Planning a holiday to France?

This is our guide to the best regions for self-catering holidays, including expert advice on where to go on the Côte-d'Azur and Aquitaine Coast, in Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, Brittany, Normandy, Burgundy and the Dordogne. 

The British just can't seem to get enough of France, despite all the evidence to the contrary. It's easy to see why when you consider the phenomenal geographical landscape that it boasts. From breathtaking mountains and rivers to the finest coasts in the South/South-West (and let's not forget everything in between), the appeal is extraordinary. Whether you enjoy sports and a more active holiday or you're more of a culture vulture, there is something for everyone. So how do you choose where?

Paris

The historic monuments, the beautiful Seine, the sandstone Haussmann buildings and elegant buildings have all contributed to making Paris the most romantic and recognisable cityscape in the world. Despite fiercely retaining its' history, the city is increasingly moving with modern times and looking to the future. 

For visitors who wish to delve deep into the city's rich historical heritage, long afternoons can be spent exploring the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay. Popping in and out of Paris’s countless historical churches is also fascinating. However those keen to experience Paris in a more contemporary way can spend afternoons hopping from art galleries on the streets of Belleville to boutique hotels, luxury shops and chic dive bars.

Brittany

If there’s one word that British visitors always associate with Brittany, it’s beaches. Beautiful beaches are everywhere you look, from the posh north-coast watering hole of Dinard, beloved by nineteenth-century British aristocrats, to any number of humbler family resorts strung along the entire, endlessly intricate and gloriously unpredictable coastline. Some of the region’s abundant strands of sand bustle with life and energy; others lie tucked away at the end of unpromising little rural lanes, rewarding those who take the trouble to find them with splendid, unspoiled isolation.

Lyon

Although it doesn't have the same level of romantic assuage as Paris, France’s second-largest city has plenty to offer. With its' elegant architecture, vibrant museums, twinset of rivers and magnificent Unesco World Heritage-protected old town (set between the hills of Fourvière and Croix-Rousse), there is plenty to attract visitors all year-round. Enjoy ambling through its' narrow streets, passageways that were used by the silk merchants to transport their products.

The cuisine is exceptionally good, whether you opt for the traditional or more contemporary. This is thanks to a new-generation of young chefs, all vying to reinvent the classic but with their own stamp and of course, the typical French panache. Take your pick of Michelin-star restaurants as you walk through the streets, packed full of tabletops groaning with local delicacies and cheeses. 

Provence

If you haven't yet experienced the beauty that is Provence, prepare to fall in love with it immediately upon arrival! With breathtaking rolling countryside, endless lavender fields, pretty hill-top villages and phenomenal markets, there is a reason Provence has such a wonderful reputation.

Provence enjoys one of the world’s most exceptional natural environments as well as one of Europe's most welcoming climates. With 300 days of sun a year and mild winters, it is perfect for outdoor activities from rock-climbing to sailing and from golf to scuba diving. Despite the fact that tourism numbers are surging more than ever, Provence remains true to form and very 'Provençal'. 

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a true gem. Better known as the wine capital of the world, this city has so much more to offer. 

The centre of Bordeaux has a grandiose 18th-century harmony unmatched in Europe. Added to this all the restorations, renovations and new additions and the city 

 And the city has had the renovators in with a vengeance too, restoring noble façades, installing trams and reclaiming from dereliction the vast swathe of riverbank.