Greetings from Notre Dame!
France 🇫🇷
From Monet to The Da Vinci Code, France has enchanted visitors for generations.
While this wasn’t my favorite trip, partly due to safety concerns, I want to share how you can explore the elegant boulevards of Paris affordably and safely—especially since I now know better—among the iconic landmarks of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre, all while enjoying some incredible French cuisine like macarons and Angelina’s hot chocolate (my favorite) along the way.
Fans of visiting filming locations and the TV show Merlin will adore a day trip to the fairy-tale setting of Pierrefonds, the stunning medieval castle that has graced countless films and television series.
Whether you’re planning a solo or family vacation (I visited with my aunt), these France travel blogs will help you plan an awesome, budget-friendly trip to these French destinations.
What are the best places to visit in France for first-timers?
The best way to see France as a first-timer is to base yourself in Paris and add day trips rather than trying to cover the whole country. Paris covers the icons—the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame—while Pierrefonds and Versailles add majestic castles within a couple of hours of the city. I personally spent 8 days in Paris, which was a bit excessive, so day trips are the ideal way to experience more of the country without overcommitting to any one city.
Fun Facts About France
- 🏰 The Palace of Versailles has 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 m², and it wasn’t even the main royal residence until 1682! Louis XIV (the Sun King) transformed his father’s old hunting pavilion into the most opulent palace in Europe, making it France’s de facto capital until the French Revolution forced the royal family back to Paris in 1789.
- 🎬 Over 1,000 films have been shot in Paris, making it one of the most filmed cities in the world! From Amélie (which made Montmartre’s Café des Deux Moulins famous) to Emily in Paris, Midnight in Paris, Before Sunset, and The Devil Wears Prada. The city’s timeless architecture means it’s played itself in everything from romantic comedies to thrillers.
- 👑 Marie Antoinette never said, “Let them eat cake!” That’s a complete myth. She actually had a fully functioning farm built at Versailles called the Queen’s Hamlet (1783), where she insisted on real agricultural operations for her children’s education, not to “play at being farmers.”
- 🏰 Château de Pierrefonds, a fairytale castle outside Paris, was used as Merlin’s Camelot in the BBC series. But that’s not the only time cameras rolled; it’s also featured in The Man in the Iron Mask, Versailles, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and Wizards of Waverly Place.
- 🖼️ The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum with 380,000 objects, so if you spent just 30 seconds looking at each piece, it would take 100 days to see everything! The museum covers 782,910 square feet, and the Mona Lisa (which is surprisingly tiny) is behind bulletproof glass because she’s been stolen before.
- 🗺️ Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements that spiral outward like a snail shell. Starting from the 1st arrondissement (Louvre area) in the center and spiraling clockwise to the 20th. Each has its own personality: the 5th is the historic Latin Quarter, the 7th houses the Eiffel Tower, and the 18th is bohemian Montmartre. Knowing the vibe of each will help you pick where to stay in Paris!
- 🗼 The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be temporary, built for the 1889 World’s Fair. Parisians initially hated it and called it an eyesore! It was nearly torn down in 1909, but was saved because it proved useful as a radio transmission tower. Now it’s the most-visited paid monument in the world (7 million visitors annually).
The Best Time to Visit France
Why I prefer shoulder season:
- Temperatures are perfect for all-day walking and warm enough to enjoy outdoor cafés without melting
- Tourist crowds are manageable, especially at major sites like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Versailles
- Accommodation prices drop 30-40% compared to peak season
- Parisian cafés and restaurants aren’t overrun with tour groups
- Spring brings blooming gardens (Tuileries, Luxembourg) and autumn delivers golden leaves along the Seine
- Museum queues are shorter—skip some lines with the Paris Museum Pass
My experience: I visited in early June, and even though it wasn’t the dead of summer, it was HOT. If you must visit in summer, book EVERYTHING at least 8 weeks in advance and wake up early to beat the crowds.
Things to Know Before You Go
France uses the Euro (€)
You can exchange money before a trip, but I find it best to withdraw cash at a local ATM on an as-needed basis.
They speak French
Practice basic phrases (Bonjour, Au revoir, S’il vous plaît, Merci, Excusez-moi), especially since Parisians are known to be a bit prickly to tourists.
A visa isn’t needed
For short tourist visits (90 days max), no visa is needed. However, you will soon need to apply for ETIAS before entering. Additionally, EES requires non-EU travelers to provide fingerprints and facial images to enter France.
Download the Omio and Citymapper App
Use the Omio app for long train and bus journeys. Get the Citymapper app for local transport. I primarily walked around Paris, but used the RER to get to Versailles. I came in on the Chunnel and took another train to get to Pierrefonds.
France Travel Tools
Below are the exact tools I used to plan my French adventure! France is incredibly rewarding but requires more advanced planning than you’d think. It is a safe (with precautions) and easy country to explore.
To avoid any mistakes and secure spots at sold-out attractions, here are my essential planning tips:
- 💰 The Paris Museum Pass actually pays for itself: I used the 6-day pass during my 8-day Paris trip and saved money by hitting major museums and attractions. It covers 50+ museums, including the Louvre, Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, and Sainte-Chapelle—you break even after 4-6 visits, however, the Paris Pass may be more your style, so check my comparative guide before purchasing
- 🚆 Book trains to/from Paris early to save big: High-speed TGV and Eurostar tickets work like airline pricing—they’re cheaper the further in advance you book, sometimes 30-50% less than same-day purchases. I recommend using Omio for intercity travel, and the trains are WAY more comfortable than flying
- 📅 Plan around museum closing days or waste entire days: Most Paris museums close on Mondays OR Tuesdays—the Louvre and Versailles close Tuesdays, while the Musée d’Orsay and Rodin Museum close Mondays. I learned to check each museum’s schedule when planning my itinerary to avoid showing up at locked doors
- 🎟️ These attractions WILL TURN YOU AWAY without advance tickets: The Eiffel Tower (book 60 days ahead!), Versailles (timed entry required even with the Museum Pass), Louvre (needs reservation even with the pass), and Sainte-Chapelle all enforce time slots. Don’t wait—book as soon as you know your dates, especially May-October
- 👜 Invest in anti-theft gear before you go: Paris has pickpocket hotspots at major tourist sites like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and on the metro. Get a crossbody anti-theft purse with slash-proof straps and locking zippers—it’ll give you peace of mind in crowded areas. Keep your phone and wallet in zippered inside pockets, never back pockets, and stay alert on public transportation
