travel book for france

The Rough Guide to France

This practical travel guide to France features detailed factual travel tips and points-of-interest structured lists of all iconic must-see sights as well as some off-the-beaten-track treasures. Our itinerary suggestions and expert author picks of things to see and do will make it a perfect companion both, ahead of your trip and on the ground. This France guide book is packed full of details on how to get there and around, pre-departure information and top time-saving tips, including a visual list of things not to miss. Our colour-coded maps make France easier to navigate while you're there. This guide book to France has been fully updated post-COVID-19. The Rough Guide to FRANCE covers:  Paris; The North; Champagne and the Ardennes; Alsace and Lorraine; Normandy; Brittany; The Loire; Burgundy; Poitou-Charentes and the Atlantic coast; The Limousin, Dordogne and the Lot; The Pyrenees; Languedoc; The Massif Central; The Alps and Franche-Comte; The Rhone valley; Provence; The Côte d'Azur; Corsica. Inside this France travel guide you'll find: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER

Experiences selected for every kind of trip to France, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in Béziers to family activities in child-friendly places, like Provence or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Paris. PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS

Essential pre-departure information including France entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more. TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES

Includes carefully planned routes covering the best of France, which give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip. DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE

Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter of this France travel guide includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options. INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL

Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for sampling the very best of French food, relaxing on fine sandy beaches and zipping down the slopes in the Alps. HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS

Rough Guides' rundown of Brittany; Burgundy; The Pyrenees; The Dordogne's best sights and top experiences helps to make the most of each trip to France, even in a short time. HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, this France guide book will help you find the best places, matching different needs. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter of this travel guide to France features fascinating insights into France, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary. FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Carcassonne Castle and the spectacular Canal du Midi. COLOUR-CODED MAPPING

Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in the Atlantic coast, The Limousin and many more locations in France, reduce the need to go online. USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT

With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.

Description

Book details.

This title is a part of Rough Guides Main Series

Practical travel guides series covering countries, cities and regions, with detailed factual travel tips, perfect for independent, long-stay, backpacking and budget-conscious travellers seeking comprehensive travel information and off-the-beaten track experiences

Extensive practical travel information including getting there, getting around, climate information, safety tips, accommodation explanations, food & drink advice and shopping essentials 

Curated author picks with destination highlights at the beginning of each guide

Ready-made itineraries covering every corner of the destination

Colour-coded places chapters with detailed coverage of places and sights, presented in a points-of-interest structure 

Extensive recommendations for accommodation, restaurants, shops and leisure activities for all budgets

Colour-coded detailed maps with marked-up key sights 

Insights on history and nature highlights  

Easy to use, newspaper-style layout

All guides published from January 2021 are printed on paper from responsible sources verified to meet FSC’s strict environmental and social standards

Free eBook with each printed guide published from May 2019 

Format: 129 x 198mm

Price: £14.99-£26.99 | $13.99-$34.99

Extent: 616–1208 page

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This title is only available in eBook at this time. A new edition will be released in May 2024.

Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal  all  you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to France.

Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from people-watching in one of Bordeaux's atmospheric cafe-filled squares to cycling through one of the world's most famous vineyards in La Voie des Vignes, and paragliding over Lake Annecy.

Build a trip to remember  with  Lonely Planet's  France  Travel Guide:

• Our classic guidebook format  provides you with the most comprehensive level of information for planning  multi-week trips
• Updated with an all new structure and design  so you can navigate France and connect experiences together with ease
• Create your perfect trip with exciting itineraries  for extended journeys combined with suggested day trips, walking tours, and activities to match your passions
• Get fresh takes on must-visit sights  from exploring the iconic Eiffel Tower to visiting troglodytes in the Loire, and riding the Aiguille du Midi cable car
• Special features  on wine tasting explained, hiking and skiing guide, Paris walking tours
• Expert local recommendations  on when to go, eating, drinking, nightlife, shopping, accommodation, adventure activities, festivals, and more
• Essential information toolkit  containing tips on arriving; transport; making the most of your time and money; LGBTIQ+ travel advice; useful words and phrases; accessibility; and responsible travel
• Connect with French culture through stories  that delve deep into local life, history, and traditions 
• Inspiring full-colour travel photography and maps  including a  pull out map of Paris
• Covers  Paris, Lille, Flanders & the Somme, Normandy, Brittany, Champagne, Alsace, Lorraine, The Loire, Burgundy, Lyon, the Rhône Valley & the Auvergne, French Alps & Jura, Bordeaux to Biarritz, Dordogne & Lot, Languedoc-Roussillon, Toulouse & the Pyrenees, Provence, Côte d’Azur & Monaco, Corsica

Create a trip that's uniquely yours and get to the  heart  of this extraordinary country with  Lonely Planet's  France.

Covers  Brittany, Normandy, Lille, Flanders & the Somme, Paris, Ile de France, Champagne, Alsace & Lorraine, Bordeaux, Nantes & the Atlantic Coast, French Basque Country, the Pyrenees, Toulouse, Dordogne, Limousin & the Lot, Auvergne, Burgundy, French Alps, Jura Mountains, Lyon, Rhone Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, Monaco, Cote d'Azur, Corsica

eBook is available in ePub, MOBI and PDF.

ISBN: 9781788680523

Edition: 14th

Publication Date: November 2021

Writers: Alexis Averbuck, Joel Balsam, Oliver Berry, Celeste Brash, Stuart Butler, Jean-Bernard Carillet, Gregor Clark, Mark Elliott, Steve Fallon, Anita Isalska, Catherine Le Nevez, Christopher Pitts, Daniel Robinson, Regis St Louis, Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Nicola Williams

1024 pages, 1024pp color, 138 maps | Dimensions: 128mm × 197mm

Next edition due: May 2024

Which guidebook is right for me?

Country, city & regional guides.

• Top experience collections
• Regional itineraries recommended by experts (from a couple of days to multi-week)
• 3D illustrations and guided tours of key sights
• Extensive coverage of history and culture
• Detailed maps throughout - includes walking maps and a pull-out planning map

EXPERIENCE guides

(country, city & regional).

• Led by local experts that reveal their favorite experiences and hidden gems
• Personal itinerary building tools
• Seasonal planning calendars
• QR codes unlock additional online content

POCKET guides

(city & regional).

• Special features cover most popular sights
• Content organized by neighborhhod
• Recommended 1, 2, 3 and 4-day itineraries
• Guided walking tours

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Best Travel Books France

Traveling is one of the most pleasant and enriching activities when done well. Many travelers to France find themselves drawn to its scenic beauty, its historical culture and its culinary delights. But it can be overwhelming to plan a trip to France, especially for someone unfamiliar with the country. The right travel book can help a traveler to France plan the perfect journey and make the most of their limited time. This article examines the best travel books for France, weighing their features and highlighting their advantages.

Features of the Best Travel Books for France

The best travel books for France will provide comprehensive information on the country, its culture, its notable sights, and its intricate geography. Aimed specifically at travelers, these books will usually include detailed maps, practical information about transportation and lodging, and reviews of restaurants, attractions, and activities. They will also provide an overview of French history and culture, making it easier for travelers to have informative and culturally aware conversations with locals. Additionally, the best books for France documents will keep up-to-date, ensuring that all of the information is accurate and current.

Advantages of Travel Books for France

Travel books provide travelers with peace of mind, as they offer comprehensive information they can rely on. Having all the necessary information in one place prevents unnecessary hassles and surprises, making the journeys more enjoyable. Furthermore, travel books provide detailed guides to the best and safest routes to take, ensuring that travelers enjoy their trip as much as possible without running into any dangers. Finally, travel books for France feature detailed descriptions of cultural landmarks, helping travelers to gain a better understanding of the country’s history and culture.

Examples of Good Travel Books for France

Two of the most beloved travel books for France are The Michelin Guide to France , first released in 1900, and Lonely Planet France , first published in 1979 and updated regularly since. The Michelin Guide to France, updated annually, is widely considered to be an authority on French cuisine, offering travelers detailed reviews of restaurants in the country and providing tips on where to find the best regional dishes. What’s more, it includes practical information about lodging and transportation. Meanwhile, Lonely Planet France provides comprehensive coverage of all of the top sights to see across the country, along with detailed regional and city maps, and descriptions of events and festivals happening year-round.

On the other hand, Rick Steves’ France , written by the respected travel writer and national television personality, focuses on budget-friendly streams, providing useful advice about how to make the most out of a limited budget. Additionally, it includes detailed recommendations for nearby attractions and points of interest, making it easier for travelers to personalize their trip around their own interests. What’s more, it features an array of entertaining anecdotes that provide readers with unique perspectives on France and its culture.

When properly used, travel books for France can be invaluable resources for travelers of all budgets and interests. Whether you’re an experienced traveler or a rank beginner, these books can help you plan an ideal trip. So, if you’re planning on traveling to France, make sure to purchase one of the aforementioned books to ensure that you make the most out of your visit.

Shirley Blanc

Shirley J. Blanc is a French expat and a passionate Francophile. She has been living in France for over a decade, and loves to share her experiences and knowledge about the country with others. Shirley has written extensively on topics such as French culture, language, travel, and cuisine.

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The Best Paris Guide Book for Every Kind of Traveler [2024 Update]

Lonely Planet Paris – The Overall Best Paris Guide Book

At press time, the most current edition of the Lonely Planet Paris guidebook was released in 2022 ( order on Amazon here ). This edition still uses the traditional Lonely Planet format (the good one) and is worth buying before the brand switches to their extremely unpopular new format. In fact, if you plan to travel to Paris in 2024 or even 2025, buy this book now.

This edition (with the gold cover, shown above) is great because every single entry in the guidebook was checked to make sure it’s still operating, and the information about opening hours and prices is accurate. A lot changed in Paris in 2020 and 2021, so it’s good to know that the businesses mentioned survived that two-year downturn in tourism.

I was relying on the older edition (published in 2018) when I was selecting a Paris guidebook. Still, it was my favorite Paris guidebook, and the one I’d recommend for anyone traveling to Paris. The Lonely Planet Paris clocks in at 416 pages, and includes absolutely everything you could possibly want: recommended day-by-day itineraries, guides to each arondissement (including attractions, restaurants, shopping and nightlife) and all the most popular day trips from Paris. It has colorful photos, easy-to-read maps and, in the new edition, a detachable card with all the information you need to get from the airport to your hotel.

Rick Steves Paris – The Best Paris Travel Guide for First-Time Travelers

I have such a soft spot for Rick Steves guidebooks, and his 2023 Rick Steves Paris guide book is no exception.  This is a huge book, with 720 pages, but because they use tissue-weight paper it’s hardly any thicker than the Lonely Planet.

Rick Steves’ books are written for novice and first-time travelers, who want a balance of authentic local experiences and can’t-miss attractions during their Europe trip.  This book includes itineraries for up to seven days, with neighbhorhood guides, transportation connections and bistro stops along the way.  A highlight of any Rick Steves book is the self-guided walking tours; the Rick Steves Paris guide book contains eighteen different routes in Paris, complete with detailed maps and information about the sights you’ll see en route.  If I were buying my parents a guidebook for their trip to Paris, this would definitely be my top choice.

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Lonely Planet France – The Best Paris Guidebook for Travelers Going Beyond Paris Too

Released in late 2021, the Lonely Planet France guidebook is the best Paris guide book for anyone whose trip includes Paris and other destinations in France.  Like the LP Paris guidebook, this book is still in the brand’s original format and is worth buying now before it gets updated.

Like their city-specific guide book, this  edition of the Lonely Planet France (shown above) has been thoroughly reviewed to ensure that information is up-to-date and accurate, and reflects any changes over the past two years.

This is a big book, with more than one thousand pages, so it’s not the best choice for people who are packing light.  But for someone like me, with a suitcase and an itinerary that crosses the country from north to south and from east to west, this is the best balance of information about Paris and information about the rest of France. The section on Paris is about 120 pages long, with full-color maps, illustrations and photos.  There’s a further twenty pages about day trips around Paris, including Versailles and Giverny.

National Geographic Traveler Paris – The Best Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Paris Travel Guide

First, I have to say that this book just feels nice in your hands.  I like the cover design, I like the paper, and the whole thing just feels good. The National Geographic Traveler Paris guidebook would be ideal for gift-giving, if someone if your life is planning a trip to Paris.

This book has about 250 pages, including a brief introduction that leads into eleven neighborhoods guides (starting with the islands in the River Seine, ending with the “ peripherique “, or the less-visited districts outside the city centre). Each section contains the top attractions, recommend restaurants and other useful tips, like walking routes and local history.  On the inside back cover there’s a handy map of the Paris metro, and tucked inside the back cover there is a full-sized pull-out map of Paris to help you get your bearings. The only warning that I have with this book is that the font is tiny, so I don’t recommend it for anyone who has vision difficulties.

Moon Paris Walks – The Best Paris Guide Book for Travelers Who Love to Walk

I like Moon Guides because they don’t try to be everything to everyone.  Instead, they focus on one thing and do it really well.  Here, in the Moon Paris Walks guide book , they highlight the very best of Paris through a collection of six self-guided walking tours.

The routes covered include Montmartre, the area around The Louvre, Le Marais, The Latin Quarter, the Eiffel Tower and Canal St. Martin (plus some of the adjacent districts).  The routes are illustrated on easy-to-read maps and described using turn-by-turn language like “Go back, and facing the direction you came from, take Rue Lepic, which veers to the right.” It doesn’t get much easier to follow than that!  There are about 120 pages of walking routes, plus another 30 pages of general information about the city. This book doesn’t have great information about hotels, transportation or day trips, but it’s ideal for active travelers.

National Geographic Walking Guide: Paris – The (Other!) Best Paris Travel Guide for Travelers Who Love to Walk

It was totally a tie between the Moon Guides and this Paris travel guide. This is a series that I love- in fact, I kept the Berlin edition from this series in my purse on my most recent trip to Germany. Because it’s designed to be used while you’re out walking, The National Geographic Walking Guide: Paris really does fit comfortably into your bag so you can carry it around Paris every day.

Updated in 2020, this guidebook consists of fourteen different walking routes around Paris.  There are “whirlwind” tours showcasing the highlights of the city in just one or two days, or there are more leisurely routes through distinctive neighborhoods and around famous attractions. Throughout the book there are colorful photos, illustrations and maps.  If there’s a downside to this book it’s that there is minimal information about accommodation and dining, but if you’ve already booked your hotel and enjoy finding restaurants en route , this is a great Paris guide book.

Fun fact: There’s a French term for someone who spends their days sauntering around town without a specific purpose. Fl â neur is the masculine form, while fl â neuse is the feminine.

Lonely Planet Discover Paris – The Best Basic Travel Guide Book to Buy Second-Hand

About half the length of the original Lonely Planet Paris guide book, the brand’s Discover Paris guide book focuses on the most essential experiences in the city.  This series used to be updated quite regularly (there are editions from 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 available on Amazon) but it no longer appears to be focus for the brand. So, the most recent edition I could find is the one shown above, which came out in fall 2018 (yes, I know it says 2019 on the cover, but trust me!).

Honestly, I don’t really recommend this Paris travel guide book, since it’s already four years old.  It would be easy to accidentally purchase this, thinking it was the Lonely Planet’s main guidebook for Paris, but you’d be paying almost the same price for half the information that they include in their regular Paris guidebook (scroll up to see that one!).  What you can expect from this book is a two-page spread for each of the city’s twenty or so top attractions, followed by short sections about dining, shopping, nightlife and entertainment. It’s not really organized geographically, and there’s a lot of stuff that’s not included.  That being said, if you can buy a used copy for a good price it might be a nice addition to your Paris trip planning bookshelf.

