Places to stay
La Bastide de Gordes. Gordes, Provence, France.
Terre Blanche. Tourrettes, Provence, France.
Le Meurice. Paris, France.
Hôtel Providence. Paris, France.
Les Sources de Caudalie. Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France.
La Villa. Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France.
La Ferme de Marie Eugenie. Bruailles, Burgundy, France.
Les Jardins de Loïs.
Terre Blanche. Tourrettes, Provence, France.
Le Meurice. Paris, France.
Hôtel Providence. Paris, France.
Les Sources de Caudalie. Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France.
La Villa. Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France.
La Ferme de Marie Eugenie. Bruailles, Burgundy, France.
Les Jardins de Loïs.
French words to know
Bonjour hello/good morning
Au Revoir Good-bye
Salut Hi and Bye - informal
Bon après-midi Good afternoon
Bonsoir Good evening
Bonne nuit Good night
Oui yes
Non No
Merci Thank you
De rien You’re welcome
Merci beaucoup Thank you very much
S'il vous plaît Please (formal)
S'il te plaît Please (informal)
à bientôt See you soon
à tout à l'heure see you later (same day)
à la prochaine See you next time
Comment tu t'appelles What is your name? (informal)
Comment vous appelez-vous? What is your name? (formal)
e m'appelle My name is
Enchanté Nice to meet you!
Avec plaisir With pleasure
Comment vas-tu? How are you? (informal)
Comment allez-vous? How are you? (formal)
Ça va? How's it going?
Très bien Very wellJe
ne parle pas français I do not speak French
Pouvez-vous répéter s'il-vous-plaît? Can you repeat please?
Vous parlez trop vite. You are speaking too fast.
Je comprends I understand
Je comprends un peu. I understand a little.
Au Revoir Good-bye
Salut Hi and Bye - informal
Bon après-midi Good afternoon
Bonsoir Good evening
Bonne nuit Good night
Oui yes
Non No
Merci Thank you
De rien You’re welcome
Merci beaucoup Thank you very much
S'il vous plaît Please (formal)
S'il te plaît Please (informal)
à bientôt See you soon
à tout à l'heure see you later (same day)
à la prochaine See you next time
Comment tu t'appelles What is your name? (informal)
Comment vous appelez-vous? What is your name? (formal)
e m'appelle My name is
Enchanté Nice to meet you!
Avec plaisir With pleasure
Comment vas-tu? How are you? (informal)
Comment allez-vous? How are you? (formal)
Ça va? How's it going?
Très bien Very wellJe
ne parle pas français I do not speak French
Pouvez-vous répéter s'il-vous-plaît? Can you repeat please?
Vous parlez trop vite. You are speaking too fast.
Je comprends I understand
Je comprends un peu. I understand a little.
Fun Facts
France is officially known as the French Republic. The name France comes from the Latin word Francia, which means 'country of the Franks'. French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion are also recognized as a part of France. In 2012, the population of mainland France was just under 63 million (62,814,233). Another 2.8 million (2,816,459) are split between French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Reunion. Mainland France belongs to the continent of Europe. Bordering countries are Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland. The Alps mountain range on the border of France and Italy is home to France’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, which stands at 4,807m high (15,771 ft). The official language is French. French is the second most studied language in the world after English. The capital city is Paris. Other major cities include Marseille, Lyon, Lille, and Nice-Cannes.
1-week Itinerary
Day 1
Take the Métro to the Charles de Gaulle-Étoile station and the Arc de Triomphe for the view, stroll along the Champs-Élysées and rue de Faubourg St-Honoré to the Place de la Concorde, then through the Jardin des Tuileries to the Louvre.
Day 2
Go to the Île de la Cité to climb the the Towers of Notre-Dame, then walk the short distance (map) to the Palais de Justice to visit the splendid Sainte Chapelle and gloomy Conciergerie. Then take the Métro to the Trocadéro station for a walk downhill from the Palais de Chaillot to the Eiffel Tower and Champ-de-Mars. Continue to the Invalides and Napoleon's Tomb if you have an interest in military history.
Day 3
Go to Montmartre to see the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and the artist-filled Place du Tertre.
Today you should also have enough time for visits to a few more of Paris' excellent museums. We'd recommend the Musée d'Orsay, the Carnavalet (the museum of the history of Paris), or perhaps a current exhibition at the Centre Pompidou or the Grand Palais.
Day 4
Take the day off from rigorous sightseeing and instead wander in the Left Bank, starting at the Place St-Michel. The cafés and restaurants are plentiful and lively, with good people-watching possibilities.
Day 5
Stroll through Le Marais, historically Paris's bohemian and Jewish quarter, but today also a lively arts and crafts neighborhood.
Spend some time in Paris's parks and gardens, (start with the Jardin de Luxembourg) and explore some of the medieval monuments such as the Église St-Germain-des-Prés and the Musée de Cluny.
Day 6
Take a day-trip excursion to visit Louis XIV's splendid Château de Versailles, only a short ride from the city by RER suburban train, or head for Chartres or Giverny. More...
Day 7
Have you done your shopping yet? Have you taken a cruise on the River Seine? Time left over? Stroll in a different neighborhood, or visit one of Paris's famous cemeteries (particularly Père Lachaise).
Take the Métro to the Charles de Gaulle-Étoile station and the Arc de Triomphe for the view, stroll along the Champs-Élysées and rue de Faubourg St-Honoré to the Place de la Concorde, then through the Jardin des Tuileries to the Louvre.
Day 2
Go to the Île de la Cité to climb the the Towers of Notre-Dame, then walk the short distance (map) to the Palais de Justice to visit the splendid Sainte Chapelle and gloomy Conciergerie. Then take the Métro to the Trocadéro station for a walk downhill from the Palais de Chaillot to the Eiffel Tower and Champ-de-Mars. Continue to the Invalides and Napoleon's Tomb if you have an interest in military history.
Day 3
Go to Montmartre to see the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and the artist-filled Place du Tertre.
Today you should also have enough time for visits to a few more of Paris' excellent museums. We'd recommend the Musée d'Orsay, the Carnavalet (the museum of the history of Paris), or perhaps a current exhibition at the Centre Pompidou or the Grand Palais.
Day 4
Take the day off from rigorous sightseeing and instead wander in the Left Bank, starting at the Place St-Michel. The cafés and restaurants are plentiful and lively, with good people-watching possibilities.
Day 5
Stroll through Le Marais, historically Paris's bohemian and Jewish quarter, but today also a lively arts and crafts neighborhood.
Spend some time in Paris's parks and gardens, (start with the Jardin de Luxembourg) and explore some of the medieval monuments such as the Église St-Germain-des-Prés and the Musée de Cluny.
Day 6
Take a day-trip excursion to visit Louis XIV's splendid Château de Versailles, only a short ride from the city by RER suburban train, or head for Chartres or Giverny. More...
Day 7
Have you done your shopping yet? Have you taken a cruise on the River Seine? Time left over? Stroll in a different neighborhood, or visit one of Paris's famous cemeteries (particularly Père Lachaise).