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Well, here we are, folks.

It’s the time of year we’ve all been waiting for — bright blue skies and sun-kissed shores, only to instantly complain that it’s now too hot.

As the French Riviera becomes one of the hottest vacation spots in Europe, in more ways than one, we’ve found the inside scoop for the best alternatives to pelt the swelt.

Call them “coolcations” if you will, if you want to sound trendy, but the shores are just as vibrant, the weather is still warm and splendid, and you’ll find fewer footprints in the sand with more space to find the perfect spot along the beach.

If France tops your wishlist this summer, sure, you can kickstart your epic trip in Paris, but make sure you pack swimwear and sunblock for the following 4 undiscovered getaways to escape the summer heat:

Saint-Malo: It’s Brittany, Beach!

Oops, we did it again…

We’ve found one of France’s best-kept secret destinations while millions opt for Parisian delights.

Saint-Malo is a coastal port city surrounded by staggering granite walls framing its postcard Old Town, but what’s even more impressive is its beaches. especially Plage du Sillon, where sparkling golden sands, dramatic tides, and fortress views make for the perfect spot to to cool off without fighting Riviera-level crowds.

Located in Brittany, an unsung region of France dotted with waterfront hideaways, Saint-Malo stands out among the rest for its cozy boutique stays, authentic Breton creperies, and springboard access to nearby gems like Cancale, Dinard, and even Mont-Saint-Michel Bay.

Expect temps to hover in the 68 to 77°F range over the next few months.

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Belle-Île: France’s Little-Known Island

Truthfully, I’d love to visit this isle, while simultaneously waiting for this paragraph to be over so I can stop misspelling Belle-Île…

This tight-lipped gem many locals keep to themselves is an immaculate hideout with paradisal shores, Monet-painted sea cliffs, and charming port towns where fishing boats bob beneath candy-colored facades.

Belle-Île is also located in Brittany, though we’d argue that going offshore elevates your trip to feel truly rugged, unlike much of France’s claimed coastline of Speedo-wearers and overpriced beach clubs.

Getting here takes commitment, which is likely why it still feels tucked away.

Most travelers first make their way to Quiberon, then hop on the ferry to Le Palais, Belle-Île’s main port, with the crossing taking roughly an hour, but once you’re here, you’ll find yourself in a sun-drenched maze of hidden beaches and astounding nature in between its delightful storybook towns.

While you’re planning out logistics, you might as well double-check travel alerts and tourist fees for your trip.

Honfleur: The Nearest Worthwhile Beach From Paris

History buffs know Normandy for D-Day beaches and World War II memorials, while the French may remember those trying times, they tend to hold a special place as a lesser-known escape to avoid the sweltering heat and summer madness of the Riviera.

Those flocking to Paris may not realize beaches are indeed within close reach — Honfleur being the closest for a day trip at the least.

Lined with half-timbered homes, this dreamy townscape is brimming with waterfront charm and French flair that come together like a real-life painting, but don’t sleep on its main beach, Plage du Butin, where recent reviewers rave about how “gorgeous” it is, along with its scenic walkability from the River Seine.

Deauville: Honfleur’s Neighbor Is Just As Easy To Reach

Along France’s northern coast, Deauville may win the popularity contest.

You may experience more crowds here than in Honfleur, as it’s a popular spot to escape the tourists of Paris for a day or two.

While you may want to keep an eye out for the nudie beach — unless you’re into that kinda thing — there are ample beautiful beaches lined with cozy hotels and epic eats, and yes, people wearing proper beach attire.

It’s rumored there are 450 parasols ready to shade you from the beaming sun, but you may want to wake up early to snag one come summertime.

Last we featured Deauville, it was said by locals that it’s “one of the best beaches in France”.

Of course, it’s France we’re talking about — you gotta roam about town too, as Deauville is chock-full of surprises, including a popular casino and Les Planches boardwalk.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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If you’re thinking of a summer in France, chances are it’s Saint-Tropez’s pastel-colored streets and exclusive beach clubs that will pop to mind first.

The forever home of Brigitte Bardot, and pretty much the entire French elite, and one of the world’s most effortlessly classy destinations, with Michelin-starred restaurants and postcard-ready corners galore, ‘St Trope’ is known for attracting quite the international crowd.

That’s not to say it’s favored by the French themselves.

As a Paris resident for five years now and someone who goes to the South of France pretty much every year, I believe I’ve cracked the code for doing France justice without falling victim to the usual overly commercial, been-there-done-that tourist traps.

If you want to explore the Land of the Gauls like a local this summer, it’s time you give good old STP a miss, and follow the frog-eating throng to these 4 coastal alternatives instead:

Agde

Agde is not the cutest resort town on the French Riviera, but if you’re looking for modest prices and good value for your beachside summer vacay, this is that little French hack they don’t want you to know about.

It’s not exactly known by the wider public, but as far as domestic tourism goes, it’s far from being some niche destination:

Agde has beaches, campsites, marinas, supermarkets, and family facilities all either within walking distance or a short 10-minute drive from your accommodation, and a middle-class French family can easily spend a week there without blowing the budget. Which means you can, too.

