France is the most-visited country by international travellers in the world. In 2023, Paris alone received approximately 40 million visitors (around 16 times more people than live in the city). The country is bursting with culinary, artistic, architectural and natural delights - from couples to solo backpackers and families, France has something to offer every traveller. To help you plan your trip, we explore 10 of the most popular tourist sites in France, as well as offering 10 alternative holiday destinations for each one.
The Eiffel Tower
Paris is routinely voted as one of the best places to visit in the world, and the Eiffel Tower is synonymous with the city. The most instantly recognizable symbol of France, it’s hard to conceive going to Paris and not visiting the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower is also an essential backdrop for any holiday photo in Paris. Share them easier than ever with an eSIM for France. These prepaid travel SIMs make it easy to share your holiday photos without paying international roaming charges.
Alternative: Tour de Montparnasse
There’s famously only one thing wrong with the view from the Eiffel Tower – it doesn’t have a view of the Eiffel Tower. How else would you know you’re in Paris? Fortunately, in the 1970s, the Parisians built the concrete monolith le Tour de Montparnasse. This locally-resented office block is the tallest building in Paris, with an observation deck open to the public. If you're travelling to Paris, why not kill two birds with one stone? Visit the Tour de Montparnasse rooftop restaurant to enjoy stunning views of the city that include the Eiffel Tower and exclude the Montparnasse.
More of the best viewpoints in France:
The Millau Viaduct, Notre Dame de la Garde (Marseille), Fourvière (Lyon)
Disneyland Paris
In a country with millennia of storied history, artistic triumphs, architectural gems and natural wonders, it may be surprising to learn that the most visited site in France is a children’s theme park built by an American corporation in the 1990s. Still, Disneyland Paris is the most popular destination in France by far – with almost twice as many annual visitors as the Eiffel Tower. The park is huge, and guests will often stay for multiple days in one of the many on-site hotels or chalets.
For families visiting Disneyland, the easiest way to keep in contact, navigate the park, and share the experience on social media is by downloading a prepaid France eSIM, like the ones from BetterRoaming. These help to simplify international travel by ensuring you enjoy high-speed mobile internet in France at local rates. BetterRoaming even offer France iPad data plans to help keep the kids entertained on holiday. Learn more about using an eSIM here.
Alternative: Parc Astérix
While nothing else in France exists on the scale of Disneyland Paris, the country still boasts some of Europe’s biggest and most visited theme parks. One of the standouts is Parc Astérix, which attracts nearly 3 million thrill-seekers and families a year. Like Disneyland, Parc Astérix is only an hour or so drive from Paris, making it a great option for a day trip or even a weekend break from the capital. Whichever you choose to visit, keep the family entertained with high-speed low-cost French mobile data.
Other must-visit family destinations in France:
Parc du Futuroscope, Terra Botanica
The Louvre
The most esteemed museum in the world, the Louvre has become a byword for classical art. As well as the single most famous painting of all time, the Mona Lisa, the Louvre contains an embarrassment of riches. Works from Delacroix, Michelangelo, Vermeer, Raphael and more line the halls of the 16th-century palace.
For those overwhelmed by the crowds (the Louvre welcomes 30,000 visitors a day) and the sheer number of artworks on display, France has several other art museums that rival the Louvre in the prestige and quality of their collections.
Alternatives: Nice and Provence
While the Louvre is undoubtedly the most important destination in France for classical art, the south coast of France is a treasure trove for fans of modern and impressionist painting. The Matisse Museum is in Nice, and the nearby village of Vence houses the Matisse-designed Rosary Chapel. In Provence, the Roman town of Arles was home to both Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. The city and surroundings inspired much of their art, and several Picassos can today be viewed in the Arles Musée Réattu. Whether you’re travelling to Paris or the south coast, plan your trip easily with a France prepaid eSIM. These prepaid SIM plans allow you to get online the second you arrive in France while avoiding roaming charges.
