Who it's for
Is France right for your trip?
Every country is somebody's favourite. The honest question is whether it is yours, and for this trip.
This is your trip if…
- You want museums, food, scenery and good public transport in the same trip.
- You enjoy a route with a clear regional identity rather than a checklist of sights.
- You are happy to spend on one excellent meal and keep the rest simple.
- You want a European first trip that does not require a car everywhere.
Think twice if…
- You need every shop, restaurant and museum to open on Sunday or Monday.
- You want a cheap beach holiday in July and August; the coast is not cheap then.
- You dislike reservations, long meals or a little friction around strikes.
- You plan Paris, Provence, Brittany and the Alps in one week.
Best time to visit
When is the best time to visit France?
April – June and September – October. Spring and early autumn combine good weather with manageable crowds. July and August are lovely in many regions but expensive, hot in cities and shaped by European school holidays; late October to March is better for museums, food and lower prices than for a first coast-and-village route.
- Best
Spring
April – June
Green countryside, long light and outdoor café weather. May weekends fill quickly in Paris and Provence, but weekdays are excellent.
- Mixed
High summer
July – August
Warm and lively, with beaches and festivals at their best. Book hotels and trains early; some small restaurants close in August rather than serving the crowds.
- Best
Early autumn
September – October
Harvest season, warm days and fewer families. September is the best all-round month for a route through Paris, wine country and the south.
- Good
Winter
November – March
Cold and grey in the north, but superb for city breaks, food and skiing. The Alps are a separate high season in February.
Climate · monthly normals
A useful northern baseline; the Mediterranean coast is warmer and drier, while the Alps are colder and snowier.
For contrast
Mediterranean France: brighter winters and a much drier summer.
Festivals and events
Calendar and cultural context
Dates a plan should either aim for or steer clear of. Both are useful; the second saves more money.
May
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes
A glamorous but genuinely international film festival that makes the Côte d'Azur unusually busy and expensive for two weeks.
Stay outside Cannes and reserve trains and rooms early.
July
Tour de France
Changing route across France
The race is a free moving festival: mountain stages and village finishes are a reason to visit places you might otherwise pass.
The exact route changes every year; book the stage town as soon as it is announced.
July
Festival d'Avignon
Avignon
Three weeks of theatre in courtyards, churches and temporary venues. It is one of the best reasons to visit Provence in high summer.
The official programme sells quickly; accommodation inside the walls is scarce.
Late November – December
Christmas markets
Alsace, Strasbourg, Colmar and cities nationwide
More regional food and craft tradition than a generic market if you stay in Alsace or smaller towns.
Weekdays are calmer; December weekends are not.
Where to go
Where should you go in France?
The places that earn their nights, most important first, with how long each deserves. Nobody needs all of them on one trip.
City and local guides
16 worked-out stopsMap numbers match the local guide cards.
01Paris
Western Europe
city3–5 daysThe Louvre, neighbourhood walks, grand boulevards and small restaurants can fill a week. Stay central enough to walk, but do not mistake the centre for all of Paris.
Best time: May–September
Explore Paris
02Lyon
Western Europe
city2–3 daysA compact old town, serious restaurants, Roman hills and easy trains to the Alps, Burgundy and Provence. It is more liveable than picturesque-only.
Best time: May–June and September
Explore Lyon
03Loire Valley
Western Europe
travel base2–3 daysChoose two or three châteaux and travel between them by bike, taxi or car. Trying to see every grand house turns a beautiful region into a car park.
Best time: May–September
Explore Loire Valley
04Provence
Western Europe
travel base4–6 daysBase around Avignon, Aix or Arles and make day trips rather than changing hotels nightly. The Luberon and Camargue need different bases.
Best time: April–June and September–October
Explore Provence
05Bordeaux
Western Europe
city2–4 daysAn elegant river city with strong food and day trips into the Médoc, Saint-Émilion and the Atlantic coast. You do not need to be a wine expert.
