Largest French Cities

Paris is the ultimate urban destination in France, indeed in Europe. This is a city that features a seemingly endless must-see list of museums, sights and tours. It's also the perfect city to wander aimlessly, discovering lovely neighborhoods like the Ile Saint Louis and Marais. It's the place to find world-class cuisine and world-class art, not to mention some of the world's best shopping. While all French cities are great for enjoying the cafe life, Paris elevates that to an art form.

Lyon is a frequently underrated and it isn't tops with tourists, but there is much to commend Lyon as a vacation destination. There is an amazing diversity of museums, with themes such as silk, cinematography, fine arts, the French resistance and printing. This is also a wonderful destination to indulge in French cuisine.

The largest city in Provence and third largest in France, Marseille offers a wonderful combination of Mediterranean climate, big city and that joie de vivre of the South of France. Find centuries of history, great museums, nautical attractions and great art.

Lille is blessed with a central European location. It's an 1.5 hours from London, 1 hour from Paris and a half hour from Brussels. Not surprisingly, Lille reflects the influences of a variety of European cultures. It is a unique destination rich in art, architecture and culture.

Steeped in history, yet hip and lively, the enchanting Toulouse is one of France's most beautiful cities. The food here and in the rest of the Midi Pyrenees region, for which Toulouse serves as capital, could be among France's most memorable. The shopping options are vast.

Nice is a wonderful French Riviera city, and a popular destination for couples, honeymooners and sun-worshipers. It features enticing pedestrian walkways lined with cafes and boutiques, and wonderful French markets. Best of all, you can relax on the shore while sipping wine. Nice is the perfect combination of city and beach town.

Bordeaux, France goes relatively unnoticed by tourists, but they are missing out on a thriving city filled with shops, amazing historic attractions and nestled in the heart of wine country. Atmospheric and urban, Bordeaux is one of the loveliest cities in France.

Nantes is a charming western France city on the Loire River featuring a stunning castle and a museum devoted to author Jules Verne.

Strasbourg is the ultimate European city. It has flavors of both France and Germany, and sits right on the border of the two countries. It's picturesque "la Petite France" neighborhood looks like something straight out of a fairy tale book, a riverfront neighborhood with timbered buildings accented by colorful flower boxes.

Toulon is the 10th largest metro area in France, and it has a wonderful location for those interested in exploring the South of France. It's a short drive or train ride from two bigger cities - Nice and Marseille - as well as wonderful destinations like Aix en Provence and Grasse. Toulon is also a pretty city in its own right.