Travel Guide France - inspiration for your travels

Once upon a time France was divided into two main areas of tourist interest - Paris and the rest of the country. Today it is a world-class, multi-faceted destination with more reasons to visit than days in the year. France is about hearty meals enjoyed in rustic backstreet restaurants, memorable stopovers to visit renowned wineries and royal palaces, relaxing road-trips along the Côte d'Azur and long drives through wild alpine mountainscapes and down the country's scenic Atlantic coast. Travellers looking for year-round attractions in the north should visit the famous Bayeux Tapestry in Normandy (well over 900 years old) plus the nearby island abbey of Mont St-Michel if there’s enough time, while visitors heading south cannot miss out on the chance to marvel at the Pont du Gard Aqueduct in Provence, one of the world's most magnificent Roman monuments, as well as the charming walled town of Carcassonne between Montpellier and Toulouse.

Modern Paris is so much more than the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame and Louvre triangle of yesteryear. The city's lifeblood - the River Seine - flows through the heart of the capital's oldest quarters, which is where many of the key attractions can be found, most notably the Pompidou cultural centre and the ever-popular Picasso Museum. Other districts worth visiting include Montmartre (home to the hilltop Sacré-Coeur Basilica) and the lively Latin Quarter popular for its bookshops and fun-filled family attractions.

Surpassing even Italy, France's thriving café and bistro culture often revolves around the croissant, a vital addition to coffee tables across the land. Nowhere is this more evident and entertaining than in the big cities where lunch, brunch or petit déjeuner is as much a social spectacle as it is a moment to savour. Travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to exciting driving itineraries in France and Auto Europe caters for all budgets and requirements. A visit to Nice encompasses all the finesse of the French Riviera while Bordeaux is a top choice for wine tours on the west coast. Another favourite pick-up location is Marseille which is popular for its close proximity to Provence and the Pyrenees.

You’ll find all the info you need for an enjoyable trip in our comprehensive travel guide to France, whether you’re planning a few days’ sightseeing in Paris, a leisurely drive along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts or a grand tour of the country’s vast and very rustic interior.

Look over the France travel guide topics listed below and take a look at each page for information on a specific aspect of traveling in France.

• France Car Hire Guide - This guide offers you a full overview of everything you need to know when hiring a car in France.
• France Driving Information - Learn helpful information about driving in France. From tips and driving laws, to speed limits, parking, and more.
• France Fleet Guide Options - Information about our car hire options for your trip to France.

Road trips with my car hire in France

France has all the ingredients for a thrilling car journey, with a diversity of regions and landscapes quite unparalleled in most other European destinations. With two distinctly different coastlines to explore and an interior dotted with castles, palaces and other riches of France’s long and prosperous past, it’s a country with lots of something-for-everyone cultural appeal, no matter how discerning the visitor might be. Auto Europe offers the best of both worlds with pick-up and drop-off locations all over France, as well as plenty of one-way options for extra flexibility. Follow our guide to the best road trips in France and start planning your trip with Auto Europe today.

The Brittany itinerary is very popular with UK travellers due to its close proximity to southern England. Highlights here include the lovely walled town of Saint-Malo (famous for its seafood) and the picturesque village of Dinan, a magnet for fans of medieval architecture. Another must along this route is the ancient market town of Rennes, a place of immense beauty with many points of historical interest.

Paris and its surroundings offers plenty of scope for an action-packed road-trip with car hire pick-up points available at the three airports of Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Beauvais with Auto Europe. Besides all the city’s famous attractions, the capital and its environs is packed with fascinating things to experience, such as Amiens’ impressive 13th-century cathedral and the sparkling Champagne countryside.

Visitors to south-west France cannot miss the chance to enjoy a leisurely drive through the Dordogne, a charming and very fertile region conveniently set between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees Mountains. Start off in Clermont-Ferrand, an old city with a spectacular cathedral, before spending the night in Tulle, a lovely town idyllically set on the banks of the River Corrèze. Surrounded by vineyards and rolling countryside, a visit to the pretty town of Bergerac is always a treat for visitors to the Dordogne, especially with beautiful Bordeaux beckoning just an hour’s drive away.