Eyewitness Top 10 Paris – The Best Paris Guidebook for Visual Travelers

This is one of the few Paris guidebooks to get a fresh update for 2024!  If you’re not much of a reader but love to look at pretty pictures, the Eyewitness Top 10 Paris guidebook is perfect.  Short on text but dense with full-color photos and illustrations, this is a feast for the eyes.  It’s also another purse-sized Paris guide book (it’s actually smaller than my wallet!) so it would be perfect for carrying around during a day of sightseeing.

Like all Eyewitness books, the Eyewitness Top 10 Paris puts as much emphasis on images as it does on text.  The book starts with a quick introduction (including suggested itineraries for two or four days) and then jumps into its distinctive collection of Top 10 lists: Top 10 Museums, Top 10 Historical Buildings, Top 10 Parks and Gardens, etc. The lists are followed by about 100 pages of neighborhood guides and general travel information. This would be an easy book to read on the plane to France, and as one of the more affordable Paris guide books on the list it’s also good for travelers on a budget.

Michelin Green Guide Paris – The Best European-Style Paris Travel Guidebook

Michelin guides are not common in North America, so many travelers coming from the USA and Canada are surprised to learn that oui, it’s the same company making the tires, awarding stars to restaurants and publishing guidebooks, including The Michelin Green Guide Paris .

As with the Lonely Planet Discover Paris, the first thing you need to know is that this book was last updated in 2018, so some of the information may be outdated. Still, it’s interesting to see how the book reflects the tastes of European travelers, who tend to purchase this series most often.  This one opens with about 40 pages of trip planning advice, then spends another 40 pages talking about the history, arts and culture of Paris, and finally it gets into the Paris-specific travel information, including neighborhoods guides, hotel and restaurant recommendations, and tips for partaking in les sports during your trip.

Frommer’s EasyGuide to Paris – The Best Paris Guide Book for Luxury Travel

I have always disliked Frommers guide books, and the Frommers EasyGuide to Paris isn’t an improvement over their other titles. Plus, with this publication now being two years old, it may not be the best source of up-to-date information on traveling in Paris.  To get it out of the way, I don’t recommend you buy this book, but I’m including it on the list since Frommer’s such a well-known name.

The book opens with fifteen pages of color photos of Paris, and after that it’s mostly just a wall of text.  It covers the same attractions as any other guidebook, but with a more upscale perspective.  For example, in the “inexpensive” hotel listings they recommend a hotel where double rooms are €300 per night.  The restaurant recommendations are equally pricey, with a recommended lunch spot costing €90!  The expensive recommendations aren’t balanced out with more affordable options, so this is really only a useful Paris guide book for travelers who don’t look at the price tags.  (If that’s you, please marry and/or adopt me!)

Planning your own trip to Paris? I’ve got a guide to the best areas to stay in Paris , whether you’re backpacking on a budget or indulging in a luxury trip to France, as well as a guide to the best FIFTY things to see in Paris .  Yes, fifty!

You might also like my post about how to find delicious, healthy French food while you’re there!

Of course, I also recommend learning some French for travel before you depart!

Planning a trip to Paris? Pin this post to your trip planning board!

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Home » The 18 Best Books About France Travel

The 18 Best Books About France Travel

• Art , History

France is a country that has captivated the hearts and minds of people for centuries. From its stunning architecture and world-class museums to its picturesque countryside and delicious cuisine, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful country. And what better way to explore it than through the pages of a book? Whether you’re planning a trip or simply looking to explore from the comfort of your own home, these 18 books will transport you to the heart of France and introduce you to its hidden gems.

In this blog post, we will be sharing the 18 best books about France travel. From memoirs and novels to travelogues and guidebooks, this list has something for every kind of reader. Whether you’re looking to learn about the country’s culture and history, discover its hidden gems, or simply immerse yourself in its beauty, these books will take you on a journey through the heart of France. So, grab a cup of tea and get ready to start planning your next French adventure!

1. “A Year in Provence” by Peter Mayle

This classic tells the story of a British couple who move to a small village in the south of France, and their adventures and mishaps as they adjust to a new way of life. This book will give you an inside look into the charming Provencal lifestyle and its food, wine, and culture.

2. “In the Footsteps of the Sun: A Walk Across France” by Bill Bryson

This delightful travelogue follows Bryson as he walks the length of France, from the English Channel to the Mediterranean. Along the way, he encounters charming towns, picturesque countryside, and colorful locals. This book will give you a great sense of the diversity of the country and its people.

3. “A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway

This memoir takes readers to 1920s Paris, where Hemingway lived and wrote among the city’s vibrant artistic community. This book will give you a glimpse into the bohemian life of Paris in the 1920s and its cafes, bars, and artists.

4. “The Sweet Life in Paris” by David Lebovitz 

In this memoir, chef and cookbook author David Lebovitz recounts his experiences living in Paris and offers a glimpse into the city’s food culture. This book will introduce you to the best of French cuisine, its bistros, patisseries, and markets.

5. “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery

This bestselling novel tells the story of two unlikely friends: a concierge living in a luxury apartment building in Paris, and the young girl who lives on the top floor. This book will give you a unique perspective on the social and cultural divide in Paris and the life of those who work in service.

6. “A Paris All Your Own” by Eleanor Brown

This travel guide offers a curated selection of Parisian experiences, from the well-known to the hidden, tailored to different interests and styles of travelers. This book will give you great tips and ideas to plan your own personalized trip to Paris .

7. “The Little French Bistro” by Nina George

This novel tells the story of a woman who leaves her husband and travels to a small seaside village in Brittany, where she discovers the joys of fresh seafood, local wine, and new friendships. This book will give you a sense of the slower pace of life in the French countryside and its unique culture.

8. “French Lessons: A Memoir” by Alice Kaplan

In this memoir, Kaplan recounts her experiences as a student at a French university in the 1970s, and her journey to become fluent in the language and culture. This book will give you an insight into the French education system and the struggles of learning a new language.

9. “The City of Light” by Lauren Belfer

This novel takes place in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, and follows the story of a young American woman who becomes involved in the city’s political and social upheaval. This book will give you a sense of the historical and political context of Paris at the time, and the lives of women during that era.

10. “The Lost City of Z” by David Grann

This non-fiction book tells the true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett and his journey to find a lost city in the Amazon jungle. Along the way, he spends time in France and the book will give you an idea of the French colonial and expeditionary past.

11. “Moon France” by Andrew Bender

This guidebook provides a comprehensive overview of the country, including its history, culture, and natural wonders. It also includes practical information and tips for travelers, as well as suggested itineraries and outdoor activities. This book will give you a comprehensive overview of the country and ideas for your trip.

12. “The French House: An American Family, a Ruined Maison, and the Village that Restored Them All” by Don George

This memoir tells the story of an American family who buys a ruined house in the French countryside, and their journey to restore it and make a home. This book will give you an inside look into the French rural lifestyle, its culture, and the renovation process.

13. “Under the Cypress Trees” by Luanne Rice 

This novel takes place in the French Riviera , where a young woman faces the ghosts of the past and falls in love with the region and its inhabitants. This book will give you an idea of the glamour and beauty of the French Riviera and the stories and secrets of its residents.

14. “The Paris Wife” by Paula McLain 

A novel that explores the relationship between Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson, during their time in 1920s Paris. This book will give you a glimpse into the bohemian life of Paris in the 1920s and the relationship dynamics of a famous couple.

15. “Paris: The Novel” by Edward Rutherfurd

This historical fiction novel tells the story of Paris, from the Roman conquest to the French Revolution, through the eyes of several generations of fictional characters. This book will give you an idea of the historical and cultural evolution of Paris, and the lives of its residents throughout the centuries.

16. “The French Market Cookbook” by Clotilde Dusoulier

This cookbook offers a collection of simple and delicious French recipes, inspired by the author’s experiences in the Parisian markets. This book will introduce you to the best of French cuisine, its ingredients, and techniques, and how to make it at home.

17. “The Food of France” by Waverley Root

This book is a comprehensive guide to French food, its history, and culture. It covers all aspects of French cuisine, from the markets and regional specialties to the famous chefs and restaurants. This book will give you a deeper understanding of French food and its place in French culture and society.

18. “The French Table: Simple, Delicious Home Cooking” by Phillippa Grogan

This cookbook offers a collection of easy and delicious French recipes that can be made at home. It covers a wide range of dishes, from classic bistro fare to modern twists on traditional favorites. This book will give you the tools and inspiration to bring the flavors of France to your own kitchen.

This list of 18 best books about France travel offers a diverse selection of books that will give you a comprehensive understanding of French culture, society, cuisine, language, and travel. Whether you’re planning a luxury tour of France or simply looking for a taste of the country’s rich culture, these books will transport you to some of the most beautiful and fascinating places in the country.

Book Your Own Trip To France With Our Experts

As you can see, there are many great books out there that offer an in-depth look at the culture, history, and beauty of France. Whether you’re planning a trip or simply looking to explore from the comfort of your own home, these books will transport you to the heart of the country and introduce you to its hidden gems. From classic memoirs and novels to guidebooks and cookbooks, there’s something for every kind of reader on this list.

We hope this list of 18 best books about France travel will help you plan your next French adventure . Whether you’re looking to explore the charming villages of Provence, wander the streets of Paris, or experience the unique culture of the French countryside, these books will be your perfect guide. So, grab a copy of your favorite book, and let your imagination take you on a journey through the heart of France.

If you’d like to plan a trip to France to discover some of the places in your favorite books, get in touch with our team by filling out the form at the bottom of this page .

A Guide to the 18 Regions of France

Delve into each region, including information on the sights & activities you can enjoy while visiting France!

Why is Lyon so well known for its food?

A look at the historical background of Lyon’s food culture & its development over the centuries, while exploring the food scene today in Lyon

Explore the History of French Impressionism on an Art Tour

The purpose of this blog is to explore the history and impact of French Impressionism through a tour of famous art museums and locations.

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Book Scrolling

Best Book Lists, Award Aggregation, & Book Data

The Best Travel and Guidebooks For Visiting France

“What are the best Travel and Guide Books For Visiting France?” We looked at 101 of the top French guidebooks, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 14 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best French Guidebook” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 75+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 14 French Travel Guides

14 .) dk eyewitness travel guide: france by dk travel.

• Barnes & Noble
• French Culture

The DK Eyewitness France Travel Guide is your indispensable guide to this beautiful part of the world. The fully updated guide includes unique cutaways, floorplans and reconstructions of the must-see sites, plus street-by-street maps of all the fascinating cities and towns. The new-look guide is also packed with photographs and illustrations leading you straight to the best attractions on offer. The uniquely visual DK Eyewitness Travel guide will help you to discover everything region-by-region; from local festivals and markets to day trips around the countryside. Detailed listings will guide you to the best hotels, restaurants, bars and shops for all budgets, whilst detailed practical information will help you to get around, whether by train, bus or car. Plus, DK’s excellent insider tips and essential local information will help you explore every corner of France effortlessly. DK Eyewitness France Travel Guide – showing you what others only tell you.

Purchase / Learn More

13 .) Fodor’s France

From the Most Respected Names in Travel and Language Instruction Fodor’s French for Travelers makes it easy to speak and understand French, even if you’ve never studied it before. And it’s all backed by the experience of Fodor’s, the most trusted name in travel, and Living Language, publishers of best-selling language courses for more than half a century. •2,200 words and phrases •A 1,600-word two-way dictionary •Speak French right away — Just read straight from the book. Accurate, easy to use phonetics help you speak like a native. •Find what you need right away — Words and phrases are grouped by topic. •Handle every situation — You’ll find all the words and phrases you need for every part of your trip, from arrival to departure. •Travel Smart — Fodor’s correspondents share their know-how throughout.

12 .) Frommer’s EasyGuide to Paris… by Anna E. Brooke

• Love To Know

A strong case can be made that Paris leads the world’s other cities in art and cuisine, in architecture and history, in music and sculpture, in philosophy and political ferment, in nearly every other area on interest to the visitor. It has to be seen and experienced, and with the euro dipping in value, now is an ideal time to make a visit come true.

11 .) Frommer’s France Travel Guidebook

Lists It Appears On:

Written by outspoken, authoritative experts, Frommer’s France shows travelers how to experience the country the way the locals do. This classic Frommers series includes exact prices, candid reviews of the best and most authentic restaurants, attractions and hotels in every price range (from hostels to guest-welcoming chateaus), and dozens of detailed maps. We also include advice the tourist board wouldn’t approve of: which sites to skip, how to avoid the crowds, and how to stretch your travel budget further, whether you’re on a lavish honeymoon or backpacking it. Vive La France!

10 .) Lonely Planet Paris by Lonely Planet

• Experience Plus

From the heights of Sacre Coeur to the gently rolling Seine, feel the joie de vivre of Europe’s crowning glory. Watch Parisian life pass you by from an outdoor cafe, deck yourself out in fashion finery or escape on an enticing excursion to a chateau. With discerning information on everything Paris has to offer, this guide gives you the city at your fingertips. Be Awestruck – the city is an open-air gallery and this book your private tour guide. Flash That Credit Card – from “haute couture” to flea markets our expert authors take you inside the Parisian shopping scene. Rest Your Tete – we’ve trawled the streets of Paris to bring you this hand-picked selection of sleeping establishments. Devour the world’s finest cuisine with our delectable eating reviews. Find Your Way around with our 32 easy-to-use color maps.

9 .) Michelin Green Guide France

The location of France in Europe and its tumultuous history have shaped the nation into a land of many regions, each with its own distinctive traditions. This diversity, the wealth of cultural heritage, and the great variety of natural landscapes offer the visitor an array of destinations to meet every desire. THE GREEN GUIDE, the perfect travel companion: a discerning and up-to-date source of information. Practical and comprehensive, it offers suggestions on what to see and what to do, background on history and cultural heritage and a selection of hotels and restaurants. Ideal guides for the independent tourist, THE GREEN GUIDE explores destinations both near and far. Sights are rated – 3 stars “worth a journey, ” 2 stars “worth a detour” and 1 star “interesting.” Map itineraries make planning easy, whether visiting the highlights or venturing off the beaten path. Travel with THE GREEN GUIDE for an exciting and memorable experience.

8 .) My Life in France by Julia Child

• CN Traveler
• Santorini Dave

The bestselling story of Julia’s years in France–and the basis for Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams–in her own words. Although she would later singlehandedly create a new approach to American cuisine with her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show The French Chef, Julia Child was not always a master chef. Indeed, when she first arrived in France in 1948 with her husband, Paul, who was to work for the USIS, she spoke no French and knew nothing about the country itself. But as she dove into French culture, buying food at local markets and taking classes at the Cordon Bleu, her life changed forever with her newfound passion for cooking and teaching. Julia’s unforgettable story–struggles with the head of the Cordon Bleu, rejections from publishers to whom she sent her now-famous cookbook, a wonderful, nearly fifty-year long marriage that took the Childs across the globe–unfolds with the spirit so key to Julia’s success as a chef and a writer, brilliantly capturing one of America’s most endearing personalities.

