Paris only
Best default for a first France trip or a short UK weekend. One central pin beats a second city bolted on without spare days.
Choose a Paris neighbourhood →This hub answers where to go. When you know the city shape, open stays for that city: Paris, Nice, Lyon, Marseille, or Bordeaux. Do not stack cities unless the nights allow it.
Quick start
Match the trip mood to a city. Links jump into the stays guide at the right section.
France destination comparison
A side-by-side skim before you commit nights. Budgets are relative mid-range city stays for UK travellers — not live rates.
| Destination | Best for | Recommended stay | Budget level | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | First visits, museums, short UK weekends | 7th, Saint-Germain or central Right Bank | Mid to premium | CDG · Orly · Eurostar (Gare du Nord) |
| Nice | Riviera coast, promenade walks, sea light | Promenade, Place Masséna or Vieux Nice | Mid to premium | NCE (Nice Côte d’Azur) |
| Lyon | Food, rivers, compact culture weekends | Presqu’île, Vieux Lyon or near Part-Dieu | Mid | LYS · TGV from Paris |
Explore France
Five peer city journeys. Each card opens that city’s stays guide — not a second destination essay.
Paris
The capital base most UK first trips need — arrondissement before hotel brand.
Open Paris stays →
Nice
Mediterranean add-on after Paris — promenade, centre or Old Town.
Open Nice stays →
Lyon
Food-led city on the TGV — rivers, traboules and a walkable core.
Open Lyon stays →
Marseille
Provence harbour capital — Vieux-Port, Le Panier or Corniche.
Open Marseille stays →
Bordeaux
Atlantic wine capital — historic centre, Chartrons or Saint-Pierre.
Open Bordeaux stays →Suggested trips
Decision guidance only — not day-by-day itineraries. Lock nights before trains.
Paris + Lyon
Use when food and a second urban rhythm matter. Lyon is close enough by TGV to feel like an extension, not a separate holiday.
Add Lyon after Paris →Paris + Nice
Capital days plus Riviera coast. Worth it when you want sea air after museums — budget the longer TGV or a short domestic hop.
Add Nice after Paris →Paris + Nice + Lyon
Only if the calendar is generous. Give each city real nights; otherwise pick Paris plus one peer city and keep the pace human.
Open the France stays guide →Paris + Marseille
Capital days plus a Provence harbour base. Worth it when you want port energy and Calanques day trips after museums — budget the TGV or a domestic hop.
Add Marseille after Paris →Paris + Bordeaux
Capital days plus an Atlantic wine base. Worth it when you want limestone streets and Saint-Émilion after museums — budget the TGV or a domestic hop.
Add Bordeaux after Paris →Flights into France
Destination flight guides work from any origin. London → Paris stays as the special UK door-to-door guide (Eurostar vs fly).
Flights to destination
One page per city — origin picker, airports and transfers. Default France transport layer.
- Flights to ParisCDG, Orly and origin picker
- Flights to NiceNCE, tram into town
- Flights to LyonLYS and Rhônexpress
- Flights to MarseilleMRS and airport bus
- Flights to BordeauxBOD and airport bus
- Best area to stay in ParisCompare Marais, Saint-Germain, 7th
- Le Marais vs Saint-GermainWhich central Paris base to book
- Latin Quarter vs MontmartreLeft Bank logistics vs hill atmosphere
- Paris for first-time visitorsWhat to book first and what to skip
- First-time visitor areas in ParisSafest default bases for trip one
- Where to stay in Paris for families7th, Luxembourg edges, 15th
- Where to stay in Paris for nightlifeBastille, Oberkampf, lively Marais
- Paris airport to city centreCDG, Orly, Beauvais transfers
- Paris 3-day and 5-day planPacing after the city is chosen
Special route · onward Europe
Keep London → Paris for the Eurostar decision. Onward pairs help once the France shape is set.
Travel planning
Sort the pieces around the ticket while dates can still move. Live prices and terms stay on partner pages.
Before you fly
Airport extras
- UK airport parkingOnce the outbound flight is ticketed
- Airport loungesQuieter waits on busy terminals
- Paris activitiesLouvre, Seine and day trips
- Nice activitiesPromenade, Monaco and Èze
- Lyon activitiesVieux Lyon, food and Fourvière
- Marseille activitiesPort, Calanques and Cassis
- Bordeaux activitiesWine, riverfront, Saint-Émilion
- Bordeaux staysCentre, Chartrons, Saint-Pierre
- Marseille staysVieux-Port, Le Panier, Corniche
- Discover MarseilleDeep city supporting guide
France planning FAQs
France-level questions only. Arrondissement and hotel detail lives on the stays guide.
Where should I go in France for a first visit?
Start with Paris for most first UK trips. Then treat Nice, Lyon, Marseille or Bordeaux as equal peer add-ons when the nights allow — not as afterthoughts.
Is Paris enough for a first trip?
Yes for most first visits of three to five nights. One well-chosen base beats two rushed cities. Save Nice, Lyon, Marseille or Bordeaux for a longer trip or a return.
Nice or Lyon?
Choose Nice for coast, promenade walks and Mediterranean light. Choose Lyon for food, rivers and a compact city core under about two hours by TGV from Paris.
How many days should I spend in France?
Three nights suits a Paris city break. Five to seven nights opens a Paris-plus-one add-on. A three-city loop needs closer to ten days once travel days are counted.
Should I combine Paris and Nice?
Yes if you want capital days plus Riviera coast and can spare the TGV or domestic hop. Pin Paris first, then one Nice base — do not split every night between both.
Should I combine Paris and Lyon?
A strong pairing for food-led trips. Lyon is close enough by TGV to feel like an extension, not a separate holiday.
Can I do Paris, Nice and Lyon in one trip?
Possible on a longer holiday, but only if each city gets real nights — not airport transfers alone. Most travellers enjoy Paris plus one add-on more than a three-city dash.
What is the easiest France trip from the UK?
Paris by Eurostar into Gare du Nord, or a short flight into CDG or Orly. Neighbourhood choice matters more than airline brand once you land.
Where do I find hotel areas for Paris, Nice, Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux?
Open Paris, Nice, Lyon, Marseille, or Bordeaux stays — peer city journeys on this hub.
Do I need a car in these France cities?
No for these city cores — walk, Métro, tram or TGV between them. Rent only for countryside loops after the city nights.