Don’t let the name fool you (piscine means “swimming pool” in French). This ornate Art Deco-era building is actually an art museum. The sprawling collection—a mix of temporary and permanent exhibits—is housed in a former municipal pool in the small city of Roubaix, located just outside Lille. The museum is particularly famous for its textile works, ranging from Coptic Egyptian to contemporary fabrics.
Deauville’s Eglise Saint-Augustin is a mid-19th-century church on the edge of town. As it’s more modern than many French churches, it reflects an eclectic range of architectural influences, including neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque. It’s adorned with paintings, frescoes, and stained-glass windows; look out especially for a set of paintings on enameled lava on the northwest facade.
One of Paris’ most unusual attractions, the Paris Sewer Museum (Musée des Égouts de Paris) celebrates the “City within a City” that exists under the capital’s streets. Stretching some 1,304 miles (2,100 kilometers), the sewers are a marvel of modern engineering, and this museum captures their history in all its pungent glory.
The Step into the Void (Aiguille du Midi Skywalk)is a glass room suspended 12,604 feet (3,842 meters) high on the summit of Aiguille du Midi mountain. Reinforced by strong steel and set on the edge of a steep cliff, the transparent box offers unobstructed views of Europe’s highest peaks, with nothing but air below.
Found inside the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, the National Sport Museum is a space where sports fans can comb through the history of French sports. Exhibits are arranged into four sporting themes—individual, one-against-one, collective, and beyond limits—offering visitors a way to view artifacts related to favorite sports such as soccer or skiing without much bother.
This French Riviera chocolate factory makes sweets from all-natural ingredients, including cocoa beans from around the world and famously fragrant flowers from the perfume-making town of Grasse. Visitors come to shop for edible souvenirs, sample freshly made candies, and peek inside the workshops to learn how Maison Duplanteur’s chocolate goes from bean to bar.
Housed in a revamped 19th-century warehouse that once played an important role in Marseille’s bustling port, Les Docks Village brings together the city’s maritime past and its dynamic present. Designed to resemble a Mediterranean agora, with its airy courtyards and shopping arcades, this vibrant creative and retail center is home to a range of boutiques, restaurants, and pop-ups.
Dijon’s Jardin de l’Arquebuse is a botanic garden with a sensory twist. Instead of just strolling through the pretty grounds while looking at plants, visitors can learn about edible plants in this prolific culinary region. This garden showcases around 70 varieties of grapes, as well as other edible plants, alongside an arboretum, rose garden, and more.
Spread out over a steep, wooded hillside, the Réserve Zoologique de Calviac houses a number of species, many from tropical areas. The reserve is home to roughly 200 animals from 30 species, ranging from squirrel monkeys to fossas, and boasts many species that aren’t often found in zoos.
Situated on Place Darcy in Dijon, Porte Guillaume— also known as William's Gate—is a large stone arch, sometimes likened to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. It was built in the 18th century on a spot where old city walls once stood and is considered the gateway into Dijon’s pedestrianised center.
Naturally sheltered from the wind and sea spray by the huge Bec de l’Aigle cliff, Parc du Mugel benefits from a microclimate that supports a dense vegetation of tropical plants, cacti, bamboo, and herbs. Visitors can admire the greenery on a stroll around the 30-acre (12-hectare) park, then climb to the Belvedere lookout point for sweeping views over the Calanques du Mugel below.
One of France’s top shopping destinations, the Val d’Europe mall is home to more than 130 shops and restaurants. Its convenient location just moments from Disneyland Paris—as well as the nearby high-end La Vallée Village outlet mall—makes it a popular destination for vacationers seeking some retail therapy between theme parks.
A water park unlike any other, Frenzy Palace Water Jump—located in Torreilles, near Perpignan—caters to extreme sports enthusiasts, water slide lovers, and those looking for a one-of-a-kind way to beat the summer heat. BMX tracks, vertiginous slides, and other activities will have visitors soaring through the air.
Get your thrills at one of the most popular theme parks in France, Nigloland, which includes rides and entertainment options for visitors of all ages—from roller coasters to animal-themed kiddy rides to puppet shows featuring the theme park’s hedgehog mascot.
Built in the 1840s, the Passage Pommeraye is a multi-level shopping arcade that connects the Rue Santueil with the Rue de la Fosse. It's known for its elaborate architecture and beautiful sculptures created in the neo-Renaissance style.