An oceanfront room can cost as cheaply as $95 per night, and meals in local bistrots range from $22 to $40. No, it’s not Albania-cheap, sure, but if you’re truly keen on a French summer, that’s about as cheap as it gets out here these days.

Agde is not as Old World-cute, or remotely elegant as Saint-Tropez, so if that’s the vibe you’re going for, you might want to check out the next town on the list.

Now, if you’re coming to France for wide, easy-to-access beaches, clubs you won’t need to reserve weeks in advance, nor spend heavily to enjoy them, and less status-oriented travel, you’ve come to the right spot.

Wondering whether there are any travel alerts active for France at the moment? The Traveler Dashboard is the best tool for staying up to date with on-the-ground developments that may affect your affection, like rail strikes or political unrest (and we know the French love a bit of a summertime commotion).

Menton

The most beautiful town on the French Riviera, a short 40-minute train ride from Nice, Menton sits right on the Italian border, and it’s a cluster of skinny, pastel-hue townhouses with the typically Mediterranean green shutters that look like a storybook scene come to life.

Or, more like Luca brought to life, except unlike the actual Luca-inspired jet-setter haunt of Cinque Terre over in Italy, Menton is way, waaaay less commercialized.

Now, don’t get me wrong, this is no hidden gem, either. Some international tourists have been taking the short train ride here from the Côte d’Azur capital since the Instagrammers in flying dresses made the town’s stone jetty their new ‘bucket list’ photo op, but the vibes remain unmatched.

Think old cobbled alleyways flanked by colorful edifices, tiny piazzette bordered by family-owned trattorie, gelato shops boasting an ample selection of lemon-based flavors—lemony products are actually Menton’s whole schtick—and that perfect, best-of-both-worlds blend of French and Italian cultures.

Other than wandering the timeless streets and soaking up the sun by that dreamy pebbly beach, which hugs the turquoise waters of the Med, the main reason why Frenchies come here, particularly the Niçois at the weekends, is all the great food you can get.

Les Cotes de Menton has that family-run feeling, away from the main tourist strip, and it serves epic grilled meats. Maison Martin & Fils is the go-to spot for trying barbajuans and other French Riviera specialties, and Le P’tit Resto is my own personal favorite for fish soup and seafood platters.

Wondering how safe France is to visit right now? It currently scores 86 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, a tool used for travelers to gauge safety levels across different destinations based on first-person reports.

Cabourg

We’re leaving the South of France for a while, cause guess what, France has a whole 2,100 miles of Atlantic coastline that most Saint-Tropez-bound guests remain completely oblivious to.

A popular weekend getaway for Parisians, Cabourg is an under-the-radar, cinematic resort town a short 3-ish hour drive away. It’s best known for its massive, regal Grand Hotel, set right on the widest golden-sand beach, and a lively main street lined with timbered buildings, boutiques, and crêpe spots.

Locals go to Cabourg for very different reasons, with the beach being the main one.

It is one of the longest ones in Normandy, the region Cabourg belongs to, and in summer, its wide sands are dotted with colorful umbrellas, loungers people just bring from beachside homes, and deckchairs, but then there’s the fact that Cabourg is just slower-paced:

Unlike the trendier Deauville or Trouville-sur-Mer, it feels more relaxed and less posh.

I mean, just the seafront promenade alone is worth it enough to come here. Cycling its full extent on a breezy, warm sunny day, as with expansive views of the English Channel unfolding before you, is just absolute heaven, and if you think the South of France is overrated for seafood, wait until you’ve tried Norman seafood.

Love oysters and seafood platters, and looking to get your mind truly blown? Say no more: Le Baligan is where you head.

Book a sunset table, dig in, order a plate of fresh oysters, and a cheeky Calvados digestif to go with it, and thank me later.

Travel Rules For Europe Are Changing

Now, before I give you the grand finale, you should know that Europe, and this includes France, has drastically changed its entry rules this year, and we’re not talking only about the fingerprinting mess you’ve probably come across on social media at some point this week.

Soon enough, you’ll need a whole new travel permit to fly to Europe, set to come into force later in the year… immediately after summer.

If you’re traveling to the Old Continent at any point in the near future, do keep an eye on the Entry Requirement Checker to avoid any unnecessary travel hiccups. Getting denied boarding because you didn’t check the revamped list of required documents is the last thing you want to happen.

Bastia

Corsica is France’s largest island on the Mediterranean Sea, and a vast mountainous landmass known for ancient ports, Maldives-like white-sand beaches, and rugged, untouched nature that makes it feel almost like a country of its own.

Most tourists make landfall in Ajaccio, check out a beach or two in the vicinity, and call it a day, but if you truly want to experience Corsica like, well, a French visitor would, Bastia is where you should be headed.

It feels distinctly Corsican rather than “typical mainland France”, and unlike Saint-Tropez or other polished Riviera-style resorts, it feels lived-in and authentic.

For many of us, it’s one of the easiest, domestic ‘get away from it all’ destinations without ever leaving France.

You get nature right on your doorstep, with Corsica’s mountains dropping close to the sea, wild beaches that are well and truly unruffled, hiking trails leading to epic sunset spots, and just to the north of the city, the Cap Corse peninsula offers dramatic cliffs and hidden coves.