Best time: May–September
Explore Bordeaux
06Chamonix and the Alps
Western Europe
travel base3–5 daysCable cars, valley walks and serious hiking around Mont Blanc. Add it only when the season and weather suit your plan.
Best time: June–September or December–March
Explore Chamonix and the Alps
07Lille
Western Europe
city2–3 daysFlemish streets and a northern French cultural break
Best time: May–September
Explore Lille
08Strasbourg
Western Europe
city3 daysAlsatian lanes and a European civic city
Best time: May–June and September
Explore Strasbourg
09Nantes
Western Europe
city3 daysLoire port history and public contemporary art
Best time: May–September
Explore Nantes
10Toulouse
Western Europe
city3 daysBrick streets, aerospace and a southern French river city
Best time: March–May and October–November
Explore Toulouse
11Dijon
Western Europe
city2–3 daysBurgundian civic history and market cooking
Best time: May–June and September
Explore Dijon
12Rennes
Western Europe
city2–3 daysBreton city life and a walkable historic core
Best time: May–September
Explore Rennes
13Rouen
Western Europe
city2–3 daysNorman medieval streets and Seine-city culture
Best time: May–September
Explore Rouen
14Amiens
Western Europe
city2 daysA Gothic cathedral and a garden-waterway city
Best time: May–September
Explore Amiens
15Besançon
Western Europe
city2–3 daysA river loop and a fortified eastern French city
Best time: May–June and September
Explore Besançon
16Clermont-Ferrand
Western Europe
city2–3 daysVolcanic-stone streets and an Auvergne city base
Best time: May–June and September
Explore Clermont-Ferrand
Things to do
What should you do in France?
The handful of things that make the destination distinctive, with the timing catch that stops people doing them well.
- 01
Walk Paris before the museums open
Paris
A morning along the Seine, Île Saint-Louis and the Marais gives you the city before the queues. Put one major museum after lunch, not four before it.
- 02
Eat one long regional lunch
Lyon, Provence or the southwest
France makes a meal an itinerary anchor. Book a good-value lunch menu and leave two hours; the rushed dinner is rarely the memorable one.
- 03
Choose a Loire château pair
Loire Valley
Chenonceau and Villandry, or Chambord and Amboise, make a coherent day. Two well-seen châteaux beat six drive-by photographs.
- 04
Take a TGV across the country
Paris to Lyon, Bordeaux or Avignon
The high-speed train is part of the practical pleasure of France: city centre to city centre, no airport ritual, and often faster door to door.
- 05
See the coast outside August
Brittany, Normandy or the Atlantic coast
June and September give you beaches, seafood and walking without the peak-season traffic. The Atlantic is more characterful than the postcard Riviera.
How to get around
How do you get around France?
Use trains for the national spine, local rail and buses for towns, and a car only for rural areas that do not connect cleanly. Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and many other cities are easier without a car; Provence, the Dordogne and the Alps become more flexible with one.
TGV and regional trains
High-speed trains link Paris with Lyon, Bordeaux, Avignon, Strasbourg and the southwest. Regional trains are slower but scenic; book the long leg early when a cheap fare matters.
Rule of thumb: Over 2 hours between major cities and the rail route is direct → train.
Metro, tram and walking
Paris has the deepest network, while Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Toulouse are easy by tram and foot. Do not rent a car for a city break.
Rule of thumb: Inside a major city → walk, metro or tram.
Rental car
A car earns its keep in Provence villages, the Loire, Normandy and mountain valleys. Avoid picking it up in Paris; take the train out first.
Rule of thumb: Three or more rural stops in one region → car.
Domestic flights
Flights are rarely the best answer between cities linked by TGV. Use them only for Corsica, overseas France or a genuinely time-critical route.
Rule of thumb: Mainland city pair with a direct TGV → do not fly.
Passes and cards, honestly
- France's rail pass can work for several long, expensive journeys, but compare point-to-point fares first; advance TGV tickets are often cheaper.
- Paris Visite is not automatically good value. A normal Navigo ticket or contactless single fare is simpler for most short visits.
