I spent two weeks in France and it was so magical. I really loved every second of it and would move to France in a heartbeat if I had the visa or any way of getting it. There’s something so effortlessly beautiful about the country—the way the cities blend history and modern life, the incredible food, and the simple joy of walking through the streets, taking it all in. If I had to pick a favorite place, it would be a tie between Paris and Nice. Paris has that iconic, bustling city energy, while Nice, though not exactly small, feels more like a relaxed beach town with a Mediterranean twist.
Be sure to check out my post where I talk about what I did in Paris here!
Lyon
Lyon was a city I wish I’d gotten to know better. After the chaos of traveling from Rome to Paris in a single day and then cramming in as much as possible in Paris, Lyon ended up being more of a place to unwind than to explore. That said, even with our relaxed approach, it was clear that Lyon is a city full of culture, history, and fantastic food (no surprise given it is the culinary capital of France).
One thing we totally missed when planning is that most things in France are closed on Sunday and Monday, which just so happened to be the exact days we were in Lyon. Next time, we’ll make sure to visit on a weekday, when the museums, markets, and restaurants are all alive with activity. We will be sure to get a better view of Vieux Lyon and explore all its hidden passageways and especially see the Museé du Cinema for Jordan!
St. Gervais les Bains
Taking the train from Lyon to Saint Gervais was an adventure by itself. The further we went, the more mountains filled the window views and our excitement grew. We stayed in a studio apartment airbnb with great views of the snow-capped mountains. The plan whilst staying here was to visit the ice caves at the top of Mont Blanc and to go skiing in the French Alps.
Of course, plans don’t always go as expected. Strong winds made the Mont Blanc trip impossible, and on the day we were supposed to ski, I woke up feeling under the weather and just wanted to curl up in our warm little apartment. We still managed to get in some winter sport though. We spent an afternoon at the Saint Gervais ice skating rink, where we skated for two hours for just €7 each! By the end of it, I’d gotten the hang of a slow less than graceful turn, and Jordan managed a quick 360 spin. I see skating in our future career paths.
Despite the change in plans, Saint Gervais was magical, and I’d absolutely go back. Next time, I would love to visit the thermal baths, which were right next to our apartment. The town literally gets its name from them — Saint Gervais les Bains (the baths) — so it feels wrong to have skipped them this time around.
Marseilles
Stepping out of the train station in Marseille to a view overlooking the entire city is a moment I would love to relive again. It reminds me of Nice with its clear Mediterranean influences in terms of architecture, but it definitely has its own style.
Coming in at the second largest city in France, there is a lot to do in Marseilles and a lot of ground to cover. I know, as most of these places, that we did not see most of the city, but I am happy to say that I think Jordan and I covered a good amount of the biggest sights in Marseilles!
Our Airbnb was right near **Palais Longchamp**, so that was our first stop. This massive palace, with its grand fountains and museums, was stunning, but our hunger took priority, so we didn’t stay long. After grabbing some incredible Thai street food, we hopped on a tram down to the waterfront, where we found the Cathédrale de Major.
From there, we visited MUCEM, a museum with a modern design that contrasts with the city’s ancient architecture. They had a free exhibit for anyone under 25, filled with artifacts from the 1600s onwards—clothing, luxury items, tools, and other everyday objects from history.
The real highlight of Marseille, though, was Vieux Port, the old harbor. We arrived at the perfect time to witness all the stages of golden hour casting all the cafe’s along the harbor and its patrons in a beautiful glow. It was nice seeing so many people just gathered and sitting despite the cold weather. The last thing we did before heading home, was quickly popping in to Le Fort Saint Nicholas, where there wasn’t too much to see, except for fantastic views of the city and harbor during sundown!
On our last day, we made the steep hike up to Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde. It was absolutely worth it—not just for the beauty of the basilica itself, but for the unbeatable view of Marseille from the top
Nice
I took a quick day trip to Nice whilst staying in Marseille and I was so glad I did! The train fare was actually free with my Eurail pass and it was only a two hour train ride, perfect to get a bit of work done or read. Nice itself is stunning. A gorgeous little beach town with a fantastic Mediterranean climate that transports you out of France and into something more like Italy. The gastronomy in Nice is also quite famous, so perfect for the foodies.
I already wrote a detailed account of my day trip to Nice here go check it out! Our day was absolutely fantastic filled with lots of walking, great views and even a nap on the beach!
Jordan and Abby’s final thoughts on France:
French people are not that mean. I don’t know why they have such a bad reputation. Jordan and I had a great experience with French people in cafes, stores and out in public. There is a definite possibility that they thought my infantile French was adorable and didn’t want to hurt my feelings.
French Patisseries will change your life. Maybe that is a bit dramatic, but also maybe not. I always assumed that a patisserie was just a bakery, you could only get pastries or bread. But, the first time we went in one, we were surprised at how many sandwiches, and delicious sandwiches, we could get at such a low price. We ate so many delicious sandwiches and paninis from patisseries and then got a pastry each for less than we’d pay at a restaurant for one person. And the pastries. C‘mon. I thought I have had good pastries before, I thought I’ve had delicious pastries before. I was so wrong. The pastries are unmatched in France, obviously. But I never could have imagined just how much better they are to the pastries we get back home.
There’s dog shit everywhere. It seems that dog owners simply do not know how to pick it up. Walking through the streets sometimes felt like an extreme sport, dodging left and right. The funniest part about this is we went for a walk with one of our airbnb hosts and his dog and Jordan commented on this phenomena, and not five minutes later he watched his dog relieve himself and did not pick up the poo. I thought it was hilarious.
The French work-life balance is both inspiring and frustrating. We have a love hate relationship with the French and their working hours. On one hand, it’s amazing, nobody should have to work more than 35 hours a week. On the other hand, literally nothing is open on a Monday. No museums and hardly any cafes and restaurants. We thought it was bad in the UK, where everything on a Sunday closed at 4pm.
Lack of places to study. One thing that the United States and even the United Kingdom do great is cafe spaces for you to work in. Coffee shops in France are a great place to meet up with a friend and get a meal, but not so much to work in. You really have to research to find a good cafe to work in, and if you do they are few and far between. Most likely you will have to find a coworking space made for people to do work in, because even the majority of libraries require you to have a library card to access the internet.
French café culture is something special. Noting my previous point… unlike in the U.S. or the U.K., cafés in France aren’t designed for working. They’re meant for socializing, and it’s totally normal to sit for hours just talking and sipping coffee—no one lingering by your table trying to rush you out the door
Walking is a way of life. Obviously Jordan and I do a lot of walking. We have no car, so really it is our main mode of transportation. But it seems that everyone else walks just as much as we do. I think it has become engrained in their culture because everything is designed for pedestrians, and people actually use their cities the way they were meant to be used—on foot.
France was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Two weeks wasn’t enough, and I know I’ll be back. Until then, I’ll just be dreaming about fresh croissants, sunset strolls, and that magical feeling of wandering through a French city.
Patisseries will indeed change your life!! Haha I love that!
Wow. This sounds absolutely amazing. My mouth is watering thinking about those pastries. You inspire me daily. love you