Ten drives in France, from a long weekend on the Normandy coast to ten days across the Pyrenees. The northern ones (Normandy, Brittany, the Loire, Alsace) are within a day of the Channel ports; the Alps, Provence and the Riviera are a two-day drive from Calais, or a shorter one if you take the ferry to western France. The table sums them up; the notes below cover what each is like to drive and the rules UK drivers need to know.
| Route | Length | Days | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route des Grandes Alpes | About 700 km, Thonon-les-Bains to Menton | 5–7 | July to mid-September |
| Provence lavender and the Verdon | Loop from Aix-en-Provence | 4–5 | Late June to mid-July |
| Loire châteaux | Short hops of 20–40 minutes | 3–4 | April to October |
| Brittany coast | Saint-Malo round to Carnac | 5+ | May to September |
| Route Napoléon (N85) | About 325 km, Golfe-Juan to Grenoble | 2–3 | April to October |
| Alsace Wine Route | 170 km, Marlenheim to Thann | 2–3 | September, October, December |
| Normandy and the D-Day beaches | Giverny to Mont-Saint-Michel | 3–5 | April to October |
| Riviera corniches | About 30 km, Nice to Menton | 1 | Spring and autumn |
| Dordogne and Lot | Sarlat to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie | 5–7 | May, June, September |
| Pyrenees, Atlantic to Mediterranean | Basque coast to Carcassonne and the Med | 7–10 | June to September |
1. Route des Grandes Alpes
The big one: roughly 700 km from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, over more than 15 passes. The Col de l'Iseran (2,764 m) is the highest paved through-pass in the Alps, and the Col du Galibier (2,642 m) comes a day later. North to south, the scenery moves from glacier valleys and dairy country in the Beaufortain to pine and dry limestone in the Alpes-Maritimes, before the last passes drop you towards Menton.
The highest passes are snowbound for much of the year. The Iseran normally opens in late June or early July and closes in early October, so plan for July to mid-September. Fill up whenever you see a fuel station: on some sections they're 50 km or more apart, and village pumps often close at lunchtime and on Sundays.
2. Provence: lavender and the Gorges du Verdon
The lavender flowers from late June to mid-July, and the big fields on the Valensole plateau are often cut from mid-July, so this is a tight window. A good loop runs from Aix-en-Provence to Valensole, on to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and the Verdon gorge, then west to the Luberon: Sénanque Abbey, Gordes, Roussillon and Bonnieux. Allow four or five days.
The gorge is the driving highlight. The D952 follows the north rim, and the Route des Crêtes loop from La Palud-sur-Verdon has the best viewpoints; our Verdon Gorge route page maps both. Go to the lavender fields early in the morning, when the light is softer and the coach parties haven't arrived.
3. Loire Valley châteaux
The easiest trip on the list. The big châteaux are 20 to 40 minutes apart on quiet roads, so you can see two a day without rushing, which suits families. The ones most people pick:
- Chambord: the largest, with a double-helix staircase often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
- Chenonceau: built across the River Cher.
- Villandry: for the formal and kitchen gardens rather than the house.
- Amboise: above the river, with Clos Lucé, Leonardo's last home, a short walk away.
- Azay-le-Rideau: small, reflected in its moat.
Between visits, the tuffeau caves around Vouvray, Chinon and Saumur are used as wine cellars, and many offer tastings. Blois is about two hours from Paris by motorway.
4. Brittany's coast
Brittany is the obvious first trip from the south coast of England: ferries from Portsmouth run to Saint-Malo, and from Plymouth to Roscoff. Brittany's dual carriageways are also toll-free, which keeps costs down. Start at Saint-Malo's walled town and follow the coast west and south:
- Cap Fréhel: high cliffs and a lighthouse, with Fort la Latte nearby.
- Côte de Granit Rose: piles of pink granite around Ploumanac'h and Perros-Guirec.
- Pointe du Raz: the headland at the end of Finistère. Often called the westernmost point of France; that's actually Pointe de Corsen, further north.
- Quimper: an old town with a cathedral and faience pottery.
- Carnac: around 3,000 standing stones in long rows.
Allow at least five days. The weather changes quickly, but Brittany rarely gets as hot as the south in July and August.
5. Route Napoléon
Napoleon landed at Golfe-Juan, near Cannes, on 1 March 1815 after escaping from Elba, and marched north to Grenoble. The N85 follows his route in the same direction for about 325 km, through Grasse, Castellane, Digne-les-Bains, Sisteron, Gap and Corps. At Laffrey, south of Grenoble, a statue marks the meadow where the troops sent to stop him joined him instead.
It's about six hours without stops, but two or three days lets you take in the Verdon (Castellane is the gateway) and Sisteron's citadel. The road tops out at about 1,250 m at the Col Bayard, north of Gap. Our Route Napoléon page has it mapped from Cannes.