Boasting the title of Europe’s largest urban waterpark, Paris’ Aquaboulevard is a favorite destination for families and thrillseekers alike, offering a tropical escape right in the heart of the city’s southwest. Conveniently located just over the Boulevard Périphérique in the 15th arrondissement, this expansive park is a year-round attraction thanks to its unique indoor-outdoor layout. Aquaboulevard is packed with features to keep all ages entertained for hours.
Disneyland® Paris’ free shopping, dining, and entertainment district, Disney® Village is a buzzing and action-packed destination that’s perfect for families. Located between both Disneyland Paris parks and area hotels, it’s home to dozens of restaurants, theatrical performances, a movie theater, shops, a hot-air balloon, and more.
Standing as a stark reminder of the horror of war, Fort de Vaux was a key site in the WWI Battle of Verdun. After the drawn-out battle claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, the fort fell to the Germans—only to be returned to the French a few months later. Today, you can walk atop the fort and visit the underground tunnels.
The town of Calais, located on the northern coast of France, is more of a throughway than a destination. That’s because each year, tens of millions of people pass by en route to Dover, but very few stop. Still, seasoned travelers say this major ferry port, the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, has a few hidden gems worth checking out.
Located 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) outside Chamonix city center, Lake Gaillands (Lac des Gaillands) is a man-made lake created in the early 1900s during excavation work for a nearby train line. The site quickly filled with water, creating an outdoor recreation area frequented by locals and visitors who enjoy hiking, fishing, and rock climbing at the lake.
Planet Ocean Montpellier is home to over 3,500 sea and ocean animals belonging to 400 species. From the nearby Mediterranean to the depths of the Indian Ocean, from the South African coast to the Atlantic Ocean and the Amazon, you’ll see wonders from across the globe in the dozens of basins and tanks.
The storybook atmosphere of Dinan makes it one of the most charming medieval villages in Brittany. This river port along the Rance is a time capsule, with intact ramparts, cobbled lanes, and half-timbered buildings topped by steeply pitched roofs. Meander the old town and soak in its Breton essence, from arty shops to historic quays.
Part architectural experiment, part tourist attraction, Guédelon is a 13th-century castle being built from scratch in the 21st century. Using only medieval-era materials and construction techniques, construction started in 1997 and is set to be completed in 2023, with visitors following its progress each year.
Chapelle Bellini is on the old Villa Fiorentina estate, an Italian-style 19th-century villa with Tuscan terraced gardens. The Baroque chapel was built by Count Phillippe Vitali, and converted into a studio in the 1950s by local painter and architect Emmanuel Bellini. After his death, the artist’s daughter made it into a museum for his work.
With 32 aquariums filled with exotic fish and marine creatures, an Amazon-inspired rain-forest zone, and an outdoor play area, Amneville Aquarium (Aquarium d'Amneville) is a popular family attraction. Its small size makes it a good option for even young children.
First opened at its current location in 1807, the Théâtre des Variétés is one of Paris’ oldest playhouses. The centuries-old venue was initially known for high-energy variety shows, but it expanded its repertoire, earning a reputation for colorful cabarets and musical performances. Today, it is known for witty comedic plays and family-friendly productions.
A medieval town whose well-preserved fortifications have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status, Provins is a popular day trip destination from Paris. Located just 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of the capital in the Île-de-France region, it offers extraordinary architecture, underground tunnels, and medieval cultural displays.
The modernist masterpiece of Parisian architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, Villa Cavrois is a National Historic Monument in the Lille suburb of Croix. Built in 1932 for its namesake, the industrialist Paul Cavrois, the architectural landmark has been painstakingly restored and stands as the foremost example of Mallet-Stevens’ work.
Situated in a rural part of southern France near the border with Spain, Espace Ludopia is an outdoor experience park that focuses on engaging the five senses. Visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring a series of interactive installations built from upcycled materials.
History buffs gravitate to the Provençal city of Arles, which is packed with six UNESCO World Heritage Sites among its Roman ruins and Romanesque monuments. The Arles Museum of Antiquity is an important addition to any history tour because it presents the region’s most notable archaeological collection, including a priceless collection of Roman artifacts.