7 .) Paris For Dummies

There’s so much to see and do in Paris that it’s hard to know where to start. With this friendly guide, you’ll see the light. You’ll take in the dazzling nightlights and vibrant nightlife… the historic sites and monuments and the tres chic boutiques…the treasured art masterpieces and tomorrow’s fashion trends. Linger over a gourmet French meal, relax in a sidewalk cafe, or enjoy a picnic in the park. Stroll beautiful formal gardens or pick Monet’s Water Lilies at the newly opened Musee de l’Orangerie. Take a boat tour of the Seine or a bike ride to Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes. This friendly guide gets you in a fun, French fame of mind with info on: How to use the fantastic transportation system and make sense of the euro Must-see sites, including the Louvre, the Eiffel Tour, Musee d’Orsay, the Cathedral de Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and more Incredible parks and gardens, including the Jardin des Tuileries, the Jardin du Luxembourg in the Latin quarter, Parc de la Villette with its theme gardens, and more Where to shop for over-the top luxury items, find discount or overstock stores, and buy kids’ clothes Culture and entertainment options, ranging from theater, opera, symphony, and ballet to live comedy and inexpensive organ recitals in glorious churches Diverse clubs in different neighborhoods, including Barrio Latino, Batofar (an Irish light ship docked in the Seine), Red Light where the trendiest kids wear the latest fashions, Le Wax with its psychedelic decor, and more Like every For Dummies travel guide, Paris For Dummies, 4th Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss — and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages Whether you would rather tour cathedrals with glorious stained glass, explore quaint neighborhoods, hit the happening scenes, or sip fine French wine overlooking the City of Lights, this guide will help you experience Paris with joie de vivre.

6 .) The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough

The Greater Journey is the enthralling, inspiring – and until now, untold – story of the adventurous American artists, writers, doctors, politicians, architects, and others of high aspiration who set off for Paris in the years between 1830 and 1900, ambitious to excel in their work. After risking the hazardous journey across the Atlantic, these Americans embarked on a greater journey in the City of Light. Most had never left home, never experienced a different culture. None had any guarantee of success. That they achieved so much for themselves and their country profoundly altered American history. As David McCullough writes, “Not all pioneers went west.” Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor in America, was one of this intrepid band. Another was Charles Sumner, who enrolled at the Sorbonne because of a burning desire to know more about everything. There he saw black students with the same ambition he had, and when he returned home, he would become the most powerful, unyielding voice for abolition in the U.S. Senate, almost at the cost of his life.

5 .) The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by Thad Carhart

Walking his two young children to school every morning, Thad Carhart passes an unassuming little storefront in his Paris neighborhood. Intrigued by its simple sign — Desforges Pianos — he enters, only to have his way barred by the shop’s imperious owner. Unable to stifle his curiosity, he finally lands the proper introduction, and a world previously hidden is brought into view. Luc, the atelier’s master, proves an indispensable guide to the history and art of the piano. Intertwined with the story of a musical friendship are reflections on how pianos work, their glorious history, and stories of the people who care for them, from amateur pianists to the craftsmen who make the mechanism sing. The Piano Shop on the Left Bank is at once a beguiling portrait of a Paris not found on any map and a tender account of the awakening of a lost childhood passion. Praise for The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: [Carhart’s] writing is fluid and lovely enough to lure the rustiest plunker back to the piano bench and the most jaded traveler back to Paris. San Francisco Chronicle Captivating .

4 .) The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz

Like so many others, David Lebovitz dreamed about living in Paris ever since he first visited the city in the 1980s. Finally, after a nearly two-decade career as a pastry chef and cookbook author, he moved to Paris to start a new life. Having crammed all his worldly belongings into three suitcases, he arrived, hopes high, at his new apartment in the lively Bastille neighborhood. But he soon discovered it’s a different world “en France.” From learning the ironclad rules of social conduct to the mysteries of men’s footwear, from shopkeepers who work so hard not to sell you anything to the etiquette of working the right way around the cheese plate, here is David’s story of how he came to fall in love with–and even understand–this glorious, yet sometimes maddening, city. When did he realize he had morphed into “un vrai parisien”? It might have been when he found himself considering a purchase of men’s dress socks with cartoon characters on them. Or perhaps the time he went to a bank with 135 euros in hand to make a 134-euro payment, was told the bank had no change that day, and thought it was completely normal. Or when he found himself dressing up to take out the garbage because he had come to accept that in Paris appearances and image mean everything. The more than fifty original recipes, for dishes both savory and sweet, such as Pork Loin with Brown Sugar-Bourbon Glaze, Braised Turkey in Beaujolais Nouveau with Prunes, Bacon and Bleu Cheese Cake, Chocolate-Coconut Marshmallows, Chocolate Spice Bread, Lemon-Glazed Madeleines, and Mocha-Creme Fraiche Cake, will have readers running to the kitchen once they stop laughing. “The Sweet Life in Paris” is a deliciously funny, offbeat, and irreverent look at the city of lights, cheese, chocolate, and other confections.

3 .) Lonely Planet France Travel Guide Book

France is a country that seduces travellers with its unfalteringly familiar culture woven around cafe terraces, village-square markets and lace-curtained bistros with their plat du jour (dish of the day) chalked on the board. – 10 months of research in France and thousands of calories consumed along the way – clear, easy-to-use maps and 3D plans of iconic sights – 70 evocative châteaux – comprehensive planning tools Coverage Includes: Planning chapters, Paris, Around Paris, Lille, Flanders, the Somme, Normandy, Brittany, Champagne, Alsace, Lorraine, The Loire Valley, Burgundy, Lyon, the Rhône Valley, French Alps, the Jura Mountains, Massif Central, Limousin, the Dordogne, the Lot, Atlantic Coast, French Basque Country, The Pyrenees, Toulouse Area, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, The French Riviera, Monaco, Corsica, Understanding and Survival chapters.

2 .) Rick Steves Paris by Rick Steves

• Frugal First Class Travel
• Paris Escapes

Explore every centimeter of Paris, from the top of the Eiffel tower to the ancient catacombs below the city: with Rick Steves on your side, Paris can be yours! Inside Rick Steves Paris 2018 you’ll find: Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Paris Rick’s strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from Notre-Dame and the Palace of Versailles to where to find the perfect croissant How to connect with culture: Chat with artisans in open-air markets, take in the works of Degas, and browse the multi-colored displays of macarons Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick’s candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and relax over a glass of vin rouge Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and incredible museums and churches Detailed maps, including a fold-out map for exploring on the go Useful resources including a packing list, French phrase book, a historical overview, and recommended reading Over 500 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Annually updated information on the Historic Core, Left Bank, Opera Neighborhood, Champs-Elysees, Marais neighborhood, Montmartre, and more, as well as day trips to Versailles, Chartres, Giverny, and Auvers-sur-Oise Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Paris 2018. Spending just a few days in the city? Try Rick Steves Pocket Paris.

1 .) Rick Steves France by Rick Steves

Wander the lavender fields of Provence, climb the Eiffel Tower, and bite into a perfect croissant: with Rick Steves on your side, France can be yours! Inside Rick Steves France 2018 you’ll find: Comprehensive coverage for planning a multi-week trip to France Rick’s strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from Louvre and the Palace of Versailles to neighborhood restaurants and delicate macarons How to connect with local culture: Stroll through open-air markets in Paris, or bike between rustic villages and local vineyards Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick’s candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and relax over a vin rouge Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and museums Vital trip-planning tools, like how to link destinations, build your itinerary, and get from place to place Detailed maps, including a fold-out map for exploring on the go Useful resources including a packing list, French phrase book, a historical overview, and recommended reading Over 1,000 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Annually updated information on Paris, Chartres, Normandy, Mont St-Michel, Brittany, The Loire, Dordogne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, The French Riviera, Nice, Monaco, The French Alps, Burgundy, Lyon, Alsace, Reims, Verdun, and much more Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves France 2018. Planning a one- to two-week trip? Check out Rick Steves Best of France.

The 75+ Additional Best Guide Books For Visiting France & Paris

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10 Great Books About France

10 Travel Books About France It has been said that ‘no other nation on the planet approaches France in its subtle and seamless blend of the old and the new; the industrial and the pastoral’.…

5 Oct 17 · 2 mins read

10 Travel Books About France

It has been said that ‘no other nation on the planet approaches France in its subtle and seamless blend of the old and the new; the industrial and the pastoral’. France is the largest country in Western Europe. It covers an area of 543,965 square kilometres – bigger than Spain or Germany – and has a population of approximately 65 million. Small group tours are the perfect way to explore France’s varied scenery and learn about its rich history and culture. With rugged coastline, rolling vineyards and the dramatic French alps, a tour to France is guaranteed to take your breath away. Our hope is that our small groups tours across France provide a memorable travel experience, and senior travellers return home with a better understanding of the people, their heritage and the reasons for their ability to blend the customs and ways of traditional village life with the challenges of one of the world’s more advanced urban economies. And perhaps, a few words of French too!

Discovering France through literature

For mature and senior travellers (either as a couple or a solo traveller) who are planning a trip to explore France. Whether on an Odyssey tour or as independent travellers, this collection of France travel books is intended to help you develop a sense of place before your journey commences. For all Odyssey tours, we actively encourage travellers to read all or some or one of these France travel books from this list before joining one of our small group tours.

This is Odyssey’s list of ten great France travel books. Please feel welcome to contribute to the comments section at the bottom of page. We appreciate any feedback on books listed, or further suggestions that will help travellers prepare for their tour of France.

The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography

by Graham Robb

A narrative of exploration―full of strange and amazing landscapes and even stranger inhabitants―that considers the enduring fascination of France. While Gustave Eiffel was changing the skyline of the city of Paris, large parts of France were still terra incognita. Even in the age of railways and newspapers, France was a land of ancient tribal divisions, prehistoric communication networks, and pre-Christian beliefs. French itself was a minority language.

Graham Robb describes that unknown world in arresting narrative detail. He recounts the epic journeys of mapmakers, scientists, soldiers, administrators, and intrepid tourists, of itinerant workers, pilgrims, and herdsmen with their millions of migratory domestic animals. We learn how France was explored, charted, and colonized, and how the imperial influence of Paris was gradually extended throughout a kingdom of isolated towns and villages.

The Discovery of France explains how the modern nation came to be and how poorly understood that nation still is today. Above all, it shows how much of France―past and present―remains to be discovered.

A New York Times Notable Book, Publishers Weekly Best Book, Slate Best Book, and Booklist Editor’s Choice.

A Year in Provence

by Peter Mayle

Enjoy an irresistible feast of humour and discover the joys of French rural living with Peter Mayle’s bestselling, much-loved account of ‘A Year In Provence’.

Peter Mayle and his wife did what most of us only imagine doing when they made their long-cherished dream of a life abroad a reality: throwing caution to the wind, they bought a glorious two hundred year-old farmhouse in the Lubéron Valley and began a new life. In a year that begins with a marathon lunch and continues with a host of gastronomic delights of the French cuisine, they also survive the unexpected and often hilarious curiosities of rural life. From mastering the local accent and enduring invasion by bumbling builders, to discovering the finer points of boules and goat-racing, all the earthy pleasures of Provençal life are conjured up in this enchanting portrait.

Reviewer John Crace reflects on the memoir, and how it spawned of a new kind of travel writing, here .

How the French Think: An Affectionate Portrait of an Intellectual People

Cambridge illustrated history of france, the elegance of the hedgehog.

by Muriel Barbery

Renée is the concierge of a grand Parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with society’s expectations of what a concierge should be. But beneath this façade lies the real Renée: passionate about culture and the arts, and more knowledgeable in many ways than her employers with their outwardly successful but emotionally void lives. Down in her lodge, apart from weekly visits by her one friend Manuela, Renée lives resigned to her lonely lot with only her cat for company. Meanwhile, several floors up, twelve-year-old Paloma Josse is determined to avoid the pampered and vacuous future laid out for her, and decides to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. But unknown to them both, the sudden death of one of their privileged neighbours will dramatically alter their lives forever.

This French phenomenon is reviewed in the New York Times here , where Caryn James reflects on the novel’s international appeal.

Lower Normandy: French Impressions

My life in france.

by Julia Child and Alex Prud’homme

The bestselling story of Julia’s years in France—and the basis for Julie & Julia , starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams—in her own words. Although she would later single-handedly create a new approach to American cuisine with her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show The French Chef , Julia Child was not always a master chef. Indeed, when she first arrived in France in 1948 with her husband, Paul, who was to work for the USIS, she spoke no French and knew nothing about the country itself. But as she dove into French culture, buying food at local markets and taking classes at the Cordon Bleu, her life changed forever with her newfound passion for cooking and teaching. Julia’s unforgettable story—struggles with the head of the Cordon Bleu, rejections from publishers to whom she sent her now-famous cookbook, a wonderful, nearly fifty-year long marriage that took the Childs across the globe—unfolds with the spirit so key to Julia’s success as a chef and a writer, brilliantly capturing one of America’s most endearing personalities.

The History of Modern France: From the Revolution to the War on Terror

Sixty million frenchmen can't be wrong, les misérables.

Within his dramatic story are themes that capture the intellect and the emotions: crime and punishment, the relentless persecution of Valjean by Inspector Javert, the desperation of the prostitute Fantine, the amorality of the rogue Thénardier, and the universal desire to escape the prisons of our own minds. Les Misérables gave Victor Hugo a canvas upon which he portrayed his criticism of the French political and judicial systems, but the portrait that resulted is larger than life, epic in scope—an extravagant spectacle that dazzles the senses even as it touches the heart.

Small Group Tours To France

Odyssey Traveller offers regular escorted small group tours for senior travellers to France each year. This link will take you to the Tours of France page. Odyssey has produced a “Country Spotlight” article on France. A more detailed focus on the highlights of France can be found here , with further information for mature and senior travellers interested in French history and culture. We have also written on discovering Paris by rail . Check out the official tourism website for France for more inspiration.

For more information on Odyssey Traveller and our educational small group tours, visit and explore our website , and remember to visit these pages in particular:

• Terms and conditions applicable for booking an Odyssey Traveller tour.
• FAQ’s about Odyssey Traveller

Alternatively, please call or send an email.

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France seduces travelers with iconic landmarks and cafe terraces, epic history and bustling village life. Experiences - and cuisine - to be savored.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, leave the planning to a local expert.

Experience the real France. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

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Home to Europe's largest collection of modern and contemporary art, Centre Pompidou has amazed and delighted visitors ever since it opened in 1977, not…

Château de Chenonceau

Spanning the languid Cher River atop a graceful arched bridge, Chenonceau is one of France's most elegant châteaux. It's hard not to be moved and…

Sainte-Chapelle

Visit Sainte-Chapelle on a sunny day when Paris’ oldest, finest stained glass (1242–48) is at its dazzling best. The chapel is famous for its stained…

Musée du Louvre

It isn’t until you’re standing in the vast courtyard of the Louvre, with its glass pyramid and ornate façade, that you can truly say you’ve been to Paris.

