Chasing the feeling of a French escapade? A bucket-list vacation bursting with scenic sights along the French Riviera? A culture so rich in the arts that you’re compelled to sing when you step outside. Known for its capital, Paris, with its famous accompanying landmarks, The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame, the Western European country of France contains a host of other stunning, more affordable alternatives to the Parisian paradise. These are our favorite French cities aside from Paris.
1. Lyon

Welcome to the birthplace of cinema. Though Cannes holds a revered film festival each year, the true birthing grounds of cinema stem from the Lumiere brothers: a pair of lads who held the initial movie screening in 1895. Lyon appeals to travelers lusting after exquisite cuisines and a flair for astounding architecture. On the epicurean side of things, Lyon takes on the nickname of the gastronomic capital of France, producing culinary icons among the likes of Paul Bocuse and Jean-Paul Lacombe.
For the architectural student, Lyon fuses elements from the Gothic age with Romanesque/Renaissance designs for authentic jumps back to ancient eras. The Saint Jean Cathedral flexes the fusion, featuring a gargantuan astronomic clock (Gothic) pinned between rows of yellow flying buttresses (also Gothic), as a looming tower juts into the sky (Romanesque). On average, visitors spend $114 less per day in Lyon than in Paris.
2. Marseilles
Imagine a French port city bristling with street art, cliffs, chateaus, and the ever-popular bouillabaisse (garlicky fish stew). Take that image a step further and picture yourself walking along a sunshine-splattered coastline, immersed in street art, sipping on a fresh cup of steaming bouillabaisse. That is the reality of vacationing in Marseilles.
Marseilles functions as a main port city, resulting from its prime location on the coast. Around The Gulf of Lion (a sublet of the Mediterranean Sea), limestone cliffs appear, alluring avid rock climbers to test their grip strength above the cerulean seas. A vacation in Marseilles costs about $88 less per day per person than a trip to Paris.
3. Nice
The name says it all—well, when you pronounce it the American English way. Nice, France, appears like the Florida of France, with a jaw-dropping coastline framed behind a boardwalk and tons of local hotspots. Nice resides on the French Riviera, hugged by hundreds of hills. Given the waterfront city’s sunkissed location, loads of tourists enjoy engaging in self (or guided) tours along the French Riviera’s pebbled paths or gazing at the coastline from a lookout spot floating over the town.
Art admirers appreciate the whispers of art floating through Nice with the Marc Chagall National Museum and Musee Matisse, two chapters dedicated to renowned French artists. A tourist spends an average of $174 in Nice each day vs. the estimated $276 they’d lose in Paris.
4. Toulouse
Terracotta roofs draw a pink paradise on Toulouse’s skyline. The city’s gathering of eclectic roofs deemed it “The Pink City,” though Toulouse’s architecture also borrows from a pastel paint wheel. Toulouse can’t just gift thanks to its pretty coloration, though. The French destination houses an aviation museum detailing Toulouse’s monumental involvement in the aviation field, in addition to Toulouse University, one of the oldest colleges in all of Europe.
If you believe (or if you don’t) in mythology, this attraction will delight you. The Halle de la Machine homes a 46-foot-tall rideable, wooden Minotaur. The half-bull, half-human creature invites visitors to climb on a sturdy perch placed on its back. The beast, made of wood and steel, stomps through the park premises, exhaling white hot smoke, presenting riders with a new view of the mythological being. Tourists in Toulouse can expect to spend an average of $160 per day, $116 less than the average cost of daily tourism in Paris.
5. Cannes
While Lyon is the birthplace of cinema, Cannes is the capital of movie-making. Snuggled along the French Riviera, Cannes attracts millions of celebrities and ordinary people each year. Those who don’t quite have the prerequisites to make the film festival can indulge in part of the fun by visiting the Palace of Festivals and Congresses of Cannes. A permanent red carpet dances through the middle of the staircase, illustrating the location numerous stars walk up annually. The palace elevates the perception of stardom with a collection of handprints and footprints of celebrities scattered around the building.
Perhaps the most sought-after hotspot in Cannes (besides the film festival) is the Boulevard de la Croisette, a boulevard kissing the coastline. The promenade is a near two-mile snapshot in luxury, what with upscale resorts woven between restaurants crafted in coastal cuisine and boutiques. Despite the upscale aura of Cannes, an individual doles out an average of $163 per day in the city compared to the $276 daily average on a Paris trip.
