The 4 Most Relaxing Places to Stay in France
France has always been a favourite when it comes to the most popular places to travel in Europe. With the ski season paradise of the Alps, the cultural capital Paris, and the stunning southern coast, you’ve got all kinds of travel experiences to choose from.
If you’re dreaming of a relaxing holiday experience, France is a great destination to choose. It’s a country known for its luxurious culture and attitude to life, making it an ideal setting to indulge and unwind.
For the ultimate relaxing trip, we recommend visiting France outside of the peak season for tourism so that you’re not disrupted by too many other travellers who might ruin your laid-back ambitions. In most parts of the country, we’d suggest a trip in late spring or early summer, but if you’re skiing in France, the main advice is to avoid the school holidays.
Ready to plan a holiday where you can unwind and destress? In this article, we share five of our favourite places for a truly memorable France vacation where relaxation will be top of the itinerary every day of your trip.
Bordeaux
At the top of our list, Bordeaux is a southwestern city in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region that is best known for its reputation as a wine producer. The red wines from Bordeaux are famous all over the world, and are something you should definitely sample as part of your mission to relax whilst staying in this part of France.
A wine tour of Bordeaux is a lovely option for a relaxing holiday, especially if you opt for a trip where meals and transport are all organised for you as part of your luxury France vacation. We also recommend staying somewhere that captures the city’s historic charm, letting your surroundings take you back to a time without all the stresses and demands of modern life.
The city of Bordeaux is a great cultural destination if you want to spend a laid-back day visiting its impressive collection of historical buildings and monuments, which rivals Paris in terms of the number dotted around. In the summer the city is host to a range of lovely events, and year-round it’s got a great local culinary offering that you can enjoy across the markets, cafes and restaurants.
Corsica
The fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, Corsica is a region of France that often gets overlooked when it comes to going on holiday. But if you’re planning a relaxing trip then this is great news, as it means you can enjoy this stunning part of the country without too much interruption from other tourists.
Corsica’s culture feels quite distinctly different from mainland France, as the island operates quite autonomously and also has quite an Italian influence as well. It’s known as the “Ile de Beauté”, with a wonderfully varied range of landscapes including hills, beaches and historic towns and villages.
Choose from a variety of luxury villas in Corsica and spend your days taking trips to the coast, sunbathing in secluded coves, and sampling the island’s impressive wines. It’s a place to definitely indulge in the local cuisine, which is rich, hearty and distinctive, but you can then walk it off with gentle sightseeing or even a walk along the north-south GR20 hiking route.
Provence
Provence is one of the dreamiest places in France, famed for its fields of lavender, proximity to the southern coast, and sun-soaked climate. If you’re looking for a holiday destination that feels glamorous but laid back at the same time, then look no further.
Of course, the fragrant fields of lavender are a highlight for those seeking a relaxing experience, as it doesn’t get much more peaceful than strolling through flowers with one of the most relaxing scents in the air on the breeze. But we also recommend Provence for the chance to slip into a slower way of life where your days are dictated by gentle excursions and indulgent dining that allow you to develop a deep connection to your surroundings.
Highlights of Provence include Avignon, Marseille, and the hilltop village of Gordes, all of which warrant a day trip to admire historic architecture and enjoy local meals. And of course, make sure that you enjoy at least several glasses of local rosé during your trip, as it truly tastes better here than it does anywhere else in France.
Côte d’Azur
A short distance from Provence, the Côte d’Azur is part of the French Riviera and another wonderful place to stay in France for a relaxing holiday. Home to some of the most glamorous destinations in the country, it’s one of the best places to stay if you’re planning a luxury beach holiday.
Nice, Cannes and St-Tropez all stand out as some of the most desirable places on the Côte d’Azur, with the latter in particular famed for its celebrity visitors and incredible collection of beach clubs and restaurants. But you can also pay a visit to smaller and more laid-back destinations like Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, St-Raphaël and Hyères for lovely beaches, charming architecture and a more authentic atmosphere.
One of the best ways to enjoy the Côte d’Azur is by boat, which gives you the easiest access to the variety of towns and cities along the coast and offers plenty of wonderful swimming and sunbathing opportunities. For the ultimate indulgent experience, we recommend chartering a yacht and planning a week in the summer of cruising from place to place.
Summary
The concept of ‘relaxation’ on holiday means different things to different people. Whether you’re searching for sunshine and beaches, gourmet dining opportunities, beautiful scenery or just a holiday where someone else is in charge of the itinerary, France is a wonderful destination for a laid-back trip.