Nice

8 Best Cities to Visit in France

Avignon

France is best known for two things: Paris and the French countryside. But the country is home to some great urban centers that are worth a visit to get a feel for France’s various regional cultures. From north to south, east to west, here is my list of the 8 best cities to visit in France:

Avignon
The former seat of the Popes, Avignon is best known today for its famous medieval bridge, which is only partly intact. It also has a stunning medieval walled city with a pretty maze of streets to explore. There are also great markets, cafes, and restaurants, as well as the historic Avignon Cathedral and Palais des Papes.

Lille
Located in the north of France and known for being a stop on the Eurostar train between London and Paris, Lille is worth a visit in its own right. The beautiful city center exudes historic charm, and there is no shortage of patisseries and cafes to tempt the tastebuds.

Nice
The capital of the French Riviera needs no introduction. One of the largest cities in France, Nice still manages to maintain a laid-back beach vibe. But there’s also plenty to see and do away from the water, including the great markets in Old Nice, the famous Matisse and Chagall museums, and the hilltop castle. Nice also makes a great jumping-off point for day trips to other destinations along the Cote d’Azur.

Chartres
Home to the most famous cathedral in France, Chartres attracts visitors from all over the world. An easy day trip from Paris, the city can be reached by train, and its compact center is easily explored on foot. While Chartres Cathedral is the main attraction, the area around it is worth a wander as well.

Reims
Another famous cathedral city, Reims also makes a great day trip from Paris. But it is best known for another of France’s famous goods: champagne. The capital of the Champagne region, Reims is home to many tasting rooms and wineries where visitors can take tours and learn all about how champagne is made.

Bordeaux
Speaking of wine, Bordeaux is another of the best cities to visit in France. Wine lovers can enjoy tastings and tours, as well as day trips into the vineyards in places like Medoc. But even those that aren’t wine enthusiasts can enjoy Bordeaux’s historic streets, great shopping, and excellent cafes.

Lyon
The gastronomic capital of France, Lyon is the perfect city for foodies. Known for its abundance of great restaurants and food markets, the city is a virtual heaven for those of the culinary persuasion. Beyond food, Lyon has a rich historic city center with beautiful architecture, a number of hills with great views over the city, pristine parks, and more shopping than one could possibly imagine.

Paris
No list of the best cities to visit in France would be complete without the French capital. The heart of the country and seat of its government, Paris is home to some of the world’s most famous artworks, cafes, and monuments. No trip to France would be complete without a stop in Paris.

Ferry from Nice to Saint Tropez

Nice

Taking a ferry from Nice to Saint Tropez is a great way to travel from the capital of the French Riviera to the famous city on the coast when you are visiting France’s Cote d’Azur.

Ferries to Saint Tropez harbor run throughout the summer months (if you are visiting at another time of year, click here to see other options). Services depart from the port in the eastern part of Nice. They are run by a company called Trans Cote d’Azur, which offers regular services during the season.

The ferry from Nice to Saint Tropez takes 2 hours and 30 minutes one-way. As you travel, make sure to take in the views of the coast when you pass by famous towns and cities like Antibes, Cannes, and Saint Raphael.

Ferries on this route normally run several days a week between late May and late September. Trans Cote d’Azur offers a morning departure to Saint Tropez and an afternoon service back, so visitors can take a day trip from Nice to Saint Tropez if they don’t want to stay overnight. The timing of the ships allows passengers around five hours to explore Saint Tropez.

Tickets for the ferry from Nice to Saint Tropez cost 61 euros round-trip for adults and 46 euros round-trip for children between the ages of 4 and 10. Children under 4 years of age travel for free on this route.

Day Trip from Nice to Saint Tropez

Nice

Taking a day trip from Nice to Saint Tropez is a great way to spend a day out on the Cote d’Azur when you are visiting France. Saint Tropez is easily accessible from Nice by many modes of transportation, and the town offers enough to see and do for visitors to spend a day there.

While the town and its surroundings are best known for their beaches, you don’t have to be a sun worshipper to enjoy Saint Tropez. You can also find great shopping, museums with rotating art exhibitions, cinema, opera, restaurants, spas, history, and more.

Additionally, there are festivals that take place throughout the year, including the famous Harley festival, the Bravades, the Ailes de Saint Tropez, the Porsche car meeting, and the Voiles de Saint Tropez. Going to the festivals on a day trip from Nice can save you the hassle of booking pricey accommodation and fighting crowds at restaurants and bars in the evening.

Getting to Saint Tropez from Nice is easy. If you have a car, you can drive there, but beware that traffic can be heavy in the high season. A good alternative is to take a ferry from Nice’s port. In the summer, ferry schedules are timed so that you can easily take a day trip from Nice to Saint Tropez.

Alternatively, you can take a bus or taxi to get to Saint Tropez, or you can take a train to Saint Raphael and then a bus or ferry the rest of the way. You can see a list of all of your options here, and determine which one is best for you.