Château de Chambord

The Loire Valley

If you only have time to visit one château in the Loire, you might as well make it the grandest – and Chambord is the most lavish of them all, and the…

Les Catacombes

It’s gruesome, ghoulish and downright spooky, but it never fails to captivate visitors. In 1785, the subterranean tunnels of an abandoned quarry were…

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Maison des Mégalithes

Golfe du Morbihan

The main information point for the Carnac alignments is the Maison des Mégalithes, 1km north of Carnac-Ville, which explores the history of the megalithic…

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

While its interior is closed off to visitors following the devastating fire of April 2019, this masterpiece of French Gothic architecture remains the city…

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

No trip to Paris is complete without strolling this broad, tree-shaded avenue lined with luxury shops. Named for the Elysian Fields (‘heaven’ in Greek…

Abbaye du Mont St-Michel

Mont St-Michel

Mont St-Michel's one main street, the Grande Rue, leads up the slope – past souvenir shops, eateries and a forest of elbows – to the star attraction of a…

Musée de la Lavande

The Luberon

To get to grips with Provence’s most prestigious crop, this excellent eco-museum makes an ideal first stop. An audioguide and video (in English) explain…

Carnac Alignments

Predating Stonehenge by around 100 years, the Carnac (Garnag in Breton) area is the world's greatest concentration of megalithic sites, with no fewer than…

Musée d’Orsay

St-Germain & Les Invalides

Musée d’Orsay may not be quite as famous as the Louvre—though it’s located a mere 10-minute walk away—but this Left Bank museum holds its own in its…

Promenade des Anglais

The most famous stretch of seafront in Nice – if not France – is this vast paved promenade, which gets its name from the English expat patrons who paid…

Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges

Head away from the crowds and into the serene Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges, 3000 sq km of pristine greenery in the western Vosges. In…

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque

If you're searching for that classic postcard shot of the medieval abbey surrounded by a sea of purple lavender, look no further. This sublime Cistercian…

Monastère Notre Dame de Cimiez

Painters Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy are buried in the cemetery of this monastery, a five-minute walk across the park from the Musée Matisse. To reach…

Musée Lumière

Cinema's glorious beginnings are showcased at the art nouveau home of Antoine Lumière, who moved to Lyon with sons Auguste and Louis in 1870. The brothers…

Cathédrale Notre-Dame

Nothing prepares you for your first glimpse of Strasbourg's Cathédrale Notre-Dame, completed in all its Gothic grandeur in 1439. The lace-fine facade…

Hôtel des Invalides

Flanked by the 500m-long Esplanade des Invalides lawns, Hôtel des Invalides was built in the 1670s by Louis XIV to house 4000 invalides (disabled war…

Pont du Gard

Languedoc-Roussillon

The extraordinary three-tiered Pont du Gard was once part of a 50km-long system of channels built around 19 BC to transport water from Uzès to Nîmes. The…

Château de Versailles

Amid magnificently landscaped formal gardens, this splendid and enormous palace was built in the mid-17th century during the reign of Louis XIV – the Roi…

Hôtel de Ville

Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville

Paris’ beautiful town hall was gutted during the Paris Commune of 1871 and rebuilt in luxurious neo-Renaissance style between 1874 and 1882. The ornate…

Jardin des Plantes

Latin Quarter

Founded in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden for Louis XIII, Paris’ 24-hectare botanic gardens – visually defined by the double alley of plane trees that…

Chapelle du Rosaire

Côte d'Azur

An ailing Henri Matisse moved to Vence in 1943 to be cared for by his former nurse and model, Monique Bourgeois, who'd since become a Dominican nun. She…

Phare de Biarritz

Climbing the 258 twisting steps inside the 73m-high Phare de Biarritz, the town’s 1834 lighthouse, rewards you with sweeping views of the Basque coast…

Petite France

Criss-crossed by narrow lanes, canals and locks, Petite France is where artisans plied their trades in the Middle Ages. The half-timbered houses,…

Place de la Concorde

Paris spreads around you, with views of the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and along the Champs-Élysées, when you stand in the city’s largest square. Its 3300…

Musée Matisse

This museum, 2km north of the city centre in the leafy Cimiez quarter, houses a fascinating assortment of works by Matisse, including oil paintings,…

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• Non-Fiction

7 Best Travel Books About France

“To slowly, slowly give in to the inevitability of adulthood in the hopes that I will age as gracefully as Paris has.”

With over 80 million visitors each year, France is the most visited county on the planet. And it’s clear to see why. With well over a thousand years of history, the country’s culture, food, wine and natural beauty are unlike anywhere else. Join us here at What We Reading as we run you the 7 best travel books about France you have to read before you visit! 

Pardon My French – Allen Johnson

In his book Pardon My French: How a Grumpy American Fell in Love with France , Allen Johnson embarks on an incredible mission to not only visit the country but embrace every facet of it. 

Johnson is a self-described ‘alien’ in the country, sticking out like a sore thumb but still throwing himself into all of his escapades with tremendous heart. It makes for a loveable and relatable storyline that helps this stand out as one of the best books about France for all chaotic travellers. 

The Little Paris Bookshop – Nina George

German bestselling author Nina George brings readers an adventure across France filled with warmth and emotion in The Little Paris Bookshop , a love letter to books and the profound impact they can have on our lives. 

The book follows a man named Monsieur Perdu who owns a floating bookstore along the River Seine. His long-lost love has left him a letter that he has never opened. However, after finally mustering up the courage to see what it holds, he sets off on a journey along France’s rivers with an author and a charismatic Italian chef.  

French Milk – Lucy Knisley

Through delightful drawings, photographs and musings, author Lucy Knisley details her month-long stay in France’s capital along with her mother in French Milk . 

With both, the mother and daughter duo grappling with different milestones of their life, the winding roads and wild shades of life lining Paris are brought to life in a truly charmingly unique way in this French memoir. 

My Life In France – Julia Child And Alex Prud’Homme

The inspiration behind Julie & Julia, the 2009 drama film starring Meryl Streep, My Life in France documents world-renowned television chef Julia Child’s time living in France. 

Arriving in the country in 1948, Child details how she couldn’t speak any of the language nor anything about the culture, and yet still fell head over heels in love with everything to do with France. From an intimate look at open marketplaces and the inspiration French cuisine had on one of America’s most beloved sweethearts, it is one of the best books for understanding how profound one of the country’s most prominent features can be. 

Looking for more great reads set in France? Check out our The Paris Apartment book review !

The Piano Shop On The Left Bank – Thad Carhart

Along with its love for food, France is also a country known for its love of fine culture. In The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier , the author details how one chance encounter with an unassuming little storefront in his neighbourhood ignited an in-depth look at the country’s long relationship with pianos. 

Nominated for the Guardian First Book Awards , this is one of the most unmissable Travel books about France for anyone looking to discover some of the hidden musical histories of the capital. 

Rooftoppers – Katherine Rundell 

When Sophie is rescued from a shipwreck on the English Channel, everyone assumes she is an orphan. But, when the Welfare Office threatens to take her into foster care, she channels the feelings in the pit of her stomach. She heads off on an adventure across Paris in a desperate endeavour to locate her biological mother. 

Rooftoppers is an emotionally-driven book that channels the magic of hope, even in the darkest of circumstances. Author Katherine Rundell manages to weave classic-feeling elements with the majesty of the capital across the book, making this one of the most extraordinary reads for those looking for a book on France. 

Check out the best Travel Books on Belgium

One More Croissant For The Road – Felicity Cloake

Part travelogue, part food memoir, One More Croissant for the Road is Felicity Cloake’s (aka. ‘the nation’s taster in chief’) personal Tour de France adventure. 

One of the best travel books about France, the story follows Cloake as she cycles 2,300km across the country, exploring all the majestic sights and tastes it has to offer. From Tarte Tatin to Cassoulet via Poule au Pot, each of her 21 ‘stages’ concludes with her putting her rigorous work to good use through delicious recipes that every reader is sure to find themselves beginning to drool over.

Wanderlust not satisfied? Check out these awesome travel books on Greece !

Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).

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Paris Guide Books

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Best Paris Travel Guide Books - 2024

Planning a trip to Paris?   Travel guide books give you a quick, easy way to find all the information you need about the top attractions, fun and historic neighborhoods to explore, best hotels to stay in, places to eat, and even interesting things to do with kids if you're traveling as a family. 

Some also include excellent Paris city maps, others provide insights into Paris culture and history, and still others may inspire you with their gorgeous color photos of everything Parisian from the Eiffel Tower to steak-frites. 

But with so many appealing choices available, what is the best guide book for planning your trip to Paris?

Well, that depends because everybody is different.  Maybe you love details - or maybe you just want highlights. Maybe you want to find out about "hidden secret" spots as well as famous bucket list attractions - or maybe a quick list of the 10 best things to see and do, top hotels and restaurants in a few price ranges, and few travel tips is more your style. 

The good news:  there's something for everybody.   This article provides our top picks in a variety of categories:

• Best Paris Travel Guides for Planning your Trip
• Paris Guides to Walking Tours & Getting Around   
• Guides to Hidden Paris
• Guides to Paris Culture & Special Places
• Books about Paris Markets & Food

Guides to Paris History & Architecture

Paris travel & guide books to buy in paris.

Top photo:  Paris guide books in a local bookstore

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Best Comprehensive Guide Books for Planning Your Paris Trip

Looking for the best Paris guide book for planning all aspects of your trip? 

Here's where to start:

Rick Steves' Paris Travel Guide

By Rick Steves, Steve Smith, & Gene Openshaw

Rick Steves'  love of travel and enthusiasm for making it accessible to everyone comes through loud and clear in the 700+ pages of this comprehensive guide.  Despite the size of this book, the thin but surprisingly sturdy pages make it light enough to pack and bring with you without worrying about the weight.

If you're a first-time visitor, you'll appreciate his focus on on top attractions such as the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, and Pere Lachaise Cemetery and his recommendations about what to see at each site. 

If you're a return traveler, check out his recommendations for the best hidden gems.

In addition, Rick Steves' Paris provides a thorough "orientation" to Paris, including tips on getting around, shopping, and dining.  If you're planning a family trip, you'll find lots of good tips in his suggestions about things to do with kids in Paris.  A foldout map is a nice plus.

Recommended for:   First time and return travelers to Paris, especially if you want get the most out of your time and money without breaking the bank.

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Want an even more compact version?  Check out Rick Steves Pocket Paris - it's packed with trip-planning tips, itineraries, suggested walks and tours, a pull-out map, and lots more.

The Rough Guide to Paris

UK publisher Rough Guides honed its reputation by providing straightforward information to budget-minded travelers on the younger end of the demographic scale, and The Rough Guide to Paris reflects that. 

You'll find decent recommendations for bars, clubs, and other entertainment venues (just beware that Paris nightlife constantly evolves, so no doubt some of the information will be out of date).

Sections on Paris neighborhood attractions include areas that most other guides don't mention: La Villette (home to the newish Philharmonie de Paris concert hall, a huge science and technology museum focused on kids and teens, and a top exhibition hall), Passy (cool market street plus other attractions in the 16th), Belleville (awesome street art, which the guide book doesn't mention, and the spectacular Parc des Buttes-Chaumont), and Ménilmontant (Pere Lachaise Cemetery and the Edith Piaf Museum).  You'll also find a section of some of the interesting but often overlooked suburbs.

Otherwise, The Rough Guide to Paris covers all of the top attractions (sometimes with a "chilled out" twist on how to visit), favorite neighborhoods, and general travel advice that you'd expect and want in a comprehensive guide.   There are quite a few useful maps, plus nice photos.

And finally, if you're interested in lesser-known Paris locations (a.k.a. "hidden gems"), it's clear that the author has ventured fairly off the usual beaten tourist paths and discovered some cool spots that other publications generally miss.  (We felt rather sad to see a few of our favorite unknown-to-most-visitors spots revealed.)

Recommended for:   Budget-minded Paris visitors who want to do and see the city's top attractions but also explore the nightlife and wander a bit from the touristic center.  And if you're already a Rough Guide fan, you're sure to love this one.

DK Eyewitness Paris Travel Guide

If you're the type of traveler who draws inspiration from gorgeous photos paired with just enough text to let you know what you're looking at, DK Eyewitness Paris may be your top choice guide book planning your trips.

Details take a back seat to inspiration in the first sections of this book but don't be deceived:   DK Eyewitness Paris packs a hefty amount of interesting facts, useful tips, and logistical details into the guide's later chapters.  Beautifully detailed drawings, diagrams, and even timelines make the information interesting and accessible. 

Recommended for:   Anyone who wonders why Paris is worth visiting, wants ideas about what to see and do, or simply enjoys gazing at photos that capture the beauty and magic of this special city will find a lot to love in this book.  The fact that you'll also learn a lot about the City of Light is a bonus.

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Paris

If you love lists, you may find DK Eyewitness Top 10 Paris hard to put down once you start looking through it.  With "top 10" lists for everything from top attractions to museums to places to eat near the Eiffel Tower, this small almost pocket-sized guide book contains a huge amount of useful information as well as a laminated pull-out map. 

"Top 10 things to see" lists for each of the top 10 Paris attractions such as the Louvre Museum and Army Museum give you useful information to make sure you don't miss anything. 

Annual updates keep the recommendations on point, and plenty of small photos, drawings, and maps mean you still get the rich visual images that make DK Eyewitness guides stand out from the competition.  A small section with practical information about getting around the city, etc, and recommendations for around 80 hotels based on price range and style round out the guide.

Recommended for:   Anyone who loves lists and/or wants a small-format (4" x 7.5"; 10cm x 19cm) guide book filled with useful information.

Insight Guides Explore Paris 

If you're looking for the perfect combination of detailed Paris travel information, a large number of excellent photos, and a few maps and diagrams, Insight Guide's Paris City guidebooks may be the perfect fit for your needs.

As you might expect in a comprehensive guide book, topics such as "Chic Shopping" and "Paris After Dark" give you a good overview of things to do in the city.  But you'll find some of Paris City Guide's best information in the coverage of specific things to do and see in 10 neighborhoods including not only those with the best known tourist attractions (Ile de la Cité, the Latin Quarter, etc) but also interesting but less well known areas such as Bastille, East Paris, and Montparnasse.  Don't miss the useful section on Paris Disney and other day trip destinations.

There's also a smaller Pocket Edition of this guidebook.  It's not as comprehensive but if you're packing as little as possible, it's definitely worth considering.

Recommended for:   First time and return Paris visitors who want a comprehensive guide packed with useful details.

Please note:  As of early 2024, neither of these Insight guides has been updated since 2019, so some information may be out of date.  The books still contain lots of useful information and offer lots of value.  If you're considering buying one or both of them, consider buying a cheap used copy.

Lonely Planet Paris

Although Lonely Planet's guide books originally earned their reputation by highlighting off-the-beaten-trail attractions, the current Lonely Planet guide to Paris focuses primarily on popular attractions and experiences - but it does that very well by packing in a lot of information within a lively framework.

Starting with brief descriptions of top Paris highlights, itineraries, and top events each month, Lonely Planet Paris then provides detailed information for important attractions in eight central Paris neighborhoods before ending with brief sections on topics such as family travel, architecture, and food and wine.

What makes this guide book a standout, though, is the balance between the 50 or so maps (marked with walking routes), color photographs, diagrams, and "Don't Miss" pages that help you focus on the most important attractions. 

Another big plus:  The pull-out "Just Landed" card with wifi, ATM, and Paris transportation information provides everything you need to go to get from the airport to your hotel or apartment.

Recommended for:   First time and return visitors who like to get comprehensive travel information in a well-organized, lively, easy-to-digest format.

Blue Guide: Paris

By Delia Gray-Durant

When you want the most  in-depth information possible in a comprehensive Paris guide book, Blue Guide: Paris is where to turn.  For example, it devotes almost 60 pages to detailed descriptions of the most important pieces in the Louvre's collections, along with site plans.  As a bonus, the lively writing style brings the art to life with its vivid descriptions.

