I'm going to France. When is the season? When is the best time to go to France? Eating and saving in France

France ranks first in terms of attractiveness for tourists. More than 80 million travelers visit it annually. And all thanks to the fact that France has a huge number of attractions, a developed tourist infrastructure, an extensive transport network, and most importantly: there is a comfortable climate, excellent beach resorts in the south, upscale ski resorts in the Alps, picturesque nature throughout the country. Let’s also not forget that Paris, the capital of France, is also called the city of lovers, and many young (and not only) couples strive to come here.

An independent trip to France will not only save up to 50% of your money (compared to if the vacation was organized by a travel agency), but will also bring much more vivid and memorable impressions into your life. Actually organize your own own journey simple enough. If you are doing this for the first time, then just follow the instructions, and you will be able to relax 100%.

Trip plan

1. Decide on travel dates
2. Decide in which specific place you want to vacation (or in which part of the country, if the trip involves visiting several cities)
3. Make a rough vacation plan (on which days you will visit what)
4. Buy round trip air tickets
5. Book accommodation (hotel/house/apartment/hostel)
6. Get health insurance
7. Get a Schengen visa (if not already)
8. Go on vacation

Everyone chooses the dates and place for their vacation for themselves. The same article is devoted to the main points of organizing a trip. And so let’s move on to these most important points, this information is for you to travel to France on your own, inexpensively and comfortably.

Flights

Air tickets to France must be purchased in advance. 3-6 months before the flight, air ticket prices are minimal. The best (and most convenient) way is to buy air tickets yourself on the website. I have been using this site almost since its opening and have never had any problems with it, so you can use the Aviasales functionality yourself with complete confidence.

If you want to fly to France cheaper, then consider flights with transfers. Most often, there is a transfer in Kyiv or Riga; such planes fly to Paris from Moscow in 5-7 hours, and the ticket costs from 200 €. You can fly by direct flight in 3.5 hours, spending from 270 €.

The most large airports, receiving flights from Russia, are located in Paris, Nice and Marseille. If you want to go to some other city in France, you will have to fly with transfers, also using domestic aviation. Most major airport country is called “Charles de Gaulle” (Charles de Gaulle, France, code CDG). Most flights to France from Russia depart from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Some daredevils go to France in their own car. Let me warn you right away that this type of travel is very long, difficult and quite demanding on money, so it is not suitable for everyone. But if you are not afraid of difficulties, you can read the article; the information also applies to France.

Calendar low prices for air tickets

Check airfare prices:

Accommodation

Hotels in France are both inexpensive and very expensive. The closer to city centers, the higher the prices. If you are going to stay in Paris, then take into account the fact that the capital of the country is divided into 20 districts and some of them (mostly the extreme ones, the districts are numbered in a spiral from the center to the periphery) are quite crime-prone areas, in which it is not advisable to settle. Therefore, it is safest to choose central and mid-distance districts (most of the attractions, restaurants and shops are located there, so living in these areas, you will definitely benefit from comfort and accessibility interesting places).

No matter what city you are going to, it is more profitable to book a hotel at. I recommend switching to this service right now and finding yourself suitable option. This site is used by millions of travelers from all over the world because of its functionality, a huge number of hotels, safety and friendly attitude towards visitors, and, most importantly, there is no commission on it. It's great when you can find inexpensive and comfortable hotels, and even arrange everything in a few minutes. Use it!

Another way to live in France is to rent an apartment, room or house. This is most often beneficial large families or groups of friends from 5 people. You can rent any accommodation on Airbnb. You can find out how to rent accommodation abroad on Airbnb.

Find inexpensive hotel from Roomguru right now:

Travel documents

France is part of the Schengen zone, which means Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Kazakhs will need a visa. It’s quite easy to get it yourself; you can also contact a special company that will help with paperwork, for example, in. The list of documents for a trip to France is as follows:

• international passport
• Medical insurance
• Schengen visa

How to get a Schengen visa yourself. ABOUT making the right choice health insurance written in .

