France

May, June and September suit most of France: mild weather for Paris walks and for the Loire or Provence without July heat. July and August are peak on the Riviera and in popular countryside; Paris empties a little as locals leave, but tourist sites stay busy. Winter is atmospheric in Paris and good for Alps skiing; the Atlantic coast can be wet and windy. Spring brings blossom in parks and vineyards. Check school holiday dates if you want quieter trains. Mountain resorts publish their own opening calendars; shoulder-season hiking can still meet snow on high trails.

Paris is the usual start: a few days of museums, river banks and neighbourhoods, then a train south to Lyon or straight to Provence and the Côte d’Azur, or west to the Loire châteaux. Normandy and Brittany make a green, coastal alternative. The TGV network makes city-hopping simple; regional trains and buses fill the gaps. With two weeks you can combine Paris, a wine region and the south without rushing. Museum pass options in Paris can save queue time if you plan two or three big sights in a short stay.

Paris rewards early walks along the Seine and in quieter arrondissements; famous viewpoints fill by mid-morning. Provence’s lavender peaks in summer around Valensole; villages photograph well in late-day side light. On the Riviera, climb above the beaches for harbour and cliff views. Mountain routes in the Alps or Pyrenees need weather windows. Leave GPS on for day trips so every château and lookout joins your atlas. Markets and café terraces tell a more local story than another shot of the same landmark from the same spot.