Explore 10 of the best cheap places to visit in France

A holiday in France is an enriching experience, but it often comes at a price. It is possible, however, to discover the glorious lavender fields of Provence and the glittering coastline of the Côte d'Azur without spending a fortune. With some careful planning, you can enjoy days exploring seafood markets, celebrating at local festivals, walking coastal trails and accessing world-famous museums for no charge, all while eating well and sleeping comfortably in affordable hotels.

Getting to France from the UK couldn't be easier. You can catch a ferry to Normandy, take the train to Paris from St Pancras in London, or fly from Heathrow, Gatwick and a number of regional airports. So, if you've developed a craving for croissants, cobblestone streets, cobalt waters and quiet corners, here's a selection of 10 cheap places to visit in France for anyone travelling on a budget.

Blois and the Loire Valley – Blois, capital of the Loir-et-Cher department in Centre-Val de Loire, is a hillside commune on the banks of the Loire. The Loire Valley is France’s romantic heartland, its medieval towns and elegant châteaux overlooking manicured gardens. There are excellent train connections via the Eurostar from the UK to Paris and then regional trains from Paris. If you book a few months in advance, trains from London to Paris can cost from as little as £78 return. A return from Paris to Blois-Chambord costs from just £30. The total journey time from St Pancras is around five and a half hours. You can also fly from Stansted and other regional UK airports to Tours, which is only 30 miles from Blois. Prices start from just £40 return with budget airlines like Ryanair. Car hire in Tours costs from around £40 per day.

Blois city centre is small enough to be enjoyed on a long weekend, and it really hits the sweet spot for budget travellers with its collection of ibis hotels. If you're staying at the ibis Blois Centre Château, there are a number of affordable attractions on your doorstep, including the Château de Blois. While the castle charges a small entry fee, you can enter the main courtyard for free and admire its stunning mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Classical architecture. There are magical views of Blois from the top of the Denis Papin staircase, and you could then cycle the Loire à Vélo route along the river. Bikes can be hired for less than £12 a day, and the riverside views are worth every penny. If you've worked up an appetite on a bike ride, why not pack a picnic and head to Chambord’s public park for lunch? If you're travelling in a quieter month like May, you can enjoy free jazz performances in the city's squares and on the riverbank during the Blois Festival.

Lot et Garonne – There are far fewer tourists in central France, but it's still easy to travel to this hidden corner from the UK. There are cheap flights to Bergerac from Liverpool, Bournemouth and Edinburgh, so you can be exploring sleepy stone villages and fields of sunflowers stretching to the horizon in no time. In the Bastide towns of Monflanquin and Villeréal, medieval arcades overlook bustling weekly markets; the Canal de Garonne towpath is perfect for walking or cycling, and there are plenty of summer 'marchés gourmand' (gourmet markets) where you can graze on local cheese, duck confit and delicious melon for just a few euros. If you're travelling on a budget, many vineyards offer free tastings, especially if you buy a bottle or two afterwards. A stay at the ibis budget Agen costs from just £40 per night, so this makes an excellent base from which to explore the region.

Provence – You might be surprised to find that Provence can be a cheap place to visit in France. If you're travelling outside the peak months of July and August, there are affordable flights to the South of France – including Marseille, Avignon and Nice – from airports across the UK. So if you fancy wandering local markets in Apt, discovering Roman ruins in Arles and then exploring endless lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau, Provence is a great place to visit. The Camargue Wetlands near Arles are perfect for spotting flamingos and wild horses, while Pont d'Avignon straddles the Rhône in the compellingly photogenic centre of Avignon. Many Provençal towns have free concerts in their squares throughout the summer, and they are among the most affordable places to visit in the South of France. If you'd like to stay at an Avignon hotel with a pool, the ibis Avignon South is only a short walk from the Palais des Papes.

Normandy – With its mix of historic beaches, dramatic cliffs and rolling fields, northern France is made for a road trip. Bringing your car over on the ferry to Normandy is often cheaper than hiring a vehicle in France. The ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre gives excellent access to the cliffs and coastal walks at Étretat, while ferries to Caen and Cherbourg allow you to explore the Normandy beaches where Allied forces landed on D-Day in June 1944. The quiet sandy beaches at Deauville and Cabourg are worth visiting, as is the American war cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. More cheap places to visit in France include Bayeux or Rouen, where you can admire the imposing Gothic architecture of their cathedrals. If you don't fancy taking the ferry, the Eurostar runs from London to Paris (£80 if booked in advance) and you can then catch a regional train to Caen for as little as £20 return. The journey from Paris to Caen takes around two hours. The ibis Styles Caen Centre Historique has connecting family suites from as little as £150 per night.