Attractions

Depending on the place you choose for your vacation, there will be a different list of places you will visit. Therefore, you need to decide which attractions are worth seeing when you have precisely decided on the city of stay for the duration of the trip. If you are going to visit several cities at once, then take guidebooks from all of them. settlements and mark the ones that are best in your opinion. In any case, you can spend an interesting holiday in France in any city. I will list the most famous and popular attractions among tourists:

• Eiffel Tower (Paris)
• Notre-Dame de Paris (Paris)
• Versailles (suburb of Paris)
• Louvre (Paris)
• Picasso Museum (Paris)
• Rodin Museum (Paris)
• Chenonceau Castle (Chenonceau village)
• Chateau de Chambord (Loir et Cher department)
• Arc de Triomphe (Paris)
• Rouen Cathedral (Rouen)
• Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Garde (Marseille)
• Pantheon (Paris)
• Champs Elysees (Paris)
• Château d'If (Marseille)
• Longchamp Palace (Marseille)
• Cathedral (Marseille)
• Notre Dame Cathedral (Strasbourg)

For those who want to see as many interesting places in France as possible, I recommend. You can use it to travel to different parts of the country and understand much better what and how the French live, and you will have many times more pleasant impressions.

Travel cost

Traveling independently in France can be much cheaper than offers from travel agencies. But it is important to understand that only you decide how much your vacation will cost. You can live in a three-star hotel, fly economy class with a transfer, not spend money on shopping and save on restaurants. Also, the price of the trip depends on the city where you stay. For example, a vacation in Paris will require twice as much money as the same one in Lyon. To give you an idea, I’ll give you a breakdown of the costs for an average week’s vacation in Paris for two:

• Round trip flights = 440 €
• Room in a 3* hotel (in the center) = 800 €
• Food = 250 €
• Sights and transport = 400 €
• Shopping = 250 €
• Visa = 35 €

In total we get that independent trip to France it will cost 2175 €. But keep in mind that this is the cost of the holiday itself. dear city France. Some people spend a lot less, saving on everything, while others spend a lot more, buying everything they like. Read our guide on how to travel very cheaply around the world. It gives instructions and examples on how to travel around the world, spending only $40-60 per day per person. Thanks to this information, you can visit France very inexpensively, but then you will lose a little in comfort.

How to save money while traveling

I hope you will no longer have a question about how to travel to France on your own. Thanks to this information, you will be able to visit Paris, Nice, Marseille or any other city in France very soon. Best wishes to you!

We continue to share with you ready-made travel recipes from our readers. Teresa Kavinska from Lviv recently returned from a three-week trip to France, which enchanted her with its food, landscapes and architecture.

Why France?

I've been drooling over photos of the magical Etretat for a long time, and French cheeses and croissants cannot be compared with anything. In addition, I wanted to dispel the stereotype that France is only Paris and the Eiffel Tower, and surprise myself and my friends beautiful nature of this country.

How to get there?

Most cheap way to get to France - fly through Brussels. Since we had a plan to travel the coast of France from north to south, we took tickets from Warsaw to Charleroi, and back from Toulouse to Warsaw on the Irish favorite Ryanair. They also took extra luggage to place our tent. Tickets cost €80 per person, two ways. We hesitated between Charleroi and Paris, but tickets to Belgium were cheaper.

Cheap options from Poland to Brussels or France and back are very common. And if Ryanair or Wizz Air are having a sale, they will cost almost nothing. In addition, Belavia recently launched direct flights Minsk-Brussels (from € 89 one way). You probably know that airports are far from the city. You can take a shuttle for €10, we were hitchhiking.

Transport

Hitchhiking in France is excellent. Although most drivers do not understand English, it is easy to explain where to drop you off using sign language and maps on your phone. We were picked up on highways, parking lots and small rural roads. Hitchwiki is always there to help you find out the best spots.
If hitchhiking is not your thing, use BlaBlaCar, which, by the way, was invented by the French. The prices are reasonable and it’s easy to find travel companions.
It is also convenient to use FlixBus and Eurolines. If you decide to travel by train, you should know that France has a special railway system. Prices depend on the time of year, high or low season and when you buy the ticket. The earlier you buy, the cheaper the tickets will be. If you are going to travel a lot, then buy a travel pass. For example, Interrail France Pass. And don’t forget to say that you are young - up to 26 years old you will receive a discount.

Public transport in France is inexpensive. Metro in Paris is € 1.7, and buses € 1.2-2, depending on the city. Quite cheap bikes to rent in Paris and Bordeaux - €2 per hour. But if you change your bike within 30 minutes at stations, it will be free.