- A museum pass saves time more reliably than money if you use timed entry. Do not buy one for a slow, café-heavy weekend.
Travel tips
What should you know before you go?
The things locals assume you know. Most travellers learn them by getting one wrong on day two.
- Say bonjour first
- A greeting before a question is basic courtesy in shops, hotels and small restaurants. It takes one second and changes the tone.
- Lunch is not a problem to solve
- Many places serve a fixed lunch menu and close between lunch and dinner. Eat when the region eats; do not expect a full meal at 16:00.
- Regional France is real
- A Breton crêperie, Lyon bouchon and Basque table are not interchangeable versions of French food. Use the region's own vocabulary and specialities.
- Strikes are part of planning
- Rail and public-sector strikes are usually announced, but disruption can still be sudden. Keep one flexible day around a long rail connection.
- Tipping is modest
- Service is included. Round up or leave a few euros for good service; a large American-style percentage is neither required nor expected.
Travel basics
Visa, money, SIM cards and more
The boring section, which is why it is the one people skip and then regret at the airport.
visa
Visa and entry
France follows Schengen entry rules. Visa-exempt visitors are generally limited to 90 days in a 180-day period; check the rule for your passport before booking.
money
Money and cards
Cards work almost everywhere, including small bakeries, but keep a little cash for markets and rural buses. Tourist taxes are often added to hotel bills.
connectivity
SIM and data
An EU SIM normally roams like home. Other visitors can use an eSIM or buy a local plan; coverage is strong on the main rail routes and weaker in mountains.
plugs
Plugs and power
France uses 230 V and type C or E sockets. Most European two-pin chargers fit; British, American and Australian travellers need an adapter.
language
Language
English is enough in Paris hotels and major sights, but a few French phrases make rural travel easier. Menus often explain less than you expect.
safety
Safety
The normal city risks are pickpocketing and phone snatching around crowded stations and sights. Keep bags closed and do not leave valuables on a café table near a pavement.
Trip costs
How much does a trip to France cost?
A mid-range trip usually needs about €110–€190 per person per day, before long-haul flights. France is manageable outside Paris and the Riviera, but accommodation is the pressure point. A market lunch, bakery breakfast and regional train can keep a day reasonable; July, August and major festival weeks can double the price of an ordinary room.
Shoestring
€€65–95
per person / day
- Stay
- Hostel or simple guesthouse, €30–55
- Food
- Bakeries, markets and a set lunch, €15–25
- Transport
- Regional trains booked early, metro and buses
Comfortable if you choose a region and do not sleep in central Paris every night.
Mid-range
€€110–190
per person / day
- Stay
- Good 3-star or small hotel, €80–130 for two
- Food
- Cafés, one set-menu lunch and one proper dinner, €35–65
- Transport
- TGV booked ahead plus local rail or a few taxis
The useful sweet spot: one memorable meal, a central base and no need to count every coffee.
Comfortable
€€260–500
per person / day
- Stay
- Design hotel or château stay, €200–400 for two
- Food
- Restaurants, wine and market purchases, €80–150
- Transport
- First-class rail, private transfers and occasional driver
Worth it for food and countryside; luxury in Paris is expensive without always being calmer.
Sample itineraries
Starting points, not scripts
Use these as conditional starting points. Confirm current access, the operating transport and permissions before committing.
Paris and Lyon
7 days- Paris
- Lyon
A first week with two very different cities and no car. Spend four nights in Paris, then take the TGV to Lyon for food, Roman hills and a slower final three nights.
Paris to Provence
10 days- Paris
- Avignon
- Luberon
- Marseille
Paris by rail, then a Provence base with a small car for villages, ending in Marseille. It keeps the route southbound and avoids changing hotels every night.
Châteaux and the Atlantic
14 days- Paris
- Amboise
- Bordeaux
- Biarritz
A history-and-food route from Paris through the Loire to Bordeaux and the Basque coast. Use trains for the cities and rent a car only for the château days.
Common questions
Quick answers about travel in France
Short answers to the questions people ask before they book. Use the full guide for the detail and trade-offs.
