The best ways to easily travel during your trip in France

How to easily travel around France and enjoy without stress 

Suitcases packed, tickets bought, friends or family invited, ready to travel to France! But what about travelling IN France, now? Here are some easy ways to discover the country and its unique sceneries.

Getting there

First, depending on the country you are coming from, bus or car might be good options. If you come from further away, flying is definitely the easiest and quickest way (even if it is not the most sustainable). France has multiple national airports to arrive at, such as Paris, Lyon, Nice or Toulouse. You can check the full list here. Once you have landed (welcome to France!), you can take the airport shuttle to reach the city centre. If you prefer flexibility and arrive at your accommodation directly, taxis and Uber are always available.

Nice National Airport

Roaming around the city

It is important to know that every city has its own public transportation company. For example, RATP in Paris, Tisséo in Toulouse or FilBleu in Tours. So, once you are in the city centre, you may need to install only one app or look up one website to access all the network information. There is a high probability that day or period tickets will be available at an interesting price. Tourism offices are also a good way to learn all about moving around the city and its surrounding areas.

FilBleu, public transportation of Tours

Travelling around the country

Done with visiting the city? Why not go for another one? There are multiple ways to go from one place to another. Train lines, managed by the national train company, the SNCF (known for its famous jingle), covers the majority of the French territory. New lines are also being rehabilitated by companies like Railcoop (website in French) with the objective of fully covering the country, allowing you to discover more of France very soon! Train tickets tend to be expensive, even more if you want to cross the country. You can check the weekly or monthly offers of the SNCF to get cheaper tickets.

Bus is another option. It is cheaper than train, but the trip lasts longer. You can get tickets through Flixbus or Blablacar bus. It can be a good way to admire the French landscapes. Plus, even if you carry multiple suitcases, they can be put in the bus trunk.

If you prefer to travel in car, you can rent one. To compare the best options, Kayak evaluates the price, the length of the leasing as well as the model of the car. Car sharing with Blablacar is another interesting way of moving around as the costs are shared. Plus, you get to meet people. Some basics in French are required, except if you find a driver who speaks your or a common language. When buying a seat in a shared car, be careful to have a small-sized suitcase as there is limited space in the trunk or in the car.

Car sharing (Covoiturage, in French)

Completely lost?

You can use Google or Apple Maps to find your way back home (always save the address of the place you are staying at!). You can ask for help in the closest restaurants or stores, or directly ask to French people if you feel like showing off your amazing French skills. If you are lost while travelling by car, using a map app is one of the best options along with asking for direction on a resting area. 

France offers multiple choice to travel, you only have to select the one you prefer. Why not start by discovering Bourges? 

Hungry after travelling so much? Here is a list of delicious restaurants recommended by Quynh Anh, a gourmet globe-trotter who will make you discover amazing food from around the world: UK, Thaïland, France...

Safe travel and bon voyage!