In Bastia itself, the Vieux Port has the traditional colorful buildings, bobbing boats, cozy boulangerie cafés where every single item on display is freshly-baked, and lined waterfront cafés.

The Citadelle district, or Terra Nova, a narrow-lane maze inside an Old Genoese fortress, gives the best panoramic angles over the coast, and if you’re into that Mediterranean lifestyle—the dolce vita, as they call it—there’s nowhere better to sip some coffee, browse local markets, and people-watch on a sun-drenched terrace than Place Saint-Nicolas.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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Love it or hate it, Paris is without question one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Trust me, I’ve been living here for 5+ years now, and I’m yet to run out of breathtaking sights and flowery cafés to discover.

There’s just one major downside—other than dealing with the hellish French bureaucracy and passive-aggressive boulangers—and you probably know where I’m going with this… as the most visited city in the entire world, it can get a tad… overwhelming, particularly in summer.

Between the Insta girlies flaunting their custom beret hats and the long wait lines to get into literally any museum, that romantic French getaway you’ve envisioned can quickly turn into a disastrous Emily in Paris skit, minus the designer bags, whimsical feel, and a stronger stench of sweat and sewage.

I’m a Paris local, and if you’re heading to the City of Lights this season looking for some authentic French flair, I have one piece of advice for you: leave town, even if only for a day. And no, I don’t mean go to Versailles.

France’s true magic lies in the smaller, more quaint towns that have not been flogged to death by travel publications, and where tourists rarely dare venture out to. These feel less like, ‘oh, a medieval church right by a busy thoroughfare!’, and more like ‘this entire place feels like it’s frozen back in the 1500s’.

Here are 5 of the most incredible, Travel Off Path-certified medieval town escapes within easy reach of Paris:

PLUS: We’ve built an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article to find your perfect match!

Provins

Distance from Paris: 59 miles

How to get there: 1h20 train from Paris-Est

Round-trip ticket fare: $5.70–$5.80

One of the easiest countryside escapes out of Paris, Provins is a seriously overlooked UNESCO-listed town that boasts perfectly preserved town walls and medieval-era timbered buildings that look like they belong on a storybook cover.

The town square is picture-perfect, flanked by galleries and boutique shops, and nearby, you’ll find two of Provins’s most iconic monuments:

Collégiale Saint-Quiriace, a collegiate church Joan of Arc herself attended a mass in, and the Caesar’s Tower (Provins), a sturdy, hilltop stronghold commanding a sweeping panorama of the cobble-paved maze below, and the wider Île-de-France country.

If you’re coming to Provins in June, you’ll want to hit up Les Médiévales de Provins, a medieval festival set along the old walls. Think knights prancing about with their horses, jousting, falconry, and costumes everywhere.

Now, for my fellow sweet fiends out there, make sure you swing by Gourmandises médiévales, a medieval-themed dessert shop just off the town square where every biscuit on displayed is inspired by 15th-century recipes.

You can even try the original macaron, prior to all the innovative fillings being added.

Reims

Distance from Paris: 90 miles

How to get there: 50 minute high-speed train from Paris-Est

Roundtrip ticket fare: $34–$68

A small city roughly an hour’s train ride away from Paris, Reims is the forgotten cultural powerhouse that gets routinely overshadowed by the City of Light’s glitziness.

The whole world hasn’t been able to shut up about Notre-Dame de Paris for centuries now, but little do they know France’s most historically significant Gothic queen is not the one by the Seine, over in the capital, but right here in Reims:

Notre-Dame de Reims feels grander, more richly carved, taller, and for over 800 years, it’s where the Kings of France were crowned, from Louis VIII to Charles X.

All the way back in the year 498, it also hosted the baptism of Clovis, the guy that basically kickstarted the Kingdom of the Franks, which would later on become… well, France.

Unsurprisingly, Clovis is not buried there, but in the Basilique Saint-Remi, on the edge of the Historic Center. It may not be the cathedral, but it has an equally impressive collection of stained glasswork, and a majestic Gothic choir.

Medieval treasury aside, Reims used to be one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire. Now, it’s not like there’s a whole plethora of ancient ruins left to admire, however, it does boast the perfectly preserved Porte de Mars, a 1st-century triumphal arch built around the same time as the Pont du Gard.

Check Entry Regulations For Europe Ahead Of Flying

If you’re flying to Europe this season, you should know a lot has changed as far as entry regulations are concerned.

Americans are now required to consent to getting fingerprinted, and having a photo taken for digital registration upon arrival, and real soon, they will also be expected to apply for a mandatory travel permit ahead of flying.

The time of ‘just grabbing that passport and winging it at the airport’ is over. Flying internationally now requires a great deal of advance-planning, especially as a U.S. passport holder.

Check the latest Entry Requirements that apply at your destination, be it France or elsewhere in the continent, on this page.

Beauvais

Distance from Paris: 50 miles

How to get there: 1h15 by train

Roundtrip ticket fare: $23–$34

I just know the name ‘Beauvais’ raised some suspicious eyebrows.

