With this guide to travel to France, we hope to help you organize your trip to one of the most complete and fascinating countries in the world.
Member of the European Union and with Paris as its capital, France is a country that stands out for having a wide variety of areas to visit, all of them very different from each other, among which impressive cities like Paris stand out, landscapes in which you will go back in time. time like the fascinating Loire Valley places with an exciting history like Normandy, or fairytale regions like Alsace, one of the most beautiful in the country.
Based on all the times we have visited the country, doing different routes and visiting different cities, we leave you this Guide to France with all the information so you can prepare for your trip. Let’s start!
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Travel to France from the U.S is now, without a doubt, a great alternative for those who want to take advantage of their vacations without having to travel long distances. After these hard months of confinement and now that you can travel around Europe, you are surely looking forward to enjoying the neighboring country. In it, you will not miss delicious gastronomy, charming towns and cities, and natural landscapes in which to leave behind these recent times marked by the coronavirus.
At IATI we suggest a driving route through the south of France. The proximity to the U.S makes it a perfect destination to not have to worry about flight cancellations and have much more flexibility to plan your trip following the rules of social distancing.
Keep reading because here you will find everything you need to know if you can travel to France now, what measures are being followed and what interesting places you can include in your next European adventure.
Table of Contents
Can you travel to France now?
Despite its opening of borders in June 2020, France faced the third wave of covid-19 and was forced to close the passage to all travelers again. After months of harsh measures, both within the country and to allow circulation from other states, it is now possible to travel to France from the U.S. We tell you all the details:
Measures to travel to France now from United States
If you want to travel to France, you need to have permission to travel to France and the necessary documents. Thanks to the large drop in infections in France, a large part of the previously imposed restrictions have been lifted since March 14. Now it is no longer necessary to present the vaccination certificate to enter establishments and the mask is no longer mandatory indoors, only on public transport and in health centers.
Of course, to enter the country, anyone over 12 years of age must present an affidavit of health and a negative covid test that can be PCR 72 hours before or antigens carried out a maximum of 48 hours before your trip. You will be able to get rid of doing these tests if you can demonstrate your complete vaccination schedule (as long as 7 days have passed since the last dose, 28 in the case of Janssen).
The European Covid Certificate will serve to demonstrate vaccination, screening tests, or the fact of having had the disease in the last 6 months. Those over 18 years of age will need a booster dose if it has been 9 months since the last dose.
There are exceptions to PCR and antigen tests for entries by land that meet the following requirements:
- Travel by land for fewer than 24 hours and within a radius of 30 kilometers around the place of residence.
- Travel by land for professional reasons whose urgency or frequency prevents the performance of a test.
- Travel by land in the exercise of your professional activity.
Current situation of the coronavirus in France now
With what seems like the gradual brake of the third wave, on April 29 the French government launched a de-escalation process in several phases that, from different dates, is expected to reduce the restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic. on French territory. As of the writing of this article, the measures regarding the current situation of covid-19 in France are:
The health pass (European digital certificate that certifies the complete vaccination schedule of more than 7 days, having overcome the disease less than 6 months ago, or the result of a PCR test or an antigen test) is mandatory for people over 12 years of age in all places of leisure and culture, bars, restaurants, shopping centers, trains, planes, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Update: From March 14, only the sanitary step will be required for hospitals, residences, and other health centers. In addition, it will no longer be mandatory to wear a mask, except in public transport and health centers.
Case numbers have been growing in recent weeks, so more restrictive measures and partial lockdowns are not ruled out. We will have to keep an eye on developments.
France Guide
In this guide to travel to France, you will find all the routes of the trips we have made, guides to cities like Paris as well as many posts in which we talk about places you cannot miss, recommendations and advice, among many other things, which we hope will help you prepare your trip through this incredible country.
Taking into account that France has very different and very complete areas, the most common thing is to get to know the country on different trips, each one of them to a different area or city.
To make this easier, in this guide we will talk about all the ones we know so that you can even take the routes as an example for planning your trips.
