Five Top Regions to Visit on a Road Trip Around France

With its diverse countryside, bewitching villages and wild nature, France is an idyllic destination for an unforgettable road trip. Whether you’re travelling solo or with family, by car or motorbike, follow our guide and enjoy the freedom of the open road!

When you’re about to embark on a road trip around France, there are plenty of comfortable and modern cheap hotels to choose from that won’t break the bank.

Hauts-de-France is perfect for a first stop on a road trip that will take you far from home. Impressive cliffs, picturesque countryside and charming villages make this part of France a favourite for lovers of nature and regional heritage. When it comes to food, treat yourself to a Flemish carbonnade (beef stew) or a slice of pungent Maroilles cow’s cheese for an authentic taste of the region’s gastronomy. If you’re visiting on the first weekend in September, try to catch the centuries-old Lille Braderie – Europe’s biggest flea market.

Outstanding routes on a northern France road trip: 

• The Opal Coast: Handy if you’ve caught the Calais ferry, this route heads west along the shoreline to Boulogne-sur-Mer, taking in soaring chalk cliffs at Cap Blanc-Nez and following the English Channel. The pretty seaside resorts of Wissant and Wimereux make idyllic stops for coffee or lunch.
• The Baie de Somme: This drive takes you from Fort-Mahon-Plage to Cayeux-sur-Mer, passing rolling dunes and salt marshes backed by cliffs. Keep your eyes peeled for seals basking at low tide – the region has France’s largest colony.
• The Belfry Route: Drive east to Lille and clamber up to the top of the city’s UNESCO-listed City Hall Belfry – if its architecture inspires you, there are more famous belfries to see in Douai, Arras and Cambrai.

Just off the A22 and 20 minutes’ drive from Lille, ibis Styles Lille Neuville en Ferrain makes a comfortable and affordable base. After a long day on the road, you might want to head straight to the bar for a local beer – or if you’re in time for lunch, treat yourself to tasty seasonal dishes in the hotel restaurant. You can stay in shape in the fitness area or unwind in the sauna, and hang out around the outdoor pool on sunny days.

It’s time for an outdoor adventure! The rugged Brittany coastline offers an itinerary of wild beaches and picture-perfect fishing ports. Follow the cliffs of the Emerald Coast from the ramparts of historic Saint-Malo west to Cancale – the oyster capital of France – where you can treat yourself to market-fresh oysters and eat them overlooking medieval Mont-Saint-Michel. Further west, the Pink Granite Coast reveals rose-tinged rock formations sculpted by the sea, and if island life appeals, jump on a ferry from Quiberon to Belle-Île-en-Mer to discover pastel-hued fishing villages, secluded coves and soaring cliffs. 

A few ways to make your Brittany road trip unique:

• Regional gastronomy: Brittany combines stunning scenery with a hearty local cuisine – try galettes (buckwheat pancakes with savoury fillings) and a buttery slice of layered kouign-amann cake accompanied by artisan cider.
• Picture-perfect villages: You’ll be transported back to medieval times, discovering the cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and stone manor houses of Locronan, Rochefort-en-Terre and Dinan...
• Water sports: With more than 2,000 km of coastline, Brittany is a magnet for water-sports fans. Try kite-surfing off the headland at Pointe de la Torche, sailing in the sheltered Bay of Brest or kayaking calm waters in the Gulf of Morbihan.

Following a day on the road, settle into a cosy sea-view room at ibis Saint-Malo Plage, a well-priced seafront hotel overlooking the Grande Plage du Sillon. Just 10 minutes’ stroll from Brittany’s most famous ramparts, built to defend Saint-Malo from pirate attack when it was a major maritime trading hub, it’s also the perfect place to stay in early August if you’re going to No Logo BZH, Brittany’s celebration of reggae and world music. 

From La Rochelle to Hendaye, this French itinerary takes you on a road trip along the Atlantic coastline. Stroll through pine forests and salt marshes on the Île d’Oléron. Discover the Marais Poitevin wetlands – nicknamed the ‘Green Venice’ for their maze of tree-lined canals. From there, follow the Côte de Beauté to Arcachon for vivid sunsets over the ever-shifting Dune du Pilat, with its breathtaking vistas of the Atlantic. Make a detour to the protected bird reserve on Île aux Oiseaux, where you can see flocks of herons, egrets and cormorants in their natural habitat.

Things to do on your Basque Country road trip:

• Surfing: The upscale resorts of Biarritz, Anglet and Hendaye have some of the best surfing beaches in Europe. Go and make precious new memories on their legendary waves!
• Hiking: Follow the Sentier du Littoral (Basque Coastal Path) for awesome glimpses of the ocean, venture inland to the spectacular Kakuetta Gorges or follow a section of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route to surround yourself by nature.
• Sampling Basque cuisine: After all that exercise, it’s time for Basque comfort food! Treat yourself to pintxos (Basque tapas) or a hunk of Ossau-Iraty sheep’s cheese accompanied by a sparking Txakoli white wine.

