History, Art, Cuisine & Tailor-Made Travel to France

France covers enough ground that the answer depends almost entirely on what you are looking for. Paris alone can absorb a week: the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Marais, Montmartre, and a serious restaurant scene that has no shortage of options at any price point. Beyond Paris, the Loire Valley is the best place in Europe to explore Renaissance châteaus, Burgundy and Bordeaux are the obvious destinations for serious wine travel, and Provence offers Roman ruins, hilltop villages, and lavender fields that peak between late June and mid-July. Normandy has the D-Day beaches and American cemeteries alongside Mont Saint-Michel, one of the most dramatic architectural sites in Europe. The French Alps offer skiing in winter and exceptional hiking from June through September. The French Riviera is best visited in May, June, or September, before and after the peak summer crowds.

It depends on where you are going. For Paris and northern France, May and September are the strongest months: comfortable walking temperatures, manageable crowds, and no school holiday surges. For Provence, late June through early July is peak lavender season, though the fields at higher altitudes around Sault hold color until early August. The French Riviera is at its best in May, June, and September, when sea temperatures are warm and August crowds have thinned. Bordeaux and Burgundy are best in September and October, when the grape harvest is underway and the vineyards are at their most photogenic. The French Alps run two seasons: ski season from December through March, and hiking season from June through September. July and August bring the most visitors across the country, and will require more in-advance bookings to secure premier hotels.

France has some of the finest hotels, restaurants, and private experiences in the world. Paris world-class dining, along with palace hotels on the Right Bank and boutique design hotels in the Marais and Saint-Germain. The Loire Valley has converted châteaux that function as genuine luxury hotels with private grounds and cellars. Burgundy and Bordeaux have wine domaines and estates that take private tastings and cellar dinners seriously. Provence has farmhouse hotels and hilltop village properties that combine character with high service levels, and the French Riviera has its grand hotels.

Few countries take food and wine as seriously as France, and the variety across regions is part of what makes it worth planning carefully. Paris is the obvious anchor, with a restaurant scene that spans three-Michelin-star temples to natural wine bars and neighborhood bistros. Lyon is widely considered the gastronomic capital of France, built around bouchons serving quenelles, andouillette, and tablier de sapeur. Burgundy produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from some of the most scrutinized vineyard plots on earth, and the local cuisine — boeuf bourguignon, escargots, époisses — matches the wine. Bordeaux is the home of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends from the Left and Right Banks, and surrounding Dordogne adds duck confit and black truffle to the table. Provence and Alsace each have distinct wine identities and food cultures worth a dedicated trip.

France pairs well with several neighboring countries. Spain is accessible by train from Paris to Barcelona or the Basque country in 4-6 hours. Italy connects easily from the French Riviera into Liguria and on to Tuscany. Switzerland sits adjacent to Alsace and the French Alps. France and the UK can also easily be paired with trains that go between Paris and London. In general, Paris is an excellent hub to reach most other destinations in Europe.

Our itineraries tend to utilize first-class trains and private transfers, or even a river cruise.

France is a heavyweight in the world of wine, cuisine, art, and culture, and is a must-visit for anyone interested in these. It also offers spectacular scenery, with some of the most impressive alpine landscapes in Europe.