What to save on?

It's easy to save money on food in France. We bought groceries at Carrefour and had awesome picnics for €6-8 for two. Do you want to have a snack? Go to the Boulangerie. Baguettes for 60 euro cents, and croissants for 80. And you’ll be full, and national cuisine you'll try. If you see the morning market, don't miss it. As usual, prices are low and you can try everything. We bought three avocados for €1, a large quiche Laurent for €3 and plenty of seafood for five for €20. And don't be afraid to haggle!

We also took food with us from home and sometimes cooked on a gas burner (we bought it from Decathlon in France).

But the biggest savings are made on transport and accommodation due to hitchhiking, couchsurfing and tents.

Where to live?

Luckily, couchsurfing works well in France. We did not travel to tourist season(end of March - beginning of April) and traveled around small towns. We looked for coaches the day before our arrival and almost always found them. I'm sure that in high season and in big cities The situation with this is worse, so write in a week or two.

In addition to the cabins, we stayed in hostels. In Paris, hostel prices start from €30, but rooms sell out like hot cakes. I recommend Smart Place Hotel Gare du Nord (28 Rue de Dunkerque) and Les piaules (59 Boulevard de Belleville). The first is in the Montmartre area, but not in the center of the action, but on a quiet street not far from the metro. I liked the second one even more - a chic bar on the ground floor and an incredible view from the open rooftop terrace. Every Sunday there is a noisy and cheap market under the hostel. In other cities, prices are not much cheaper, and there are no hostels in small towns. For example, in the city of Lorient we stayed in a hotel for € 60 for two (this was the cheapest offer in the city, even without breakfast). Then night found us in an unknown place, and there was no desire to sleep in a tent.

By the way, about tents. Theoretically, you cannot set up a tent within a city or park - it is prohibited. Of course, you can hide in the forest where no one will see, but there is always a risk that a pack of wild animals will come for a visit. Wild donkeys came to us to look at the tent. Therefore, if you travel with tents, stay at a campsite or with locals. Camping costs €15-20 for a piece of land for a tent and a warm shower. If you're lucky, you'll meet some tramps from different countries and get wifi. But if you are a traveler with a budget of € 20 for a week, I advise you to put up a tent in the yard local residents. I first practiced this in Norway, then in Italy, and now in France - it works. Just look for a house with a big yard and friendly people, put on your most charming smile and ask to pitch a tent on the property. First of all, it's legal. Secondly, you will have access to hot water and maybe even wifi. And thirdly, it is likely that you will be invited to spend the night in the house, and even fed with treats.

Well, now the route. Our route ran from Brussels to Toulouse, which is more than 2500 km. But the standard route can start from Paris, ending in Bordeaux, passing through Normandy, Brittany and Aquitaine.

Paris

We decided to avoid all tourist paths, so we didn’t even get to the Louvre and Arc de Triomphe. What surprised me was that it was huge! It seemed that popular locations were located within the same county. But no. From Montmartre to Notre Dame it is 5 km, from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower is another 5 km, and to the Louvre it is another 2 km. We didn’t chase the sights and walked all day, enjoying the streets Latin Quarter, blooming magnolias and a deserted park near the tower, where several locals were walking their dogs. Oh yes! You can try the best croissants at Du Pain et Des Idées (34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris, France), and excellent falafels at L "as du Fallafel (32 Rue des Rosiers) in the Le Marais area.

Normandy

We went on a trip for the sake of Normandy and Brittany. These are the regions of cider, cheeses and rocks. Therefore, immediately after Paris we hitchhiked to Normandy. First we arrived in Honfleur, a small fishing town in the department of Calvados. Our coach lived in a tall old house that smelled like grandma's closet, but very nice and in the center of the city. The specificity of Norman towns are half-timbered houses, high (6-7 floors), but narrow (2-3 windows per floor) with low ceilings. It seems that such a house may not withstand gusts of wind, but time shows otherwise.

In addition to Honfleur, I advise you to visit Deauville, Trouville-sur-Mer, Fécamp. In Deauville, for example, Coco Chanel opened her first boutique and introduced the fashion for tanning.

