There are many good reasons to visit France, and it’s no surprise that it continues to be the world’s most popular travel destination. Where else can you skip from mountains to oceans, passing through vineyards, lavender fields, and medieval villages along the way?
If there’s one thing that truly sets France apart, it's the food, whether it's five-star dining in Paris or tearing into a still-warm baguette from the local boulangerie (bakery). This French food and travel guide shows you how to taste your way around the country that has perfected the art of eating well.
Why travel to France?
France welcomes visitors with a sensory mix of culture, scenery, and cuisine. The menus here are as varied as the landscapes, and exploring France through food allows you to see the country at its most authentic. Each region tells its story through its flavours, connecting you to local traditions where food is at its heart. A trip to France and this French culinary travel guide promise to satisfy both your appetite and your sense of adventure.
Exploring France through food
French cuisine isn’t complicated, but it’s created with a respect for ingredients, seasonality, and the rituals of eating. Meals often last for hours, beginning with an aperitif, followed by an entrée, the main course, salad, cheese, dessert, and a digestif to finish. It’s no wonder UNESCO declared the French gastronomic meal a cultural treasure. Travel deeper and you’ll see how the French idea of terroir ties it all together: the soil, the climate, and traditions all leave their mark. Eating like a local in France means tasting these dishes at their source.
Top food cities and regions in France
Some places in France are worth the trip for the scenery alone, but add some regional French dishes to the mix and you’ve cooked up something unforgettable.
Lyon: France’s foodie capital
If there’s one city every foodie has on their French travel itinerary, it’s Lyon, known as the gastronomic capital of France. Almost 100 restaurants listed in the Michelin guide line its busy streets. The markets brim with cheeses from Dauphiné and wines from Beaujolais and the Rhône Valley. When you’re full, climb up to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière for views across the rooftops, the perfect digestif.
Experience it for yourself on: Best of France & Spain
Paris: the heart of French gastronomy
Paris is full of temptations with its patisseries, chocolateries, and legendary fine-dining spots, making it one of the top food cities in France. Grab a morning croissant still warm from the oven as you stroll past the Eiffel Tower or wander Rue Montorgueil, a historic food street where markets and cafés line the cobbles.
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Normandy: seafood, cider, and coastal charm
Normandy’s tables overflow with creamy Camembert and shellfish fresh from the sea. Order moules marinières (mussels in white wine) in a harbourside bistro and finish with a glass of Calvados brandy. Brush up on your history at the Bayeux Tapestry or lose yourself in the magic of Mont-Saint-Michel, rising like a fairy tale above the tides.
Experience it for yourself on: Journeys: Paris & Normandy Highlights
Brittany: crêpes, coastlines, and Celtic roots
Brittany is the land of crêpes and galettes, thin, golden pancakes filled with everything from ham and cheese to salted caramel. Pair them with a glass of local cider and savour the flavours from the northwest corner of France. Along the coast, fresh oysters and mussels make Brittany a seafood lover’s paradise.
Toulouse: hidden flavours and rustic charm
In southwestern France, food is made for sharing. Traditional French food is rich, hearty, and comforting. Toulouse sausage is famous across the world, but taste it at its best in a slow-cooked cassoulet. Take a wander through Victor Hugo Market, and you’ll see why this region is a must for foodie travel in France.
Experience it for yourself on: Local Living France: Toulouse
Provence: sun-soaked flavours
Bask in the sunshine of the Provence countryside, where local cuisine is infused with the rich colours of the Mediterranean: ratatouille that's bright with colour, simmering bouillabaisse, and rosé wines that taste like summer in a glass. Shop for lavender honey and baskets of olives at the fragrant market stalls before exploring the Gothic Palais des Papes in Avignon, one of the most scenic towns in France.
Experience it for yourself on: Paris to the Mediterranean: Coasts & Cafés
Bordeaux: wine and culinary elegance
If Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France, Bordeaux is the cellar. The city is surrounded by some of the world’s best vineyards, and wine and food walk hand in hand here. Try entrecôte à la bordelaise (steak with red wine and shallots) or canelés, small rum and vanilla cakes that are a Bordeaux classic. Wander through the elegant Place de la Bourse before heading into the Saint-Émilion appellation to sample a world-famous Bordeaux red in the medieval town that gave it its name.
Mont Blanc: mountain fare with a view
High in the French Alps, food is prepared to satisfy your appetite after long hikes on the mountainside. Tartiflette, bubbling raclette, and fondues shared around a fire are staples of Alpine cuisine. Afterward, wander the canals of Annecy, a pretty lakeside town.