Also impressive is how Blue Guide: Paris provides detailed descriptions to small attractions as well.  The little-known but fascinating National Marine Museum (Musée National de la Marine), which many guide books don't even mention, gets almost 3 pages including a photo and by the time you finish reading them, you'll know exactly what to look for and expect in the museum's model ship collection.

For each neighborhood, Blue Guide: Paris also suggests walking tours (with maps) and places to eat nearby.  A small section at the end contains a nicely curated list of hotels in three price categories. 

Recommended for:   Anyone who wants detailed information about things to see in Paris museums, historic churches, concert halls, and other cultural and important institutions.

Please note:  This book hasn't been updated since 2015.  If you want detailed and comprehensive information about places that don't change much (such as the Louvre), this book is still totally worth getting.  But it's astonishing that the publisher (Blue Guides) hasn't produced a more recent editition about Paris, one of the world's most-visited cities.

But a couple of caveats:  information about any site that's undergone a recent renovation, such as the National Marine Museum mentioned above, may be out of date, and you should also (mostly) disregard the restaurant and hotel information.  For the best value, look for a cheap used copy.

Michelin's Paris: The Green Guide

Michelin guide books are known for their comprehensive coverage and numerous details, and their Paris: The Green Guide is no exception.  Color photos, site plans, maps (with walking routes), and diagrams help bring the text to life.

Starting with the first four Paris arrondissements, the guide includes descriptions of the top attractions in the arrondissements' major neighborhoods.  In the often overlooked 13th, 14th, and 15th arrondissements, for example, the section on the Javel-André-Citroen neighborhood includes brief descriptions of several themed gardens in Parc André-Citroen, the Beaugrenelle complex (although strangely, there is no mention of the shopping center), the huge Aquaboulevard water park.  Just like Michelin does with restaurants, this guide assigns 0-3 stars to each attraction.  You may or may not always agree with them.

Paris: The Green Guide also includes small sections on getting around, Paris history, contemporary Paris culture, shopping, where to stay, and where to eat - although for restaurants, you may prefer to get the latest edition (2021, in French) of their Paris restaurant guide if you can read French well enough to glean at least the basics. 

Please note:  This guide has not been updated since 2018.  However, as long as you disregard pricing and similar details, it delivers lots of useful still-timely information.

Michelin Green Guide Short Stays: Paris Travel Guide

This Michelin Guide "Short Stays" guidebook to Paris is packed with useful, mostly evergreen (luckily, since the last update was in 2020) information about Paris neighborhoods, things to do, and itineraries.  Like the regular Green Guides, this guidebook uses Michelin's star-rating system for most of the categories it reviews.

Travel tips, though brief, are to the point.  And restaurant and hotel recommendations are solid, because the guide sticks with the "classics" that don't change much over time.  You won't find the newest and trendiest places to eat or stay, but you'll find enough in this book to do 90% of your trip planning.

Small maps of specific location and appealing photographs add to the book's appeal.

How does Michelin's "Short Stay: Paris" book compare with the regular Green Guide for Paris?

If you're planning a first or return trip, you'll probably find this "Short Stays" version much easier (and more interesting, thanks to the photos, format, and writing style) to use.

If you want to do a deep-dive into the history and details about a particular site, then go for the regular Michelin Green Guide (or Blue Guide's Paris book, which includes even more details). 

What you should ignore this book are the pricing and cost details - although surprisingly, they haven't changed by a huge margin.

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Paris Guides to Walking Tours & Getting Around the City

Paris in Stride: An Insider's Walking Guide

By Jessie Kenelos Weiner & Sorah Moroz

Delightful watercolors and maps with walking routes illustrate each of Paris in Stride's 10 chapters devoted to showing you the best places to visit in a specific Paris neighborhood.  Of course you'll find areas popular with tourists such as the Marais, Montmartre, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, but equally fascinating and perhaps even more interesting to explore are lesser-known areas such as Rue de Charonne/Place d'Aligre and the corner of the 16th arrondissement dubbed "Museum Hub" by the authors. 

In addition to all the places you'd expect to find profiled, you'll also discover (perhaps) new-to-you concept stores, chocolatiers, galleries, and places to eat and drink in Paris in Stride.   Each chapter also contains bonus how-to sections with useful information for you use during your walk:  how to navigate an open-air street market, how to "apero" (ie, the Parisian tradition of enjoy a glass or two of wine or an apéritif accompanied by snacks or small plates during the early evening hours, and incidentally, a short list of the best natural wine specialists in the city), and how to choose cheese in a fromagerie.

Recommended for:   Everyone who's planning to walk around Paris and explore, eat, and drink along the way.  (Warning: This book may make you hungry - so if you're reading this book at home while plotting your trip to Paris, be kind to yourself and have a glass of wine, some chocolates, and ideally a few macaroons close at hand.)

Moon MapGuide Paris

By Aurelia d'Andrea

Ten fold-out maps at the beginning of MapGuide Paris cover popular neighborhoods from the Latin Quarter to Grand Boulevards to Canal Saint-Martin, each with location markers for top choices in a half-dozen categories: sights, restaurants, nightlife, shops, arts and leisure, and hotels.

Following the maps, sections devoted to each of these categories provide descriptions, addresses, and other pertinent information for attractions marked in each map, from Map 1 to Map 10.  Although MapGuide Paris doesn't recommend specific walking routes, you can easily do this yourself after you pick out exactly what you want to see in each neighborhood.  Although almost every page of this handy guide features small photos, the maps are the real stars.

Recommended for:   Paris visitors who love a methodical approach to planning and like the idea of plotting your own walking route based on your own specific interests.

Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local

If you like the detailed maps of Moon MapGuide Paris but would prefer pre-defined walks along with commentary about what you'll see and experience plus detailed fold-out maps, Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local may be the guide book for you. 

Although Paris Walks includes only six routes, each one covers two or more distinct neighborhoods, such as Walk 1: Batignolles & Montmartre, or Walk 6: Belleville, Canal Saint-Martin & Ménilmontant.   And as you can see from these examples, several of the walking routes introduce you to interesting lesser-known neighborhoods where you can see more of the "real" Paris.  But don't worry, others such as Walk 5: Eiffel Tower, Invalides & Champs-Elysees cover all the famous attractions.

You could certainly cover any of these six walking routes in a day or perhaps less if you don't linger over lunch - but Paris Walks designs them so that you can pick the segments of most interest to you and do a leisurely exploration.

Recommended for:   Paris first time and return visitors who want to follow defined walking routes.

National Geographic's Walking Paris: The Best of the City

By Pas Paschali and Brian Robinson

National Geographic's Walking Paris: The Best of the City combines "whirlwind tour" walking guides designed for a day, a weekend, fun, and a weekend with kids with more detailed walking guides for nine different Paris neighborhoods. 

Each section has its own map marked with a walking route plus information about the attractions you'll see, interspersed with gorgeous color photos.   One of Walking Paris's strengths is its contextual information in each section about history, culture, architecture, cuisine, street markets, and more.

The final part of the book provides basic travel information and recommendations for about 60 hotels.

Recommended for:   Paris visitors and return visitors who want walking routes through the city's best-known neighborhoods. 

Guides to Secret Gardens & Special Places

Secret Paris

By Thomas Jonglez

Want to know about truly obscure secret places and sights in Paris? 

Esoteric and unusual suggestions pack this compact Secret Paris guide book, such as where to see a chunk of French King Philippe-Auguste's 12th century city wall in an underground parking garage, where to visit a hidden Zen garden, where to find a little-known church in the 7th arrondissement with a 14th century Italian Renaissance masterpiece by Tintoretto of the Last Supper.  

And you definitely should not miss the wine-making firefighters or the war-wounded palm trees.  (Yes, Paris really does have palm trees - more than you might expect!)

Secret Paris also includes numerous high-quality color photographs, maps, and suggestions about other secret places to visit near the major sites covered, plus a wealth of other details, tips, and information.  In the "hidden Paris" genre, this book stands out!

Recommended for:   You, if you like to explore and discover interesting things beyond the usual tourist attractions when you travel.

Hidden Gardens of Paris

By Susan Cahill

The 40 or so gardens covered in Hidden Gardens of Paris include well-known parks such as Luxembourg Garden and Champ de Mars as well as less obvious spots such as the garden at Musée Zadkine and Musée de la Vie Romantic, where Chopin and writer George Sand used to hang out in the 19th century. 

Hidden Gardens of Paris includes color photos along with the descriptions of what you might see and experience in these gardens, but as a bonus also includes "nearby" suggestions for each destination.  This is where you'll find truly hidden city Edens, such as the gorgeous rose-filled (and fairly hard to find) Jardin Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur and the lovely formal flower beds and orange trees in the garden behind Hotel Sully near Place des Vosges.

Recommended for:   Everyone who loves parks, gardens, and the thrill of discovering places off the well-worn tourist track in Paris.

Hidden Parks of Paris

By Gregory Ross with Julian Darius

Part memoir, part travel guide, and part ode to a lost love named Caroline, Hidden Parks of Paris contains short but evocative descriptions of over 100 of Paris's almost 500 parks, public gardens, and green spaces accompanied by black and white photos.

You'll find useful suggestions related to well-known places such as Jardin des Plantes and the magnificent Musée Rodin garden, but this book's strength comes from descriptions of what do see and do at obscure and hidden spaces such as Square de Santiago du Chili, Square Roger-Stephane, and Square Boucicaut, all in the 7th arrondissement.

Recommended for:   Anyone who likes travel memoirs and enjoys discovering less known and hidden places in the middle of Paris.

Where to Buy?   Unfortunately, this book is out of print, so you'll need to look for a used copy.  Goodreads provides some links for you to search.

Guides to Paris Culture, Special Places, & Hidden Treasures

Stuff Parisians Like

To get a taste of contemporary Parisian culture and perspectives, you can't find a better introduction than this fun book of very short essays by Parisian Olivier Magny (who, incidentally, also owns the popular Ô Chateau wine bar/bistro in the 1st arrondissement). 

Stuff Parisians Like covers everything - tongue in cheek, of course - from why Parisians like the sun to their love affair with "le burger."  In between, you'll find out why Parisians like to go to the movies on Sundays, why young Parisians are more likely to spend their time hanging out with friends at house parties instead of bars, and lots, lots more.  "Useful Tips" and "Sound like a Parisian" sections at the end of each chapter are priceless. 

Even better:  When you arrive in Paris, stop by Ô Chateau (68 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau) for a drink and perhaps some charcouterie, and if Olivier happens to be behind the bar that day, you can tell him how much you like his book.  You can also sign up for one of their special wine-tasting experiences while you're there (or reserve a spot in advance before you travel).

Recommended for:   Paris visitors who want light-hearted (but serious) tips at understanding Parisians and their unique social culture.

Want more from Olivier Magny?  Get his latest book, WTF?! (which stands for What the French, vs what you may have thought), packed hilarious insights about modern France and its various idiosyncrasies.

Paris, paris:  Journey into the City of Light

By David Downie

Each of the short essays in Paris, paris:  Journey into the City of Light focus on places and people observed by writer and long-time Paris resident David Downie during his rambling walks around his adopted city.

A view of Rue Saint-Martin from Centre Pompidou's rooftop terrace starts his musings about how this road predates the Romans, which then leads more thoughts about historic sites along other ancient Paris roads (and a 3-month trek with his wife along Roman roads criss-crossing France, although that's another story).  A glass of white wine on a spring night turns into an exploration of the boat people of the Seine.  And so on.  Each essay in Paris, paris transports you to places, people, and information you might not discover on your own - information that will enrich your own experience of this ever-fascinating city.

Recommended for:   Anyone who loves to be transported beyond their own experiences - and of course anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the strands of history and people who make up Paris.

300 Reasons to Love Paris

By Judith Ritchie

Even if you plan to focus your first trip to Paris on visiting iconic attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum, it's still fun to squeeze in a hour or two each day to explore a hidden garden, indulge in a superb but out-of-the-way pastry shop, shop along a quintessentially Parisian market street, stop by the latest trendy juice bar or wine bar, shop at the below-the-radar outlet stores for famous Paris designers, gaze at the best historic jewelry collections by world-famous jewelers, make your own custom perfume, dine at at hip rooftop bar, and have a drink in the city's coolest underground bars.

That's what 300 Reasons to Love Paris is about - an insider's list of secret or little-known places as overlooked pleasures at better-known attractions that most tourists never discover on their own, especially on a first visit.  Need more inspiration?  Numerous color photos and detailed location maps make finding these places easy!

Recommended for:   First-time and return visitors who want to experience a bit of the "real" Paris.

Paris: An Inspiring Tour of the City's Creative Heart

By Janelle McCulloch

The beautifully designed Paris: An Inspiring Tour of the City's Creative Heart focuses on all things related to creativity in Paris - and yes, that covers a lot of ground.

Neighborhood strolls in a dozen arrondissements form the heart of Paris: An Inspiring Tour.   In the Montorgueil neighborhood which crosses the 2nd and 9th, that means a look at the popular bars and bistros, bakeries and pastry shops, produce and cheese sellers along the famous market street as well as detours into 19th century covered passages and the design showrooms such as Pierre Frey on Rue Montmartre/Rue du Mail.

In Bastille (11th) and Canal Martin (10th), you'll learn about trendy boutiques, artisan workshops lining the labyrinth of passages and courtyards, the Viaduc des arts arcade, and bars and nightspots you shouldn't miss.  And finally, toward the book's end, you'll find useful addresses: where to buy great lingerie, fabrics, Chanel's latest collection, ballet flats, and so forth - plus a curated list of tea rooms, bistros, bakeries, and gourmet food markets.

Recommended for:   Anyone who wants to learn about and explore Paris's hubs of creativity - or even just find the best bakeries, jewelry makers, antique and vintage shops, tea salons, and ice cream.  This is also a fabulous book for when you want to curl up in a comfy chair, look at lush photos, and dream about your future trip to Paris.

111 Places in Paris That You Shouldn't Miss

By Sybil Canac, René Grimaud, Katia Thomas

The three authors of the somewhat quirky, always fascinating 111 Places in Paris That You Shouldn't Miss have dug deep to come up with secret places and hidden treasures, and as a result, you'll learn about some very cool things here.  For example, a Japanese-inspired cat cafe for when you crave feline company with you café au lait.  Or the oldest fountain in Paris, when you can find near Centre Pompidou (and stop by the wonderful Stravinsky Fountain while you're there.  Or in the hills of Montmartre, a secret staircase in Passage de la Sorcière ("The Witch's Passage) which is close to the public but, as the book reveals, there are two ways you might get in.

One or two photographs accompany each place described in 111 Places,  plus the authors recommend other things to do and see nearby.  One thing to be aware while a few of the cafes and bars have closed or moved on, other recommendations have evolved.   For example, Place #48, Halle Pajol, is still a great suggestion and nearby Marché de la Chapelle is still a wonderful market, but there's now more to see and do in the neighborhood:  the Rosa Luxembourg Garden and on the other side of the railroad tracks, the large modern Eole Garden (which is more like a park).  Watch for an updated edition!

Recommended for:   First time Paris visitors who want to visit a couple of "hidden treasures," and return visitors who want to see the "real" Paris, and everyone else who likes to seek out cool things.

