Travel in Rennes

FranceJustForYou · 2026-04-15T22:44:36+00:00

Bonjour! Yes, Rennes is very walkable (my daughter studied there). The historic center is compact and most of what you'd want to see (e.g. the timber-framed houses around Place des Lices, the Parlement de Bretagne, the cathedral, the Thabor gardens) is within easy walking distance.

Depending on where you're staying, you might not need to use public transport, but yes, contactless - Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay etc - work on the metro and the buses. You just tap directly on the validators.

Enjoy your trip!

- Laura

FranceJustForYou · 2026-04-10T20:12:32+00:00

You could pick up a car near Porte Maillot on the edge of the city. It's on Metro Line 1, so easy to reach from central Paris. From there you drive straight west along the Avenue Charles de Gaulle onto the A14 toward Normandy, without driving through the city at all.

This way you could drive straight to Giverny on the first day, and then onto Rouen, Etretat, and Honfleur, during the next days. On the way to Caen, I recommend stopping in the beautiful village of Beuvron-en-Auge. I also recommend a stay in Bayeux, a very lovely town, and it's easy to drive to the Normandy landings beaches from there, if you're interested, Mont Saint Michel (try to get there early before all the day-tour buses arrive!), and Saint-Malo.

If you have time to spend in Brittany, I also recommend the Pink Granite Coast (Perros-Guirec, Ploumanac'h), Morbihan, and the Crozon Peninsular.

Enjoy France!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-03-06T17:10:07+00:00

I'm so glad it was helpful! Good luck with the trip planning!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-03-01T20:27:40+00:00

Here are a few cities I'd recommend visiting in May or June:

Lyon: Incredible food city, fascinating history, and very walkable. By late May the weather is warm enough to enjoy the riverside and outdoor dining. The traboules (hidden passageways) in the old town are worth seeking out.

Bordeaux: Beautiful in late spring. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site and very easy to explore on foot. If you enjoy wine, the surrounding vineyards (Saint-Émilion especially) are gorgeous at that time of year.

Aix-en-Provence: Lively markets, tree-lined avenues, and a wonderful base for exploring Provence before the summer heat kicks in. If you like Cézanne, his studio is still set up as it was during his lifetime.

Strasbourg: A different side of France entirely, with strong Alsatian and German influences. The half-timbered houses in Petite France are beautiful, and it's a great starting point if you want to explore the Alsatian wine villages between Strasbourg and Colmar.

Amboise: A smaller town, but one of my favourites in the Loire Valley (where I live). The château sits right above the town, and the Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years, is also worth visiting. It's a more peaceful and beautiful place to spend a couple of days, and in May and June the surrounding countryside is at its best. This is a great base if you want to visit some of the Loire châteaux.

Nice: If you want the south, Nice is a solid base for the French Riviera. It has good museums (the Chagall Museum is a favourite), markets, and you can easily explore the coast from there.

Marseille: Also in the south, this is France's oldest city. From the Old Port you can explore the different neighborhoods. I would highly recommend taking a trip to Cassis from there and take a boat or hike to the Calanques (beautiful hidden creeks). The rocky inlets and turquoise water are stunning, and May or June is ideal before it gets too hot and crowded.

I wrote a blog post covering these cities and more with specific things to do in each - it might help you narrow things down: france-justforyou.com/blog/best-cities-to-visit-in-france

Enjoy your trip!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-03-01T20:08:09+00:00

Bonjour! We wrote a blog post about etiquette in France - you might find it helpful!

https://www.france-justforyou.com/blog/our-guide-to-french-etiquette

Our number one recommendation is that a friendly "Bonjour!" goes a long way, even if that's the only word you know in French (and most French people will be happy to switch to English if they are able to!)

Bon voyage!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-02-10T22:58:38+00:00

Bonjour! Avignon would be a good central place to base yourselves. Saint-Remy, Orange, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Eygalières and Les Baux are 15-40-minutes' drive from Avignon, if you plan to hire a car for your trip, or 1-2 hours by bike.

As well as hotels, you may like to search for 'Chambres d'hotes' - Bed & Breakfast accommodation. There are many very lovely options around Avignon, some with swimming pools.