More of the best French art museums:
Musée Angladon, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Fondation Louis-Vuitton
The Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is the ideal destination for lovers of food, drinks and history. The region is filled with dozens of Renaissance French castles, or châteaux, many of which are open to the public. Some of the most famous and beautiful Loire Valley castles include the Chateau du Chambord and Chenonceau Castle. The Loire is also one of the most revered winemaking regions in the country, and wine-tasting holidays are a great way to explore the culture and history of the region. The easiest way to travel through the Loire valley is with a France eSIM, which lets travellers connect to local French mobile data and access the internet wherever in France without paying international roaming fees.
Alternative: Bordeaux
Bordeaux is one of the most beautiful cities in France, and the capital of the Bordeaux winemaking industry. Some of France’s best vineyards are easily reachable from the city centre, making it a perfect base for a winetasting holiday.
Other must-see châteaux:
Château de Saumur, Château de Fontainebleu, Château de Villandry
Annecy
The French Alps are renowned year-round for their world-class skiing resorts, charming alpine towns and spectacular views. The town of Annecy, at the foot of the mountains, is one of the most popular destinations in the French Alps. Famous for its medieval old town and location along the shore of Lake Annecy, the town and lake offer a range of attractions for kids and adults alike. Whether visiting in summer or winter, the easiest way to visit Annecy for a family holiday with a France eSIM. Download one before you travel and use high-speed mobile data throughout the Alps and the rest of France. You can even download iPad eSIM plans and keep the kids entertained.
Alternative: Megève
Smaller than Annecy, Megève is a typical alpine ski village, with wooden chalets, designer shops and world-class restaurants. Due to its mountainside location, Megève offers a range of activities all year round, from skiing in winter to hiking, biking and spa breaks in summer. Whichever season you visit in, using a France eSIM is an easy way to explore the Alps and remain connected to mobile data across the country.
Other French alpine towns to explore:
Tignes, Chamonix, Evian-les-Bains
Musée d'Orsay
While the Louvre’s collection features a broad spectrum of artistic periods, genres and mediums, the Musee d'Orsay narrows its focus to French painting, primarily from the impressionist movement. As the leading museum of French art in the world, the Musée d'Orsay opens its doors to 3 million visitors a year.
Alternative: Guimet Museum of Asian Art
Just across the Seine, almost within view of the Musée d'Orsay lies the equally charming Guimet Museum. The Guimet’s renaissance architecture and riverside location mirror that of the Musée d'Orsay, but the collection instead focuses on artworks and artifacts from across the Asian continent. The Guimet houses one largest collections of Asian art in Europe, and regularly displays on-loan exhibitions from leading Asian museums.
More of the best museums in Paris:
Grand Palais, Musée de l’Orangerie, Les Invalides
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
The Sacré-Cœur Basilica, also known as the Basilica of Montmartre or Sacré-Cœur by the Parisians, is an icon of the city, situated on a plateau overlooking the Montmartre district. Completed in 1919, the hilltop location is as much of a draw as the magnificent building itself, the Neo-Byzantine cathedral and the surrounding gardens drawing 10 million tourists per year.
Alternative: Notre-Dame de la Garde
To residents of France’s second-biggest city, the Mediterranean port of Marseille, the Notre-Dame de la Garde is as iconic as the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is to Paris.
Locally referred to as la Bonne Mère (‘the good mother'), the Notre-Dame de la Garde is also a mountaintop Basilica, perched on the limestone cliffs above Marseille’s old town. With less than a tenth of the annual visitors of its Montmartre counterpart, the Notre-Dame de la Garde offers the same combination of masterful gothic architecture and natural splendor, with considerably fewer crowds. The mountaintop location offers panoramic views of the old city port and the Mediterranean coast, making it the perfect starting point for exploring the city. Fortunately, whether you choose to travel to Paris, Marseille or further afield, a BetterRoaming eSIM provides travellers with reliable mobile data across France.