Books about Paris Food & Markets

Sundays in Paris

By Yasmin Zeinab

Sundays in Paris grew out of a curated list of the best places to eat on Sundays started by the author years ago when she first arrived in Paris from Lyon and discovered that some places close on that day.  Although she includes her recommendations for places to enjoy coffee, brunch, and dinner and drinks in almost all 20 Paris arrondissements (strangely, she omits the 15th, a mostly upscale residential district with tons of good places open on Sundays), she also devotes almost the second half of the book to cultural attractions, gardens, shopping areas, and markets for you to visit on Sundays.

Dip into Sundays in Paris at any point in the book, and you're sure to find a mouth-watering description of food or cultural experiences.  Some are well-known, like Gregory Marchand's Frenchie bistro on Rue de Nil in the 2nd district, but others like the hidden terrace at Ralph's, the extension of the Ralph Lauren store on the Left Bank, may be a surprise.

Recommended for:   Everyone who wishes for a Parisian friend willing to share her favorite addresses for food, culture, and shopping on a leisurely Sunday.

The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue des Martyrs

By Elaine Sciolino

Rue des Martyrs runs for about half a mile from Montmartre through the heart of SoPi , the newly trendy neighborhood south of Pigalle in the 9th arrondissement.  Lined with unassuming butchers, fruit shops, bakeries, wine sellers, cafes, and an assortment of other businesses, it harkens back to an older working-class Paris, even as cute clothing boutiques and modern bistros catering to newly arrived bobos ("bourgeois-​bohemians") threaten to erode its authenticity.

In The Only Street in Paris, former New York Times Paris bureau chief and Rue des Martyrs resident Elaine Sciolino, brings the street to life with stories about the neighborhood's history, merchants and residents, and most all all its food.  Read the book before you travel, and once you arrive, stroll down the rue and savor its pleasures for yourself.

Recommended for:   Anyone who enjoys mesmerizing travel writing that brings a place and its people to life.

The French Market Cookbook:  Vegetarian Recipes from My Parisian Kitchen

Written by Clotilde Dusoulier

You may already know Clotilde Dusoulier's fresh perspective of French cuisine from her popular Chocolate and Zucchini blog (chocolateandzucchine.com), where she writes about cooking and shares recipes for (mostly) simple dishes based on fresh ingredients straight from the markets of Paris. 

In The French Market Cookbook, Dusoulier shares 90 new vegetarian recipes such as an asparagus buckwheat tart and peach, almond, and cardamom clafoutis.  Best of all (unlike many recipes posted on the web by people who you suspect have never actually made the dishes because when you do, the results are, let's just say, not great), these recipes are virtually foolproof and produce delicious results.

Why, you may be wondering, is a cookbook included in an article about Paris guide books?  Simple - if you rent an apartment for your stay in Paris, you'll have the opportunity to shop in Paris' wonderful markets for fresh produce, cheese, and other ingredients and then use them to prepare meals in your apartment's kitchen.  This cookbook and its mouth-watering photographs will give you lots of inspiration!

Recommended for:   Anyone who loves to cook and wants to make contemporary French vegetarian cuisine - either in your own home kitchen or in your apartment in Paris.

Markets of Paris

By Dixon Long & Marjorie R. Williams

Planning to visit any of Paris's wonderful markets?

If so, Markets of Paris will be an essential resource for you as you decide which markets to visit.  In 20 chapters, one for each of Paris's 20 arrondissements, the authors provide details about the district's open-air and covered food markets (the stars of this book), as well as other markets:  flea markets, a bird market, book markets, antiques markets and dealers, the booksellers (les bouquinistes) along the Seine, arts and crafts markets, and even the historic covered passages and arcades. 

Lush color photos will make you a) feel really hungry, and b) wish you were in Paris RIGHT NOW!  As a bonus, the authors include a list of their favorite restaurants in each district, which will make you feel a) even hungrier, and b) even more impatient to be there.

Recommended for:   Everyone who plans to shop in any of Paris's huge spectrum of traditional markets.

Join a Paris Food Tour

Some of these food tours typically involve trips to markets:

Paris, City of Dreams:  Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris

By Mary McAuliffe

If you're interested in learning (while also being entertained) about how Paris made the transition from a dank, congested, and smelly medieval center to the beautiful metropolis with broad boulevards and excellent sewer and transportation systems of today, you may be too fascinated by Paris, City of Dreams to put it down once you start reading. 

Paris, City of Dreams focuses on the years between 1848 and 1871 when Napoleon III and his right-hand person, Baron Haussmann, transformed the metropolis during the Second Empire.  But although this book provides plenty of interesting details about their efforts and successes in remaking the city, the descriptions of the upheavals taking place in Paris society, art, theater, and even banking that will keep you riveted.

Why read this book?   You'll not only get an appreciation for Napoleon III and Haussmann's profound contributions to the Paris of today, but you'll also get a much deeper understanding for the foundations of modern Parisian society.

The Architecture of Paris

By Andrew Ayers

Paris is unquestionably one of the world's most beautiful cities, packed with breathtaking medieval jewels, modern masterpieces, and everything in between.  The overall effect is harmonious, but once you start looking at specific buildings, you'll become aware of the incredible variety and richness of detail.  Every building has a story - and The Architecture of Paris is the book to turn to when you want to find out what it is.

In the 400+ pages of The Architecture of Paris,  you'll find detailed descriptions of the history and architectural details of the most important and interesting buildings (and sometimes fountains and other structures) in each of the city's 20 arrondissements, nearby suburbs including Versailles and Fontainebleau.  There are even short sections on 19th century covered arcades, Seine River bridges, and "street furniture" - lamps, trash bins, and other city street furnishings. 

Occasional black and white photos break up the tightly packed text but the value of this book is the information conveyed by the written content.  Fortunately, Ayers' writing is succinct but never dull or boring.

Who will get the most enjoyment from this book?   You, if you want to know the history and architectural details behind Paris's most important buildings, either while you're there or before you visit.

The Making of Paris

By Russell Kelley

History and architecture share center stage in The Making of Paris, a fascinating look at how Paris has evolved during the past 2,000+ years from a tiny fishing village on the banks of the Seine River to the beautiful, exciting, and people-friendly city of today.  

Numerous black and white drawings and vintage photos as well as timelines bring the book's factual content to life.  The special strength of The Making of Paris, aside from Kelley's lively writing style, is focusing on places such Notre Dame, the Vendôme Column, and the city's famous open air markets and covered arcades that you'll see as you walk around the city today.  Thanks to this book, you'll also know and appreciate their backstory.

Why you should read this book:   It's a fun read while you're planning your visit to Paris, and you'll absorb lots of interesting details that will add to your appreciation and enjoyment when you see the city's famous monuments, buildings, bridges, and other features.

Why wait to buy these guides when you're in Paris instead of before you travel?

Simple - they are published in France and may not be available in your home country, at least not at a reasonable price.

The two books in the middle, Paris Pratique and Paris Districts (this is an English-language version; the French version is called Paris Arrondissements ), contain detailed maps of each arrondissement, an index which lists every street, park, and other places and tells you the page and coordinates where you can find it in the book, and metro, train, RER, and bus maps.  They are invaluable for when you need better views than you can get on your phone - and also for when you don't want to use up your data supply or can't get a connection.

Of the two, Paris Districts is thinner, smaller, and lighter weight, so it is the best one to carry with you.  It costs about 9€, which is a bargain considering how useful it is.  Almost every news kiosk in the city used to carry them before mobile phones and cheap data became so ubiquitous, but now they're a little harder to find - but worth the search.  The one in the photo above came from the news kiosk on Champs-Elysees.

If you can't find the Paris Districts arrondissements map book, Paris Pratique is an excellent second choice, although slightly larger and 2-3 euros pricier.  You can find it (or other similar arrondissement map books) in most bookstores and also in many Paris Fnacs. - try the one at 74 Champs Elysees.  (Fnac is a popular French chain known for its electronics, books, toys, and household appliances.)

Some cheese shops (fromageries) sell Les 54 Fromages, which will tell you everything you need and want to know about the most important French cheeses.  It's a fun souvenir, plus a great gift.

Look for Paris Visite Guidée in Pavillon de l'Arsenal (21 Boulevard Morland, 4th arr).  It's a wonderful book that details the history of Paris from an urban planning and architectural perspective, starting with the "enclosed" city of 1190, continuing through Baron Haussmann's modernization of Paris in the 1850s, and ending with the continued renovations, re-imaginings, and planned developments of today.  Despite the title, the book is in English. 

Pavillon de l'Arsenal, by the way, combines a center for urban planning and architecture, a related museum, and a fabulous bookstore (free admission to all).  Most books are in French, but you'll find a small but interesting selection of titles in English, German, Spanish, and Italian.  It's close to the Seine (and the Sully-Morland metro station) and well worth a visit.

Fun Ways to Tour Paris

More articles about planning your trip to paris.

• Why Visit Paris?
• Top 10 Paris Attractions
• Get acquainted with Paris arrondissements 
• Should you get travel insurance?  (Hint: the answer is yes!)
• What to expect in Paris hotels 

Need a Paris Hotel or Apartment? 

Planning to visit Paris soon?  Use this Paris hotel and apartment booking map to find accommodations and make your reservations:

Check out the newest Paris hotels

Top Attractions & Tours

• Eiffel Tower - Enjoy sweeping views of Paris
• Louvre Tour - Soak up art & see the Mona Lisa
• Palace of Versailles - Best way to see the famous Chateau
• Paris Museum Pass - Choose 2, 4, or 6 days
• Paris Disneyland - Get express tickets & transport from Paris

Happening in Paris

January in Paris

• The famous Paris winter sales, concerts, new museum exhibits

February in Paris

• Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year Parades

March in Paris

• Mardi Gras, Fountain Shows at Versailles, French Open

April in Paris

• Paris Marathon, Easter concerts, spring flowers

May in Paris

• Mother's Day, jazz festival, concerts

June in Paris

• Summer sales, Pride week, music fests, air show

July in Paris

• Bastille Day, Tour de France, beaches

August in Paris

• Free concerts & movies, Rock En Seine

September in Paris

• European Heritage Days, Fashion Week

October in Paris

• Wine festival, Halloween, Motor Show

November in Paris

• Armistice Day, Salon du Chocolat

December in Paris

• Christmas, New Year's Eve

Hanukkuh in Paris

• Menorah lightings 

Christmas in Paris

• Holiday celebrations & decorations

Christmas Markets

• Gifts, holiday food, mulled wine, and Santa

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Plan Your Paris Trip

• Why visit Paris?
• Best Paris guide books
• Find cheap flights to Paris
• Choose your Paris hotel  
• 7 Reasons why you need travel insurance
• Electric adapters and converters  
• Best ways to get Euros
• Check out 10 top Paris attractions
• How to skip the ticket lines
• Paris Museum Pass:  Should you get one?
• Which neighborhoods are best to stay in?
• What to do & see in each Paris district
• How to spend your first day in Paris

19 best books about France to read before you visit

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: October 6, 2021

France is one of the most visited destinations in the world with over 82 million annual visitors. Its capital Paris is consistently one of the top three most visited cities with only Bangkok and London attracting more.

Culture, art, food, wine, history, lakes, beaches, mountains, wonderful villages, sophisticated cities, and more France has it all in abundance.

After living in France for 18 months and visiting numerous times over the decades it still remains one of my favourite European cities and is the subject of many famous quotes .

Choosing where to go can be the most difficult part of planning any trip to France – the lure of Paris with its historical buildings, museums and culture or the beauty of the Dordogne with its castles and vineyards, the villages of Provence, the beaches of the Cote D’Azure or the beauty of the mountains (Alps or Pyrenees!) and lakes. Your choices are endless.

If you can’t decide or simply want to prepare for your French vacation why not check out some of these best books about France ?

If you want to learn to speak French or simply a few key French phrases why not check out my posts about the best French movies on Netflix or the best French TV series on Netflix ?

This post may contain compensated links. Please read our  disclosure  for additional information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank

A beautifully written novel exploring both the delights of life in Paris and a love affair with the piano. A wonderful novel for anyone who loves pianos and Paris with equal passion!

Murder On The Eiffel Tower (Victor Legris Mysteries)

A murder-mystery set in the Paris of 1889. The Eiffel Tower is brand new but the scene of a mysterious death. Caused by a bee sting or where there other forces at work? Young bookseller Victor Legris makes it his mission to uncover the truth!

City of Darkness, City of Light

"City of Darkness, City of Light" is the story of two women who are driven to join the French Revolution. Claire Lacombe and Pauline Leon both come from poor families, but their lives take very different paths.

Claire is an actress whose theatre group performs at lavish homes for aristocrats; Pauline is a laundress who works for those same nobles.

When they see the stark disparity between their lives and those of their wealthy employers, they become determined to change society.

The Little Paris Bookshop

Translated from German this bestseller is a perfect summer read to accompany you on your French vacation. Set on a floating barge on the Seine this is a beautiful novel about the power of books and a lost love.

All the Light We Cannot See

From Anthony Doerr, the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning author of Cloud Cuckoo Land, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestselling work of historical fiction All the Light We Cannot See is about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo.

Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French (How the Collision of History, Tradition, and Globalization Led to France's Unique Culture)

A historical and cultural guide revealing the French approach to land, food, privacy, language, and more and how globalization led France to become one of the unlikeliest influential countries in the world.

The French drink, smoke and eat more fat than anyone in the world, yet they live longer and have fewer heart problems than Americans. They work 35-hour weeks and take seven weeks' paid vacation each year, yet they are the world's fourth-biggest economic power. So how do they do it?

My Life in France

If you have seen the film Julie and Julia this book will be a must-read. Telling the story of Julia Child and her move to France at the age of 36 and her subsequent transformation into the internationally renowned expert on French cuisine.

Let's Eat France!

There’s never been a book about food like Let’s Eat France! A book that feels literally larger than life, it is a feast for food lovers and Francophiles, combining the completist virtues of an encyclopedia and the obsessive visual pleasures of infographics with an enthusiast’s unbridled joy.

Here are classic recipes, including how to make a pot-au-feu, eight essential composed salads, pâté en croûte, and blanquette de veau.

Paris in Color

The perfect gift for the Francophile in your life, this book features photographs of Paris arranged by color. From a blue bicycle against a fence to an orange café chair, from a weathered white door to a bright red fire hydrant, these sumptuous images capture the distinctive details of one of the world's most romantic cities.

An ode to art and design, Paris in Color will surprise and delight those who love art and design as well as Paris!

Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris

Almost finished her backpacking adventure around Europe Sarah is about to return home to Australia when a chance meeting in Bucharest is about to change her life forever. A visit to spend a week in Paris with the Frenchman she met ends in some hilarious adventures and a girl falling in love with French culture and life.

A History of France

France has a long and storied history, from its earliest days as a Roman colony to the present. In this classic history of France, eminent historian J. M. Roberts traces the country’s development from Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul in the first century BC to the end of World War II.

He covers both French history and that of France’s colonies and territories around the world, including Canada, India, Algeria, Vietnam and modern-day Haiti.

A Bite-Sized History of France: Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War, and Enlightenment

A Bite-Sized History of France is a thoroughly original book that explores the facts and legends of the most popular French foods and wines. Traversing the cuisines of France's most famous cities as well as its underexplored regions, the book is enriched by the "authors' friendly accessibility that makes these stories so memorable" (The New York Times Book Review).

This innovative social history also explores the impact of war and imperialism, the age-old tension between tradition and innovation, and how food has been used to express political dissent.

