France is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. A backpacking vacation is a wonderful way to explore all that France has to offer and immerse yourself in its rich history and diverse culture. France is filled with natural beauty and plenty of sights to see, from museums and chateaus to wine vineyards. A backpacking vacation can be as short as a week or as long as month.
Plan to travel to France in the springtime, while the weather is warm but the hordes of tourists haven't arrived yet.
Map out your trip before you go. France is a big country and if you want to see as much as possible, plan accordingly.
Make reservations for hostels ahead of time, so you won't have to worry about locating one in each city you stay in.
Purchase a train pass. It makes exploring France easy. You can get passes for various amounts of time, including two to eight days of unlimited travel.
Get up close and personal with France. Even though you will be traveling by train, you should still explore each city and town by foot to really immerse yourself in the region. In larger cities like Paris, you can also rent bikes to go exploring.
Begin your backpacking vacation in Paris, the City of Lights. Visit famous museums, including the Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa. Take a ride up the Eiffel Tower and marvel at the unobstructed views of the city.
Travel south to Loire Valley, just two hours away from Paris. Explore medieval chateaus and sample some of the regions finest wines.
Head east to Brittany (Bretagne). Here visitors can sunbathe on the sandy beaches of Saint-Brieuc or pick up some world-famous pottery in Quimper.
Continue south to Bordeaux, another famous wine region of France. Enjoy a course in wine appreciation at the Maison de Vin.
Move on to the less touristy city of Toulouse, at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains. With its large student population, visitors enjoy an exciting nightlife as well more refined cultural adventures.
End your trip on the beaches of Cannes and Marseilles, along the Cote d'Azur. A playground for the rich and famous, the South of France has plenty to see and do that won't break the budget, including inexpensive youth hostels.
