Find the best France Hotels

A reputation for world class cuisine and fashion, a rich history dating from the Neolithic period. The Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower in Paris are the first French landmarks which enter most people's minds. It takes about 12 hours to fly directly to Paris from Bangkok. The distance between the Thai and French national capitals is 9,437 km. From Paris, tourists can easily travel to other major French cities aboard one of the world's fastest high speed rail networks.

Most of France enjoys warm humid summers and fairly mild winters, but temperatures are typically hotter in the south and cooler in the north. Western France is usually wetter than eastern France. Spring and autumn are considered good times to visit France as the weather is pleasant and crowds are smaller. The months between November and April are when skiers speed down the slopes in the Auvergne, the Alps, and the Pyrenees. Easter, Christmas, and summer are France's busiest and most expensive tourist seasons. Some local businesses close down in August, the month when most French people take their holidays.

Paris, the national capital, is the most popular first stop for visitors to France because of its romantic reputation and iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe and Disneyland Paris. However, the country's culinary capital is actually Lyon, the French gateway to the Alps. Bordeaux and the Loire Valley are the country's most famous wine regions. One of the world's best known beach promenades travels through Nice in the centre of the French Riviera.

France is also famously known for its cuisine. Sweet fruit crepes and ham and cheese sandwiches on freshly baked baguettes are a couple of the street snacks visitors can sample at any French city. Bouillabaisse, cassoulet, foie gras and boeuf bourguignon are some of the well-known regional dishes found on the menus of small local bistros and France's over 571 Michelin starred restaurants. Saint Germain des Prés and the Latin Quarter are the most famous Parisian nightlife districts.

The Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo are two of the world famous works of art on display at the Louvre in Paris, which welcomes more visitors than any other museum on the planet. Gardens grow around the nearby Chateau de Versailles, which housed France's royal family for 100 years. Lyon is another French city steeped in history, from the ancient Roman landmarks in its old quarter to the Guignol Theatre's 200- year-old puppet shows. Active pursuits in France range from snowboarding and skiing in the Pyrenees and Alps to yachting, kayaking, or parasailing on the French Riviera.

Shoppers expect to pay a lot of money for France's world class fashion, food, and cosmetics. Paris, in particular, has a pricey reputation. The clothing sold at the Galleries Lafayette, Champs Elysees, and Printemps can be quite expensive. However, better bargains can be found at Le Marais and the large flea markets found on Paris' outskirts. The Clignancourt Flea Market is particularly famous for good deals on vintage clothing, luggage, and antiques.