Looking for somewhere wallet-friendly to stay in the Basque Country on your French road trip? Book a spacious, light-filled modern room at ibis Styles Biarritz Plage, five minutes’ walk from Marbella Beach and 10 minutes from Biarritz’s elegant city centre. Start your day in style over breakfast on the hotel terrace with panoramic views of Pyrenees peaks, or dine on seasonal Basque specialities in Le Ponton.

The dramatic Tarn Gorges, the snow-dusted Pic du Midi, the ice-carved Cirque de Gavarnie and mountainous Cévennes National Park… So much ravishing natural beauty in one single region. History fan? Book a concert at Nîmes Arena, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. And if you’re a foodie, this southern region is bursting with irresistible specialties, from Aubrac aligot (a creamy cheese and potato fondue) to pungent Roquefort and Bleu des Causses blue cheeses.

Highlights of your south-western France road trip:

• Carcassonne: A UNESCO-listed medieval city that should be on your road-trip bucket list; you’ll fall in love with its fortifications, towers and cobbled streets lined with upmarket shops.
• Rocamadour: Don’t miss this jewel of a medieval village, perched on a cliffside above the Alzou Canyon, steeped in history and home to a cluster of pilgrimage churches and chapels.
• The Camargue: This waterlogged region is famous for its white horses and black bulls, which roam freely on marshland pasture. You’ll also see flocks of pink flamingos stalking through lagoons.

Stop off in Sète, the lively ‘Venice of Languedoc’ with bustling canals lined by brightly coloured townhouses squeezed between the Med and the Étang de Thau. On its outskirts, you’ll find ibis Sète Balaruc les Bains Wellness and Spa, set among pine trees and overlooking the Thau. With bespoke treatments, whirlpool baths and a hammam available in the spa, the hotel makes the perfect romantic hideaway for two. And thanks to the pool complex, it would also suit families on France road trips too.

And for the last stop on your road trip around France,  an adventure in the dazzling Alps – where roads wind ever upwards between valleys, forests and snow-dusted peaks. First stop may be exquisite Annecy to stretch your legs along its sparkling lake and historic canal. Follow the legendary Route des Grandes Alpes from Thonon-les-Bains to Menton, taking in numerous mountain passes with stunning panoramas along the way. Lake Serre-Ponçon is the summertime hub for kayaking, sailing and paragliding, and for a winter side trip, head up to Chamonix to ski on pistes overlooked by iconic Mont Blanc.

Unusual experiences on your alpine road trip:

• Zip lining: Head for heights? You’ll soon find out on La Tyrolienne, Europe’s highest zip wire, as you zoom 1,000 feet over Val Thorens ski resort at a thrilling 60 mph.
• Underground climbing: Visit Saint-Christophe’s Caves in Les Échelles to get up close to stalactites and scale sheer rock walls on subterranean suspension bridges, zip lines and abseiling ropes.
• Hiking with llamas: Take your chance to walk through breathtaking alpine meadows with a llama by your side! Several Hautes-Alpes venues organise treks with these endearing four-legged companions.

Road trips in the mountains can be tiring, but an affordable wellness break is just the ticket to cure any aches and pains. Check in at ibis Styles Aix-les-Bains Domaine de Marlioz, where you have all you need to relax: airy rooms and an outdoor pool set in peaceful parkland. The hotel’s also right next-door to Bains des Alpes – NUXE Spa, so you can recharge your batteries with soothing treatments before hitting the road again. 

When you’re planning a road trip around France, it’s vital that you know how driving in France differs from the UK.

• Right or left: Drive on the right, overtake on the left.
• Priority: At intersections, give way to vehicles approaching from your right (unless otherwise indicated). Give way to traffic already on a roundabout. 
• The horn: Don’t use your horn unless absolutely necessary, and never in built-up areas or between sunset and sunrise, when you must use your lights as warning.
• Seat belts: Always wear one. There are hefty fines if you are caught not wearing your belt.
• Traffic lights: The three-colour system is used in France, but there is no amber light after the red light.

It’s mandatory to carry the following in/on your car:

• UK sticker: UK-registered vehicles must display the letters ‘UK’ on the back. 
• Safety items: Reflective jackets, warning triangle, headlamp beam deflectors, snow chains when driving through the mountains in winter.
• Clean air stickers: You need to display a Crit’Air sticker on your car when travelling in certain French cities. Again, there are fines if you’re caught without one.
• Documents: A valid UK driving licence, your passport, your motor insurance certificate and the car’s log book (V5 registration document).

Hopefully we’ve inspired you to start planning your road trip around France… Remember that hotels in French holiday resorts often book up early, so get in ahead of the crowds!