The world's most visited country, blending imperial grandeur with rural idyll — Paris's art and cuisine, the Loire's chateaux, Provence's lavender, and the French Riviera's glamour.
- Capital
- Paris
- Population
- 68,688,000
- Area
- 547,030 km²
- Languages
- French
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- GDP
- $3,211,292M
Good to know
National dish
Crêpe, Pot-au-feu, Macaron, Bisque
Annual visitors
117,109,000 (2020)
☎ Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18
Travel guide
France is a country with which almost every traveller has a relationship. Many dream of its joie de vivre shown by the countless cafés, picturesque villages, and world-famous gastronomy. Some come to follow the trail of France's great philosophers, writers and artists, or to immerse in the beautiful language it gave to the world. Others still are drawn to the country's geographical diversity, with its long coastlines, massive mountain ranges and breathtaking farmland vistas. France is famously home to Paris, the enchanting City of Love, where romance dances in the air and every corner whispers sweet nothings. France has been the world's most-visited country for many years. It received 100 million visitors in 2024. All these people come to France for many a reason: its cities contain some of the greatest treasures on the continent, its countryside is prosperous and well-tended, and it boasts dozens of major tourist attractions, including Europe's most popular, Disneyland Paris. France is one of the most geographically diverse countries in Europe, containing areas as different from each other as urban chic Paris, the sunny French Riviera, windswept Atlantic beaches, the snowy resorts of the French Alps, the Renaissance châteaux of the Loire Valley, rugged Celtic Brittany and the historian's dream that is Normandy. A country known for rich emotions, turbulent politics, rational thinking, and Enlightenment treasures; whatever you want from a holiday, you're about to find it in Fr
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Best time to visit
Paris is beautiful year-round. South of France peaks June–August for beaches. Ski season December–March in the Alps. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are ideal for sightseeing with smaller crowds.
Visa
EU/EEA citizens enter freely. US, UK, Canada, Australia and most nationalities get 90 days visa-free under the Schengen Agreement. Longer stays require a long-stay visa.
Highlights
The Eiffel Tower, located in France's capital city of Paris, is an iconic landmark that stands as a symbol of human ingenuity and artistic expression. Constructed in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, this towering structure reaches a height of 330 meters (1,083 feet) and is made of iron with a captivating lattice framework. Divided into three levels, visitors can ascend via stairs or elevators to experience shops, restaurants, and exhibits on the lower levels, while the highest level offers breathtaking panoramic views of Paris. With its graceful silhouette and cultural significance, the Eiffel Tower continues to captivate millions of visitors from around the world, representing both France's architectural heritage and a source of national pride.
Public holidays
New Year's DayJan 1
Labour DayMay 1
Victory DayMay 8
Bastille DayJul 14
AssumptionAug 15
All Saints' DayNov 1
Armistice DayNov 11
Christmas DayDec 25
Easter Monday
Ascension Day
Pentecost
Whit Monday
Mother's Day
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (196)
'The Ghosts'28th Brigade - La Ferme des Wacques National Cemetery29th Division MemorialAbbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-GartempeAbbey of FontenayAisne-Marne American Cemetery and MemorialAncient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of EuropeApremont German military cemeteryArles, Roman and Romanesque MonumentsArras Flying Services MemorialArras MemorialAssevent French-German War Cemeterybanks of the SeineBayonet TrenchBeaumont-Hamel Newfoundland MemorialBeaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial ParkBelfries of Belgium and FranceBertrimoutier Franco-German war cemeteryBois du Puits cemeteryBourges CathedralCambrai East Military CemeteryCambrai German military cemeteryCambrai Memorial to the MissingCanadian Cemetery No. 2Canadian National Vimy MemorialCanal du MidiCarrefour Duchesne National CemeteryCathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, ReimsCemetery of Mondement-MontgivrouxCemetery of the UhlansCerny-en-Laonnois German War CemeteryCerny-en-Laonnois National CemeteryChaîne des Puys - Limagne fault tectonic arenaChampagne hillsides, houses and cellarsChapel of Mondement-MontgivrouxChapelle Saint-Nicolas du pont Saint-BénézetChâteau de ChambordChauvet CaveChemin des Dames Memorial ChapelChestres French National CemeteryCité de CarcassonneCité des ÉlectriciensClimats, terroirs of BurgundyCompiègne-Royallieu National CemeteryConfluence BeachConsenvoye German military cemeteryCordouan LighthouseCraonnelle National CemeteryCuts National CemeteryCutting National CemeteryDanish soldiers cemetery in BraineDelville Wood CemeteryDelville Wood South African National MemorialDormans Memorial ChapelDouaumont ossuaryDud Corner CemeteryÉcoles des cités de la fosse n° 12 des mines de LensEffry National Military CemeteryEpiscopal City of AlbiÉtaples Military CemeteryFaubourg d'Amiens CemeteryFaubourg-Pavé National CemeteryFleury-devant-Douaumont National CemeteryForeign Legion National CemeteryFort DouaumontFortifications of VaubanFosse n° 5 des mines de MeurchinFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands nature reserveFrom the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the Production of Open-pan SaltFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military CemeteryFunerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)Gardens of VersaillesGerbéviller Cemetery of Civilian VictimsGerman Monument in Saint-Charles CemeteryGerman section of the Chestres military cemeteryGermania Military CemeteryGivenchy Road Canadian CemeteryGrande Tombe de Villeroy (Chauconin-Neufmontiers)Gruerie OssuaryGulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola ReserveHartmannswillerkopf National MonumentHaute-Chevauchée ossuaryHistoric Centre of AvignonHohrod German war cemeteryHunter's CemeteryItalian Military Cemetery of BlignyJurisdiction of Saint-EmilionKahm CemeteryLa Cordelle chapelLa Crouée National CemeteryLa Fontenelle National CemeteryLa Forestière National CemeteryLa Harazée in Vienne-le-Château National CemeteryLa Nouvelle branchLa Targette British CemeteryLa Targette French National CemeteryLagarde German military cemeteryLagarde National CemeteryLe Quesnoy Communal Cemetery ExtensionLe Sourd Franco-German military cemeteryLichfield Crater, ThelusLoos MemorialLouvencourt Military CemeteryLouverval Military CemeteryMaison CarréeMarquesas IslandsMegaliths of Carnac and of the shores of MorbihanMemorial stones and tombs of Petit DononMetz-Chambieres National CemeteryMeuse-Argonne American CemeteryMill Road CemeteryMont-Saint-Michel and its BayMonte Perdido MassifMonument of the Executed at Fleury-devant-DouaumontMonument to Jewish Fallen SoldiersMoosch National CemeteryMorhange German military cemeteryMuslim Monument of DouaumontNavarin Ossuary: Monument to the Dead of the Champagne ArmiesNeuve-Chapelle Indian MemorialNeuville-Saint-Vaast Czechoslovakian CemeteryNeuville-St Vaast German war cemeteryNew Caledonia Barrier ReefNice, Winter Resort Town of the Rivieranorthern French coal mining regionNotre Dame de Lorette National CemeteryNotre-Dame d'AmiensNotre-Dame de ChartresNoyelles-sur-Mer Chinese CemeteryNoyelles-sur-Mer Chinese MemorialOpera National CemeteryPalace and Park of VersaillesPalace of FontainebleauPalace of VersaillesPalais de la BerbiePark of VersaillesPierrepont German military cemeteryPierrepont National CemeteryPitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion IslandPlace Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance in NancyPont du Gardpont Saint-Bénézetport of the MoonPozieres British CemeteryPozieres Memorialprehistoric pile dwellings around the AlpsPrehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère ValleyProvinsPyrénées – Mont Perdu World Heritage SiteRancourt German military cemeteryRancourt Memorial ChapelRancourt Military CemeteryRancourt National Cemeteryreconstructed center of Le HavreRiche National CemeteryRichebourg-L'Avoue Portuguese National CemeteryRoman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of OrangeRomanian Military Cemetery of SoultzmattRoyal Abbey of HautecombeRoyal abbey of Saint-RemiRussian Military Cemetery of Saint-Hilaire-le-GrandSaint-Benoît-la-Chipotte National CemeterySaint-Quentin Franco-German MonumentSaint-Quentin german military cemeterySaint-SavinSaint-Thomas-en-Argonne National War CemeterySarrebourg National Prisoners of War CemeterySilberloch National CemeterySouain German military cemeterySt. Mihiel American Cemetery and MemorialSt. Mihiel German military cemeteryStrasbourg: from Grande-île to Neustadt, a European urban sceneTaputapuatea maraeThe Architectural Work of Le CorbusierThe Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural LandscapeThe Great Spa Towns of EuropeThe Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and ChalonnesThiepval Anglo-French CemeteryThiepval MemorialThiescourt German military cemeteryThiescourt National CemeteryTiges National CemeteryTour Pey-BerlandTrottoir National CemeteryV.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and MemorialVauquois National CemeteryVeslud German military cemeteryVézelay, Church and HillVieux LyonVillers-Bretonneux Military CemeteryVillers–Bretonneux Australian National MemorialVolcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern MartiniqueVrigne-Meuse Cemetery plot for deceased of November 11, 1918Way of Saint James UNESCO World Heritage Sites in FranceWettstein National CemeteryWimereux Communal Cemetery
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Major cities
Paris
Paris, the City of Light, is a dream destination for every traveler — home to the Eiffel Tower, world-famous museums, authentic French cuisine, and some of the world's most beautiful gardens.
Nice
The Queen of the French Riviera — a promenade along the Mediterranean, belle époque architecture, and superb Niçoise cuisine.
Lyon
France's gastronomic capital, with a UNESCO old town, silk-weaving history, and more Michelin stars per capita than Paris.
Bordeaux
The wine capital of France — 18th-century merchant architecture, the Cite du Vin museum, and access to premier cru chateaux.
Strasbourg
Capital of Alsace and the EU Parliament — a half-timbered medieval city where French and German cultures blend perfectly.
Marseille
France's oldest city and most Mediterranean — the Vieux-Port fish market, Le Corbusier's Cite Radieuse, and bouillabaisse.
Provence
Lavender fields, hilltop villages, Roman ruins at Nimes and Arles, and the extraordinary Gorges du Verdon.
Mont Saint-Michel
A tidal island monastery rising from the Normandy mudflats — one of France's most iconic and visited sites.