What to visit when traveling to France
As you can see, you’re going to be able to travel to France right now and enjoy those vacations you’ve been looking forward to so much. The next step is to start planning, so surely you are wondering which sites are most interesting and what you cannot miss in each of them. At IATI we advise you to focus on the south of the country and make a wonderful route by a car that passes through destinations such as the following:
Paris
when you choose to travel to France Paris is the number one option. Capital of France and known as the City of Love for being considered the most romantic city in the world, Paris is a city to travel to a thousand times to discover and savor little by little.
With places as impressive as the famous Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, or the ill-fated Notre Dame Cathedral as well as neighborhoods such as Montmartre or Le Marais, this city is perfect both to visit for a weekend or to stay for a week.
Despite this, for a first trip we always recommend staying between 3 and 5 days, time that we believe is enough to see its most important places and of course, fall in love with the city and start dreaming of returning soon.
So that you can organize your trip to the capital, in the travel to France guide we leave you all the information that we publish about Paris and that will help you plan your stay in the city.
Disneyland Paris
Located just 32 kilometers from Paris, Disneyland Park is the oldest and one of the most famous in the world, which undoubtedly represents a dream for children and adults.
Although for many travelers the reason for their trip to Paris is none other than to visit Disneyland Paris, if you have an extra day and you had not considered it, we recommend you think twice as we assure you, it is quite a show.
Loire Valley, another destination that cannot be missing from the France guide
Known by many to be one of the most beautiful areas of France, the Loire Valley is home to more than 50 castles, declared a World Heritage Site, in the Renaissance style, which you can visit and go back in time as you delve into its impressive interiors, with period furniture and walk through its beautiful gardens.
Keep in mind that the best way to get around this area of the country is by rental car, as this will allow you to have total freedom of movement and schedules since public transport between the castles is very limited or non-existent on some occasions.
Alsace
Located next to the border with Switzerland and Germany, Alsace is one of the best-known areas of France, especially at Christmas, when its villages of colorful houses are decked out with their best Christmas decorations and transport you to a children’s story.
Although without a doubt this is probably the best time to travel, doing it in spring, summer or autumn has the advantages of not meeting so many people and at the same time enjoying the color of its towns and its impressive landscapes surrounded by vineyards.
If you want to get to know the most charming towns in the area in addition to making a slightly longer stop in Colmar and Strasbourg, we recommend you make a 5-7 day getaway, although at Christmas, with a weekend you could get to know the most important places.
when you decide to travel to France Alsace is a great option.
Midi-Pyrénées, another destination that cannot be missing from travel to France guide
Known for being the largest region in France, with 8 departments, Ariège, Aveyron, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Lot, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne, which refer to the rivers that pass through them, except Hautes-Pyrénées, this area of the country is one of the great unknown despite being the place where Rocamadur is located, the second most visited place in France after Mont Saint-Michel and being one of the most charming, in which You will be able to discover beautiful towns anchored in time and bucolic landscapes, which we are sure will make you fall in love.
Normandy, another of the areas that can not be missing in the guide to France
when you want to travel to France Normandy is one of the best choices. Known for being one of the most fascinating regions of the country, this area located in the northeast of France, will allow you to discover charming villages, dreamlike landscapes, and the impressive Mont Saint-Michel, one of the most visited places in the country.
In addition, touring the region will take you back in time by visiting places such as the Normandy Landing Beaches, where an episode that marked the Second World War took place.
If you want to know the most important points, we recommend you to make a route by rental car of about 5-7 days.
Blue Coast
Also known as the French Riviera, the Côte d’Azur has for many years been synonymous with luxury and chic vacations as well as being only accessible to high budgets.
Although we cannot deny that in a certain way this is the case since prices tend to skyrocket in some areas and accommodation, especially in the summer months, we assure you that making a 4-5 day route through its best-known cities such as Montecarlo, St. Tropez or Cannes, will offset any expense plus it won’t cost you much if you book early.
