What if your next trip to France moved at your speed, fast or slow, it’s up to you. Where the only item on your itinerary was the joy of simply being there? Forget rushing from monument to monument. True travel magic unfolds when you swap a packed schedule for the art of flâner: strolling without a purpose, discovering the secrets of a place through its hidden lanes, local markets, and unexpected experiences. This is the heart of slow travel in France. It’s not just a way to travel through France; it’s an invitation to live there, if only for a little while.
Let this travel guide to France show you how to trade the tourist trail for a deeper, more authentic vacation in France.
What is Slow Travel? (And Why You’ll Love It)
Slow travel isn’t about how long you stay, but how you travel. It’s a travel style that prioritizes connection and immersion over ticking boxes. When you plan your vacation in France, slow travel allows you to become part of the local rhythm, not just an observer.
It focuses on connecting with local culture, food, and environment and reducing your carbon footprint while enriching your experience.
It’s time to move on from marathon vacations when every day is about darting from one attraction to another. Slow travel gives you a chance to actually relax and enjoy your vacation in France.
Why France is a Perfect Slow Travel Destination
Having lived here for a decade, I’ve found France is a country designed for slow travel. Its diversity is staggering, from the modern glamorous town on the French Riviera to the gorgeous coast and history of the north. The best way to travel through France is by leveraging its incredible infrastructure: the train network, scenic secondary roads, and a deeply ingrained walking culture.
If you’re in Paris during your vacation, discover unique getaways with our guide to a Weekend Away from Paris
How to Travel Through France: Transport and Rhythms
By Train:
There is no more romantic and sustainable way to travel through France. A train trip through France gives you the chance to watch how the landscape transforms from your window. Connecting city centers effortlessly and stress-free.
For planning your perfect train trip through France and Europe, Trip.com offers a user-friendly platform with comprehensive options.
By Car:
Renting a car offers ultimate freedom for your slow travel itinerary. It allows you to base yourself in a charming village and discover hidden corners at your own pace, a classic and rewarding way to travel through France.
On Foot
The most immersive way to travel through France is on foot. France is full of interconnected long-distance hiking trails known as Les Grandes Randonnées. Thousands of people tackle these routes every year; it’s slow travel in the purest way. Walking these paths gives you a chance to truly experience the landscape, history, and the people. There are ancient pilgrimage routes, seemingly forgotten country lanes, and tiny villages.
Some of the most popular routes are:
The Camino de Santiago (Chemin de St-Jacques):
The most famous pilgrimage trail in the world has several routes across France. Walking a section, like the popular Le Puy route, is a journey through history, spirituality, and stunning countryside.
GR20, Corsica:
Often called Europe’s most challenging trail, this route traverses the rugged mountain range in Corsica, giving you breathtaking and dramatic scenery.
GR34, Brittany:
This path follows Brittany’s “Customs Officer’s Path” along its entire wild and windswept coastline, passing lighthouses, fishing villages, and fortified towns.
For one of our favorite activities, check out these easy Picnic Ideas To Make The Most Of The Summer.
Authentic Accommodation: Moving Beyond Airbnb
To truly connect with a place during your visit to France, skip Airbnb and stay in a Gite. France is brimming with regulated, authentic holiday rentals that elevate your slow travel experience.
Gîtes de France:
A government-regulated network of holiday homes. The hosts have a wealth of local knowledge on what to do in France’s lesser-known regions. These are often adorable country cottages and fantastic manors. Plus, they are frequently more affordable and personal than a standard Airbnb, offering incredible value.
Chambres d’Hôtes:
This is the French version of a B&B, where you can stay in anything from stunning historic manors to simple homes in the countryside. The hospitality, from my experience, is unmatched and often includes delicious home-cooked breakfasts.
A Simplified Search for Authentic Stays:
While the official Gites de France and Chambres D’hôtes websites are excellent, you can also find many of these properties, along with eco-friendly hotels, on major travel platforms. It’s a convenient way to compare options and read reviews from others to get the best accommodation for you.
Platforms like Trip.com always have a wide range of accommodations. Including private Gites, charming chambres d’hotes (categorized as boutique hotels or B&Bs) and eco lodges. Making it a useful tool for planning your stay.
Top Regions for Your Slow Travel in France
Provence: A Slow Travel Paradise
The South of France is a dream destination for slow travel lovers. The pace of life slows down, and everything is breathtaking. Public transport between towns is excellent. Making it very accessible without a car and a highlight for anyone looking for a sun-drenched visit to France..
Best Base With a Car: Aix-en-Provence
The South of France is a dream destination for slow travel lovers. The pace of life slows down, and everything is breathtaking. Public transport between towns is excellent. Making it very accessible without a car and a highlight for anyone looking for a sun-drenched visit to France..