Listen, I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit: taking that dreadfully-long, 1h30-hour shuttle to Beauvais Airport, Ryanair’s 50-mile-out Paris hub, just to shave $20 off that flight ticket, and to say I’m scarred for life would be a huge understatement.

What most BVA-bound travelers don’t know is that the shoddy, two-terminal airport is in fact named after Beauvais, a hidden gem of Hauts-de-France that barely gets any tourists.

I only found out about it myself when I had to fly out of BVA and the shuttle buses were pulled off due to a strike, and I first had to get on the train to Beauvais town, then the local bus to the airport… and I immediately regretted not having come a little sooner to spend a couple more hours there.

Beauvais has the most hauntingly-beautiful, unfinished medieval cathedral, with its huge Astronomical Clock and a Gothic choir that just happens to be the highest in the world, at 48.5 meters.

The Old Town is compact, but uber cute, with its cobblestone lanes that all lead to the cathedral, and one of its best-kept secret is the old hospital, Maladrerie Saint-Lazare, where leper victims were housed between the 12th and 13th centuries.

If you have time, which wasn’t the case for me, do stop by MUDO, or Musée de l’Oise, an art museum housed in the former Bishop’s Palace.

It’s only a few steps from the cathedral, and apparently they have a great mix of medieval and modern art, or swing by a Carrefour, stock up on your picnic essentials, and live out your best French life at Parc Marcel Dassault, a big expanse of green on the outskirts of town.

Honfleur

Distance from Paris: 122 miles

How to get there: 2 hour train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Deauville + 20 minute bus to Honfleur

Roundtrip ticket fare: $57–$114

Honfleur doesn’t exactly scream hidden gem anymore—it’s one of those places Parisians themselves love to name-drop when the sun comes out—but it somehow still manages to feel like a local secret, and authentically French once you’re actually there.

I visit different parts of Normandy every year, and whether I’m headed to the D-Day beaches or the coastal stretch between Deauville and Étretat, you can rest assured a pit stop in Honfleur is in the cards.

This is not just another pretty harbor town; it’s the harbor town. It has a whole cluster of tall, skinny houses in muted, weathered pastel tones arranged around a medieval marina, or Vieux Bassin, and between the bobbing boats and the reflection of the buildings on the water, the whole thing looks almost surreal.

Or as if someone carefully staged it for a painting… which, as it turns out, they sort of did.

Honfleur is the effective birthplace of Impressionism, where artists Monet and Boudin spent hours obsessing over that soft, early-evening golden glow, waterfront reflections, and those big, blue Normandy skies.

Walking around the Old Town feels like stepping into a painting: endlessly charming cobbled lanes, half-timbered abodes, and cozy art galleries tucked into basically every corner. My favorite thing to do in Honfleur, you ask?

Well, other than paying the unique Église Sainte-Catherine a visit, a wooden church built by shipbuilders and the oldest surviving timber structure of its kind in France, I just have to pop round one of the waterfront terraces and get my dish of fresh oysters and moules frites overlooking the harbor.

Wondering how safe is France at the minute? Their passive-agressiveness aside, we do love our frog-eating friends, but if there’s one thing they love other than their larger-than-your-head baguettes and complaining is… a good old-fashioned strike.

Check Travel Alerts Before Flying Abroad

Year in, year out, travelers headed to France are faced with major travel disruption due to protests, or a sudden political upheaval that throws the entire country into turmoil.

The best way to anticipate major events is checking constantly the latest travel alerts issued to the Traveler Dashboard, and verify the actual safety levels on the ground on the Traveler Safety Index, whose score is based off of visitors’ own reports.

Right now, France scores a decent 86 out of 100:

Chartres

Distance from Paris: 56 miles

How to get there: 1 hour train

Roundtrip ticket fare: $24–$36

File this under “best cathedral day trip from Paris, no contest”:

Dominated by a UNESCO-listed Gothic masterpiece—one of the very first churches ever awarded World Heritage status—Chartres Cathedral feels like Paris before the 19th-century development boom and mass tourism absolutely did its thing and changed it for good.

Chartres Cathedral may be the star of the show, with its mismatched spires and ridiculous display of stained glass, but the real magic kicks in once you step outside. Most tourists hop off the train, beeline straight to the cathedral, snap a few pics, and call it a day.

After you say your little silent prayer, don’t leg it just yet.

The Old Town spills out from the cathedral square in a maze of stone-laden streets and timbered houses, market squares lined with weeping willows, and stone bridges stretching over the scenic Eure River.

It’s not just a half-day box-tick. It’s a full-on medieval time warp.

Whenever things get a bit much in my 15th arrondissement Paris nook, and I need a change of scenery, Chartres is where I go to catch a proper breather, particularly around the “Lower Town” area, where you’ll find old washhouses along the riverbank and barely another soul in sight.

Keep it simple: grab a pastry from Maison Lemaire—I’m partial to their chaussons aux pommes—wander aimlessly, and let the cathedral drift in and out behind a row of rooftops, then reappear again down the next alley. It’s got a habit of following you around, no matter where you end up.