How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits

The Parisian way is to live well, and to take pleasure in the little things. They know how to dress, entertain, flirt and attempt to behave themselves. In short, the quintessential Parisienne knows how to have fun!

In this book you will find their very original views on style, beauty, culture and men. The authors—Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas—are unmarried but attached (to their children), talented bohemian iconoclasts with careers in music, film, fashion and publishing.

Books set in France

Somewhere in France: A Novel of the Great War

Set during the first world war this novel follows the life of a young woman as she follows her destiny from London to a field hospital in France. A love story portraying love, war and a world divided by class.

The Little French Bistro: A Novel

A novel about self discovery and new beginnings. Set in Brittany this novel depicts life in a Breton village as Marianne endeavours to embrace a new life. If this novel doesn’t have you booking a trip to Brittany nothing will!

Bruno, Chief of Police: A Novel of the French Countryside

Follow the investigations of Bruno the Chief of Police of St Denis, France. Set in the wonderful Dordogne this series of books all about Bruno will have you gripped and enthralled in equal measure. If retiring to a life in France was your dream (pre-Brexit) at least you can enjoy what life might have been before 52% of the British population ruined it for the rest of us.

The Burning Chambers

Another wonderful book by Kate Mosse set in Carcassonne in the 1500’s. If you are a fan of her previous books – Labyrinth and Sepulchre this eagerly awaited 2018 publication will be a must-read!

Uncorked: My year in Provence studying Petanque, discovering Chagall, drinking Pastis, and mangling French

Who does not dream of a life in Provence? One of my favourite regions in France is depicted by Paul Shore who was lucky enough to spend a year living in Provence.

Enjoy these best books about France! Plan your trip to France & more to read from around the world

If you are planning a trip to France you will find these articles useful reading:

• What NOT to do when visiting Paris – Tips to ensure you make the most of your trip to Paris in this guide to things to avoid doing when you visit the French capital.
• Guide to French food and drink and where to find it in Paris – Don’t miss out on some of the most delicious food and drink France has to offer in this guide including a map.
• Best gifts for Francophiles

If you are interested to read more great books from around the world I have a number of posts including best book lists for these countries: Canada , Croatia , England , Australia , South Africa – read more on my A-Z of books from across the globe.

Enjoy watching shows from around the world?

• Best Scandinavian and Nordic Noir Netflix series to watch in 2021 and beyond
• Best Danish TV series to watch on Netflix
• Best Italian TV series on Netflix

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• The First MICHELIN Key Hotels: All the Keys in France

The MICHELIN Guide announces top honors for French hotels in 2024.

MICHELIN Keys France Hotels

Paris by The MICHELIN Guide

See the Paris guide

On April 8, 2024, the MICHELIN Guide revealed the brand new One, Two, and Three Key distinctions for the most outstanding hotels in France.

This announcement comes four years into a comprehensive refresh of our hotel selection. The MICHELIN Guide now includes over 5,000 hotels across the world, and not a single one is simply a room for the night. These are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveler, each vetted and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting. Which brings us back to the Keys. The culmination of countless hours of evaluation by our team of experts, the Key hotels below represent the highlights of our broader selection. Like the MICHELIN Stars for restaurants, the MICHELIN Keys are our most outstanding hotels. In total, the 2024 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection in France includes 24 Three Key hotels, 38 Two Key hotels, and 127 One Key hotels. Want to know more about the MICHELIN Key? Here’s everything you need to know . Or, head below to look at all the Keys.

How To Look Through the List

Jump straight to the list or take a deeper dive into select key hotels..

Take a peek at the top-floor suite of the only chateau hotel in Paris. See what makes this hotel among the greatest art museums in the country. Or find out more about the wine hotel that uses an entire town as its foundation. Subscribe to our newsletter for more like this.

Highlights of the France 2024 Key Hotel List

The Palaces: A Distinctly French High Luxury

Expect: Butler service, high quality spas, and sumptuous spare-no-expense design. The government of France itself bestows an official Palace designation, with French tourism officials judging the most luxurious hotels in France to ensure they provide particular amenities and services (a spa, a multilingual check-in desk, a concierge service, etc.) and an excellent representation of the country. Out of 31 official palace hotels in France, many earned at least one Key — and several make up our Three Key hotels. Of the palaces that earned at least One Key, you’ll find a mix of the most historic ( the Four Seasons George V ), the most modern ( Le K2 Palace ), and the newer takes on the traditional form ( La Réserve Paris ). All are exceptional. Also read: Every Three Key Hotel in Paris

The Country Darlings: Chateaus and Vineyards

Our first annual list of Key hotels in France confirms the supremacy of these two mainstays: chateau and vineyard accommodations. Look to Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey and Château de la Gaude as particular examples of Two Key hotels that combine both. Or look just outside Bordeaux, to Les Sources de Caudalie . Built on a natural hot spring and operated by the famous Caudalie beauty brand, it’s a particularly fascinating Three Key property on the grounds of the Château Smith Haut-Lafitte vineyard.

Paris 2024: Little Boutiques Full of Hip, Trendy Design and Endless Color

We’re thrilled that in our inaugural Key distinctions we can celebrate an especially strong crop of small, design-forward boutique hotels that are anything but content to be conventional. With bright, colorful design that’s of the moment, they’re grounded in technical know-how, impeccable taste, and informed by a fascinating, sometimes quirky history. Explore Hôtel Le Ballu , La Fantaisie , Providence , Les Bains , and Norman Hôtel & Spa to see just what we mean. Also read: Inside Hôtel Le Ballu: A singular, artsy refuge in the heart of Paris

Click below to jump to each distinction: 

The three key hotels.

Antibes: Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc Bordeaux: Les Sources de Caudalie Champillon: Le Royal Champagne Courchevel: Cheval Blanc Courchevel Courchevel: Le K2 Palace Gordes: La Bastide de Gordes Le Castellet: Hôtel du Castellet Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade: Villa La Coste Les Baux-de-Provence: Baumanière Megève: Four Seasons Megeve Monte-Carlo: Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo Paris: Villeroy Paris: La Réserve Paris Paris: Saint James Paris Paris: Four Seasons George V Paris: Cheval Blanc Paris Paris: Ritz Paris Paris: Le Bristol Paris Paris: Le Meurice Paris: Plaza Athénée Reims: Domaine Les Crayères Saint Tropez: La Reserve Ramatuelle Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: Grand Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat Versailles:  Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle

NEW: Paris by The MICHELIN Guide – expert insights on where to dine, stay and explore

The two key hotels.

Aix-en-Provence: Château de la Gaude Avignon: La Mirande Biarritz: Hôtel du Palais Bommes: Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey Busnes: Le Château de Beaulieu Cassis: Les Roches Blanches Cheverny: Les Sources de Cheverny Cognac: Chais Monnet Courchevel: Aman Le Mélézin Courchevel: L'Apogée Courchevel Dinard: Castelbrac Eugenie les Bains: Les Pres d’Eugenie - Michel Guerard Èze: Château Eza Èze: Château de la Chèvre d'Or Gargas: Coquillade - Provence Honfleur: La Ferme Saint-Siméon Lauris: Domaine de Fontenille Le Grand-Lucé: Château du Grand-Lucé Massignac: Domaine des Étangs Monte-Carlo: Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo Montpellier: Domaine de Biar Nice: Le Negresco Paris: Crillon Paris: J.K. Place Paris Paris: Lutetia Paris: Nolinski Paris: Bulgari Hôtel Paris Paris: Le Royal Monceau Paris: The Peninsula Paris Paris: Shangri-La Paris Porto-Vecchio: Casadelmar Roquebrune-Cap-Martin: The Maybourne Riviera Sabran: Château de Montcaud Saint Tropez: Airelles Saint-Tropez Château de la Messardière Saint Tropez: Cheval Blanc St-Tropez Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes: Château Richeux - Les Maisons de Bricourt Saint-Paul-de-Vence: Le Domaine du Mas de Pierre Val-d'Isère: Le K2 Chogori

The One Key Hotels

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Bourgogne-franche-comté, centre-val de loire, haut-de-france, île-de-france, nouvelle-aquitaine, pays de la loire, provence-alpes-côte d'azur.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten On His New York

The Starry chef breaks down his go-to spots in Gotham.

Paris in the Spring: 15 Things to See and Do

Have you booked a short break in Paris? Explore our list of Inspector-approved activities to enjoy the warmer weather in the French capital.

In Photos: Every Three Key Hotel in Paris

The ins and outs of the most outstanding hotels in the city.

One, Two and Three MICHELIN Keys

Just as the MICHELIN Stars recognize outstanding restaurants, hotels now have their own distinction.

Keep Exploring - Stories we think you will enjoy reading

How To Turn an Entire Town Into a Bright Pink, One Key Wine Hotel

As you stroll the remote French village of Assignan, you can’t miss the colors of Chateau & Village Castigno, a wine hotel that’s been splashed throughout the town.

Three Keys in Bordeaux: The Hot Spring Hotel in Wine Country

Les Sources de Caudalie combines Vinotherapy from the famous French brand with a natural hot spring and an ancient vineyard.

Inside Room 311 of the Only Three Key Château in Paris

The so-called 'Piano Suite' is an exclusive oasis atop a completely singular Parisian manor.

Inside a Historic Tapestry of French Design: Provence's Two Key La Mirande

In the heart of Provence and steps from the palace where seven Popes once reigned, La Mirande is a time capsule of centuries of French decorative arts — all in an unmistakably luxurious hotel.

Where Bowie and Jagger Partied: Now a Dazzling One Key Hotel in Paris

Les Bains Paris was a spa for Proust and a nightclub for Bowie and Jagger. Now, it might be the city's hippest design hotel — recently awarded one of Paris' first MICHELIN Keys.

Three Key Dreamland: An Art-Drenched Wine Estate Decorated by Gehry and Dylan

Patrick McKillen turned an old French vineyard into a striking hotel with a collection of art and architecture to rival the world’s very best. It's among the first Three Key hotels in France.

Everything You Need to Know About the MICHELIN Key for Hotels

In April 2024, the MICHELIN Guide debuts a brand new distinction: the MICHELIN Key. While the MICHELIN Star recognizes the most outstanding restaurants in the world, the MICHELIN Key does the same for outstanding hotels. Here’s everything you need to know about the new distinction.

MICHELIN Hotel Lobbies Redefine Coworking for Modern Professionals

Discover the best hotel lobbies for communal working.

Aggro-Tourism: 12 Hotels for Blowing Off Steam

When the real world gets too heavy, you could escape to a comfy chair on a quiet beach. Or, you could release all that stress via more aggressive means. These hotels are for the latter.

This Week’s New Hotels

MICHELIN Guide hotel experts share their most exciting discoveries for the week of March 25.

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Reader's Digest

15 Travel Books That Will Inspire You to See the World

Posted: September 5, 2023 | Last updated: September 5, 2023

The travel books that will transport you to a happy place

In a perfect world, we'd all get to take an epic vacation whenever we felt like it. But in the real world of hectic jobs, nonstop child care and other adulting responsibilities, jet-setting falls lower on the priority list. Sigh. This is exactly why travel books are so magical.

Soaking in the sights and smells of a new locale is dreamy, and travel books help us live vicariously through someone else's experience. From armchair-adventure memoirs to escapist beach reads , great travel books temporarily transport us whenever we can squeeze in time for another chapter—on the commuter bus, over a lunch break or in the bathtub.

Wondering what the best books are to grab if you're craving adventure or tropical vibes? We've rounded up 15 of the best travel books to suit this exact purpose. They will whisk you away, as will titles from new and favorite authors .

Psst ... once you're through with these, satisfy your Emily Henry fix, get tips for reading all the Elin Hilderbrand books in order and find out where to find books like The Summer I Turned Pretty .

Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.

When you pine for an outdoorsy vacation

The unlikely thru-hiker by derick lugo.

Setting: The Appalachian Trail (from Georgia to Maine)

It doesn't require a passport or a plane ticket, but the Appalachian Trail is a big change of scenery. It's also not for the faint of heart. In Derick Lugo's 2019 debut memoir , The Unlikely Thru-Hiker , he describes his long walk in the woods in vivid detail—and with heartwarming humor.

Before his foray into one of America's great wildernesses, Lugo had never gone camping. He had never really hiked either. And that's what makes this travel book such a perfect, immersive escape. Discover the iconic trek through a beginner's eyes, and don't be surprised if his tale inspires you to hit your own trails this summer.

If you want to live in France

A year in provence by peter mayle.

Setting: Provence, Southern France

Perhaps one of the most beloved travel books since its 2010 debut, A Year in Provence delivers what it promises: a welcome escape to sunny, lavender-filled, Mediterranean-hugging southern France. There, steeped in the daily wonders of Provençal life, author Peter Mayle describes his experience of moving into a 200-year-old French farmhouse in a small village. This witty, easy summer read is a book that even Julia Child would have approved of.

Looking for your next great book? Read four of today’s bestselling novels in the time it takes to read one with  Reader’s Digest Select Editions . And be sure to follow the  Select Editions page on Facebook !

If you're dying to visit India

The widows of malabar hill by sujata massey.

Setting: Bombay, India

Welcome to India! It doesn't take a memoir or travelogue to make an immersive travel book. Sujata Massey's imaginative mystery series set in 1920s Bombay will make you feel like you've stepped back in time to witness India in the final chapters of the British Raj. In the first installment, The Widows of Malabar Hill (2018), female lawyer extraordinaire Perveen Mistry fights back against crimes against women. Massey's perspective gives readers behind-the-scenes glimpses of daily life for women in both Muslim and Hindu households.

When you're wistful for a Roman holiday

Four seasons in rome by anthony doerr.

Setting: Rome, Italy

Anthony Doerr's 2007 Four Seasons in Rome will whisk you away to Italy's ancient capital in an instant. During his sojourn at a writing studio in Rome, Doerr drank deeply from Rome's culture, food and daily life. He plumbed the depths of the city's history and spent days traipsing up and down its countless alleys and streets. He visited temples and attended a vigil for Pope John Paul II. He befriended his neighborhood storekeepers and bakers. He immersed himself this way for an entire year, then wrote one of the best books all about it so you could experience it too.

If you want to hike the Himalayas

High by erika fatland.

Setting: The Himalayas (Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Nepal and China)

Not everyone is up for remote lands with peaks and plateaus at dizzyingly high altitudes. Thanks to Erika Fatland's High , your mind can go where your body doesn't. Her well-researched and recorded travels through the Himalayas unveil a patchwork of subcultures, languages and religions. This travel book is a virtual getaway to cloud-piercing towns shrouded in thin, cold air and intriguing encounters with Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and shamanic faiths—all part and parcel of the lives of the Himalayan highlanders.

When an Aussie adventure isn't in the budget

In a sunburned country by bill bryson.

Setting: Australia

Bill Bryson has written stacks of nonfiction books , but his droll, sharply observant travelogue through Australia is perhaps his most vivid. The so-called Land of Oz roars to life in Bryson's descriptions of traveling through its wild array of landscapes—bustling urban centers, scalding-hot mining country, scorching barren desert and wild, roiling coastlines. In a Sunburned Country (2000) is chock-full of exciting tidbits about the history and culture Down Under, as well as sidesplitting and terrifying encounters with locals and wildlife. Sure, he wrote a legendary Appalachian Trail memoir too— A Walk in the Woods —but we've already got that destination covered for you.