6. Bordeaux
Esteemed as the wine capital of the world, this city lives on the Garonne River. A quick glance over Bordeaux may transport onlookers back to medieval times, thanks to the dark steeples interspersed throughout rows upon rows of beige buildings. Mixed into the barrage of beige stands a bell tower belonging to the Roman Catholic Cathedrale St. Andre. The church, a time capsule to the Middle Ages, serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux.
After gaping over the famous cathedral, tourists jump on mini cruises, jetting them through the Garonne River, for a chance to witness the vast vineyards spread throughout Bordeaux. A single person browsing Bordeaux budgets $163 per day opposed to the Parisian prices of $276.
7. Strasbourg
Strasbourg’s location lends to its melded style. Bordering Germany, the Northeastern French metropolis leans heavily on German architectural influence in both the residential side of the region and the city side. As far as neighborhoods go, Strasbourg favors half-timber houses, a German staple where the bones of the house are made of wood, while the rest of the design comes from other materials. The Strasbourg Cathedral screams of German influence. A gothic spire shoots into the sky, saluting the higher power, as the Romanesque exterior lures worshippers into the monument.
Finding yourself a bit tired of waltzing through historic cathedrals? Feeling a draw to stroll through a laid-back area of the city instead? The historic district of Strasbourg, The Petite France district, showcases visually pleasing snapshots of canal-front houses matched with gorgeous greenery for a break from exhausting sightseeing. A trip to Strasbourg takes $178 per day, $98 less than a gallivant in Paris.
8. Normandy
History buffs adore a trip to the notable location of the D-Day landing during World War II. D-Day infamously occurred on Omaha Beach in 1944. To honor the day and pay respect to the victims, German bunker remnants bedeck the beach, as does the Les Braves Sculpture. Silver steel wings break out into the sky, representing three major factors: “The Wings of Hope”, “Rise, Freedom!” and “The Wings of Fraternity.” Les Braves strives to remind passersby to fight for freedom and to acknowledge the honor of those lost to battle.
Many people associate Normandy with D-Day and World War II, but what you may not know about Normandy is its fascination with cheeses. The French city carries a reputation for creating four flavors of cheese: Camembert, Livarot, Pont-l'Evêque, and Neufchâtel. Normandy understood the average human’s bond with cheese by making a Normandy cheese route. The pathway points out which cheese originates in which village, providing expert information on tours and the cheeses. A trip to Normandy saves globetrotters half the money they’d dish out visiting Paris.
9. Montpellier
This sliver of southern France delights globetrotters searching for an oasis near the Mediterranean Sea. Corresponding to many of the cities in France, Montpellier boasts period-centric cathedrals drawing in committed architecture enthusiasts and novice appreciators. The main considered cathedral in Montpellier is the church after its namesake. The Montpellier Cathedral exhibits art forms distinctive to the 14th century, primarily a striking southern gothic canopy porch extended over the entrance. Falling behind the porch, the church's two symmetrical towers stretch into the sky.
A precious charm of Montpellier’s scenery comes from the collegiate community enrolled at the University of Montpellier. The medical branch of the university happens to be the oldest medical school in Europe, spanning back 800 years. The storied building welcomes students and visitors through a pine-tinted door into a wondrous spiral staircase. Throughout the halls of the medical school, paintings depicting French professors in traditional garb catch students’ eyes. A trip to Montpellier saves $129 per person per day than a trip to Paris.
10. Nantes
Nantes, France, blends all the beloved elements of the other French towns gathered on this list. Its location on The Loire River cements it as a popular European port for cruise ships. Among the soaring structures in Nantes, the Castle of Nantes, or the Château des ducs de Bretagne, is perhaps the most visited landmark in the area. A history museum accompanies the medieval fortress, displaying relics either passed through the castle or relevant to the castle's history.
Remember the mechanical Minotaur from earlier? The Les Machines de l’ile Nantes yields insight into the fun spirit prevalent in Nantes through a steampunk fever dream. Les Machines de l’ile Nantes enchants guests with numerous mechanical machines, from a mammoth elephant to a heron suspended in the middle of the museum. Debating between a journey to Nantes or Paris? Expect to save around $142 a day touring Nantes vs. a lofty trip to Paris.