For those sticking around into the evening, stay put for Chartres en Lumières, a summertime event where over 20 landmarks across the city get lit up with artistic projections. The whole place turns into an open-air light show, and believe it or not, it still manages to feel charmingly understated rather than touristy.

Now take this quiz to find your perfect medieval match!

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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Love it or hate it, Paris is the world’s most visited city.

Cliché or not, crowds swarm Place du Trocadéro for Eiffel selfies, Seine cruises past elegant façades, and lamp-lit Montmartre strolls under the shadow of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur’s soaring dome—and listen, I get it.

Never dreamed I’d ditch my previous cozy London nook for the cheese-munching surrender-monkey heartland, yet five years on, here I am: rooted, sounding Frenchier by the day (read: endless complaining and eye-rolls at clueless tourists).

Crowds and scams aside, I can’t imagine living elsewhere, but real talk?

Paris is far from being my top romantic French escape, at least not in this weather.

Lucky for this adopted Parisian (and you), France is huge, and the crumbling Haussmann-designed capital I call home base is just the entrée.

Craving old-school France, minus beret-wearing TikTokers, metro pickpockets emptying your wallet before you blink, and strikes every other weekend? Here are 5 underrated French gems you should stop sleeping on:

(PLUS: We’ve built an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article to find your perfect match!)

Quimper

To me, nothing screams timeless Celtic France quite like Brittany, its Celtic heartland full of picturesque coastal towns where time seems to stand at a standstill, countryside castles, and family-owned crêperies.

When it comes to weekend getaways in the region, Saint-Malo usually takes the crown due to its proximity to Mont Saint-Michel, the most visited monument in France after the Eiffel Tower, and the Channel Islands, but if you’re asking me, Brittany’s true unspoiled charm is found in Quimper.

A small city in the heart of Brittany, it is best known for its timeless Old Town, criss-crossed by narrow cobbled lanes.

They’re lined by half-timbered houses and boutique shops, and if you ever find yourself at a crossroads, you’ll likely end up in a stunning historic square, whether you take the left or right turn.

Other medieval French cities like Carcassonne and Rouen are pretty, alright, but they’re packed with foreign tourists. Quimper is France’s little Breton secret, and its 15th-century architecture gives it a real storybook vibe.

Also, let’s be real: Saint-Corentin, rising above the slate roofs of the Old Town with its soaring Gothic spires, is one of the prettiest cathedrals in the country. Crazy-detailed stained glass, hauntingly-beautiful vaulted ceilings, and serene riverside setting.

The cathedral alone is good-enough reason to get me packing my bags, but failing that, I’d travel as many miles as necessary just to have another forkful of Aux Vieux Quimper’s iconic square crêpes.

Europe is changing its entry requirements for Americans. Make sure you know the travel rules that apply at the time of departure here.

Arles

The region of Provence is perhaps the second most popular French destination after Paris, but beyond the award-winning Gordes wineries and the endless lavender fields, there’s a whole forgotten Roman world to discover that most tourists are sleeping on.

One of my favorite towns to explore in Provence is Arles, a picture-perfect riverside gem with an insane ancient heritage, strong artistic vein, and laid-back southern vibe without the Aix crowds.

I’m a big History buff myself, and having been to a fair few Roman arenas in my time, I have to say Arles’ Roman Amphitheater features among the most-impressive ones. It’s perfectly-preserved, with an intact elliptical arena, marble seats, and monumental arcades.

In summer, you can even catch live gigs as it still hosts live entertainment to this day.

The town of Arles itself is a Post-Impressionist dreamscape, with jaune stone buildings and their signature Southern European shutters, and a golden-hour atmosphere that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a 19th-century painting.

Speaking of which, Arles just happens to be the spot where Van Gogh painted a ton of his most famous works.

From Yellow House, to Café Terrace, to Starry Night over the Rhône, it’s just the coolest thing to see these paintings come to life, almost exactly as the tortured Dutch genius left them.

Aigues-Mortes

France is the land of fairytale castles and châteaux, but certainly an entirely-walled medieval town with imposing ramparts, and a bubblegum-pink lake for backdrop has to be some sort of AI fever dream?

That’s what I used to think, too, until I drove past Aigues-Mortes on my way to the much more hyped Montpellier, located a 35-minute drive away, and my heart just stopped short of exploding. To be quite frank, it felt like I was dreaming.

Even just pulling up to the town’s gates, where the main car park is, staring along the imposing towers and ramparts, and full of empty moats, will steal your breath away. If you know what I mean, the fortifications surrounding the Old Town are Dubrovnik-level of pretty.

The coolest part?

You can actually walk on them on a loop around the entire perimeter, with views of Aigues-Mortes’ centuries-old tiled-roofs and grid-like townscape on one side, and its glistening pink lake on the other. Up stone steps and down ladders, and onto windswept battlements, it’s a 45-minute stroll of pure Old World magic.

Oh, and if you’re wondering why on top of it there’s a pink lake in the scene, Aigues-Mortes is located in Camargue, France’s heavyweight for sea salt production.

Not to get too technical here as you’re probably here for the vibes, like me, but the pink is due to a mixture of extremely salty water + a microorganism called Dunaliella salina.​

Speaking of cathedrals, what if I told you France’s most important medieval cathedral is not Paris’ iconic Notre-Dame, though you can visit it easily at only a short one-hour TGV ride away? Does the fact that barely any international tourists come here sound appealing enough to you?

