img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}France seems to be on everyone’s radar this summer, and being an adopted Frenchie myself, I can attest to its unmatched material heritage and natural diversity: there’s truly nowhere else quite like it in Europe, if not the entire world.
From the Belle Époque architecture of Paris, down through the castle-dotted Val de Loire, all the way south to the elegant Côte d’Azur, it is one of those destinations that you simply can’t do justice to, as much as you try in a lifetime of visits.
I guess that’s my opinion, as well as most people’s, as France is currently one of the worst-affected countries by overtourism. But hey, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel:
Avoid These Cities In France If You Hate The Crowds
When you picture the huge crowds, the oui oui baguettes, and the long lines of beret-clad tourists, there are 5 French cities where these phenomena are more prevalent, as reported by local media France 3:
- Paris: home to the Eiffel Tower, a beautiful Haussmann-designed cityscape, and romantic districts like Montmartre and Le Marais, of course it would be number one
- Nice: the capital of the French Riviera, with a pastel-colored Old Town and a long coastal promenade, it’s where everyone, from the ostentatious French, to goggle-eyed tourists flock in summer
- Cannes: the European capital of cinema, and a dressy resort town lining the Mediterranean, best known for its upscale dining scene and exclusive beach clubs
- Annecy: the Venice of the Alps, this small town draws a huge crowd due to its picturesque cobbled streets, winding canals, and scenic lake
- Antibes: a culturally-charged town in Côte d’Azur, it suffers from over-spilling tourism from neighboring Nice, and it’s famous for its Picasso association
As gorgeous as the above may be, I’ll be honest with you: they’re the last places I want to be in summer when the high season starts.
Not only are they incredibly busy—good luck visiting the Louvre or driving to the beach in and back in the South at peak hours—prices can easily get out of control, with the average overnight rate in the Riviera being a whopping $191, and I’m not talking luxurious hotels.
Now, if you’re hoping to escape the hustle and bustle like me, these 5 offbeat destinations in France are sure to steal your heart:
Quimper
Located in northwestern France, in the Celtic-heavy historical region of Brittany, Quimper is a compact, charming city best known for its half-timbered houses, medieval walls, and soaring cathedral.
The cathedral itself, Saint-Corentin de Quimper, is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever visited in France, with its soaring spires and beautiful somber facade, but what I truly love Quimper for is its Festival de Cornouaille, which takes place in summer.
It’s when locals flock into the narrow cobbled streets wearing traditional breton attires, blurting out tunes with their long-held family bagpipes, and traditional food stalls spring up selling a variety of cheeses, sausages, and homemade pastries.
Oh, and guess what: far fewer foreigners here than in Paris!
Lille
My next pick for beating the crowds is Lille, in northern France, near the Belgian border: though it is a major metropolitan hub, home to over a million inhabitants, life here feels somehow slower-paced than the capital, and far more enjoyable in summer.
Its Grand-Place is flanked with elegant Flemish Baroque buildings, and lively as it may be, with its many cafés and bistros, it never feels jam-packed with people.
The same goes for Vieux-Lille, the city’s historic center, criss-crossed by narrow alleys and peppered with boutique shops, art galleries, and boulangeries selling croissants fresh-out-the-oven, and let’s not forget my personal favorite, the Citadelle de Lille:
This 17th century fort is found in the middle of a lush urban park offering scenic walking paths, and it’s where I go whenever I’m in town to escape the center’s hustle and bustle.
Arles
Tucked away in the Provence, in the South of France, Arles is one of those places that could easily have been conjured into existence from an impressionist painting, with its ocher-colored townhouses overlooking an emerald river, and its starry skies once night falls.
Sound familiar? That’s because this is where Vincent Van Gogh was based while birthing several of his most-famous issues, most notably, Starry Night Over the Rhône.
Why pay $18–$19 to see the painting in Musée d’Orsay in Paris when you can see the actual thing? Just kidding, maybe you should do both—and if I may add, the quaint riverside is not the only part of Arles that will take your breath away:
Its winding pathways lead up to a two-tiered, Ancient Roman arena, much like the Colosseum in Rome, except this one still hosts concerts and other live performances (check for new events here).
Bonifacio (Corsica)
A small coastal town perched on a rocky peninsula in southern Corsica, France’s largest island in the Mediterranean, Bonifacio captures everything that makes a European getaway great:
Its got the historic allure, with its stone-built old houses perched atop vertiginous cliffs, overlooking an azure sea, the stone-paved streets that culminate in picture-perfect piazzas, and of course, an imposing citadel standing watch over it all.
Corsica as a whole is among France’s lesser-explored regions, which has always been surprising to me given how insanely-popular Côte d’Azur is, on the mainland, but as the French would say, tant mieux: we get to keep it to ourselves, and those we trust the secret with.
Speaking of secrets, check out Plage de Petit Sperone, a white-sand stretch of paradise hugged by turquoise seas, a short 15-minute drive away.
Chartres
You also don’t need to go all the way to Provence, or Corsica to escape the Parisian summertime chaos: a short one-hour train ride away from Gare Montparnasse, Chartres is a most-perfect, small medieval town dominated by a UNESCO-listed cathedral.
Notre-Dame de Chartres is truly quite special, and it’s not the kind of sight you forget easily, with its mismatched towers (one Gothic, the other Flamboyant), vaulted ceilings, and beautiful rose window.
As a Parisian, I absolutely love the Seine and the countless stately museums distributed along it, but I have to be so real with you, I have a huge soft spot for the Eure River in Chartres, and its idyllic timbered dweelings with pitched roofs and flower-decorated balconies.
It’s like a scenic straight from a storybook, especially with the watermills and church bells in the distance. Before you leave this dreamy scene and return to Paris in the evening, make sure you pay Crêperie La Picoterie a visit: best savory galettes in town, and only a few steps away from the cathedral!
Vinicius CostaVini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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