As Americans living in France, Maria and I have had the opportunity to explore many corners of this beautiful country – including cities like Paris, Troyes, Clermont-Ferrand, Caen, Marseille, Reims, and Nancy. However, planning your perfect French vacation isn’t as simple as a quick Google search. French establishments aren’t always on the cutting edge of technology. Accurate operating hours can be hard to find, and certain establishments don’t exist on web-based maps at all. If you’re making an itinerary for your trip to France, you have to know where to look for the top events, attractions, and restaurants – and it’s not necessarily intuitive. Keep reading to learn the best ways to find things to do for your next holiday in France.

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Facebook Search

Searching Facebook might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a stay abroad. Yet, liking Facebook pages and joining Facebook groups are both clever ways to be in the know about what’s going on in any particular French city.

For example, the Ville de Reims Facebook page posts an event every Friday called Que faire à Reims ce weekend ? (What’s there to do in Reims this weekend?). We’ve discovered countless outings through Facebook that we would have never known about otherwise, like flea markets, festivals, fairs, expositions, comedy shows, concerts, and sporting events.

You’ll also often find honest reviews from locals about businesses, restaurants, and experiences on Facebook that you can’t find elsewhere. Don’t hesitate to peruse Facebook to experience French cities like the locals.

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Restaurant Menus

If you’re used to finding up-to-date menus, detailed hours, and easily navigable sites by searching “restaurants near me” on Google, you’re in for a shock as a visitor in France. Unless you’re looking to dine in a chain restaurant, the internet will be practically useless.

To find unique eateries in French cities, you’ll need to do some old-fashioned window shopping. In France, restaurants post their menus on sandwich boards or display them in the window for customers to read.

When you’re out exploring, hungry or not, take a moment to check out different restaurants’ menus. Make a mental note of the places you want to try and their operating hours so you aren’t stuck eating at McDonald’s!

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Tourism Sites

Though TripAdvisor and WikiTravel have their place, there’s really no better resource for discovering things to see, do, and eat in France than the official websites maintained by the tourism offices of French cities.

Whether you’re travelling to a big metropolis or a tiny town, these websites are a one-stop-shop for must-see tourist attractions. The information is reliable, and they typically offer exclusive excursions as well as money-saving deals.

A given city’s tourism website may not be the top search result on Google, but they’re always worth checking out. If you skip this recommendation, you risk missing out on exceptional landmarks and worthwhile events!

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Next time you’re making arrangements for a vacation in France, don’t forget to use these insider tips! What are your suggestions for finding things to do in a new city? Let us know in a comment.

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