Welcome to Reims, the proud home of Notre-Dame de Reims, the quintessential Gothic edifice to crown them all.​

The building itself is simply a marvel to look at, with its three portals richly-decorated with biblical sculptures and figures of saints, a rose window surrounded by elaborate tracery, and flying buttresses that seem to touch the sky.​

On the quieter side of Corsica, away from the busy international airports and crowded beach bars of the southern coast, Bastia straddles the sparsely populated northeastern coast of the island, and in a way, it feels less like a tourist spectacle and more like a window of authentic island life.

It has a bustling port, local markets, lively back streets, and that Southern European grit: you know, that lived-in, urban feel.

With its pastel-hue townhouses, fishing boats, charming Italian-style cafés, and glittering waterfront, the Viex Port, or Old Port, is my coup de cœur—that’s just a French word for a major highlight you absolutely cannot miss.

What can I say? I have a soft spot for that slow, salty, Mediterranean lifestyle.

Overlooking the port, at the end of the long lungomare, the Citadelle de Bastia is a must-see hilltop fort-turned-residential district. The ocher-colored apartment buildings are literally built within the castle walls, and the views from up the ramparts are just breathtaking.

If you’re anything like me, half of the reason why you’re flying out to Corsica this summer is their amazing seafood and local cheeses. In that case, you might want to swing by Place du Marché, especially on Saturday mornings, when local farmers and traders set up their stalls.

Great spot to sample Corsican flavors, like panini corse, a distant cousin of the Italian panini served with prosciutto and brocciu cheese, from the island’s rugged mountains, and fiadone, the flagship Corsican dessert: a cheesecake made (again) from brocciu, eggs, sugar, and lemon zest.

The only applicable French word here is magnifique.

Now take this quiz to find out which French Gem is perfect for you!

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

If you’re passport has a pet dust bunny, you know what time it is…

While Cancun is always an option, it’s certainly not the best for cultural immersion with over-the-top curated experiences when there are way better places south of the border to gain a sense of real Mexico.

And guess what? The same can be said for Paris unless you just really love gawking at drab steel beams.

But let’s be real — France has so much more to offer, especially along the dreamy Côte d’Azur, which we will Americanize from this point forward to keep me from continually copy-and-pasting words I can’t spell…

There’s arguably no better time to visit the French Riviera in the fall after the summer crowds dissipate. With so many paradisal locales lining the coast, the question is which one should you choose?

Well, if you’re like me and the rest of us at Travel Off Path who love to form our own opinions by visiting ourselves rather than listening to the nonsense of talking heads, there’s one misunderstood city I have in mind for you still oozing summer vibes well into the autumn season.

Marseille: This Gritty City Is More Inviting Than You Think

There’s no doubt about it — Marseille is rough around the edges. But hey, so are cinnamon rolls. Once you get into the center, you don’t think about the edges anymore, do ya?

The same goes for Marseille.

I had the pleasure of visiting Marseille last fall. Yes, it’s gritty, edgy, and raw in certain pockets, but the city is used to tourists and largely remains unaffected in terms of crime.

From personal experience, seeing a handful of unsightly hoodie-wearing teens in the dark shadows of parks and alleys at night probably isn’t where you’d want to hang out anyway, so why ruin what’s otherwise an amazing city to visit?

Will you see graffiti-lined streets and pockets of questionable characters out late at night? Likely.

Will you also have some of the best food and wine France has to offer? Even more likely.

Will you be able to enjoy gorgeous golden beaches, secret islands, and the world’s coolest neighborhood? No doubt.

All these experiences were stamped in my mind from my last fall trip, instantly making Marseille one of my truly favorite European cities to visit.

But if I don’t hold enough clout, no hard feelings. However, it was where famed globetrotter Anthony Bourdain said he envisioned retiring before he sadly took his life, so how bad could this often misportrayed city really be?

I, along with other travel experts, promise you it’s a delight to visit as long as you temper expectations.

Don’t Be Afraid To Wander The City’s 111 Districts

Paris doesn’t qualify for a budget destination, and not all aspects of Marseille do either. The truth is that $5 goes a long way on the Metro, which also includes ferry rides away from the city grind, making it a public transit option.

Overall, Marseille has a whopping 111 distinct districts to explore, including the world’s ‘coolest neighborhood‘.

Athens must be ticked off because what would normally be eyesores of graffiti-lined streets are somehow more charming in photo-worthy Notre-Dame-du-Mont, a must for art, food, and buzzing bars extending into open plazas.

That’s a testament to the community of Marseille, who have wrangled their crime-ridden reputation and turned what some might view as off-putting areas into vibrant gathering places.

Marseille is a lot more inviting than you might think. No exaggeration — there are few cities I’ve enjoyed exploring more on foot.

Every turn was a new surprise, whether it was a quirky café, a staggering cathedral, savory seafood, or a hidden cove perfect for a relaxing beach day.

The only time I felt slightly unsafe was at my Airbnb, actually. The electricity went out, forcing all occupants to navigate a dark stairwell at all hours.