Brittany – The coastline is dotted with fishing harbours, granite cliffs and sandy Brittany beaches, and it's another cheap place to visit in France that's perfect for holidays. There are direct ferries from the UK to Saint-Malo, or you can fly to Nantes or Rennes, making Brittany one of the best places to visit in France with your family. A stay at the ibis Styles Dinan Centre Ville in Dinan, a beautifully preserved medieval town, gives you easy access to the ramparts in Saint-Malo, as well as iconic Mont Saint-Michel, both of which are free to explore. Dinan itself hosts a festival every two years – the Fêtes des Remparts – where the town comes alive with parades and free street performances. If you prefer somewhere off the beaten track, the little seaside resort of Perros-Guirec is famous for its sandy beaches, pink granite cliffs and relaxed way of life. This little commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department on Brittany's north coast is one of the most beguiling cheap places in France to visit.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine – This vast area of southwest France is dominated by the Atlantic Coast. From La Rochelle in the north to Biarritz in the Pays Basque, there are plenty of natural wonders to explore at no cost. You can fly from Gatwick or Manchester to La Rochelle, and many more UK airports have direct flights to Bordeaux or Biarritz. Ferries from the UK run to Bilbao or Santander in northern Spain, both of which have convenient access to southwest France. Highlights along this stretch of coast include Arcachon’s 100-metre-tall Dune du Pilat. Climbing Europe's highest sand dune costs nothing other than sore calves, a small price to pay for the views of the Atlantic from the summit. The ibis Arcachon la Teste is a vibrant economy hotel that's ideally placed for exploring the dunes and the Bay of Arcachon.

France's Basque Country near the Spanish border blends surf culture, hiking and mountain biking in lively towns like Bayonne, which is one of the most interesting cheap places to visit in France. You can walk the coastal trail for free, and the markets burst with affordable regional delicacies, including cured ham and Basque cake. Bayonne’s summer festival turns the town into a sea of white-and-red-clad revellers enjoying free music and street entertainment.

Mediterranean coast – When you think of the Côte d'Azur, the glamorous beaches of Saint-Tropez and Cannes spring to mind, but it's possible to visit the peaceful city of Nice on a budget. Flights from the UK to Nice cost from as little as £50 return with one of the low-cost carriers, and the city is also on France's efficient TGV network. Indeed, the train from Paris takes only five and a half hours and can cost just £40. Public sections of the city's beaches mean you can swim in the Mediterranean without paying a fortune for a sun lounger, while the Promenade des Anglais is perfect for a seaside stroll. The Cours Saleya Market sells cheap freshly cut flowers and snacks, particularly later in the day. Parc de la Colline du Château enjoys sweeping views over the bay, but you will have to climb nearly 100 metres for the privilege, so it's not for the faint-hearted. The rewards are worth it, though! Art museums like Musée Matisse offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month, so you can admire the great man's work at no cost. Nice Carnival is an off-season treat in February and March, with plenty of free areas from which to watch the parades. The ibis Nice Centre Gare makes for an ideal base for anyone travelling by train to the South of France on a budget because it's close to the city's main station.

Colmar – Nestling between the Vosges Mountains and the River Rhine about an hour south of Strasbourg, Colmar is the capital of Alsace, a wine region where cobblestone streets and half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings come together as one. Stroll the canals in the Little Venice quarter, but don't forget your camera! Then visit the covered markets to stock up on affordable snacks for a picnic in the Parc du Champ de Mars. In the winter, there's plenty of free entertainment at the region's Christmas markets. Other towns on the Alsace Wine Route include Turckheim, Marlenheim and Obernai. Travelling to Colmar from the UK is a breeze: simply fly to Strasbourg and then catch a regional train, or take the Eurostar from London to Paris and then a local train to Colmar. It really is one of the best cheap places in France to visit. The ibis Styles Colmar Centre occupies an 18th-century malt house just one kilometre from the station.

Beaune – In the heart of Burgundy, Beaune is one of the most intriguing cheap places to visit in France. This delightful walled town is known for its wine, medieval heritage, cobbled streets and welcoming café culture. Entry to the 15th-century Hospices de Beaune only costs £10, and you can marvel at the beautiful stained-glass windows at the Collégiale Notre-Dame church for no charge. More budget-friendly options include exploring the historic ramparts and sampling the cheese, bread and charcuterie at the town's Saturday markets. Wine lovers can browse local cellars and visit the surrounding vineyards, while wandering the town’s narrow lanes reveals half-timbered houses, hidden courtyards and boutique art galleries. With your hamper of seasonal produce from the market, why not enjoy a relaxing picnic by the lake in Parc de la Bouzaize? Beaune is accessible to UK visitors either by Eurostar to Paris and then a local train or bus via Dijon, flights to Lyon or Geneva, or a flight to Paris followed by the train. The ibis Beaune Centre is very close to the iconic Hospices de Beaune and makes a great base for all the family.

Perpignan – In the shadow of the Pyrenees and not far from the Mediterranean coast, Perpignan is one of the most intriguing cheap places to visit in France. With its palm-lined squares, colourful markets and distinctive Catalan twist on French life, visiting the city is easy via direct flights from Birmingham. Just to the south of the old town, a Gothic-Romanesque Palace that was once home to the Kings of Majorca has views towards the coast from its ramparts. The ibis Perpignan Sud Saint-Charles makes an excellent base for exploring miles of sandy beaches at Canet-en-Roussillon or the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Travelling to France in the shoulder season – April to May and September to October – is much cheaper than in the height of summer, but you can still enjoy good weather inland and on the coast. Choose markets over restaurants, check for free museum entry, try local trains and buses rather than the TGV, and avoid staying overnight in touristy city centres. That way, you'll find any number of cheap places to visit in France, a charming country that will reward your curiosity. It’s where the best moments — a sunrise over lavender fields, a picnic by a château, or an impromptu dance at a village festival — often cost nothing at all. Whether you’re hoping to enjoy a long weekend in France on a city break or a road trip through fascinating countryside, the richest experiences aren’t always the most expensive.