- When is the best time to visit France?
- April – June and September – October. Spring and early autumn combine good weather with manageable crowds. July and August are lovely in many regions but expensive, hot in cities and shaped by European school holidays; late October to March is better for museums, food and lower prices than for a first coast-and-village route.
- How much does a trip to France cost?
- Plan about €110–€190 per person per day for a mid-range trip, before long-haul flights. France is manageable outside Paris and the Riviera, but accommodation is the pressure point. A market lunch, bakery breakfast and regional train can keep a day reasonable; July, August and major festival weeks can double the price of an ordinary room.
- How do you get around France?
- Use trains for the national spine, local rail and buses for towns, and a car only for rural areas that do not connect cleanly. Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and many other cities are easier without a car; Provence, the Dordogne and the Alps become more flexible with one.
More destinations
Where else?
- JapanA megacity, a thousand temples and trains that leave to the second.
- ChinaImperial capitals, fast trains, regional tables and landscapes at continental scale.
- ItalyThree civilisations' worth of cities, and lunch takes two hours.
- SpainEurope's longest high-speed rail, five cultures, and lunch at three.
- PortugalTwo hilly cities, a valley of port and a long Atlantic coast.
- GreeceAntiquity, two hundred inhabited islands and a ferry timetable to respect.
- IcelandOne road, no trains, and weather that rewrites the plan daily.
- ThailandStreet food, temples, two coasts and Asia's cheapest good hotel room.
- VietnamTwo capitals, one slow railway and the best street food in Asia.
- MoroccoMedinas, the High Atlas and the Sahara, a ferry ride from Europe.
- MexicoA 3,000-year-old civilisation, the best street food on earth, and two coastlines.
- Costa RicaCloud forest, two coasts, volcanoes and wildlife best seen slowly.
- The BahamasShallow banks, island towns and water-led journeys between cays.
- BarbadosCoral coasts, Bajan food and an island with several speeds.
- CubaLayered cities, karst valleys and a journey that needs patience.
- Dominican RepublicCaribbean cities, mountain interiors and coasts beyond the resort gate.
- JamaicaMusic, mountain rain, strong food and coasts with different rhythms.
- United KingdomHistoric cities, wild coastlines and weather worth planning around.
- GermanyBig culture, small cities, forests and trains with caveats.
- NetherlandsCanals, art, cycling and small cities that reward staying longer.
- CroatiaAdriatic islands, stone towns, clear water and a crowded August.
- TurkeyMosques, markets, ancient cities and coastlines on a huge scale.
- SwitzerlandAlps, lakes and trains that make the expensive route feel simple.
- AustriaImperial cities, Alpine lakes, music and excellent rail links.
- NorwayFjords, midnight light, coastal towns and beautiful long distances.
- SwedenArchipelagoes, forests, design and summer light that lasts.
- FinlandLakes, saunas, forests and a capital built for slow days.
- CzechiaBeautiful old towns, serious beer and an easy train route beyond Prague.
- PolandDeep history, lively cities, forests, lakes and mountain food.
- IrelandAtlantic cliffs, music-filled towns, green roads and weather in charge.
- AustraliaBig distances, old landscapes, city beaches and wildlife in the wild.
- New ZealandVolcanoes, fjords, coast roads and a country made for the outdoors.
- IndonesiaVolcanoes, rice fields, reefs and thousands of islands to choose from.
- South KoreaFast cities, quiet temples, mountain trails and food at every hour.
- United StatesHuge landscapes, distinct cities and a route that must respect the map.
- CanadaBig wilderness, thoughtful cities and distances that need their own plan.
- ArgentinaBig-city appetite, Andean wine country and Patagonia at full scale.
- BrazilAtlantic cities, living cultures and continental-scale nature.
- ChileDesert sky, Pacific cities, volcano lakes and Patagonian wind.
- ColombiaHighland cities, Caribbean history and coffee-country roads.
- PeruAndean cities, living food cultures and Amazon headwaters.