Other than that, you can put the safety concerns to bed and enjoy what’s truly a captivating city with cuisine I enjoyed even more than Paris — Bouillabaisse, pizza at Papa Fredo, and wine quite literally anywhere, are all musts.

Who Said Summer Vibes Have To End?

Marseille consistently remains in the 70s until November, allowing you to leave your chilly weather behind and enjoy the plentiful beach days ahead.

The city boasts beautiful shores, but the further outside the city limits you go, the more pristine it gets.

Expect to find hidden coves and islands you’ve never heard of before, away from the always-buzzing Old Town, one of the prettiest urban areas.

Plage de la Pointe Rouge is a good middle ground — not too far away from the city, and yet not too close to feel like you’re another face in the crowd.

Since the weather is so splendid in the coming months, you’ll likely notice a hilltop cathedral overpowering the cityscape — that’s Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, and it’s worth every step it takes to reach.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

From Paris’ sparkling Eiffel Tower and romantic Montmartre, down to Marseille’s vibrant port and pastel-colored Panier district, France has countless historic wonders.

I would know. Almost 5 years in of living in France, I’m an adopted French at this point, and I can’t imagine spending the rest of my days anywhere else.

That being said, the level of mass tourism we get in summer can dull the magique a little, especially in popular hotspots, where it’s more of the beret-clad Instagrammers and tourist traps, and less locals and lived-in areas.

That’s why whenever I have friends over, Versailles or Mont Saint-Michel are two of the last places I’m taking them on a day trip to beat the Parisian crowds. Instead, I love showing them around these 3 lesser-known gems:

Rouen

A short one-hour train ride from Paris, Rouen is one of my favorite weekend getaways: with a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, it is home to a well-preserved historic center, packed with beautiful monuments, and it feels a lot quieter in comparison.

If you’re asking me, a well-spent day in Rouen consists in visiting the medieval Astronomical Clock, admiring the soaring Gothic cathedral, which rivals Paris’ Notre-Dame in beauty, and simply getting lost in its narrow alleys.

They are lined with colorful houses and merchant shops selling handicraft and local delicacies—and to my fellow culture buffs out there, don’t miss out on Place du Vieux-Marché, the public square where Joan of Arc was burned.

For the best crepes in Rouen, Crêperie Roland serves the yummiest ham-and-cheese galettes, and if you’re looking for picturesque, Eau de Robec is a café-lined street running along a picturesque stream, with the cutest half-timbered houses in town.

Troyes

A hidden gem of northeastern France, Troyes is a small medieval treasure best known for its cobbled alleys, typically-French maisons à colombage (that’s half-timbered for you), and enviable collection of Gothic churches.

The most important religious edifice in town, Troyes Cathedral is a memorable sight with its sole-standing tower, richly-decorated portal, and beautiful rose window—a fun fact about it is they didn’t have the funds to complete the second tower, so it was left with an asymmetrical appearance.

It’s beautiful, nonetheless, and so is Église Sainte-Madeleine, the oldest church in Troyes: the Romanesque sections were built as early as 1120–1150, and I love it particularly for its jubé, an intricately-carved rood screen separating the nave from the choir.

As you can see, if you’re into architecture, you’ll definitely enjoy Troyes—and for the foodies, you should probably know this is where France’s signature andouillettes, or tripe sausages, come from, and trust me when I say there’s nowhere better to sample those than Chez Félix.

Honfleur

Normandy is one of the most popular destinations for tourists traveling around France, and that’s hardly a surprise, considering it’s home to world-renowned sites like Mont-Saint-Michel and the D-Day landing beaches, but I still can’t help but think one of its finest towns keeps getting overlooked:

Honfleur is a most-charming harbor town characterized by its skinny, dark-blue or gray waterfront dwellings, labyrinthine Old Town, criss-crossed by stone-paved passageways, and monumental wooden church—the oldest surviving one in France, at over 550-years-old!

Looking at its townscape from afar, it’s easy to understand how impressionism—yep, as in the school of painting—was born here with Honfleur-native Eugène Boudin, who went on the mentor Claude Monet and other celebrated French artists.

Whenever I’m in Honfleur, which just happens to be every chance I get, I love swinging by La Fleur de Sel, a boujee eatery near the harbor serving traditional Norman plats with an Asian twist, and taking a ride on the the Grande Roue, a Ferris wheel offering panoramic views of the coast.

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Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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Last Updated 16 mins ago

According to the United Nations, France is once again the most popular country in the world, having returned to 99 percent of its pre-crisis levels of tourism, with over 100 million visitors recorded last year alone.

As a local, I can’t say I’m surprised or too thrilled about it, if I’m being honest:

I live in Paris, by default, the world’s most visited capital, and compared to two or three years ago, it definitely feels a lot busier:

You can barely go for a stroll in Montmartre without bumping into someone too distracted taking pictures to notice, and if you plan on browsing the Louvre’s art collection or going up the Eiffel Tower, you better book in advance, as the line outside the door is going around the block.

As much as I love my city and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, I wouldn’t be encouraging friends to come and visit me in 2025, especially when those numbers are expected to grow exponentially––but hey, it’s not like the Eiffel Tower is all that France has in store.