Best Bases Without a Car: Avignon or the Coastal Towns
If you’re solely relying on trains and buses, Avignon is a fantastic and central place to stay.
Alternatively, basing yourself in a town like Cassis or Antibes along the Mediterranean coast gives you direct access not only to the wonderful beaches but a charming atmosphere. The trains seamlessly link all the towns along the coast together, and buses are available to venture into the surrounding hills and suburbs.
To explore another stunning coastal region, consider a Southwest France Vacation full of beaches and history.
Normandy: A Historic Journey
Normandy is a slow travel destination that is honestly steeped in history. Plus, it has a stunning coastline.
From the D Day beaches to the fantastical Abbey of Mont Saint Michel. We have yet to find a single village or town in Normandy that is not charmingly interesting. With its network of quiet roads and scenic cycling paths, Normandy offers fantastic food, people and vistas, offering a different perspective while you travel through France.
With A Car: The Bayeux Area
Bayeix is a charming medieval town that is a perfect home base. It puts you within easy reach of the Cotentin Peninsula and the charming fishing village of Honfleur. Giving you a chance to discover all the best bits of Normandy and everything in between.
Without A Car: Caen
For those discovering Normandy through public transport, Caen is the perfect spot. It offers excellent train and bus connections to the main sites like the beaches, Bayeux and direct connections to Mont Saint Michel. It’s a fun town that is both modern and urban while still being rich in history and culture.
The Dordogne Valley: Rustic Charm
One of my favorite areas, the Dordogne Valley, is exactly what you picture when you think about the French countryside. There is so much to see and do that it truly is, in my opinion, the best (I might be biased) slow travel destination. You’ve got prehistoric wonders, medieval market villages, and serene river landscapes. Here, life revolves around morning markets, afternoons kayaking past cliff-side chateaus, and discovering the famed “Most Beautiful Villages of France”.
This region is also spectacular for a fall getaway in France, when the crowds thin and the landscapes glow.
With a Car: Sarlat La Caneda
A cute little town that is fairly central. It is a beautifully preserved medieval village. With a car, you have the freedom to truly discover so much more of this area. Discover the stunning Village of Rocamadour, the Lascaux caves, walnut farms, and so much more. Simply go for a drive and will find something wonderful.
Without a Car: Scenic Workaround
Exploring the Dordogne Valley without a car is challenging but not impossible. Consider embarking on a train trip through France by travelling from Bordeaux to Toulouse through the valley. Or, cruise the river system on a river cruise. It will take some planning, but it is worth it.
If you stop in Bordeaux, our guide, Bordeaux At A Glance, will help you navigate its most popular areas.
Your Slow Travel Itinerary: How to Plan Your France Travel
- Pick One Region & Enjoy it:
- Instead of trying to see it all at once, choose an area that calls to you. Whether it’s the sunny coast of the South of France or the busy delights of Paris. By focusing on a single area, you move up honestly and end up seeing and experiencing more.
- Book a Central “Home Base”:
- Once you have chosen the area you want to explore, select one or two towns to use as home bases for your adventures. This lets you settle in, unpack, and experience the neighbourhood and town. Without the stress of constantly moving. This is where booking a Gite or similar is the perfect accommodation, they are often in well-equipped and central villages.
- Plan For “Breathing Room” or “Rest Days”
- Resist the urge to plan every day to be packed full of activities. Leave gaps for spontaneous fun, like an unexpected festival or markets, a picnic, or an activity you did relise your would love to do. These unplanned moments are usually the best parts of the trip.
- Pack Light To Move Freely
- Since you’ll be staying in each palace longer, you will have access to laundry. Meaning you don’t have to pack as much, making getting on and off various modes of transport easier. A single suitcase or backpack makes navigating trains, buses and cobblestone streets easier and much more enjoyable.
For help deciding what to bring, our International Travel Packing List has all the budget-friendly essentials you’ll need
- Protect Your Journey
- You have just invested time and money into planning a longer, more immersive trip. Travel insurance is an essential part of mindful slow travel. It’s a safety net that allows you to fully embrace your vacation and relax.
Travelex Insurance offers comprehensive plans that can cover unexpected trip interruptions, medical emergencies, and more, giving you the confidence to fully immerse yourself as you travel through France.
Your Slow Travel Journey Awaits
Choosing the slow travel approach transforms a standard vacation in France into a relaxing adventure. By choosing to explore one region deeply, stay in authentic accommodations, and embrace a slower pace, you’ll discover the true essence of the country.
This mindful way to travel through France not only enriches your own experience but also supports local communities and allows you to return home truly restored.
So take a deep breath, plan less, and feel more. Your most memorable French adventure awaits, not in a checklist, but in the moments in between.