- IndiaMughal cities, desert forts, sacred rivers and a monsoon coast.
- Sri LankaTea hills, ancient cities and two coasts with opposite seasons.
- NepalHimalayan trails, Newar cities and lowland jungle in one country.
- MalaysiaHawker cities, tea hills, island coasts and Bornean rainforest.
- PhilippinesIsland archipelago where the flight map decides the trip.
- CambodiaAngkor's stone, the Mekong's rhythm and a country still healing.
- TaiwanNight markets, high-speed rail and a mountainous Pacific island.
- LaosSlow Mekong days, mountain roads and a new railway.
- United Arab EmiratesSeven emirates, two big cities and a mountain-and-desert hinterland.
- JordanPetra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea on one compact road.
- OmanForts, wadis, dunes and turtle beaches on the Arabian Sea.
- EgyptThe Nile corridor, Red Sea reefs and five thousand years in sequence.
- South AfricaTwo oceans, self-drive safari and cities with unfinished histories.
- KenyaSavannah, highlands and a Swahili coast, sequenced by rain.
- TanzaniaThe northern circuit, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, priced honestly.
- NamibiaSelf-drive desert, empty roads and Africa's darkest skies.
- BelgiumFlemish art cities, Brussels institutions and forested Ardennes valleys.
- DenmarkCopenhagen design, island villages and long Jutland beaches.
- HungaryThermal baths, Danube grandeur, wine hills and the Great Plain.
- SloveniaAlpine lakes, an emerald river, karst caves and a Venetian coast.
- GeorgiaCaucasus villages, eight-thousand-year wine and a serious table.
- MontenegroA fjord-like bay, limestone peaks and a short, crowded coast.
- AlbaniaOttoman towns, an Ionian riviera and a raw alpine north.
- RomaniaSaxon towns, Carpathian wilderness and Europe's largest wetland.
- BulgariaMonasteries, mountain villages and a working Black Sea coast.
- SlovakiaAlpine peaks, castle ruins and wooden churches on a rail spine.
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaOttoman bazaars, stone bridges and wild rivers between mountains.
- EstoniaMedieval Tallinn, bog boardwalks, island manors and long white nights.
- LatviaArt Nouveau Riga, castle valleys, a wooden spa coast and deep forest.
- LithuaniaBaroque Vilnius, a dune spit, lake castles and pine spa towns.
- MaltaLimestone capital, Neolithic temples, harbour ferries and Gozo's slow coast.
- CyprusDivided capital, mosaic coast, painted mountain churches and a wild peninsula.
- SingaporeA dense, humid city-state that rewards districts, not landmarks.
- MaldivesAtolls, reefs and two very different ways to stay.
- BhutanHimalayan valleys, dzongs and a daily fee that shapes everything.
- UzbekistanSilk Road cities linked by fast trains and desert roads.
- EthiopiaRock churches, highland monasteries and a distinct calendar.
- UgandaGorillas, chimpanzees, the Nile and crater-lake forests.
- RwandaGorilla volcanoes, tea hills and a compact, orderly country.
- BotswanaDelta floods, elephant rivers and empty Kalahari pans.
- ZambiaWalking safaris, wild rivers and the Zambian side of Victoria Falls.
- MadagascarLemurs, baobabs and an island that evolved apart.
- MauritiusLagoon coasts, a volcanic interior and a Creole, Indian and Chinese island.
- TunisiaCarthage, medinas, Roman arenas and the Saharan oases.
- GuatemalaMaya highlands, volcano lakes and a Petén forest of ruins.
- PanamaCanal city, Caribbean archipelagos and cloud-forest coffee.
- EcuadorVolcano avenue, cloud forest, Amazon edge and the Galápagos.
- BoliviaAltiplano salt, Aymara cities and a wide Amazon lowland.
- UruguayCalm capital, Atlantic beaches and slow wine country.
- FijiReef islands, village life and two big green mainlands.
- SerbiaDanube cities, monastery hills and long-table hospitality.