You can still gorge on delicious food, admire the architecture, and practice your savoir-vivre skills in these 5 alternative, equally-beautiful destinations… without the crowds:

Provins

Ile-de-France

If you have 3 to 5 days in Paris, chances are you’re planning on taking a day to explore Versailles or maybe Disneyland for the nostalgic feel and thrilling adventures, so before tickets are booked and your plan is set in stone, let me first introduce you to Provins:

Located in the capital region, this much-overlooked town dating back to the Middle Ages still has its walls intact, stone-built houses that have survived the passing of time unscathed, albeit partially claimed by ivy, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at that.

Other than strolling the marketplace and getting lost in the cobbled streets, something I love Provins for is its food scene, from sweet shops where you can get the original 600-year-old macaron recipe to the rustic Crêperie La Malouiniere––hands down the best crepes in town!

Oh, and if you plan on making the most out of your visit, get a Provins Pass: it costs only $18, and grants entry to all of the paid attractions, including La Tour César, a medieval tower commanding an idyllic panorama of the surrounding countryside, and its underground tunnel system.

Rouen

Normandy

Sitting only two hours north of Paris, in the heart of Normandy, Rouen is one of my favorite day trips from the capital mainly for two reasons: it is deeply historical––it is here Joan of Arc met her tragic fate at the stake––and its medieval center is largely preserved.

Centered around a beautiful Gothic cathedral, with not two, but three soaring spires, each of them unique in design, the historic center is a maze of alleyways flanked with askew, half-timbered 15th century houses, and it holds a gem or two:

The Gros-Horloge, arching over the Main Street, is an astronomical clock that rivals Prague’s in beauty, at least in my book, and in summer, the charming, runnel-lined Eau de Robec is a great spot to visit for coffee or an early-afternoon aperitif.

For something truly unique, though, make sure you don’t miss place du Vieux-Marché, or Old Market Square, where Joan was burned, and a modernist, stained-windowed church I always believed to be shaped like a witches’ now stands.

Honfleur

Normandy

Up on the Normandy Coast, Honfleur is what I like to describe as Amsterdam and Copenhagen’s lovechild: it is a timeless historic port lining the English Channel, famous for its seafood and Monet associations.

Indeed, it is an Impressionist painting come to life, with a picture-perfect harbor front made up of somber-colored, skinny edifices, and a maze of back streets flanked with shops and brasseries serving moules-frites and other traditional seafood.

The harbor is undoubtedly Honfleur’s pride and joy, though you shouldn’t miss out on the gorgeous Église Sainte Catherine, the oldest and biggest wood church in France, built in the 1400s, or the canal at Vieux-Bassin, where some of the best restaurants are.

Only have time for one? The centrally-located Bistro du Port has menus or lunch deals, starting from only $23.55 and typically includes a main dish, a drink, and a choice of starter or dessert. just so you know, their Camembert fondue is to die for.

Orange

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

We’re going to the deep French south for the next one, and this one’s for my fellow Roman Empire enthusiasts: in case you didn’t know, this region of France is littered with remnants from what’s arguably the greatest period of Western civilization, and this includes Orange.

A traditional ocher-colored town of Provence, it is a storied municipality of many cafe-bordered places (that’s French for square) and ancient landmarks that never seem to get the level of praise they deserve, starting with the UNESCO-protected Théâtre antique d’Orange.

A 1st-century theater in an impressive state of preservation, it continues to host festivals and live performances in summer, and on non-event days, it welcomes guests as an open-air museum for around $10––remind me how much it costs to access the Roman Colosseum again?

For other must-sees in Orange, add the equally Roman Triumphal Arc, the ruin-dotted Parc de la Colline Saint-Eutrope overlooking the theater, and a whimsical Château de Beaucastel, a winery centered around a centuries-old country manor surrounded by vineyards to your list.

Menton

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

My sneaky addition, as it is neither not-crowded nor necessarily a hidden gem, Menton features here simply because there is no prettier town in France, lemon gelato that’s more deliciously bitter or creamier, nor coastal views elsewhere that can rival it:

It straddles the Franco-Italian border, and as you’d expect of a border town, it has elements of both cultures, with trattorie galore and rows upon rows of warm-colored facades, contrasting with your usual boulangeries selling fresh croissants and locals’ undeniable provençal accent.

Menton is quintessential French Riviera and has been many times over the years; I can confirm it never loses its appeal––in fact, I keep stumbling upon more reasons to love it, be it viewpoints of the Jaune townscape from surrounding hills or new swimming spots along its turquoise waterfront.

Before I go, I must add no trip to Menton is complete without strolling the extent of its palm-strewn promenade, a mango or lemon sorbet from Tutti Frutti Glaciers in hands, pass the lush Val Rameh gardens, all the way into Italy.

The walk to the border takes 45 minutes to complete, and at the very end, you can reward yourself with dinner at the world-class Mirazur restaurant, run by a Franco-Italian chef who certainly knows how to knead fresh pasta into shape.

And those views of Menton in the distance? Mamma mia… c’est juste la huitième merveille du monde !

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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