Visit Toulouse

Space theme park in Europe’s aerospace capital: a full-size Ariane 5, a Mir station mock-up and a planetarium.

The largest surviving Romanesque church in Europe, built for pilgrims on the road to Santiago and topped by a five-tier octagonal bell tower.

Visit Nice, the capital of the French Riviera. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais (iconic 7km seafront walkway), explore the Old Town (Vieux Nice) with its narrow streets and Cours Saleya market (famous for flowers and local produce), and admire the panoramic views from Colline du Château (a historic hilltop park). Don't miss the Musée Matisse (dedicated to the artist's works in a 17th-century villa) and try local specialties like socca (chickpea pancake) and salade niçoise.

Visit Lyon, France's third-largest city and UNESCO-listed historic site. Explore Vieux Lyon (Renaissance district with traboules, hidden passageways), see the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière (19th-century basilica offering panoramic city views), and taste local specialties like quenelles (fish dumplings) at a traditional bouchon. Don't miss the Musée des Confluences (futuristic science and anthropology museum at the Rhône-Saône confluence).

Visit Bordeaux, the wine capital of the world in southwestern France. Explore the historic city center (a UNESCO World Heritage site with 18th-century architecture), tour the Cité du Vin (interactive museum on wine culture), taste local wines like Saint-Émilion or Médoc, and stroll along the Garonne River waterfront with its Miroir d'Eau reflecting pool.

Visit Marseille, France's oldest city and Mediterranean port. Explore the historic Vieux-Port (Old Port) with its fish market and ferries to the Frioul Islands, see the iconic Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica (offering panoramic city views from its hilltop perch), wander the Le Panier district (Marseille's oldest neighborhood with narrow streets and street art), and try bouillabaisse (the city's traditional fish stew) at a local restaurant.

Visit Strasbourg, the capital of the Grand Est region in France. Explore the Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame (with its astronomical clock and panoramic views from the spire), wander through the historic Petite France district (half-timbered houses and canals), and see the European Parliament (one of the EU's main institutions).

Visit the medieval hilltop village of Eze in the French Riviera, known for its stunning views, narrow streets, and exotic gardens.