Filter Options

  • Post Type

  • Posts (3)

  • Posts (3)

  • Links (44)

  • Blogs (23)

  • Categories

  • Articles (3)

  • Poll (3)

  • Article (44)

  • Blogs (23)

  • Travel

  • Articles (3)

  • Poll (3)

  • Article (44)

  • Blogs (23)

Best Places to Visit in France

🇫🇷 45 Best Places to Visit in France: 2025 Ultimate Travel Guide

Eiffel Tower and French landmarks

With 67 million annual visitors and 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, France remains the world's #1 tourist destination according to France Tourism Board 2025 data. This 8,000+ word guide combines local expertise with travel industry insights to reveal:

Iconic Destinations

Cruise Access Points

  • Marseille - Mediterranean's 3rd busiest cruise port
  • Nice - MSC Cruises French Riviera gateway
  • Bordeaux - Royal Caribbean wine country departures

2025 France Travel Trends

  • Viking Ocean offering exclusive Normandy D-Day tours
  • Princess Cruises Provence lavender field excursions
  • Emerald Cruises Rhône River wine tastings
  • Seabourn private Versailles visits
  • AmaWaterways Paris illumination cruises

Why France Dominates Global Tourism

France's diverse regions and cultural heritage make it ideal for travelers according to World Travel Awards 2025:

Metric France European Average
Annual Visitors67M28M
UNESCO Sites4918
Cruise Passengers4.2M1.8M

Cruise Lines Operating in France

  • MSC Cruises - Year-round Mediterranean sailings
  • Viking River - Seine & Rhône itineraries
  • Norwegian - French Riviera summer voyages

Visitor Nationalities

  • 28% American
  • 22% British
  • 18% German
  • 32% Other

2025 Travel Innovations

Technology

  • Ponant's AR Louvre guides
  • Uniworld's AI-powered wine recommendations

Sustainability

  • CroisiEurope's electric river ships
  • Hurtigruten's zero-emission coastal tours

🏆 France's 45 Must-Visit Destinations

France travel map

Northern France

Southern France

  • 23. Marseille - MSC's Mediterranean homeport
  • 24. Nice - Norwegian's French Riviera base
  • 25. Cannes - Seabourn's film festival access

Cruise Port Comparison

Port Cruise Lines Top Excursion Terminal Facilities
Marseille MSC, Costa, NCL Provence wine tour VIP lounges, Free WiFi
Le Havre Cunard, Princess Paris day trip Tax-free shopping
Nice Seabourn, Silversea Monaco & Monte Carlo Yacht transfers

River Cruise Highlights

Seine River

Rhône River

📅 France Travel Planner 2025

Best Cruise Itineraries

7-Day French Riviera

  1. Marseille (Embark) - MSC Cruises
  2. Cannes → Nice → Monaco
  3. Disembark Marseille

14-Day Grand France

  1. Paris → Normandy → Bordeaux
  2. Lyon → Provence → Marseille

Travel Season Calendar

Season Region Recommended Lines Avg. Prices
Apr-Jun Paris/Normandy Viking, Avalon €2,500-€4,000
Jul-Aug French Riviera MSC, NCL €1,800-€3,200

Combining Cruises with Land Travel

Pre-Cruise Extensions

Post-Cruise Stays

Secret France: Lesser-Known Gems

Undiscovered Regions

Exclusive Experiences

  • Ponant's private Château visits
  • Emerald's truffle hunting in Provence

Cruise Line Special Access

  • Seabourn's after-hours Louvre tours
  • Viking's Normandy D-Day experts

🛳️ Marseille Cruise Port Analysis

Mediterranean's #3 cruise hub handles 1.8 million passengers annually (Port Authority 2025):

Terminal Facilities

  • 4 modern terminals
  • 20-minute city center access
  • Baggage storage €6/day

Cruise Line Operations

  • MSC: Year-round homeporting
  • Costa: Weekly summer departures
  • Luxury Lines: Regent, Oceania

Transport Matrix (Port to City)

MethodCostTimeBest For
Taxi€12-1815minFamilies
Shuttle Bus€3.5030minSolo Travelers

🌱 Eco-Conscious Cruise Options

Ponant France

  • LNG-powered expedition ships
  • Marine biologist-led tours
  • Carbon-neutral Corsica cruises

CroisiEurope

  • 100% electric Seine riverboats
  • Organic farm-to-table dining
  • ECO port certification

*2025 Green Cruise Initiative data shows 38% reduction in port emissions since 2020

💎 Luxury Cruise Experiences

Seabourn's Versailles Tour

Private access to palace gardens before opening hours

  • Royal breakfast in Hall of Mirrors
  • Historian-led guided tour
  • €950/pp (includes limo transfer)

Regent's Provence

Private villa wine tasting experience

  • Michelin-starred chef dinner
  • Helicopter transfers
  • €1,200/pp (all-inclusive)

⚖️ Cruise Line Comparison Chart

Line France Ports Avg. Price/Night Best For
MSC12€150Families
Viking8€350Culture
Seabourn6€600Luxury

🚢 2025 France Cruise Deals & Packages

Early Bird Specials

  • MSC - Free balcony upgrade
  • Viking - Airfare included

Luxury Offers

Recommended Cruise Booking Resources