Having lived in France for a year, I had the pleasure of observing the change of all seasons. I lived in Paris, but traveled around the rest of France from time to time. I must say, it was not always easy because of the weather. In winter I was very cold, since winters there are not dry and cold, like in Russia, but very wet, with a lot of rain. I remember that it was cold, especially in the Paris metro. When I went down there, it was as if I was hit with an additional wave of cold.

But summer came very quickly, already in March, which couldn’t help but make me happy. Then I fully realized why impressionism was born in France. Roses and other flowers bloom in the gardens all around and a pleasant, spicy aroma spreads throughout the city. It is especially pleasant to walk in the suburbs of Paris at this time: the trees are already green, rose bushes hang over the garden fence, and light birds chirp among the flowers.

Summer in France

It's very hot. Temperatures rise to +25, and in some regions – up to +30. The most unfavorable time to arrive in. Unless, of course, you want to get sunstroke in an endless queue to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower. Even to buy ice cream, you have to stand in line. It seems that at this time all the tourists from all over the world come here. The Parisians themselves laugh that they are just leaving their city, going on vacation to the Riviera or some resort, leaving tourists to be torn to pieces.

Things to do

Things to do

In spring, it’s nice to walk not only around the city itself, but also to go, for example, to Vincennes Castle and Park. A visit to the castle, of course, is paid (about 10 EUR), but the park is completely free. Peacocks walk there and you can meet other animals. The flora of different countries is presented there: from the Japanese garden to tall maples.

There are also excursions to Giverny. It was there that Monet painted his famous water lilies. It is amazing a nice place. I remember that Bus tours there were only 35 EUR.

The Loire Valley is also nice to visit. When influential nobles and kings lived near their castles, they usually built parks and gardens that were amazing in their taste.

Summary

Therefore, depending on the season, go to the corresponding regions of France. Either way, you won't be disappointed. She is beautiful at any time of the year and will give you the most enjoyable education. I liked spring in France most of all. At this time, all the streets are truly fragrant with the smell of flowers. My friends and I went to parks in the spring and had mini-picnics. It's nice to sit there on the grass, in the shade of the trees, watching people pass by.

Do? There can be only one answer to the question - in France you can always have a great time and relax, at any time of the year!

France in winter

Of course, France is, first of all, Paris. The most romantic city in Europe and the most magical holidays - New Year and Christmas - can you think of a more successful combination! The people of Paris have excellent taste - not only is the city itself superbly decorated, but in almost every window you can see a small work of art on a Christmas theme.

The whole city glows with the lights of garlands and brightly decorated Christmas trees. On New Year's Eve, Parisians and guests of the capital take to the streets - music, laughter, champagne - the most French and most New Year's drink! Large festive celebrations take place on the Champs Elysees. But by midnight, bright streams of people, glowing with sparklers, lanterns and multi-colored light bulbs, flock to the main symbol of Paris - the Eiffel Tower, which also sparkles with lights, and especially brightly on this night.

For those who prefer to celebrate New Year and Christmas in more comfortable conditions, small and large cafes, restaurants and restaurants cordially open their doors, where you can see a wide variety of entertainment programs and try Tasty food. For the appropriate fee, you can attend a ball in a real castle, where you will be offered a menu worthy of kings.

And the period from January 9 to February 16 is a real holiday for shopping lovers. The largest stores hold sales, and discounts on goods gradually reach 50 - 80%. All of Europe knows about these sales, and the number of people coming to Paris these days increases significantly.

In addition, no one canceled a visit to the Louvre, the Cognac-Jeu Museum and others, of which there are a lot in Paris. You can spend the whole day at Disneyland.

Winter in France is mild, the air temperature rarely drops below -10°C, most often 0° and slightly higher.

Ski resorts in France are very popular. The Alps here are the highest in Western Europe, a large selection of slopes, 3900 lifts - there is no such number anywhere in the world, stable snow cover from early December to May. And the presence of special snow cannons at 175 resorts allows you to continue descending from the mountains even in summer. Sun, almost always good weather, famous resorts such as Courchevel, Chamonix, Tignes, Val d'Isère, Val Thorens, Meribel and others! And there are also little known places for a ski holiday, where prices are much lower.

Spring in France

Spring in France is a great time for tourists. This is the time of flowering, when the air is filled with the aroma of lilacs and blossoming almonds. On the Parisian boulevards, chestnut trees delight the eye. And how wonderful it is to celebrate Valentine's Day in the most romantic city.

