. You’ll have to decide on what kind of experience you’re looking for; Strasbourg is a very different than Colmar and the smaller towns. Having done both, I don’t think you can go wrong. We happened to be in Strasbourg for the lighting of the grand sapin. As we watched the tree lighting and recognized the tunes of our favorite Christmas carols (sung in French), there was a somewhereness that made the world feel much less daunting. I love to plan for Christmas market dinners to enjoy the regional specialities. (There’s nothing better than a hot sausage ensconced in a warm baguette on a cold night. You won’t change my mind. Christmas market dinners are absolutely a thing for us!)

Fall in Love with a Museum

I’m not talking about queueing up to take a selfie with the Mona Lisa while racing through the Louvre’s greatest hits. I’m telling you to look at some of France’s smaller museums and go visit. Even if you don’t think you’re an art person. Especially if you’re not an art person! (Or a history person, wine person, or (insert whatever feels foreign today) person!)

I initially visited the Marc Chagall museum in Nice because one of my friends said it was her favorites. You know what I found out? I loved it, too. It was incredible to sit in a place that was designed to experience the art from every perspective. It was quiet. I fell in love with the colors and the style. When I saw the Chagall windows at a cathedral in Zurich, I realized that I could recognize Chagall. He’s on the ceiling of the Paris Opera house. His windows are in the Reims cathedral. My travels have been made better by falling in love with that small museum in Nice.

If you’re not sure where to start for museums, I love the Paris Museum Pass. We’ve bought this pass for long weekends in Paris, as well as weeklong trips. This is a low stakes, low stress way to visit so many museums in Paris and see what you like. You can make a reservation for a time slot, show up, and visit. (It also works for many monuments, like the Arc du Triomphe observation deck.) We saw so many more museums in Paris because of the flexibility of the Paris pass. And now, we know which ones we like to return to and can buy tickets for those and watch for special exhibitions, too!

There are fantastic museums all over France. Make sure to do a little research and spend a little time exploring what’s available. You never know when you’ll find something that will change your perspective.

Wine and Cheese Tasting in Paris

I’m a broken record, but Tom and I both agree. If you have limited time in France but want to learn about French wine and cheese, book this wine tasting in Paris. Attending Erwan’s wine and cheese tastings have transformed the way we travel. It’s taken me from being someone who didn’t really like French cheese.. to someone who will try most cheeses now. On our most recent trip, I was completely comfortable buying blue cheese to enjoy at home. Tom orders goat cheese with ease at the fromageries, too.

And, if you don’t know a lot about wine, the French wine list can feel completely daunting. How are you supposed to know the grape and appellation of French wines?! Erwan breaks all that down into a way that is easier to understand. You get to try a variety of red and white wines paired with cheeses. (Where else are you going to try cheese from the French alps?!)

And, if you enjoy it, you may find yourself traveling to other regions of France because of the experience. No trip to France is complete without looking at the list of wines we’ve tried with Erwan and deciding on a destination based on the wine! (That cheese from the French Alps? It’s absolutely why we spent a few nights in Annecy last summer!) We’ve even joined the Secret Wine Door wine club to keep inspiring our travels.

A wine tasting at Secret Wine Door is a gateway to some of the best culinary delights of France.

Learning American History from a French Perspective

Many of us feel compelled to visit Normandy because of its ties to American history. With strong familial ties to the D-Day invasion, I am no different. However, what I want to encourage you to do is to book a French guide. Don’t just take a road trip to the beaches of Normandy and expect to understand it. Supplement your knowledge with someone whose understanding of history might be different than what you were taught. Take the tours, buy the audioguides, and watch the films in museums.

Often times, especially as Americans, we exist in a silo because we are so isolated from other countries. I loved learning more about the roles played by our Canadian neighbors, our friends in the UK, and the French citizens who were impacted by the war. The more perspectives you collect, the more you can piece together the stories, and the more you can understand how we are all connected.

It’s important to understand that what is poignant for others may not be poignant for you. Do your research. Saint-Mere-Eglise was particularly moving for me. The American cemetery is moving for others. I loved the Airborne Museum for it’s familiar artifacts, but I found photos of my grandfather in Museum of the Battle of Normandy in Bayeux. There is a lot to see. I found the DK Normandy book to be helpful in my trip planning and research.

Enjoy the Summer Festivals of France

The spontaneous things that happen on our trips often lead to the most memorable experiences. Spend a few nights in small towns in France and go enjoy the festivals that pop up. On our first night in France, there was a solstice festival at Mont St Michel that coincided with the 1000 anniversary of the mont. Jet-lagged and tired after a day of driving, we could of opted out. We didn’t. It was cool to see, even if it feels surreal when I think about it now.