More incredible Gothic architecture in France:
Notre-Dame de Paris, Chartres Cathedral, Sainte-Chappelle
Puy du Fou
Another giant theme park, Puy du Fou is the most-visited French tourist attraction outside of Paris. Located in the Loire Valley, the Puy du Fou is themed around France’s history, with a variety of rollercoasters and live shows based on Roman and medieval France. Ideal for kids and adults alike, the Puy du Fou is a popular stopping point for any family holiday in the Loire Valley. An eSIM for France is a great way to travel the Loire valley, without overpaying for mobile data abroad.
Alternative: Pont du Gard
For those looking for a more authentic historical experience, France has an abundance of genuine Roman ruins, monuments and villages. One of the most well-preserved examples is the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct in Provence. Situated in a national park, the Pont du Gard recently received a brand-new visitor centre with a range of family-focused activities. Underneath the aqueduct, swimming, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular, providing a mixture of living history and outdoor activities for every family member.
More ancient history sites in France:
Maison Carrée (Roman temple in Nîmes), Lascaux (prehistoric cave paintings),
Le Mont Saint-Michel
The medieval village of Mont Saint-Michel, rising out of the Bay of Normandy, is an icon of Northern France. The commune and surrounding bay are UNESCO World Heritage sites that welcomed 3 million visitors in 2023. As well as religious significance (the abbey at the summit is an important site for many Catholic pilgrims), the village is known for its medieval architecture and panoramic hilltop views.
Alternative: Carcassonne
At the opposite end of the country is Carcassonne, another medieval hilltop village. Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, Carcassonne is famous for its beautifully preserved fortress and ramparts. Like Le Mont Saint-Michel, Carcassonne fortress is still a functioning community, with a small number of permanent residents.
More Medieval Villages in France:
Dinan, Chinon, Collonges-la-rouge
Parc de Princes
The home of one of Europe's richest football teams, Paris Saint-Germain, the cavernous Parc des Princes is easily reachable from central Paris and seats almost 50,000 fans every matchday. A PSG match is a great way for tourists to experience a part of Parisian life while viewing a world-class sporting event.
Alternative: Stade Vélodrome
While the Parc des Princes has enjoyed more footballing success in recent years, the Stade Vélodrome, home to PSG rivals Marseille, is legendary for its intense matchday atmosphere. The sweeping stadium, built in the 1930s, is an architectural jewel in itself, and Olympique Marseille fans are renowned for their devotion to the local club. Whichever team you support, a France eSIM from BetterRoaming will ensure you enjoy unbeatable mobile data coverage during your visit – so you can keep in contact, navigate the stadium and share your matchday photos and videos with ease.
More iconic French sports stadiums:
Stade de France (national rugby and football matches), Stade Roland-Garros (tennis), Groupama Stadium (Olympique Lyonnais)
Make your journey to France easier with a local eSIM
A France eSIM is the easiest way to use mobile data in France without paying roaming charges. With a BetterRoaming eSIM, the minute you arrive in France, you can get connected to our high-speed international network at a cheap local rate.
No more queuing up for a local SIM – just one simple mobile plan that can be downloaded in minutes, and ready to get online across France whenever you are.
An eSIM is a SIM profile you download to your phone. It allows you to use mobile data in other countries without paying international roaming charges
Our France travel eSIM is easier to use than a local France SIM card - with no need to swap SIM cards, or lose access to your messages or contacts
Choose between prepaid France eSIM plans and Europe eSIM plans
A BetterRoaming France eSIM is free to install. Just download your free eSIM anytime, then choose and purchase a mobile data plan for France or Europe when you're ready to travel- the plan will activate automatically as soon as you arrive
France eSIM data plans
Exploring other countries in Europe this year? For more travel tips, have a look at our guides to visiting Germany in 2024 and the 10 best travel destinations in Türkiye.