If you dream of exploring Egypt

Palace walk by naguib mahfouz.

Setting: Cairo, Egypt

Nobel Prize–winning author Naguib Mahfouz's 2011 start to his Cairo Trilogy, Palace Walk , places readers in the middle of 20th-century Egypt. They're swept into the drama of a middle-class family with struggles and tensions that mirror the greater turbulence of Egypt under the thumb of British rule. The father, al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad, rules his house with an iron fist. A vivid exploration of complex Cairo, plus reflections on how each family member deals with the controlling household and government, makes this a moving historical fiction work that is also one of the great travel books about northern Africa.

When you're craving an Italian escape

One italian summer by rebecca serle.

Setting: Positano, Italy

It's no secret that Rebecca Serle's 2022 captivating read, One Italian Summer , is dripping with European charm. Pair this book with an Aperol spritz or Italian soda for full effect. Part mother-daughter book , part fantasy book (with a bit of romance sprinkled in), the story takes place at the Hotel Poseidon, perched on Italy's Amalfi coast. A woman grieving her mother arrives at the door with a head full of questions. Is she happy? Does she even love her husband? What's the meaning of life? As the summer unfolds, the magic of Positano—and knowledge about her mother's past life—transforms her forever.

If you long for a peaceful Japanese getaway

Autumn light by pico iyer.

Setting: Japan

At first glance, a book called Autumn Light doesn't seem like the right fit for any summertime reading you may have planned. But the season you read this book doesn't matter a bit. There's so much going on below the surface, especially if you're craving the tranquility of a trip to Japan. Pico Iyer's 2019 memoir describes his return to Japan to attend to and process a loved one's death. He steps back into ordinary Japanese life and gently, graciously invites his readers along. You'll find yourself reflecting on age, life, death and the poetry of daily rituals. It's a quiet book but also a beautiful, transportive mental journey to somewhere far away.

When you can't decide where you want to go

Shape of a boy by kate wickers.

Setting: The world (including Mexico, Jordan, Borneo, Sri Lanka and more)

Sometimes a travel book, like travel itself, is more about the journey than the destination. That's the case with Shape of a Boy , the 2022 memoir by British travel journalist Kate Wickers. Reading this book is like jet-setting with a  trusted friend —with her three boys and husband along for good measure. Each chapter starts off with a new location on their round-the-world trip, describing their experiences and the lessons they learned there. It's a delightful smattering of stories sure to spark wanderlust for just about anywhere in the world.

If you want to spend summer in the Loire Valley

A perfect vintage by chelsea fagan.

Setting: Loire Valley, central France

Chelsea Fagan's first novel, A Perfect Vintage , debuts on June 6, just days before the summer solstice. Fagan lives in France, which gives her a leg up on delectable descriptions of French food and the sun-soaked land of France's Loire Valley. The perfect setting aside, the book details a summer in the life of Lea Mortimer, a successful 30-something woman who's too busy and independent to worry about relationships or starting a family.

She's been summoned by work to France to help transform an old French estate into a perfect boutique hotel. All's well until Lea begins to develop feelings for the considerably younger son of her new boss. It's a deliciously self-aware, beautifully set story of a modern woman struggling to have it all: money, deep friendships ... and maybe even love.

If you want a whirlwind trip around the globe

Wanderlust by elle everhart.

Setting: All over the world

Picture this: You're stuck in the office for the summer, plotting your next move up the corporate ladder. On a whim, you call in to the local radio station when they're running a once-in-a-lifetime travel sweepstake. And you win. The trouble is that you're sent packing with someone else, and he happens to be a guy you met at a bar just once. That's how Dylan and her almost-fling, Jack, travel together through Marrakech, Tokyo, Sydney and more. Elle Everhart's July 2023 debut novel, Wanderlust , is a perfect summer read—plenty of sexy enemies-to-lovers tension and enough immersive travel descriptions to feel like you got a whirlwind vacation too.

If you'd love a rugged adventure across Asia

Lands of lost borders: a journey on the silk road by kate harris.

Setting: Turkey to China, with plenty of stops in between

Modern explorer Kate Harris is a pro at wrangling remote, edge-of-the-world destinations into riveting armchair travel reading. In other words, this travel book might inspire and awe you even if it doesn't compel you to plan your own harebrained 10-month bike trip across Asia. The lush descriptions of her natural surroundings and sometimes bemusing, sometimes touching encounters with ordinary people along the way make Lands of Lost Borders come to life in full force.

If you're having Caribbean dreams

Where the rhythm takes you by sarah dass.

Setting: Tobago

Island life doesn't get much more romantic than this. Sarah Dass's 2021 novel is technically a young adult book , but Where the Rhythm Takes You offers tropical escapism for readers of all ages. Reyna's family owns Plumeria, a beachside resort in Tobago. It's a perfect paradise for guests, but ever since her best friend and first love left the island, Reyna dreams of escaping into the real world too. Only now that she's poised for departure, her flame is back—this time as a Grammy-nominated superstar. What will he think of his sheltered island friend now? Will his presence be enough to make her stay a little longer? Crack this spine on a hot summer day to fully soak up the distinct island vibes.

When a Greek vacation is all you think about

The second chance hotel by sierra godfrey.

Setting: The fictional Greek island of Astori

After getting fired from her corporate job and skipping out on her best friend's wedding, Amelia Lang needs a major life do-over. She's well aware of it, but she didn't expect it to come in the form of inheriting a hotel on a small Greek island. She also didn't expect to be physically attracted to one of the guests. The Second Chance Hotel (September 2023) is a lighthearted romance at heart. It's also a great travel book, thanks to its incredible descriptions of Greek island living, from the sun-ripened olives to the delicious gulps of sea air.

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The best holidays to book for May 2024, from boating in France to Greek island relaxation

Whether an active uk staycation or a mediterranean fly and flop, there’s a trip that suits however you wish to spend a month with two bank holidays, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

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Two bank holidays and the half-term school break make May a busy month if you’re planning a springtime getaway. Half term falls during the last week of the month, leaving three other weeks when the prices won’t go through the roof. Enjoy the sandy beaches and wide open spaces of Pembrokeshire and the tranquillity of the Isle of Wight ’s coastline and countryside if you want a holiday that’s closer to home.

Southern Europe will be warming up and getting summery. That’s your cue for a lazy boating holiday on the canals of southern France , or an island idyll in the Bay of Naples. Lose yourself in the rich culture and superb food of Istanbul, or hole up on a Greek island in a child-friendly resort that gives parents as much of a break as the children. Whatever type of holiday you want to book in May, you’ll find some incredible ideas here.

If you’re travelling with preschool children and want to beat the half-term price hikes at the end of the month, book one of the villas at Mousses Crèche and Kids’ Clubs on the Ionian island of Lefkada . You’ll get the chance to relax in the pool surrounded by lush gardens while the kids join the children’s clubs and get free childcare (apart from half-term week). There’s a taverna, too, if you don’t fancy cooking. Simpson Travel has a week’s self-catering in a two-bedroom villa from £557pp, based on two adults and two children sharing, including flights, car hire and welcome pack; departs 5 May.

Read more on travel inspiration :

• The UK’s best spring walks to make you feel alive
• Where to go to see Banksy’s art around the world
• Barcelona for Valencia and other holiday swaps to make to avoid the crowds

Isle of Wight

Make the most of spring’s freshness in the Isle of Wight on a walking break with HF Holidays . You could time your visit for the 25th edition of the annual Isle of Wight Walking Festival, which runs from 11–19 May. But there are plenty of walking routes from your base at Freshwater Bay House, ranging from gentle strolls to more strenuous hikes. A four-night self-guided holiday any time from 1–18 May costs from £605pp, and from £580pp during the rest of the month. The price includes breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals. Wightlink has regular ferries to the island from Lymington and Portsmouth.

May is an ideal time to visit endlessly fascinating Istanbul , with pleasantly warm days instead of scorching summer temperatures. Stay at the Radisson Blu Istanbul Pera and you’ll have the buzzing bars and restaurants of Beyoglu and Karaköy to explore as well as wonderful views of the Golden Horn from the hotel’s restaurant. There’s also a spa where you can unwind in a hot tub and indoor pool. Away Holidays has a four-night room-only break departing 18 May from £502pp, including flights and a free room upgrade.

Slow down the pace with a laidback self-drive boating holiday in southern France, which even boating novices can do. Get to know the landscapes and wildlife of the Petite Camargue and Languedoc as you meander along the Canal du Rhône à Sète. Stop in Aigues-Mortes and Sète as you see how much distance you can travel in the course of a week, making most of the fabulous seafood along the way. Nicols has a week’s boat rental in a two-cabin cruiser departing 10 May from €1,038, including tuition; fuel and mooring fees are extra.

Before the crowds descend on the Neapolitan Riviera and its islands, get a delicious taste of spring on the volcanic island of Ischia . At the Hotel Le Querce , east of Ischia harbour, you’ll have heavenly views of the Bay of Naples from the open-air thermal pool. May is an excellent time to explore the island’s rugged interior on foot. Citalia has a five-night holiday on a room-only basis from £844pp, including flights and transfers for a 12 May departure.

You’ll have Tenby’s north beach and the pretty pastel-coloured houses of the harbour on your doorstep when you stay at Beachscape. This airy three-bedroom apartment in a 19th-century townhouse has beautiful views of the Pembrokeshire coast from almost every room as well as its balcony. It sleeps six comfortably over two floors, and also features two bathrooms. Classic Cottages has a five-night rental starting 4 May from £784.

Mary Novakovich is editor at large at  101holidays.co.uk

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Move over, hotels: There's a new vacation rental company in Paris

As the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics approach, thousands of travelers eager to be a part of the athletic excitement are likely searching for the perfect accommodations.

The Olympics will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11 and are expected to attract around 300,000 people to the opening ceremony. 

While folks can search for Airbnbs or hotels, there’s lodging option exclusively to the City of Lights which seeks to curate a high-end Parisian experience for its guests. 

HIGHSTAY is a new hybrid hospitality concept that blends the amenities of a five-star hotel with the privacy of a luxury residence. The independent collection of one- to three-bedroom apartments is located in some of Paris’ most iconic neighborhoods and puts travelers close to the Olympic action. 

Are Airbnbs cheaper than hotels? Depends on your trip details, travel site survey says

Learn more: Best travel insurance

“HIGHSTAY was born on a trip with friends, inspired by the desire to reinvent the classic hotel model,” HIGHSTAY’s General Manager Maxime Lallement told USA TODAY in an email. “From there, the brand sought to break free from the norms of traditional hospitality and offer an innovative combination of upscale short-term travel apartments and luxury hotels.”

To learn more about HIGHSTAY, read below.

What sets HIGHSTAY apart from other vacation rentals or hotels?

HIGHSTAY seeks to give guests “the best of both worlds, experiencing a five-star hotel and local luxurious flat all at once,” said Lallement. Guests can opt for short-term stays, like a single night or up to a month.

With floor-to-ceiling windows and marble fireplaces, each HIGHSTAY apartment has been “highly curated by a team of expert architects and interior designers'' to exude the quintessential Parisian elegance that attracts travelers. Guests can quickly check in and out through digital key locks. A one-bedroom apartment in the Marais that can hold up to four guests starts at $538, or 500 euros, a night.

Like a hotel, each HIGHSTAY apartment comes with daily housekeeping, a guest experience manager, and a 24/7 concierge to coordinate things such as car services, breakfast delivery, or restaurant reservations. The concierge even curates a snack and coffee collection to your liking. Guests can also request a unique city guide for their Parisian neighborhood that includes gallery openings, new restaurants, and more. 

There are also HIGHSTAY Experiences that immerse travelers in Paris's culture, like a private cooking class or skipping the line at the Eiffel Tower with an exclusive visit to the engine room and a glass of champagne at the top. 

How many HIGHSTAY apartments are there?

Currently, 36 apartments are available in neighborhoods like Champs-Elysées, Saint-Honoré, Louvre, and Marais. By the end of 2025, the company plans to expand to 100 locations, including villas. 

Where can travelers book? 

Travelers can browse available HIGHSTAY apartments and reserve online at HIGHSTAY’s website .

How far in advance should I book a HIGHSTAY?

Travelers have the flexibility to reserve their HIGHSTAY apartment just as they would with a hotel or Airbnb, whether it's one day in advance or months ahead.

Why should someone choose HIGHSTAY for the Olympics?

A majority of the HIGHSTAY apartments are located close to the Olympic festivities – like the Eiffel Tower Stadium in the landmark itself and an outdoor stadium at the Parc du Champ de Mars. The concerige services can make enjoying the city during the games more seamless, Lallement said. 

“Those attending may choose to take advantage of HIGHSTAY’s personalized concierge services, including add-ons ranging from luxury car services to and from the venue to daily breakfast deliveries before the festivities, childcare services, or a personal training session to start the day,” she added. 

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

You can travel around this European country loved by celebs for less than £50

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France is a popular destination for holiday goers, with its impressive architecture, fabulous cuisine, wonderful wine, and interesting history.

And if you’re thinking of visiting this summer then you might be able to see much more of the country for less than £50.

You can explore celebrity holiday hotspots like Cannes, Nice and Antibes, as well as the city of love for cheap.

Following similar successful schemes in Germany and Portugal , France has announced the launch of a new nationwide unlimited travel pass for just €49 (£42) a month.

The unlimited travel pass will come into effect between July and August, coinciding with the 2024 Olympics .

But there is a catch. It’s only available for those aged 26 and under.

Specifically, the unlimited travel pass will apply to journeys not only on France’s Intercity and TER trains, but also local buses, metros, and trams.

This means that travel across Ile-e-France — home to Paris — and high-speed TGV trains will require additional tickets and will not form part of the discount. 

So, you won’t exactly be in your Emily in Paris era, but you’ll still be able to explore places like Bordeaux and Marseille.

French president Emmanual Macron previously announced his intentions to introduce a national rail pass back in September 2023.

Que les moins de 27 ans puissent voyager en train de manière illimitée en France : devant Hugo, j’avais dit banco ! Le Pass Rail à 49€ par mois devient réalité dès cet été. Où irez-vous ? — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 3, 2024

He said this during an interview with YouTuber HugoDecrypte, and confirmed that the plans were inspired by Germany’s deutschlandticket.

‘I have asked the transport minister to launch it with all the regions that are willing to set up this system,’ Macron said at the time .

It was initially hoped that the travel pass would apply to all ages, but even so, 700,000 young people will be able to benefit from the pass.

Passes will be available to purchase from 15 June through SNCF-Connect.

How far in advance should you book a holiday?

Travel operator Ski Vertigo told Metro the best times to book 2024 summer getaways.

• For European trips, the sweet spot is 141 days — booking that far can lead to savings of 47%.
• For the Eurostar, it’s 120 days.
• For long-haul fights, you should book 178 days in advance, as this can give you a 54% reduction in costs.

Where else in Europe can I travel via train?

France is the latest European country to introduce these dreamy travel passes.

This craze all started with Germany’s €49 deutschlandticket, which applies to all public transport modes in the country for people of all ages.

Portugal’s €49 National Rail Pass is also available for people of all ages, although it doesn’t apply to buses, urban transport systems, and intercity routes.

Meanwhile, a three-day rail pass across various regions in Italy will cost €29, while five-day tickets are priced at just €49.

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Belgium’s aptly-named Youth Holiday Pass costs just €35 a month, with under-26s getting unlimited rail travel during school holiday periods.

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