There are not very many tourists and it is much easier to get to famous museums. You can walk for a long time along the streets and squares, relaxing with a cup of coffee in small cafes under open air. And a little later, take a boat ride on the Seine, or go to bus tour to the castles of the Loire.

Summer holidays in France

The shores of France are washed by waters Atlantic Ocean And Mediterranean Sea. The climate here is mild and, although the summers are quite hot (in July the temperature is above +25°), the resorts of the Cote d'Azur are considered one of the most famous and popular in the world. Excellent here clear water, excellent infrastructure. Names such as Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Nice are known even to those who have never been to France; they are associated with a luxurious and carefree life.

In addition to the Cote d'Azur, the resort of Biarritz is also known; it is located on the border with Spain and is famous for its particularly mild climate, which allows for thalassotherapy - therapeutic spa treatments based on the use of sea ​​water and algae.

Very close to Paris is the province of Normandy. The resort of Deauville on the English Channel coast has long been a favorite holiday destination for the “rich and famous”. In addition to the beautiful beach, there are conditions for horse riding and sailing.

If you have long and with all your heart dreamed of visiting one of the most beautiful and romantic countries in the world, perhaps our article will slightly cool your ardent desire. The ZagraNitsa portal has found places and things that will clearly make it clear that France is tasteless food, boring landscapes and unclear architecture. And in general, there is nothing to do in this terrible region. It's a waste of time, that's all!

1

There is hardly anything to see in France.

City of Annecy. Photo: shutterstock 2

Don't expect breathtaking landscapes from this country. They are not here.

Cassis, near Marseille. Photo: shutterstock 3

Seriously!

Bonifacio, Corsica. Photo: shutterstock

I don’t even want to talk about beaches. They are always crowded with vacationers and littered with garbage.

Corsica. Photo: shutterstock 5

And the rivers here are not so hot.

The Sioule River near Vichy. Photo: panoram-art.com 6

And waterfalls can only cause ironic ridicule.

Cascade of waterfalls in Baume Les Messieurs, Jura. Photo: shutterstock 7

Mountains in France? No, we haven't!

Alps, Savoie department. Photo: shutterstock 8

French lakes are generally depressing.

Lake Sainte-Croix, Verdon Gorge. Photo: shutterstock 9

And the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is just a village built on a hill.

Island of Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy. Photo: shutterstock 10

And the rest of the villages are not impressive at all. The village is a village.

The village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in southwestern France. Photo: shutterstock 11

Architecture in France is gray and monotonous.

Colmar, Alsace. Photo: shutterstock 12
Menton, Cote d'Azur. Photo: shutterstock 13

The vaunted and are a rare disgusting thing. How can you eat and drink this?

Munster is one of the oldest (and most delicious) European cheeses. Photo: shutterstock 14

Apart from baguettes and croissants, there is nothing else to try in French cuisine.

Duck breast in wine with berry sauce. Photo: shutterstock 15

Except Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur in Paris and there is nothing to see.

French Disneyland is a fairy tale for children and adults. Photo: travellerguidance.com 16

And to be honest, the Eiffel Tower is not at all impressive. The tower is like a tower. Nothing special.

Eiffel Tower, Paris. Photo: shutterstock 17

And all the bridges in Paris are gray and monotonous. Complete darkness.

Bridge Alexandra III- one of the most beautiful in Paris. Photo: shutterstock

French desserts are not appetizing. Not a bit. Honestly.

Pastry masterpieces from Strasbourg. Photo: shutterstock 19

The French coast is not exciting. You will definitely be disappointed.

Coast of Corsica. Photo: shutterstock 20

Seriously, just stay home and never fly to Paris or travel to Burgundy, Brittany and Alsace. Just think underground caves, oysters or lavender fields. Well, really, what’s so remarkable about them?

Lavender fields Provence. Photo: shutterstock

Don't waste time in France. It’s so boring: to freeze with admiration in the most beautiful and romantic country in the world. Seize every moment and try to remember every second of being here. Smile in response to the hospitality of local residents, discover the world of seafood and other delicious delicacies, wander for hours along the well-groomed medieval streets and get acquainted with rich history the edges. Do not do that!