- North MacedoniaOhrid's lake, Ottoman bazaars and mountain villages in a small compass.
- KosovoEurope's youngest country: café capital, Ottoman Prizren and alpine valleys.
- MoldovaUnderground wine cities, cliff monasteries and Europe's least-visited country.
- ArmeniaStone monasteries, Ararat views and a capital that stays up late.
- AzerbaijanCaspian capital, mud volcanoes and Caucasus villages above the tea plains.
- LuxembourgFortress capital, Moselle wine and Ardennes castles by free bus.
- AndorraPyrenean principality of ski valleys, Romanesque chapels and thermal spas.
- Faroe IslandsEighteen basalt islands of sea cliffs, tunnels and turf-roofed villages.
- GreenlandIcebergs, ice sheet and Inuit towns reached only by air and sea.
- KazakhstanTian Shan foothills, steppe capital and canyon country by air.
- KyrgyzstanYurt stays, alpine lakes and horse treks in the Tian Shan.
- TajikistanPamir Highway, Wakhan villages and turquoise Fann lakes.
- PakistanMughal Lahore and the Karakoram, planned region by region.
- BangladeshRiver delta, mangrove tigers, tea gardens and Dhaka's old city.
- Hong KongVertical harbour city, outlying islands and surprising country parks.
- BruneiWater village, gilded mosques and untouched Borneo rainforest.
- Timor-LesteReef walls, mountain villages and a young nation's coastline.
- Saudi ArabiaNabataean tombs, Red Sea reefs and a fast-changing kingdom.
- QatarA compact Gulf peninsula built around one polished capital.
- GhanaAtlantic forts, Ashanti heritage and a warm, workable West Africa.
- SenegalDakar's music, Gorée's memory and delta and river landscapes.
- Cape VerdeTen Atlantic islands of morna, volcanoes and trade winds.
- SeychellesGranite islands, coral atolls and Creole ease in the Indian Ocean.
- MozambiqueIndian Ocean coast, dhow islands and a restored savanna.
- ZimbabweVictoria Falls, walking safaris and Africa's largest ancient stone city.
- MalawiA freshwater sea, restored parks and high plateaus in one small country.
- EswatiniA small kingdom of royal ceremony, rhino reserves and highveld hikes.
- LesothoThe mountain kingdom: pony treks, high passes and Basotho villages.
- BelizeBarrier reef, Maya cities and Garifuna coast in one small country.
- HondurasBay Islands diving, Copán's carved city and cloud-forest highlands.
- El SalvadorSurf coast, volcano towns and a small country in rapid change.
- NicaraguaColonial cities, twin-volcano island and two very different coasts.
- Trinidad and TobagoCarnival, ibis and doubles on Trinidad; reef and calm on Tobago.
- Saint LuciaThe Pitons, rainforest ridges and Kwéyòl villages on one green island.
- ParaguayRiver cities, Jesuit ruins and the enormous quiet of the Chaco.
- SamoaTwo volcanic islands, village fales and fa'a Samoa on its own terms.
- TongaA Polynesian kingdom of four island groups, whales and strict Sundays.
- VanuatuActive volcanoes, kastom villages and eighty islands of Melanesia.
- Cook IslandsRarotonga's ring road, Aitutaki's lagoon and atolls nobody reaches.
- MonacoA harbour principality of palace lanes, sea gardens and vertical streets.
- LiechtensteinRhine meadows, princely art and a small Alpine mountain world.
- San MarinoThree ridge-top towers and a small republic beyond the day-trip crowds.
- MongoliaOpen steppe, ger hospitality and journeys measured in driving days.
- BahrainPearling lanes, Dilmun archaeology and a compact Gulf island culture.
- KuwaitA working Gulf city of souq lanes, modern culture and a long corniche.
- DominicaRainforest trails, volcanic pools and a Caribbean island built for walking.
- GrenadaSpice gardens, a handsome harbour and islands with their own pace.
- Antigua and BarbudaDockyard heritage, sheltered bays and Barbuda’s separate island rhythm.