Experience it for yourself on: Mont Blanc Explorer
Multicountry exploration: France and Spain
If your mouth isn’t watering yet, a food tour through France and Spain should do the trick. In the south of France, Basque flavours sneak onto the plate in dishes like axoa (stew with ground veal) and piperade (slow-cooked stew of onions, peppers, and tomatoes). In Perpignan, just a short hop from Catalonia, taste Mediterranean influences in olive oils, anchovies, and hearty fish stews. Cross the Pyrenees and the flavours shift again. Sample pintxos in Bilbao, tapas in San Sebastián, and paella further south in Valencia.
Experience it for yourself on: Best of France & Spain
Family travel: from Paris to Normandy
It’s not just adults who get to enjoy the best places to visit in France; kids can join the adventure, too. In Paris, little travellers can start with simple joys: pain au chocolat or rainbow-coloured macarons before running off some energy in one of the city’s leafy parks. Normandy is a different kind of fun. Families can share crêpes and ice cream by the sea, and the kids can make sandcastles while the grownups drink cider. This is the best kind of cultural travel in France, which tastes as good as it looks.
Experience it for yourself on: France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond
Where to eat in France
The creative world of good food is always evolving. With more vegetarian and vegan diners, plant-based menus are popping up everywhere, even in Michelin-starred kitchens like Le Clair de la Plume in Drôme Provençale. Wood-fired cooking is back, bringing that smoky flavour that everyone loves. Chefs are experimenting by blending Middle Eastern spices to French staples, as at Kedem in Bordeaux.
Don't think that you always need Michelin stars to find good food. Some of the best food experiences in France come from eating fresh ingredients straight from the French countryside and cooking them yourself.
Choosing the right France food travel tour
A French travel itinerary is about finding the right mix of food and travel. Guided tours take the stress out of planning and often include behind-the-scenes food experiences.
If you have one week
For a seven-day trip, focus on a single place, such as Nice, where you can take your time and get to know it better. At the Old Town’s Cours Saleya market, you can sample fresh socca (chickpea pancakes) and pissaladière (savoury tart) for some classic Niçois bites, and then stroll along the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais as the Mediterranean glitters at sunset. Climb the cobbled lanes of Èze, a hilltop village with picture-perfect views of the Riviera, or take a stroll in Villefranche-sur-Mer, where restaurants serve up the catch of the day beneath colourful facades by the water’s edge. Enjoy a week filled with tasty moments you’ll crave long after you get home.
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With two weeks
With 10 to 14 days, travelling from Paris to Lyon is a journey through two different sides of France. In Paris, bite into buttery croissants in the Marais, wander the historic food street Rue Montorgueil, and enjoy dinner by the Seine after museum visits and landmark strolls. Next, head south to Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital. Its old town is a maze of traboules, secret passageways once used by silk workers, and the city’s famous bouchons, where hearty plates like quenelles are washed down with Beaujolais or Rhône wines for the perfect end to a trip that blends the fine dining elegance of Paris with the flavoursome charm of Lyon.
Experience it for yourself on: France to Spain: A Cultural Crossing
Tips for food-focused travel in France
To eat like a local in France and make the most of your foodie trip, a little etiquette goes a long way.
– Always greet staff with bonjour (hello) when you enter and merci, au revoir (thank you, goodbye) when you leave.
– Book ahead, especially for popular spots and let them know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements.
– Many restaurants close on certain days or take long breaks in August.
– Don’t expect all-day dining. Lunch and dinner have set hours.
– Be patient. Meals are meant to be enjoyed, not rushed.
– Service is included in the bill, but leaving a small tip is appreciated.
If your sense of adventure leads you away from the tourist trail, follow your nose and explore neighbourhood markets, ask local guides for their go-to spots, or find out whether there are any cooking classes and tastings nearby.
Best French food festivals
As a nation of food lovers, France has food festivals going on all year round. Here are a few of the best.
– La Fête du Citron in Menton on the Côte d’Azur: Each February for two weeks, the town celebrates all things lemon with everything from giant sculptures to citrus-inspired menus.
– Le Festival International de la Soupe in Lille: This event celebrates soups and cuisines from around the world, with more than 60 stalls setting up in the marketplace.
– Roscoff Onion Festival in Brittany: Every August, this event pays tribute to one of France’s most famous ingredients. Local dishes are served alongside Breton music and dancing.
Why France is the ultimate foodie trip
If your only experience of French food is watching the movie Ratatouille, then it's time you booked the real thing. Nowhere else has a food culture like France. Traditional but also constantly evolving with new ideas and influences, France stands out because it offers travellers not just dishes to taste, but a way of life to experience, and that’s what makes it the ultimate culinary destination. Bon appétit!
