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A land of fine food, high fashion, and a many-layered history, France offers everything from medieval villages and historic chateaux to world-renowned art and illustrious vineyards.

You could begin in Paris people watching from a pavement cafe, touring the Louvre or Musée D’Orsay, then taking a private tour of Chateau du Versailles. Follow it with a visit to Claude Monet’s house and lily gardens, a tour through the vineyards and chateaux of the Loire Valley, or maybe a visit to the Champagne region to learn about the provenance of this renowned sparkling wine.

You could explore giant dunes and go for an oyster tasting on a boat tour at Cap Ferrat, learn to make macarons with a French pastry chef, take a walking tour of medieval Annecy, or go hiking near Mont Blanc. There’s so much to see and do, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

In France, you can stay in historic mansions, private villas, Parisian townhouses, and medieval country homes. Timeless elegance, fine food, and good wine are hallmarks of a stay in France and the country’s heritage architecture provides some wonderfully memorable options when it comes to finding a place to stay.

For example, you could stay in a luxuriously renovated half-timbered farmhouse in Normandy, a 12th-century convent in Provence, a stately 15th-century chateau in the Loire Valley, or a five-star hotel set in a historic mansion in Lyon’s old town.

If you’d prefer an urban retreat, you could opt for a luxurious Parisian hotel or a sleek boutique hotel with a modern, minimalist style. In the mountains, you’ll find chic Alpine lodges, and in the wine regions, expansive wine estates. To get some ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in France.

Some of France’s most popular destinations include Paris, the Loire Valley, Normandy’s D-Day beaches, Bordeaux, and Provence. In Paris, you’ll find a city as wildly beautiful and sophisticated as its reputation suggests with a thriving cafe culture and world-renowned monuments such as Notre Dame cathedral, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower to visit.

The chateaux, vineyards, and medieval villages of the Loire Valley offer historic sights and gourmet food experiences, while the half-timbered towns and poignant D-Day beaches make Normandy a popular destination. To the south, the medieval hilltop villages of Provence and the glitzy beach towns of the French Riviera vie for attention with the wine regions around Bordeaux and the Dordogne, while to the east the Alps rise majestically into jagged, snow-capped peaks.

It takes around seven and a half hours to fly from the East Coast of the US to France, and around 11 hours from the West Coast.

The time zone in France is UTC+1 hour. Daylight Savings Time is observed from late-March to late-October.

The best way to get around in France is on the country’s efficient network of high-speed trains, known as the TGVs. If you’re short on time, it may also be worth considering internal flights.

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for France. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

• Entry requirements travel tool

Speak to your doctor for immunization advice for France and ensure you’re up to date with routine vaccinations at home. You can also check the recommended vaccinations by visiting the .