Carcassonne and the Cathar Castles
Considered one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the world, in addition to visiting Carcassonne, we recommend you spend a couple of days exploring the surroundings and visiting some of the most important Cathar Castles such as the Queribus Castle, the Peyrepertuse Castle, which It is one of the most impressive and stands out for its mimicry with the rock on which it stands and the Castle of Arques.
Provence
Located in the south of the country and known for its landscapes, especially lavender fields, and villages where it seems that time has stopped, Provence is the perfect place to make a route of several days during which we are sure, you will not leave to surprise you
Bordeaux
In the southwest of France, we find Bordeaux, the center of the wine region that is without a doubt, one of the most charming cities in the country.
In addition to this, it has an impressive historic center, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can go back in time while walking through its oldest streets.
Marseilles
Founded 2600 years ago by the Greeks, Marseille is the second-largest city in France and although it has always been the object of love and hate in equal measure, today it is a city that has been transformed and has become a perfect destination to spend a couple of days enjoying its cultural part, its gastronomy and its climate.
Lyon, another essential in the France Guide
Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers, we find Lyon, the third most populous city in the country, behind Paris and Marseille, and with a history of more than 2000 years, which makes it an incredibly interesting city, with a unique heritage that can be seen and enjoyed in some of its oldest neighborhoods, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Toulouse
You can start your travel route through the south of France now by what is known as the “Pink City”. You will quickly understand it when you walk through its streets and see the number of buildings of this color which it can boast. This is because, since Roman times, Toulouse has been dominated by brick construction, as there are no nearby mountains or quarries where the stone can be extracted.
What are the essentials? The Place du Capitole, where the city hall and the Opera House are located, is a must. Other interesting sites are the market in Place Victor Hugo, the Jacobin Convent, the Basilica of San Saturnino, the Cathedral of St. Etienne, the Hotel d’Assezat and the Musée des Augustins. Even so, what we advise you to do is get lost a bit in charming streets such as Rue Henri de Grosse, Rue de Blanchers or Rue Sant-Antonie du T. and, of course, walk along the Garonne River and contemplate its bridges.
Montpellier
You will quickly notice what sets Montpellier apart from other cities in the south of France. Since it was founded by the counts of Toulouse in the 10th century, Montpellier has no Roman past to define it. Its port became one of the most important in Europe, which made it prosper rapidly and the first medical school in Europe was founded there in the 12th century.
Montpellier is an elegant city, with wide boulevards and stately buildings. We recommend you start your walk on the Place de la Comédie, presided over by the Opera building and home to the Fountain of the Three Graces. It is also home to the Montpellier Opera, which surely reminds you of the one in Paris.
Avignon, a destination that cannot be missing from the travel to France guide
In the region of Provence, one of the most incredible in France, we find Avignon, located on the banks of the Rhône and papal seat from 1309 to 1377, something that made it one of the most powerful cities on the continent.
Being able to visit it in one day and due to its location, it is perfect to visit on the way to the Côte d’Azur or on a route through the region.
Charming towns to include in your trip to the south of France now
We have already told you about the most interesting cities in the south of the country, but if you are thinking of marking a route by car through France now, you should include those small charming towns :
- Castelnau-de-Montmiral: charming village of brick walls and arcaded houses. It is not one of the best known, but that has its charm.
- Cordes-sur-Ciel: thanks to the commercial boom that it experienced in the 13th and 14th centuries, it became one of the most important towns in the area and one that you will like the most.
- Rocamadour: This town seems to have been born directly from the rock, with its houses, churches and castles perched on them. It is perhaps the most popular and you cannot miss it on your trip to France now.
- Beynac-et-Cazenac: from its beautiful castle you can admire the passage of the Dordogne river and the Perigord forests.
- Najac: This tiny town is dominated by a huge 12th-century fortress.
- Saint-Cirque-Lapopie: the reddish roofs of its houses and churches make up a town that looks like something out of a fairy tale.
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We will expand the information in the travel to France guide as we visit new places in the country.
What do you think about these suggestions to travel to France now? Don’t think about it anymore and get to know this beautiful area that has so much to offer!