- Saint Kitts and NevisTwo volcanic islands, a fortress coast and a quieter Nevis stay.
- Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesA green volcanic main island and a chain of small sailing worlds.
- GuyanaKaieteur, rainforest lodges and savanna journeys with Indigenous hosts.
- SurinameTimber Paramaribo, plantation rivers and rainforest stays with local hosts.
- AlgeriaMediterranean cities, Roman stone and a Sahara that needs its own journey.
- BeninRoyal history, Vodun heritage and lake communities along a southern route.
- TogoLomé markets, green hill country and Batammariba architecture.
- Côte d’IvoireAbidjan’s lagoon city, Grand-Bassam heritage and a rich southern circuit.
- The GambiaAtlantic beach bases and a river journey into birdlife and history.
- Sierra LeoneFreetown history, forest-backed beaches and locally guided island stays.
- LiberiaMonrovia’s complex history, surf at Robertsport and a working Atlantic coast.
- Guinea-BissauBissau’s riverfront and the tide-shaped world of the Bijagós.
- São Tomé and PríncipeCocoa roças, rainforest walks and two islands with distinct rhythms.
- ComorosLava-stone medinas, volcanic slopes and quieter island communities.
- GabonRainforest, Atlantic wildlife and park journeys built around skilled guides.
- PalauRock Islands, reef diving and a country where conservation shapes the visit.
- Marshall IslandsLow atolls, lagoon communities and journeys that follow rare connections.
- Federated States of MicronesiaFour island states, deep ocean distances and distinct local traditions.
- KiribatiLow atolls, maneaba hospitality and a country spanning the date line.
- TuvaluFunafuti’s narrow atoll and outer islands that follow the sea schedule.
- Solomon IslandsLagoon stays, community hosts and islands with a deep wartime history.
- AngolaAtlantic cities, giant waterfalls and the highland road south.
- CameroonA southern route of cities, coastal waterfalls and western cultural towns.
- Republic of the CongoRiver cities, coastal forest and specialist rainforest stays.
- Equatorial GuineaBioko’s volcanic coast and a separately planned mainland chapter.
- GuineaCoastal communities and the green highlands of the Fouta Djallon.
- MauritaniaAtlantic birdlife and ancient desert towns on a carefully checked route.
- DjiboutiSalt landscapes, volcanic plains and a compact Red Sea gateway.
- EritreaA heritage and access overview of Asmara and the Red Sea landscape.
- TurkmenistanSilk Road cities and desert landscapes through a current sponsored route.
- Papua New GuineaCommunity-led culture, volcanic coasts and a few well-supported bases.
- NauruA small raised-coral island with a history larger than its road loop.
- BermudaPastel villages, a historic harbour and a North Atlantic island rhythm.
- ArubaDry-island landscapes, easy west-coast stays and a strong local town culture.
- CuraçaoWillemstad’s harbour quarters and a dry island beyond the postcard.
- Sint MaartenA Dutch-Caribbean gateway with several distinct coastal districts.
- Saint-MartinFrench-Caribbean villages, food-led stays and a shared-island geography.
- Saint BarthélemySmall bays, village traditions and an island best explored slowly.
- AnguillaLow island shores, village food and a stay shaped by the right bay.
- MontserratNorthern communities, forest trails and an active volcanic history.
- British Virgin IslandsA few island bases and sailing routes with time for the sea.
- US Virgin IslandsThree main islands with distinct town, park and coastal rhythms.
- Cayman IslandsA main-island base and two smaller islands with different paces.
- Turks and Caicos IslandsLow cays, a few island bases and marine plans with room for weather.
- Puerto RicoOld San Juan, forested hills and island chapters beyond one beach base.
- GuadeloupeTwo main islands and smaller neighbours with distinct Creole identities.
- MartiniqueCreole towns, volcanic north and southern bays with different rhythms.
- Caribbean NetherlandsBonaire, Statia and Saba: three islands that need separate journeys.
- French PolynesiaA few island stays across a much larger Polynesian ocean.
