4 of the Best Ways to Travel in France
France is a standout travel destination no matter what time of year you choose to visit. In the summer the south coast of the country offers glamorous beaches and stunning sea views, in the winter you can head to the mountains to hit the slopes at ski resorts, and autumn or spring are perfect for cultural city breaks in places like Paris.
There’s so much of France to discover, it would be a shame to only stay in one place during your trip. If you want to visit multiple destinations then you’ll need to choose a mode of transport to get around the country, which might leave you wondering what the best way to travel in France is.
Whether you’re already planning a multi-centre French holiday or have just been wondering about your options for exploring the country, here are four of the best ways to travel in France.
France by car
Car
One of the easiest ways to travel around France as freely as possible is by car. Whether you arrive in the country with your own vehicle or hire one for the duration of your holiday, France has an established network of roads that make it easy to travel around the country on four wheels.
Suppose you’re staying in a villa in France in the countryside, somewhere secluded or just in a town that doesn’t have a great public transport system. In that case, a car is the easiest way to travel around the area and make sure that you experience as much of France as possible.
Driving in France is similar to driving in many other European countries; you should drive on the right, overtake on the left, give way to vehicles on the right and always wear your seatbelt. It’s generally a very safe country to drive in, so if you’re visiting France with young children then exploring by car is a good option.
Bike
The Tour de France has long established the country as a premier destination for cycling, but you don’t have to tackle gruelling ascents and dangerous switchbacks in order to enjoy a French holiday on your bike.
France is particularly geared towards cycling tourism, with all kinds of established routes and trails providing safe and easy-to-navigate ways to get around the country by bike. If you fancy a physical challenge you could arrive with your bike and only get around on two wheels during your holiday, but cycling is also a great activity for a day when you want to see more of the area where you’re staying.
Of course, there are some plenty of people who visit France with a serious passion for cycling who decide to tackle routes up in the hills and mountains, as well as tours devoted to exploring some of the best and most challenging routes around the country. But if you’re just looking for a slow-travel option for getting around, cycling is one of the best ways to travel in France.
France by bike
Train
If you don’t want to drive around France on your trip but still want to travel efficiently between the different regions then taking the train is a brilliant option. There are both classic and high-speed rail networks connecting the towns and cities, all of which run on a relatively regular and reliable schedule.
Travelling by train in France means that you can sit back and relax as you journey between locations, getting to admire the scenery from your seat. The TGV train service in particular connects the country’s major cities and some other destinations around Europe, and with speeds of up to 320km/h, you can travel between places very fast.
Train travel is a good choice for solo travellers or those who are trying to stay on a budget on their holiday but still want to experience as much as possible during their stay. Even if you’re just looking for day trip options, if you’re staying somewhere well connected by rail then you have a lot of options for towns and cities that are easy to visit in a day by train.
River Cruise
My final suggestion for how to travel in France might take you by surprise. But one of the best ways to see multiple places around the country and enjoy a stress-free holiday is with a river cruise.
There’s a vast network of waterways around France that have been used for centuries for transporting goods and also for leisure cruises. Whilst the latter is a lot more common now, it means that you can travel around many of the most popular parts of France by canal, which offers you gorgeous scenery for the entire journey as well as a relaxing pace to enjoy the towns and villages you discover en route.
There are so many options for French river cruises in many of the regions around the country, with tour operators offering everything from self-drive barge tours to hotel barge holidays. If you’re looking for something different for your French holiday then a barge cruise is a brilliant option that also has the bonus of being a slow-travel mode of transport which is perfect for a relaxing break.
Summary
Whether you want to explore historic French towns and cities, sample produce from the finest farms and vineyards, or enjoy the different beach towns along the coast, travelling around France allows you to experience the country’s brilliant diversity. Any of the options in this article are a great way to get around, and by combining them to best suit the places you want to go and the travel experience you have in mind, you’ll be sure to enjoy a stress-free holiday exploring France.