When we stayed in Bayeux, there was a medieval festival. We went to the parade, even though we didn’t understand any of it. This isn’t something we’d do at home, but it was fun to do in France. The same is true when we found a Venetian festival in Riquewihr. The carnival costumes were beautiful and the backdrop was pure magic. (It was also far less chaotic than I imagine the true Venetian carnivale will be!) The long summer days lend themselves to Fete de la Musique and a variety of outdoor arts festivals throughout France. And, Fete Nationale (Bastille Day), whether you spend it in Paris or a small village, is sure to offer a lively atmosphere. I highly recommend checking what’s happening with tourist information offices throughout France. They are your best resources to engage in small towns differently.

There’s an ambiance around these festivals that feels uniquely French. While they aren’t things I would do at home, it’s fun to experience when the whole town comes out! It’s fun to see people out and about without a care in the world, too. It’s a great way to support small businesses and try local specialities, too.

Visit a Small Family-Run Vineyard in France

The first time we visited Bordeaux, we stuck to wine bars. While this worked for trying a lot of varietals, we really missed the human experience that we’ve had at wine tastings in Italy. On our next trip, we decided to utilize our network to schedule visits to some small vineyards in France. Stumbling through tastings in English and French gave us such a greater appreciation for wine. Often times, you have the opportunity to meet the winemaker, the marketer, and the passion behind a label, all in one person!

There are a lot of very famous (and very expensive) French wines. Wine doesn’t need to be expensive to be good in France. However, there’s more to it than buying a cheap bottle of wine at the supermarche. We love to visit local wine caves, ask for recommendations, and if we like it, we’ll reach out to the vineyard to visit. We’ve found the lesser-known the wine, the more likely they are to welcome you. The expensive brands don’t have to and many won’t. Many people feel some kind of way about that. I find that it’s just better to go where it could make a difference to a human. The French wines in our cellar are exclusively small producers, and I find them more interesting than most of the famous wines we’ve tried with our wine dinner friends.

There are so many appellations beyond Burgundy and Bordeaux. The lesser-known regions of France have a lot wines that are a great price-to-quality ratio. My best advice is to drink regionally. Try things you don’t know. Try red and white wines, even if you think you have a preference. You’ll likely find a new favorite and realize that all grapes are not what you think they are.

If you aren’t sure where to start on this, book a tour with our favorite Bordeaux wine guide, Caz. He runs tours through Bordeaux Wine Pilgrim. He taught us so much about Bordeaux wines, as well as the history of Bordeaux!

See the Eiffel Tower Sparkle

Forget everything about Eiffel Tower syndrome. Go see it for yourself. I highly recommend seeing the Eiffel Tower of close so you can appreciate the beauty of the iron work. (That might be what made me appreciate it even more. The photos in my textbooks didn’t do it justice.) But then, find a place to enjoy a cool breeze and wait for the lights to illuminate. It’s a slow burn to light the tower. And, when the switch gets flipped, you’ll get to see the copyrighted (literally) sparkle of one of the most iconic French landmark… along with hearing a collective sigh from everyone who realizes what an incredible moment it is to witness. Is it an experience that will change your life? Maybe not. Is it beautiful moment that required you to slow down and be patient. Yes.

An added bonus is if you ever have the opportunity to witness the Eiffel Tower illuminated by fireworks. We did this along the Seine on Bastille day one year, and the ambiance was electric. However, another really cool experience is when we booked a deluxe Eiffel Tower view room at Hyatt Etoile. This allowed us to enjoy the fireworks from the comfort of our own room. Obviously, it’s a completely different experience, but it’s a fun one to have.

Create Authentic Connections with People

Last but not least, we don’t travel exclusively for beautiful sights. We travel for the connections that we make between our experiences, history, interests, and (hopefully) most importantly, people. One of the things that makes me most sad is when people travel to France and aren’t looking forward to connecting with people. Our best experiences in France have been with people. We’ve made friends with waiters (even in Paris!), sommeliers, tour guides, and other people we meet by being open to it. Not every experience will lead to a deeper relationship. However, there’s something to be said about the way people open up when you attempt a little French. When you tell them you love the food they prepared for you. And, when you actively engage in trying to understand whatever it is they care about and want to share.

Many times people want to know why we go back the same places. Yes, some places are beautiful. They contribute to my peace of mind. The wines are good and we want to try more. I have certain hotels or experiences on my list of things I wish to do. But more often than not, we go back to the same places because of people. We have been humbled by the extraordinary kindness of people that we’ve met on our travels, especially in France.

And that, my friends, is what I want for everyone. Ignore the preconceived notions of others. Let the stereotypes go. Search out experiences that are authentic to you and your interests and be humble enough to let someone else share everything they know and love with you. Your travels will be that much better if your explore the world with that mindset.