One of France’s most favoured road-trips is the journey along the golden sandy shoreline of the Côte d’Azur, more affectionately known as the French Riviera. Your first port of call should be Nice, home to several first-class museums and some of the best restaurants in the whole of France. And no visitor can resist the chance to break the bank at Monte Carlo’s famous Casino a few miles away, nor spend a day spotting A-listers in the upmarket beach resort of Saint-Tropez further down the coast.

Last but not least, the route between Nantes and Tours in north-west France runs through the Loire Valley, one of the prettiest parts of the country. In Nantes, don’t miss the museum dedicated to Jules Verne, the locally-born writer famous for his inspiring adventure-based novels, most notably Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days. There are many impressive castles (châteaux) to see in this part of France, including Chenonceau built in the 15th century and Chambord, the most lavish of them all. The attractive city of Tours boasts a well-preserved medieval cathedral and a very pleasant botanic garden.

What to do in France

We’ve selected some of the most appealing things to see in order to help you plan the ideal driving holiday in France. Take a look at the following list for a few ideas on where to go and what to do with your car hire in France.

• The Eiffel Tower: Getting the chance to see Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower is priceless. In 1889, when the tower’s construction was finished, it was the highest man-made structure in the world. It's hard to believe that the Eiffel Tower was supposed to be dismantled just twenty years after its completion. Today, it is the world’s most visited tourist attraction and by far the most striking landmark in Paris. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the whole of the French capital in all its glory from the very top of the Eiffel Tower.


• Montmartre: Pay a visit to this historic district located on a high elevation in the north of Paris. At the turn of the 20th century during the Belle Époque period, Montmartre was home to many world-renowned artists and their studios. Today, the district is an expensive place for artists to live and work in, especially in light of its popularity among tourists. However, don’t let that put you off – visit the district and lose yourself in its picturesque maze of historic streets and squares to admire Paris at its best.


• Nîmes Arena: One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres, this ancient arena is located in the centre of Nîmes, a magnificent city just an hour's drive north-east of Montpellier in the south of France. Built around 100 AD, it is still being used today for concerts and other types of cultural event. Nîmes Arena’s façade comprises two floors of 60 superimposed arches and an attic, separated by a cornice.


• The Camargue: The Camargue region is arguably one of the most exotic places you can visit with your car rental in France. Covering some 360 square-miles, Camargue is a purely natural setting beside the Mediterranean Sea and the Rhône River delta. Famous for its flamingos and semi-wild Camargue horses, the area is protected by a natural park and boasts fantastic landscapes of brine lagoons, marshes and romantic shorelines.

A bit of history

With such a rich history, France has had a profound impact on European culture through the work of its great artists. Today, we cannot imagine the world without the paintings of Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, or the influential writings of authors like Marcel Proust and Victor Hugo, or the musical masterpieces of geniuses like Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Georges Bizet. As a colonial empire, France changed the geopolitical world order; it had territories in Africa, Asia, Oceania, Antarctica and both North and South America. As a result, there are now 29 countries where French is the official language. France witnessed revolutions and was at war with the British Empire. It was also part of the allied powers during World War II and is now the largest country in the European Union.

Frequently Asked Questions about travelling in France

Now that we’ve given you some inspirational ideas for exciting road trip routes in France and useful tips on some of the places you simply cannot miss while you are there, you might have a few questions relating to travelling in France. Take a look at our frequently-asked-questions section below for advice on such aspects as getting around the country by car, including some of the most common phrases in the French language. These questions cover everything from what car is best suited for your trip, which currency is used locally and what visa restrictions apply, if any. If you still have any questions or concerns once you have read this information, then please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone or e-mail. Our rental specialists are available to further assist you with your travel plans 7 days a week. Alternatively, you can find general information and tips regarding car hire and itinerary on our dedicated travel tips page – which covers everything from coverage options to information about the age requirements and driving restrictions in France.

Useful Links

France Airport Information

Driving across France - Travel Inspo from Paris to Cannes

Official Tourism Website of France

Gov.uk France Travel Advice