- New CaledoniaLagoon city life, Kanak cultural landscapes and carefully checked island stays.
- NiueRaised-coral coasts, village hosts and a week that follows the sea.
- American SamoaTutuila’s harbour villages and outer islands with their own access plan.
- GuamChamorro heritage, a practical beach base and a southern island road.
- Northern Mariana IslandsSaipan’s different coasts and two separately planned island stays.
- Wallis and FutunaThree customary kingdoms and two island chapters far from a resort circuit.
- French GuianaA French-Amazonian coast of cultural towns, wetlands and supported forest stays.
- Saint Pierre and MiquelonFrench harbour life and a separate North Atlantic nature island.
- RéunionVolcanic cirques, Creole towns and a west-coast lagoon base.
- MayotteA lagoon territory with village, nature and current-access planning.
- Isle of ManHarbour towns, Manx heritage and a hill-and-coast week at a slower pace.
- JerseyGranite harbours, tidal coasts and village days beyond one beach stay.
- GuernseyA harbour island and smaller neighbours that deserve separate stays.
- GibraltarA compact harbour town, limestone heights and several distinct walking districts.
- Åland IslandsA Swedish-speaking Finnish archipelago of ferries, red granite and quiet stays.
- SvalbardAn Arctic community and operator-led fjord journeys under strict nature rules.
- Falkland IslandsSouth Atlantic wildlife, working farms and small-island stays arranged around the weather.
- Saint HelenaA remote Atlantic community of Georgian streets, volcanic walks and endemic cloud forest.
- Christmas IslandAn Indian Ocean rainforest island shaped by red crabs and a multicultural community.
- Cocos (Keeling) IslandsTwo inhabited islands, Cocos Malay culture and an Indian Ocean lagoon explored with care.
- Norfolk IslandNorfolk pines, a layered community history and green coastal walking.
- Pitcairn IslandsA remote Pacific community reached by a planned sea passage, with volcanic walks and dark skies.
- AfghanistanA mountain capital with layered urban history
- BelarusA capital shaped by reconstruction and civic space
- Burkina FasoThe capital's cinema, craft and everyday life
- BurundiLakeside commercial city and practical gateway
- NigeriaArt, music and a megacity spread over waterways
- MacaoSquares, churches and a living street network
- Vatican CityThe public approach and ceremonial space
- HaitiA capital with major cultural institutions
- VenezuelaA mountain-valley capital
- UkraineA Dnipro capital with layered sacred and civic history
- RussiaA capital of museums and monumental urban form
- IranMuseums and mountain-edge urban history
- IraqA Tigris capital with living literary traditions
- IsraelModern urban life and an older Mediterranean port
- PalestinePilgrimage traditions and agricultural terraces
- LebanonA coastal capital of neighbourhoods and cultural institutions
- SyriaAn ancient city with living religious traditions
- YemenHighland tower houses and an inhabited old city
- North KoreaA tightly controlled capital
- MyanmarA lowland city of religious and urban history
- Democratic Republic of the CongoA vast Congo River capital
- Central African RepublicAn Oubangui River capital
- ChadA capital at a major river confluence
- LibyaA Mediterranean capital and old medina
- MaliA Niger River capital with major music traditions
- NigerA river capital and national collections
- SudanA Nile confluence capital affected by war
- SomaliaA historic Indian Ocean capital
- South SudanA White Nile capital
- AntarcticaAn island group near the Peninsula gateway
- South Georgia & the South Sandwich IslandsHistory and administration in a sheltered bay
- Bouvet IslandA small exposed research and wildlife area
- Heard Island & McDonald IslandsA historic station area and exposed coast
- British Indian Ocean TerritoryA restricted military and administrative island
- French Southern TerritoriesA large subantarctic archipelago
- TokelauA northern atoll community
- United States Minor Outlying IslandsA wildlife refuge with historic significance
- Western SaharaAn administrative city in Moroccan-controlled territory
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Start planning FranceGuide last reviewed 2026-09. Check visa rules against your own passport before you book.