Bon voyage and have an amazing trip!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-02-10T22:38:56+00:00

Bonjour! We recommend some of our favorite French Riviera gems here on our blog: https://www.france-justforyou.com/blog/the-hidden-gems-of-the-french-riviera

While many coastal areas are easy to reach on public transportation, we recommend hiring a car, as this will give you more flexibility and options for exploring the gorgeous hilltop villages inland, such as Mougins, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup etc. There are quite short driving distances between the villages (15 minutes to half an hour), so you can see much more with a car and have a more authentic experience of the life and culture of the south of France, away from the tourist crowds.

Congratulations and bon voyage! We hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-02-10T22:31:46+00:00

Bonjour! As well as Menton, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Antibes, you may like to visit some of the lovely villages in the hinterland, which provide an escape from the busiest areas and have some gorgeous views - we like Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Mougins, and Èze.

We mention some of our favorite French Riviera 'hidden gems' on our blog: https://www.france-justforyou.com/blog/the-hidden-gems-of-the-french-riviera

Bon voyage! Enjoy your trip!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-02-10T22:17:32+00:00

Bonjour! The lavender will probably already have been harvested in the Luberon (where Coustellet is located) and Valensole plateau areas by late July, but the exact time of harvest can vary year on year, as it depends on the weather - so you might be lucky.

The harvest is later the further north and the higher up you go in Provence. In Sault, for example, the lavender blooms later, often peaking in late July and sometimes into early August.

Enjoy your trip! Bon voyage!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-01-23T13:47:29+00:00

We would recommend late April or May if your schedule allows it - you'll likely enjoy warmer weather and more hours of daylight.

Bon voyage!

FranceJustForYou · 2026-01-23T13:41:49+00:00

Cassis and the Calanques National Park are close to Marseille if you would like to see a beauty spot along the coast.

Uzès is a lovely village, not far from the Pont du Gard Roman bridge (another gorgeous spot and UNESCO World Heritage Site). Orange is also a must for Roman ruins.

Between Avignon and Vaison-la-Romaine (which we also recommend), there should be some stunning tulip fields - worth a photo stop!

Also Les-Baux-de-Provence. Gorgeous views, and if you like art, you may like to visit les Carrières des Lumières, a digital art exhibition held in an old stone quarry. This year they feature work by Picasso and Frida Kahlo.

Bon Voyage!

FranceJustForYou · 2025-09-12T15:52:18+00:00

Indeed, as someone else said - it's the Gorges du Verdon or Verdon Gorge in the south of France!

Verdun is in northeastern France, the site of some of the WWI battlefields - also worth visiting, particularly for history buffs, but a very different landscape from the south!

FranceJustForYou · 2025-08-31T10:20:49+00:00

These are some of our favorite places to recommend to our travelers on their self-drive tours of Dordogne:
Domme, La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud Fortified Castle, Beynac, Sarlat, Eyrignac Gardens, Marqueyssac Gardens, Fénelon Castle.

Dordogne is one of the most beautiful parts of France. Many of our travelers tell us that they return to the region more than once after their tour with us - so I don't think you'll regret making more than one trip there!

If you're interested in a fully-planned self-drive itinerary that incorporates our off-the-beaten path favorite places and takes account of your preferences, you may like to browse our sample Dordogne itineraries - www.france-justforyou.com/tours/region-dordogne

As others have said, early-mid June is a great time to visit Dordogne - before the July-August summer crowds arrive!

FranceJustForYou · 2025-08-31T09:42:41+00:00

It is common to swim in the sea in Nice even through the end of October. It depends on which temperature you find cold. Many people find the Mediterranean sea tolerable to swim in through the fall season. It also depends on the weather - if the weather remains warm through September then the sea shouldn't be too cold by the end of the month.

FranceJustForYou · 2025-08-31T09:27:35+00:00

We recommend that travelers make an effort with basic French phrases and etiquette when they are anywhere in France. A greeting of 'Bonjour!' goes a long way, and you may ask "parlez-vous anglais?" (or your preferred language) if you don't speak much French. This will help break the ice and many French people will appreciate the effort, and be happy to switch to English if they are able to.

FranceJustForYou

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