6. Alsace Wine Route
Signposted in 1953, the Route des Vins d'Alsace runs 170 km from Marlenheim to Thann along the foot of the Vosges. The villages are close together, with half-timbered houses and vineyards right up to the walls: Riquewihr, Eguisheim (voted the French public's favourite village in 2013), Kaysersberg, and Colmar with its canal quarter. Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Crémant d'Alsace are the wines to try, and many producers welcome walk-in tastings.
September and October bring the harvest. From late November the Christmas markets in Strasbourg, Colmar and the villages make it a very different, much busier trip. Strasbourg has a low-emission zone, so you'll need a Crit'Air sticker.
7. Normandy and the D-Day beaches
Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham), Le Havre and Cherbourg put you straight into Normandy, and from Paris the beaches are under three hours away. A sensible order from the east:
- Giverny: Monet's house and garden (open spring to autumn).
- Rouen: the Gothic cathedral and the square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431.
- Honfleur: the old harbour the Impressionists painted.
- Bayeux: the tapestry, and a good base for the beaches.
- Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc: the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer above Omaha, and the cratered clifftop the US Rangers took on 6 June 1944. Utah Beach is further west.
- Mont-Saint-Michel: park on the mainland and take the shuttle across.
Three to five days covers it. Eat the cheese, drink the cider, and keep the Calvados for when you're not driving.
8. The Riviera corniches
Three roads run between Nice and Menton at different heights. The Basse Corniche follows the shore through Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu and Monaco; the Moyenne Corniche passes Èze village; and the Grande Corniche, highest of the three, goes through La Turbie with views down on Monaco. It's only about 30 km, but give it a day: drive out on one and back on another, and add the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild gardens on Cap Ferrat.
In summer, traffic between Nice and Monaco can be at a standstill by late morning. Go early, or go in spring or autumn. If you're driving down from home, see our London to Nice route.
9. Dordogne and Lot
Quiet roads, short distances, limestone cliffs and castles above slow rivers. Base yourself in one gîte for the week rather than moving every night.
- Sarlat-la-Canéda: the medieval centre and its Wednesday and Saturday markets.
- Lascaux IV: a full replica of the cave paintings at Montignac, made because the original cave is closed to protect it.
- Beynac and Castelnaud: rival castles on opposite sides of the Dordogne.
- Rocamadour: a pilgrimage village built into a cliff.
- Saint-Cirq-Lapopie: a village above the Lot, voted the French public's favourite in 2012.
Allow five to seven days. It's busiest in August, when the canoe hire at every bend is in full swing.
10. The Pyrenees, Atlantic to Mediterranean
A traverse along the French side, from the Basque coast to the Mediterranean, crossing passes such as the Col d'Aubisque and the Col du Tourmalet (2,115 m), both Tour de France regulars. The roads are quieter than in the Alps and the climbs are just as hard on brakes. Along the way:
- Espelette (dried red peppers hanging from the houses) and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Basque Country.
- The Cirque de Gavarnie, a UNESCO-listed amphitheatre of cliffs and waterfalls.
- Spa towns at Bagnères-de-Luchon and Ax-les-Thermes.
- Cathar castles such as Peyrepertuse and Montségur on their crags, and the walled Cité of Carcassonne near the eastern end.
Plan seven to ten days. The high passes are usually open from late May or June until autumn snow, so June to September is the safe window.
Driving in France from the UK
- Licence: a UK photocard licence is all you need; no International Driving Permit. See using your UK licence abroad.
- Car kit: a warning triangle and a hi-vis vest you can reach without getting out of the car (carry one per person). Adjust or cover your headlights so they don't dazzle, and show a UK sticker unless your number plate already has the UK identifier. A breathalyser is still technically required, but there's no fine for not having one.
- Speed limits: 130 km/h on motorways (110 in rain), 110 km/h on dual carriageways (100 in rain), 80 km/h on most two-lane roads, though many departments have put some back to 90, so watch the signs. 50 km/h in towns, and increasingly 30.
- Speed cameras: devices or apps that warn of camera locations are illegal; turn the alerts off in your sat-nav.
- Tolls: most autoroutes are tolled. Paris to Nice costs around €80 one way; booths take cards, or you can fit a tag.
- Priorité à droite: at unmarked junctions, mainly in towns and villages, traffic from the right has priority.
- Crit'Air: Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Grenoble and other cities have low-emission zones that need a sticker. The rules have been changing, so check before you go and buy only from the official government site.
More detail is in our guide to driving in France from the UK and the France driving rules page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for a road trip in France?
May, June and September give the best mix of weather, prices and traffic. July and August are the busiest, but they're also when the high Alpine passes are open and the lavender flowers. October suits Alsace, the Dordogne and Normandy.
Do UK drivers need an International Driving Permit for France?
No. A UK photocard licence is valid in France and the rest of the EU. You may need one if you have a paper licence, or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
Is the speed limit on French country roads 80 or 90 km/h?
The national default on two-lane roads without a central barrier is 80 km/h, but since 2019 departments have been allowed to raise sections back to 90. Assume 80 unless a sign says otherwise.